PICKS OF THE MONTH: AUGUST 2024

What to watch this month.

Paris 2024: Olympic Games

BBC

BBC Sport once again offers access to all that matters at this year's Games. One live channel and one live stream will showcase all the best action and the best of British sporting storytelling, all day every day. BBC One and BBC Two will broadcast over 250 hours of live coverage across the entire 16-day event; whilst Olympics Extra, a second curated live stream on BBC iPlayer, will ensure that none of the breathtaking moments are missed.

Paris 2024: Paralympic Games

Channel 4

Channel 4’s elite team of presenters, pundits, reporters and commentators sees Ade Adepitan return for Paris 2024, joined by five-time Paralympic swimming champion and BAFTA-winner Ellie Simmonds, who makes her Channel 4 presentation debut. Actress, producer and activist Rose Ayling-Ellis presents live for the first time as she hosts alongside Clare Balding from a new position inside the Athletes’ Village.

Celebrity MasterChef

BBC One

MasterChef judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace will be keeping a close eye on the culinary efforts of the 20 celebs as they put them through six weeks of increasingly intense challenges. Each celebrity will be rolling up their sleeves as they step into the MasterChef kitchen, but only one will come out on top in this battle and earn the title of Celebrity MasterChef Champion 2024.

Who Do You Think You Are

BBC One

This newest series of Who Do You Think You Are? catches all the celebrities by surprise as they investigate their families’ pasts, not knowing what they might find. BAFTA and RTS award-winning actress Vicky McClure finds out the harrowing story of her great-grandfather’s experience as a Japanese Prisoner of War. Closer to home, presenter, actor and comedian Paddy McGuinness discovers his grandfather’s crucial role during World War Two and investigates his McGuinness surname in Ireland, discovering he nearly wasn’t a McGuinness at all.

Interview With The Vampire

BBC Two

Claudia’s quest for other vampires and their heritage leads her and Louis to war-torn Romania, where locals fear what lurks in the forest, while Louis is still haunted by a betrayed Lestat.

Daddy Issues

BBC Three

When hedonistic 24 year old Gemma discovers she’s pregnant after a random hook-up, she has no choice but to turn to her hapless father Malcolm for support. Recently divorced from Gemma’s mother (who made off with their joint savings to ‘Eat Pray Love’ her way around the world), Malcolm is unable to load a washing machine, boil an egg or microwave rice without it exploding.

Celebrity Race Across The World

BBC One

The four new famous faces embarking on an epic 12,500 km race of a lifetime are: broadcaster Jeff Brazier and his son, Freddy; actor Kola Bokinni and his cousin, Mary Ellen; broadcaster Kelly Brook and her husband, Jeremy and Radio 2 host Scott Mills and his husband (then fiancé), Sam.

Crime

ITV1

In the second season of Crime, Ray Lennox is ready to return to the fray at Edinburgh Serious Crimes, keen to prove he is fully recovered from his breakdown induced by bringing Mr Confectioner to justice. But he’s surprised to find that it’s all change: Bob Toal has lost his mojo, while Amanda Drummond is newly promoted.

Cooking With The Stars

ITV1

The ultimate celebrity culinary contest is back for a fourth series with Emma Willis and Tom Allen returning as hosts to preside over all the action. Eight celebrities are paired with professional chefs who will mentor them in a bid to transform them from amateur to expert in a matter of weeks.

First Dates

Channel 4

The flames of passion are burning in the restaurant tonight as fire performer, Hayley, meets business owner, Glen. And just when you think things can’t get much hotter, Glen confesses if he was to be someone in a movie it would be Christian Grey from ‘50 Shades of Grey’. Temperatures continue to rise in an unforgettable rendezvous of playful encounters and steamy surprises.

Love Is Blind UK

Netflix

It's time for the UK to fall back in love with love. Emma and Matt Willis host a social experiment where British singles look for love and get engaged before meeting in person. But who will say "I do"?

Dating Naked

Paramount+

Hosted by Rylan, the series sees a group of singletons spend three weeks in a luxury villa with the aim to find love... whilst they're all totally naked. The winner will receive a cash prize in the final episode.

The Rings Of Power

Prime Video

Cast out by Galadriel, without an army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will.