PICKS OF THE WEEK: 17th-23rd AUGUST, WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

Our picks of what to watch during the week ahead.

POPMASTER TV

Monday, More4

Hosted by the legendary Ken Bruce, the new commission will deliver 20 fresh episodes to More 4. Contestants from across the UK will once again compete through a series of challenging rounds testing their pop music knowledge, all leading to the famous Original PopMaster finale and the chance to win the coveted gold disc. The series will film in Glasgow, Scotland. 

Based on the iconic radio quiz, which has been running for over 25 years, PopMaster TV continues to bring music fans together with nostalgia, competition and classic hits.

 RACE AGAINST THE TIDE

Tuesday, BBC Two

The sand-sculpting competition kicks off on St Andrews Beach as seven teams race to create seaside-inspired masterpieces in just six hours, before the tide sweeps in. From nostalgic caravans to cheeky seagulls, creativity meets chaos under the watchful eyes of judges Sadie and Jamie. Who will wow and who will wash out in this high-stakes battle against nature?

 CELEBRITY MASTERCHEF

Tuesday, BBC One

It’s the first of the heats, and this week, the five celebrities up for the culinary challenge are legendary entertainer Joe Pasquale, TV and radio broadcaster Jason Mohammod, Olympic weightlifter Emily Campbell, reality star Shakira Khan and singer, actor and author Jay McGuiness.

The first challenge for the five hopefuls is the signature dish round. The contestants have only 90 minutes to prepare a dish that tells Grace and Giorgio exactly who they are as a cook. Who will stand out, and who will prove they have got more to learn?

 PROFESSOR T

Wednesday, ITV1

Ben Miller (Bridgerton, Death in Paradise) returns to play Cambridge’s illustrious Professor Jasper Tempest, whilst Frances de la Tour (Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, The History Boys), also reprises her role as the Professor’s mother Adelaide Tempest and they are joined by Zoe Wanamaker (Shadow and Bone, My Family) as her sister, and the Professor’s aunt, Zelda Radclyffe, while Juliet Stevenson (Emma, Truly Madly Deeply) returns as psychologist Dr Helena Goldberg.

Six months since the devastating Season 3 finale and Jasper is still in torment, unable to face police work. His therapist, Helena, is sad to see all his progress has been undone. Dan is desperately throwing himself into work, refusing to let his mind spiral into grief and finding Jasper’s absence frustrating. Adelaide has left to travel the world and Jasper's Aunt Zelda has come to look after Adelaide’s home and dog, Kafka.

 LOVE IS BLIND UK

Wednesday, Netflix

The latest group of hopeful singles, each one searching for their Mr. or Mrs. Right, will step into the iconic Pods for a string of blind dates. From behind a wall, they are all hoping to form a connection so deep that they’re willing to put their hearts on the line by agreeing to marry without ever having seen each other.

With Emma and Matt Willis returning as hosts, this series will again follow the newly-engaged couples as they leave the bubble of the Pods to get to know one another properly in the real world. Viewers will see their relationships put to the test when they move in together, meet each other’s loved ones and navigate trust issues, difficult conversations and the pressures of everyday life. Who is strong enough to make it down the aisle? Who will say ‘I do’?

 DRAGONS' DEN

Thursday, BBC One

A new batch of ambitious entrepreneurs face a series first! With female Dragons outnumbering the males for the first time, there’s a power shift in the Den, as queens of commerce Susie Ma and Jenna Meek join Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden and Steven Bartlett.

Pitching in the Den, a chemistry whizz promises to wash away waste with her powder-to-liquid haircare products. Two social media stars hope to bag a sweet deal with their traditional confectionery concept. A mother and son with a handcrafted spice blend business hope a Dragon could hold the recipe for success, and a mission-led Gen Z travel start-up sets its sights on global growth.

 LUDWIG

Thursday, BBC One

No longer having to impersonate his twin brother and following his successful closure rate for the major investigation team, puzzle setter John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor returns under his new job title of crime scene consultant. After retrieving the files from storage, John is determined to find the incriminating information that led to Sinclair’s death and James’s disappearance.

As the Cambridge Police Authority undergoes investigation in light of the Holly Pinder scandal, an unusual double confession at the theatre sees John take centre stage, where he must prove who didn’t commit the crime. The case takes a turn when John meets a key witness who appears to recognise him – and not because he’s Ludwig. Is there more to this witness than meets the eye?

 THE VOICE UK

Saturday, ITV1

Legendary coaches Sir Tom Jones, will.i.am, Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones are all stepping back into their red chairs - and will be joined by global superstar Kelly Rowland, bringing fresh energy and fierce competition to the mix. Emma Willis will also return to host, steering the show through every emotional high note, electrifying performance, and dramatic chair turn.

In another exciting addition to the series, The Voice UK introduces the Rewind button, giving each coach one chance during the Blind Auditions to change their mind about an act who has left the stage without a single chair turn.