PICKS OF THE WEEK: 24-30th AUGUST, WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

Our picks of what to watch during the week ahead.

THE MURDER DETECTIVES

Wednesday, Channel 4

Observational documentary telling the inside story of the seven-year-long mission to find out who murdered journalist Lyra McKee in Derry in 2019 and secure justice for her family.

 BOOKISH

Wednesday, U&Alibi

In series two of ‘Bookish’, the bibliophile sleuth investigates the world of spiritualism as he helps to solve a baffling case involving medium Harold Sneed (Jason Watkins) and a séance full of suspects. Off Savile Row, Inspector Bliss (Elliot Levey) asks Book to help in a puzzling crime at a gentleman’s outfitters - the elderly tailor Maxie Kleinmann (Allan Corduner) is keen to confess to murder, but the evidence doesn’t quite stack up and points to something much more complex and sinister.

And Book and Jack are sent to the seemingly charming German village of Würl by the mysterious ‘E’ (Simon Callow) to thwart a thieving Duchess (Miranda Richardson) at Christmas time. However, festivities take a deadly turn when Book and Jack (Connor Finch) uncover secrets of their own in a castle brimming with shady characters.

 FIGHTLAND

Thursday, Sky Atlantic

Set against the high-stakes world of British boxing, Fightland is a gripping story of redemption, betrayal and brutal ambition - in and out of the ring. With edge-of-your-seat action and a gritty setting populated by dangerous characters, this is a world of money and power never seen before. Fightland marks Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson’s first internationally produced show through G-Unit Film & Television.

On the night that British-born boxer Duke Kilroy (Howard Charles) becomes world heavyweight champion, a vicious assault leaves his brother, Calvin, dead. Duke is devastated and his reaction in the aftermath costs him eight years in a U.S. prison. Upon his release, and after having made a sinister discovery, Duke returns home seeking vengeance against the man he believes set him up -- the criminal kingpin and his former promoter Kingsley Marshall (Nicholas Pinnock). But Kingsley has vanished, leaving his children and wife, Joy (Deborah Ayorinde), who happens to be the love of Duke’s life, to pick up the pieces.

 HAMZA'S AFRICAN BIRDS OF PREY

Sunday, BBC One

Travelling from the vast plains of the Maasai Mara to the shores of Lake Naivasha , to the ancient forests of the Kenyan coast and the dramatic escarpments of the Rift Valley, Hamza encounters an extraordinary cast of raptors, including African fish eagles, secretary birds, martial eagles, scops owls, lappet-faced and Rüppell's vultures, and the elusive African crowned eagle.

Hamza joins the dedicated scientists, conservationists, rangers and local communities working tirelessly to protect these remarkable birds; from caring for injured vultures and satellite-tagging young eagles to monitoring remote cliff-top nesting colonies and searching for one of Africa's rarest owls. He witnesses both the incredible resilience of Kenya's birds of prey and the growing threats they face from habitat loss, poisoning, the illegal wildlife trade and expanding infrastructure.

 VIGIL

Sunday, BBC One

The action-packed third instalment of the International Emmy-winning and BAFTA-nominated drama which sees DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) and DI Kirsten Longacre (Rose Leslie) return for a high-stakes investigation that takes them to a remote Arctic research station, where a member of a covert British special forces mission has been shot dead.

Amy and Kirsten will need to catch the killer and defuse a potential international confrontation, as different nations compete for control of the Arctic and its resources in the changing polar climate, with both their careers and relationship on the line. As the mission rapidly unfolds, Amy and Kirsten begin to question who they can trust.

 TRIGGER POINT

Sunday, BBC One

The hugely popular drama series from ITV and HTM Television will return to the channel soon for a fourth series starring multi-award winning actor Vicky McClure playing her fearless but troubled character Lana Washington who will confront her greatest challenge yet. 

Series 4 follows the success of Series 1-3 that have been streamed 91 million times and reached over 20 million viewers across ITV and ITVX.  The last series was the 5th most watched drama on ITV in 2025 and the 7th most watched across all channels and streaming services. It averaged 7 million viewers, with the launch attracting 7.4million.

 24 HOURS IN POLICE CUSTODY

Sunday, Channel 4

The landmark documentary series that captures real life drama at its most intense, following police detectives around the clock as they investigate major crimes.