PICKS OF THE WEEK: 26th OCTOBER-1st NOVEMBER, WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

Our picks of what to watch during the week ahead.

LINGO

Monday, ITV1

Launched in 2021, Lingo quickly established itself as a fan favourite, boasting the best launch for a game show in the 3pm slot since 2002. Combining rapid-fire wordplay, gripping gameplay and Adil’s signature wit and charm, Lingo challenges contestants to solve Lingos and crack Puzzlewords as they race against the clock to win a £15,000 jackpot.

 CELEBRITY RACE ACROSS THE WORLD

Wednesday, BBC One

Four familiar faces paired with a friend or a loved one leave their luxury lifestyles at the starting line for a journey that will take them to the other side of the world and push them to the limits of their endurance. The pairs embark on a life-changing adventure - a 7,500km race from the prehistoric jungles of Borneo to the sun-baked southern tip of Australia.

 FIRST DATES

Wednesday, Channel 4

The saying goes, there’s someone out there for all of us. Channel 4’s First Dates Restaurant is living proof that it’s true. In this award-winning fly-on-the-wall dating series, real people go on first dates in a restaurant with a unique twist: No one in it besides the staff has ever laid eyes on one another before. 

 THE MADAME BLANC MYSTERIES

Thursday, 5

The Madame Blanc Mysteries returns as Jean and Dom prepare to tie the knot – but nothing can prepare them for the unexpected obstacles standing in their way. Across the series, a body is discovered in one of the show’s most iconic locations, Uncle Patrick hosts the pub quiz of the century at La Couronne, and Judith and Jeremy face a heart-wrenching dilemma.

As the bodies continue to pile up, one question remains: will Jean and Dom finally make it down the aisle? Packed with more mind-boggling mysteries, murderous twists and eye-popping antiquities than ever before, The Madame Blanc Mysteries Series 5 will keep you on the edge of your sun-drenched seat.

 THE CELEBRITY TRAITORS: THE FINAL

Friday, BBC One

As the ultimate game of deception and trust draws to a close, the stakes have never been higher as the celebrity players face their final, explosive mission. With the prize fund complete, will the pressure of winning cloud anyone’s vision? Will the Faithful banish all of the Traitors to secure victory, or will the Traitors manage to deceive until the bitter end?

 BEAT LUKE LITTLER

Friday, Netflix

Beat Luke Littler is a high-stakes live darts event, anchored by Gary Lineker that pits ambitious amateurs against the world number one: all for a chance to win £501,000. The groundbreaking live special will see 20 competitors from across the nation and beyond step up to the oche for the ultimate sporting challenge. With Richard Osman as the Expert Analyst on the night; the rules are simple: one night, one chance, and one perfect leg of 501.

 BLUE PLANET III

Sunday, BBC One

The warm, sunlit waters of the tropics support the greatest diversity of life in the ocean. Bathed in year-round sunlight for millions of years, these seas are home to more species than anywhere else on earth. In a world where competition is fierce, animals have evolved extraordinary ways to survive. Yet even in these seemingly familiar waters, remarkable new behaviours are still being discovered.