PICKS OF THE WEEK: 31st AUGUST-06th SEPTEMBER 2026, WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

Our picks of what to watch during the week ahead.

 MILLIONAIRE HOT SEAT

Monday, ITV1

Hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, this thrilling fast-paced twist on the global Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? phenomenon puts six contestants in a battle against the clock and each other for a chance to win life-changing money. In Millionaire Hot Seat, every second counts - players take turns in the Hot Seat facing Jeremy and climbing the Million Pound Money Ladder one question at a time.

A correct answer keeps them in the game, but one wrong move means elimination and the top prize drops - contestants can choose to ‘pass’ and stay alive, but that means moving to the back of the line and risking never getting another turn. The rules are simple, but the gameplay is ruthless - Millionaire Hot Seat demands quick thinking, tactical play, and nerves of steel.

 THE JURY: MURDER TRIAL

Tuesday, Channel 4

A dramatic restaging of a real-life murder trial, in which two brothers, one aged 14, are charged with killing their stepfather. The boys admit to stabbing the victim while he was asleep - but was it an act of calculated revenge or one of desperation? The ultimate decision lies with the jury, made up of 12 local members of the public. Will they reach the same verdict as the original trial?

THE GAME

Tuesday, 5

Return of the thrilling drama starring Jason Watkins, Robson Green and Sunetra Sarker. A year after surviving a brutal stabbing, Huw believes he has escaped the psychological grip of serial killer Patrick, now imprisoned for his crimes. But Patrick is not finished. From behind bars, he begins a new game - one that reaches deep into Huw’s family, dismantling his moral compass and forcing him toward an unthinkable choice: stopping Patrick for good might just come at a devastating personal cost.

 TASKMASTER

Thursday, 5

The quintet of comics who have willingly submitted themselves to the toughest physical and mental examination on television are: critically-acclaimed comedian and Edinburgh Fringe favorite Chloe Petts; award-winning comedian, writer, songwriter and actor Isy Suttie; BAFTA winning actor, author, comedian, presenter, Matt Lucas; actor, comedian, and ventriloquist Nina Cont; and multi-award-winning comedian, actor, writer and director Richard Ayoade.

 RuPAUL'S DRAG RACE UK

Thursday, BBC Three

Over ten dramatic weeks, the sensational cult series sees twelve hopeful queens compete in a variety of spicy and iconic challenges designed to test their drag skillset to the max. It’s a rollercoaster of a journey with the winner of the week being awarded a much-coveted RuPeter badge, and the bottoms of the week facing a deciding Lip Sync For Their Life and the risk of elimination.

RuPaul, affectionately revered around the world as Mama Ru, leads an esteemed judging panel that includes regular judges Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton, and joining the panel throughout the series there will be a dazzling line up of celebrity Drag Race superfans – their identities will be ru-vealed in due course…

 GOGGLEBOX

Friday, Channel 4

From the Saturday night juggernauts and the week’s big soaps, to documentaries and gritty drama, the Gogglebox households offer witty, insightful, feisty and sometimes emotional critiques of the week’s popular and topical TV shows. Their reviews could also be interrupted by breaking news stories and controversial TV events – subjects the outspoken households certainly won’t be shying away from.

 THE LYCETT ARMS

Friday, Channel 4

Broadcasting live on Channel 4 every Friday at 10pm, The Lycett Arms (6x60”) takes place inside Joe Lycett’s own pub, a technicolour, paisley-carpeted East London boozer where punters can escape the world while putting the world to rights. 

The pub will be frequented by a cast of regulars, old friends and strangers all welcomed with open (Lycett) arms by Joe and his weekly celebrity Pub manager.  Each week The Lycett Arms will twin with a different pub from across the UK, celebrating what is special about Britain’s locals. Live, anarchic, and with the wheels threatening to come off at any moment, The Lycett Arms is a love letter to the great British pub.

 THE GRAND TOUR

Friday, Prime Video

The Grand Tour roars back with celebrated trainspotter and secret petrolhead Francis Bourgeois, alongside James Engelsman and Thomas Holland, the acclaimed creators of the YouTube phenomenon Throttle House, behind the wheel.

Together, the trio will tackle motoring’s most pressing, and delightfully absurd, questions across some of the world’s most challenging terrains. From crossing the Angolan desert in track cars to exploring Malaysia’s vibrant car culture, before heading to California to test cutting-edge performance cars, Francis, James and Thomas drive the new series into a new era.

 THE BOX

Saturday, ITV1

The Box is a thrilling new entertainment format that challenges ten celebrities from the worlds of entertainment, music, sport, and politics in an intense competition where they must step into the unknown.

Hosted by the legendary Gary Lineker, the series features star contestants including Joey Essex, John Bercow, Ranvir Singh, JB Gill, Sara Davies, Danny Aarons, Ellie Taylor, Graeme Souness, Jenny Ryan and Shakira Khan. Enclosed in yellow boxes at secret locations across the country, the contestants must decipher a wide variety of intense physical, mental, comedic, and mischievous challenges, with minimal or zero guidance.

The pressure mounts at the end of each episode as two players face The Duel, a dramatic head-to-head challenge to avoid elimination. Promising a series full of grand reveals, mind-bending puzzles, and big twists, The Box will rigorously test how these celebrities cope when they are forced to face the unknown.