What to watch on TV this week: 29 January – 7 February

Ready for another brilliant week of telly? Don’t miss hilarious new comedy Amandaland and gripping historical drama Miss Austen, as well as the return of TV favourites including The Dog House, Death In Paradise, G’wed, The Apprentice and more. Happy viewing!

With all this plus our usual sport and movie picks of the week, there’s something for all tastes across the service. And don’t forget, with Virgin TV Go, you can take your telly on the move with you. There’s so much good stuff on this week that we’ve compiled a list of the best TV shows to watch. Bookmark this page to keep up to date with the latest changes.

Pick of the day: Brian And Maggie
9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

The year is 1989 and one of Britain’s leading political journalists is about to take on the biggest story of his career: an interview with the beleaguered Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. Steve Coogan stars as tenacious reporter Brian Walden while Harriet Walter is the formidable Iron Lady in this two-part docudrama that captures one of the most seismic interviews in British TV history. Concludes tomorrow.

What else to watch:

• Great British Menu – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake – 8pm, U&W HD (CH 125)

• Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Murder Trial: Girl In The River – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Alienist – 9pm, U&Drama HD (CH 116)

Pick of the day: The Dog House
8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

A new series of the nation’s favourite canine show is upon us and we can’t wait to blubber to our heart’s content as more precious pups at Woodgreen find their forever homes. In this edition, glamorous poodle cross Lola struts her stuff for five-year-old dog enthusiast Violet, while Barley the bouncy labradoodle and cuddly Staffie puppy Peanut put their best paw forward for Welsh couple Liam and Tabitha.

What else to watch:

• Dragons’ Den – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Great British Menu – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Apprentice – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Brian And Maggie – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• The Road Trip – 10.05pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

Pick of the day: Death In Paradise
9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

There’s a new sheriff in town. Following the departure of Ralf Little’s DI Neville Parker last year, newcomer DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet, who played Lucas Johnson in more than 200 episodes of EastEnders) is settling into life on Saint Marie. When Wilson hears news of his estranged mother’s death, he must decide whether to leave or stay to help solve a new and confounding case. Michelle Greenidge (Kaos), Joy Richardson (Dreamland) and Stephen Odubola (Boiling Point) guest star in the series.

What else to watch:

• Amanda & Alan’s Spanish Job – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• The Good Ship Murder – 8pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

• Travel Man: 48 Hours In… – 8.30pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Uncanny – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Last Leg – 10pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

Pick of the day: Ladies & Gentlemen: 50 Years of SNL Music
9pm, Sky Comedy HD (CH 112)

Since it first debuted 50 years ago, Saturday Night Live has been the stage for some of the world’s biggest musicians. To celebrate the sketch show’s Golden anniversary, this 3-hour special deep dives into some of SNL’s most iconic musical guests and their performances that made history, featuring the likes of Paul Simon, Mick Jagger, Debbie Harry, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Dave Grohl and more.

What else to watch:

• Gladiators – 5.50pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Michael McIntyre’s Big Show – 6.50pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• The Masked Singer – 7pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• William & Harry: Love And Betrayal – 9.30pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

• The Miniaturist – 11.20pm, U&Drama HD (CH 116)

Pick of the day: Miss Austen
9.05pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

Keeley Hawes (It’s A Sin) take centre stage in this screen adaptation of Gill Hornby’s bestselling novel. The four-part period drama details the lives and sisterly bond shared between Cassandra (Hawes) and author Jane Austen (Patsy Ferran, Black Mirror), while unravelling one of literary history’s most famous mysteries – why Cassandra notoriously burned Jane’s long-lost letters upon her death. Jessica Hynes, Rose Leslie, Mirren Mack and Alfred Enoch also star.

What else to watch:

• Dancing On Ice – 6.30pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• The Great Pottery Throw Down – 7.45pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Guy Martin: Proper Jobs – 8pm, U&Dave HD (CH 127)

• Out There – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Boyzone: No Matter What – 9pm, Sky Documentaries HD (CH 188)

Pick of the day: Go Back To Where You Came From
9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

What happens when six opinionated Brits with opposing views on immigration confront the harsh realities of refugee life? We’re about to find out in a groundbreaking new series from Channel 4, that follows the group as they embark on an eye-opening journey to Mogadishu in Somalia and Raqqa in Syria to experience first-hand the dangers that asylum seekers face.

What else to watch:

• Jamie’s £1 Wonders & Money-Saving Meals – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Out There – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Boarders – 9pm, BBC Three HD (CH 107/113)

• First Dates – 10pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Mayhem! The Scandalous Lives of the Georgian Kings – 9pm, Sky HISTORY HD (CH 131)

Pick of the day: The Good Life
8pm, U&GOLD HD (CH 124)

A lot has happened since Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal first appeared on our screens in Esmonde and Larbey’s classic sitcom. Now 50 years later, you can relive the good old days with Tom and Barbara, as they get up to all sorts of high jinks in their self-sufficient Surbiton home, much to the dismay of neighbours Jerry (Paul Eddington) and Margo (Penelope Keith).

What else to watch:

• Alan Titchmarsh’s Underdog To Superdog – 7pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

• Inside The Factory – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Great British Menu – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Fear Clinic: Face Your Phobia – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Top Guns: Inside The RAF – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

Pick of the day: Amandaland
9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

We were devastated when we heard that BAFTA-winning comedy Motherland wasn’t returning to our screens. So imagine our joy when we heard that Simon Bird (Friday Night Dinner) was directing a spin-off starring Motherland’s Amanda. Lucy Punch reprises her role as leader of the “alpha mums”, who leaves the comforts of Chiswick behind and downsizes to South Harlesden where she raises her kids as a single mum. Joanna Lumley and Philippa Dune return to join the fun

What else to watch:

• Great British Menu – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• Murder Trial: Girl In The River – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• Am I Being Unreasonable? – 9.30pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Dubai: Buying The Dream – 10pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Olivia Atwood: Getting Filthy Rich – 10.05pm, ITV2 HD (CH 116)

Pick of the day: G’wed
10.05pm, ITV2 HD (CH 116)

One of last year’s biggest comedies is back and it’s bigger than ever. Tune in to follow more laugh-out-loud exploits of lovable working-class teens Reece, Christopher, Connor, Ted, Mo, Aimee and Mia-Louise, as they navigate growing pains in Liverpool. In a poignant first episode, late Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK star The Vivienne makes an appearance in one of their final roles.

What else to watch:

• Great British Menu – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Dog House – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Can Elon Musk Rule The World? – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• The Vanishings – 9pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

• Murdoch Mysteries – 9pm, U&Alibi HD (CH 114)

Pick of the day: Alcohol-Free Booze: Is It Worth It?
8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

Denise Van Outen fronts the investigation into some of the most popular alcohol-free beers, wines and spirits on the market as more of us opt for a sober lifestyle. Join the presenter as she explores how these drinks are made, what exactly goes into them and what the surprising health benefits are if you swap out the booze.

What else to watch:

• Extraordinary Portraits With Bill Bailey – 7.30pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Amanda & Alan’s Spanish Job – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Death In Paradise – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Uncanny – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Last Leg – 10pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

Pick of the week: Rugby Union – Ireland v England
Saturday 1 February, 4pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

Much of the pre-tournament talk is about whether Ireland can score an unprecedented hat-trick of titles in the Men’s Six Nations, and England haven’t figured prominently in the conversation about potential winners. But remember, Ireland have lost just one of their last 13 Six Nations games and it was England who inflicted that defeat. Admittedly it was at Twickenham and not the Aviva, and it was by the narrowest of margins (23-22), but Steve Borthwick’s team will know they have the capacity to take down the favourites.

Twins Tom and Ben Curry are in the England line-up (a first), while Alex Mitchell has recovered from injury and starts at scrum-half. Ireland’s interim coach Simon Easterby, meanwhile, is pinning a lot of his midfield ambitions on young No10 Sam Prendergast, who impressed against Fiji in the autumn and looks a star in the making. It might be the first match for both teams, but it’s a crucial one. Expect to be entertained.

What else to watch:

Looking for some more sport this week? We can help with that.

• Check out our day-by-day guide to sport on TV this week, including TNT Sports, Sky Sports, Premier Sports and more

• If you subscribe to Sky Sports, find all the live matches, races, tournaments and more right here

• TNT Sports subscribers can find their full guide to the month’s live action here

Pick of the week: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Available from Friday 31 January in Sky Cinema on demand. Cert 15

Legendary action director George Miller follows Mad Max: Fury Road with another epic set in the dystopian future he created. Furiosa – Charlize Theron’s character from Fury Road – is abducted as a child by the Biker Horde, led by the crazed Dementus (Chris Hemsworth, Thor). As a young woman, now played by Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit), Furiosa is forced to survive a series of trials as she attempts to find her way home. Thrilling sci-fi action on a grand scale.

What else to watch:

Looking for more movies this week? We can help with that.

• Looking for something to watch on Sky Cinema? Our monthly round-up has the best on the service this month

• Looking for something on Netflix? Try our monthly guide to new releases here