SATURDAY
Traces
BBC1, 9.25pm
There’s high drama at the High Court as season two opens with Daniel (Martin Compston) set to give evidence against his dad. The parental theme is mirrored with lab assistant Emma Hedges (Molly Windsor), now training to be a forensic chemist, who’s on the cusp of seeing her mum’s murder case finally resolved legally. Meanwhile, a series of homemade bombs have been going off in and around Dundee – and the city’s on edge.
SUNDAY
This Town
BBC1, 9pm
It’s 1981 and Birmingham is an inferno of riots and IRA bomb scares. Steven Knight’s new drama follows a group of teens who believe that music might save them from the chaos that threatens to swallow them. Aspiring poet Dante (Levi Brown) bumps into wannabe ska musician Jeannie (Eve Austin) during the Handsworth riots, and the pair realise they could join forces, make music and maybe just change their lives for the better.
MONDAY
MasterChef
BBC1, 6.30pm
John and Gregg kick off the iconic show’s 20-year anniversary as they welcome six new amateur hopefuls into the kitchen – but only three will get to put on the coveted MasterChef apron and move on to the quarter-finals. You could say the ‘steaks’ are high! Later on, in the semi-final round, the hosting duo will celebrate this landmark when past finalists over the two decades return to be fed by this year’s cohort.
TUESDAY
Aldi’s Next Big Thing
Channel 4, 8pm
It’s Dragons’ Den with a difference as 36 artisan food and drink producers pitch their products to Britain’s fourth largest supermarket. Hosted by Chris Bavin and Anita Rani, first up it’s the dinnertime category with six hopefuls – including Stormzy’s personal chef and sibling butchers – plying their wares before Aldi’s MD of Buying. But who’ll win a life-changing contract to supply over 1000 stores?
WEDNESDAY
The 1980s Supermarket
Channel 5, 9pm
It wasn’t all cans of Quatro and Findus Crispy Pancakes, the 1980s saw us all become diet and fitness fanatics with an explosion in Lycra, legwarmers, Diet Coke and the Lean Cuisine range making us at least think we were being healthy. And while the air fryer might be the gadget of the moment, it was all about the microwave back then – as TV chef Rustie Lee demonstrates. Plus, how an interest in interiors gave rise to Homebase.
THURSDAY
The Hotel Inspector
Channel 5, 9pm
Alex Polizzi’s latest mercy mission takes her to East Sussex where she’s hoping to help a floundering Shepherds Huts business from going bust. It might be Alex’s first-time glamping, but it’s not her first holiday accommodation rescue, and so she wastes no time in getting stuck in, finding out what makes Nick and Anna’s family-run venture tick – or not. Can she turn their fortunes around before it’s too late?
FRIDAY
Avoidance
BBC1, 9.30pm
It’s all change for our gang as the new series begins. One year on from where we saw them last, and Jonathan (Romesh Ranganathan) is on a mission to be his best self by reciting daily affirmations and wearing a lot of Lycra! He’s trying to win back Claire (Jessica Knappett) after realising he made a mistake by not getting back together with her when he had the chance. Will he woo her with his dancing at the PTA fundraiser?