A definitive guide to the best telly on air next week.
Monday 2nd November
The Bridge - 9pm on Channel 4
The final episode of the epic reality series. The group wake to a nasty shock. Can they pull together, build the bridge and reach the money? If they do, which of the group will triumph? And is there one final twist in store?
Deliveroo: Secrets of your Takeaway - 10pm on Channel 4
The behind-the-scenes story of how Britain's fastest-growing food delivery company - Deliveroo - has revolutionised the takeaway industry and how they, and their restaurant partners, are navigating the storm of the coronavirus pandemic that's severely impacted the hospitality industry. With eight months of exclusive access to Deliveroo, cameras follow the teams of computer programmers, app developers and salespeople as they manage a network of restaurants and delivery riders that together have transformed the takeaway experience. Featuring the lives and businesses of some of Deliveroo's key restaurant partners, this one-off film records the journey of these foodie entrepreneurs as they begin 2020 full of hope, only to be thrown into a period of turmoil and unprecedented change. As lockdown tightens, takeaways become some restaurants' only means of making a living and also the riders' only income.
Tuesday 3rd November
Educating Greater Manchester - 9:15pm on Channel 4
Educating... is back. The series that's given viewers years of moving, funny and dramatic insights into modern schooling and life as a teenager returns to the same school as the previous 2017 series - Harrop Fold School in Greater Manchester. The series was filmed across the school year in 2018 and offers a real but warm snapshot of life in a British school. There is also a catch-up with some of the much-loved pupils from the previous series: cheeky Vincent, who's now going into Year 10 and claims he's a reformed character; and Katelyn, who struggled to focus last time but now wants to get her head down. The series also explore the ups and downs through the eyes of some of the teachers. In the first episode, filmed before Covid, the school's Year 7s already have a reputation among staff for being the naughtiest yet. There's Jacob who opens up about his struggles with dyslexia. The school is on high alert after a member of the public calls in claiming to have seen a Harrop Fold pupil with a knife, forcing Mr Povey and his staff to instigate bag searches to find the culprit. Year 9 Katelyn is desperate to become a midwife but keeps bunking off lessons. Mr Povey worries that if she doesn't knuckle down she will end up missing out on her dream. And the staff crack down on pupils at the centre of a lucrative black market at the school, selling chocolate sweets and drinks to their classmates.
Alton Towers: A Rollercoaster Year - 10.15pm on Channel 4
This timely documentary follows the team at Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire, the UK's largest theme park, as they gear up to re-open after a period of prolonged closure due to Covid-19. Once the government greenlight is given, there are only 12 days to prepare for re-opening. The pressure is on for Operations Director Francis Jackson and his staff to ensure that the rides and hospitality are fully operational and compliant with new health and safety guidelines, requiring some major re-thinking. From employees returning from furlough, to families and friends emerging from months of lockdown, this is a warm and insightful look at how one of Britain's most popular tourist attractions balances a business-critical year with giving the country the escape and entertainment we've been craving.
Wednesday 4th November
Educating Greater Manchester - 9pm on Channel 4
The new series continues. The series was filmed across the school year in 2018 and offers a real but warm snapshot of life in a British school. With GCSEs looming for the current head boy and girl, the search begins for new candidates. A surprise applicant, Year 10's Holly, talks candidly about her disability as she makes her bid for the position. After getting through the interview stages, the candidates must make a speech in front of their year group, but Holly has a crisis of confidence minutes before her big moment. Year 10's Jack is regularly on the radar of the school's behavioural team for his disruptive behaviour. This time, he receives a final warning after making prank phone calls from a school office. And Mr Povey tackles the mental wellbeing of his pupils by arranging for a gaggle of therapy animals to come into school to help address issues such as anxiety and ADHD. Year 7's Paige is given Sebastian the Chinchilla to look after and help her cope with the anxiety she's had since her dad was diagnosed with cancer. Katelyn is given Beanz, a border collie, to help with her ADHD. But they don't quite see eye to eye.
Taskmaster (S3 E2) - 8pm on E4
Comedy game show. Greg Davies uses his position of power to persuade Al Murray, Dave Gorman, Paul Chowdhry, Rob Beckett and Sara Pascoe to compete in more ludicrous tasks. In this episode, find out why Dave Gorman has come over all bitey, why Rob Beckett has filled a shoebox with concrete and, most importantly, who can give Alex Horne the biggest surprise when he emerges from his shed after an hour cooped up inside.
Thursday 5th November
Taskmaster (S10 E4) - 9pm on Channel 4
The brand new series of the comedy game show continues. Taskmaster Greg Davies and his miniature assistant Alex Horne set more inventively pointless tasks for their ever-willing cast of comics - Daisy May Cooper, Johnny Vegas, Katherine Parkinson, Mawaan Rizwan and Richard Herring. Daisy flirts with a security guard, Richard is surprised by some chickens and Johnny convinces Alex to wear sparkly shoes while operating heavy machinery.
Britain’s Most Expensive Home: Building for a Billionaire - 10pm on M4
In the heart of Mayfair an extraordinary home is being built; a £65-million refurbishment of almost 50,000 square feet of living space. The house belongs to self-made billionaire and philanthropist John Caudwell, who sold Phones 4u in 2006 for just under £1.5 billion. He is now aiming to create one of the most lavish and expensive homes ever to be renovated in Britain. Bought for £87 million, when the building is finished it is estimated to be worth upwards of £250 million. With a huge house comes huge challenges, and with the build over budget and behind schedule, it has been far from plain sailing. Now, as it enters its last crucial stages, this programme follows this complex project being carried out in the narrow confines of historic Mayfair. The unique engineering tasks and challenges include a vast subterranean basement that joins two mansions together, a mechanical car stacker that can take eight cars from street level to storage at the click of a button, a pool with a bespoke installation designed to look like lava, and a second-floor dining room featuring a river with living fish. John Caudwell is an exacting and demanding client who cajoles builders and designers alike to deliver on his vision for his perfect home, which he plans to use to host his lavish charity fundraisers. Now one of Britain's most successful businessmen, he has had to fight for all his success from humble beginnings on a council estate in Stoke-on-Trent. John believes his difficult upbringing, where he had little money and strived to not be bullied, was the perfect training ground for business. He also drives to the location of one of his very first businesses; a used car lot. As the last of the 20,000 sheets of gold leaf go on, and his team of expert tradespeople and interior designers approach the new and very tight deadline of John's birthday in a few weeks' time, can they pull off this epic transformation?
Friday 6th November
The Same Sky - 9pm on More 4
Brand new: Walter Presents - which showcases the best foreign language drama series from around the world - continues with this compelling Cold War drama from Germany set in 1974 on both sides of the wall in Berlin. Lauren is deeply torn between her feelings for Lars and responsibility towards her wayward son Emiland is heading towards a crisis. Juliane notices serious changes in Klara's physical appearance and confronts her. And Duncan returns from the West bearing gifts for Axel who is suddenly acutely aware of a once in a lifetime opportunity. In German with English subtitles.
The Last Leg: US Elegtion Special (S20 E3) - 10pm on Channel 4
Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker continue the 20th series of the quadruple BAFTA-nominated and multi-award-winning programme with a 90-minute special reacting to one of the most memorable elections in US history and looking back on four years of Donald Trump as President. As the confetti settles in town halls across America, and with votes potentially still being counted, the trio are joined by special guests as they apply their unique brand of satire and attempt to make sense of it all via their acerbic wit, enlightening discussions and unique sketches. As ever, the taboo-busting #isitok questions inform the debate.
Saturday 7th November
Surviving the Stone Age (E1/3) - 7.10pm on Channel 4
In this new three-part series, eight experts are on an epic journey deep inside one of Europe's last remaining wildernesses. For one month, they attempt to follow in the footsteps of our Stone Age ancestors and survive as a tribe. To survive, they'll need to hunt for food, build shelter and experiment using only primitive tools. By working together, they'll attempt to uncover the secrets of the Stone Age. In the first episode, the tribe begin their journey in an ancient river valley, with basic rations, animal hides and a canoe. Their priority is to find food. In scorching temperatures, they forage and experiment with the best way to catch fish using only primitive tools. To survive, the group need to work as a pack. Dan and Manse head off on a hunting expedition. But this creates concern for the tribe's safety. As hunger strikes and rations are low, the tribe decide that it's time to move on. They must build prehistoric boats to head downstream and forge ahead deep into the mountains in search of migrating animals.
Britain’s Most Historic Towns (S3 E1) - 8.10pm on Channel 4
Professor Alice Roberts is back on the road to explore key periods in British history through the stories of individual towns and cities. In the first episode of the new series, Alice is in Lincoln, getting to grips with life in medieval England. She visits the magnificent cathedral that was once the tallest building in the world and re-lives the battle at Lincoln Castle. Always keen to immerse herself in the period, Alice gets hands-on experience with a period crossbow and checks out the clothing and accessories that allowed people to climb the social ladder and fill the void left by the devastating plague of 1348. Keen to tell rarely told stories, Alice investigates The Charter of the Forest, a document considered by many historians to have had a greater impact on the lives of ordinary people than the more celebrated Magna Carta. And the treatment of medieval Lincoln's Jewish community is a reminder that bigotry and intolerance have been with us for centuries. Aerial archaeologist Ben Robinson uses the latest drone technology to look at the geographical features that shaped the city's development.
Sunday 8th November
Great Canal Journeys (S11 E1/2) - 8pm on Channel 4
Over the years, Timothy West and Prunella Scales have taken us on many glorious canal and river journeys around the world. Now, they're passing on the tiller to two brand-new boaters - actor Sheila Hancock and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth - who are celebrating 40 years of friendship by making new memories together and learning new skills. Sheila finds she's a natural helmswoman, while Gyles is, well, a natural passenger. But together they learn, laugh, grow - and fall in love with life at 4mph. In this first part of a two-part tour exploring London's waterways, Sheila and Gyles learn the ropes with Tim, and set out by themselves along the upper reaches of the River Thames. It's the same river that roars past their homes in London, but just 50 miles upstream it's an Arcadian paradise of unspoiled nature, royal retreats and river regattas. They make new friends along the way: an inventor who's building steampunk watercraft in his riverside workshop, and paddle-boarders who are recycling river rubbish into boards. At Henley, Sheila joins in a training session with Britain's future Olympic female rowers, and at Royal Windsor, they hold an onboard concert of Handel's Water Music, which was composed to be played on the river back in 1717.
24 Hours in Police Custody: The Home County Cartel (E1/2) - 9pm on Channel 4
24 Hours in Police Custody, the BAFTA-nominated series, returns with an extraordinary two-part special about the importation of huge quantities of Class A drugs. It focuses on the work of covert detectives from the Eastern Region Special Operation Unit. A consignment weighing more than 100 kilos has been intercepted while being imported into the UK from Europe. To reveal who is behind this, an undercover operation is authorised to closely monitor the shipment, using audio and visual equipment, as it travels to its final destination at a farm in rural Hertfordshire. The detectives believe that the consignment is one of 39 deliveries that are part of a conspiracy to flood the streets with Class A drugs worth £58 million. The criminals are using cutting edge technology to organise the shipment. The covert team get a lucky break and gain access to messages being sent on specialist Encro encrypted phones. The men behind the conspiracy believe these phones can never be accessed by the authorities and their messages give away a vital clue - their leader is working under the code name 'Jaguar Palace'. In the first episode, cameras follow every twist and turn of the investigation to establish the identity of Jaguar Palace and the criminal network behind the biggest ever importation of class A drugs into the eastern region of the UK. This is real-life drama where the facts turn out to be more compelling than fiction.
