This week's top TV: 4 - 10 January

This week's top TV: 4 - 10 January

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Monday, 4th January 2016

Monday

When Ant and Dec Met the Prince: 40 Years of the Prince’s Trust

ITV

9pm

In a unique documentary, Ant and Dec speak to the Prince of Wales about the upcoming 40th anniversary of the Prince’s Trust, as well as his life as a grandfather and his days in the Royal Navy.

The duo, themselves long-term ambassadors of the Prince’s Trust, also explore the work the charity has done since it began.

Highlights include a glimpse at some of the Royal Family’s home videos in the private cinema at Clarence House and interviews with His Royal Highness about the problems he faced setting up the Trust.

 

Tuesday

You Make Me Feel Like Dancing

BBC Two

9pm

Choreographer Jack Murphy is more used to teaching the lives of Daniel Craig and Emily Blunt to jive and waltz, but this two-part series sees him attempt to revive the glory days of the dance hall.

In Bolton, he wants to bring back social ‘partner’ dancing. To get the locals on board, he spruces up the town’s iconic former dance hall, the Palais de Danse to stage a night of live music and dance.

In tonight’s episode, Murphy goes in search of couples who were regular visitors back in the Fifties. He meets Fred and Judith, who met on the dancefloor and have been married for 57 years.

 

Wednesday

Empire of the Tsars: Romanov Russia with Lucy Worsley

BBC Four

9pm

Historian Lucy Worsley travels to Russia to uncover the story behind the dynasty that ruled the country for more than 300 years.

This week’s series throws the spotlight on 16-year-old Mikhail Romanov, who was plucked from obscurity in 1613 and offered the Russian throne.

The story continues through the reign of the ambitious Peter the Great, who attempted to modernise Russia at the end of the 17th century, including the creation of a new city: St Petersburg.

 

Thursday

Jericho

ITV

9pm

itv_jericho_trailer

ITV’s new period drama is set in the shanty town of Jericho in the Yorkshire Dales in the 1870s.

Rough and remote, the town has a carnival-like atmosphere as pioneers, navvies and outcasts form a community in the shadow of a viaduct they have come together to build.

Annie Quaintain (Jessica Raine) is one of those drawn to the fledgling town. After the death of her schoolmaster husband sees her left widowed and penniless with children to support, she must make money where she can. She struggles to make ends meet in Jericho, where she is forced to take in rowdy navvy workmen as lodgers.

In this wild town, it’s hard to know whether railway foreman Ralph Coates (Clarke Peters) is a kindly bystander, or someone with a secret motive.

 

Friday

Lip Sync Battle UK

Channel 5

10pm

The US version of Lip Sync Battle has become something of a YouTube sensation, as viewers share clips of their favourite celebs abandoning their day jobs to compete in this miming competition.

In this episode, David Walliams and Alesha Dixon go head-to-head to impress the audience and hosts Mel B and Professor Green. To do so, they must embrace the music, going all-out with costume, facial expressions and dance moves.

 

Saturday

The Voice UK

BBC One

7.30pm

News that the BBC’s prime-time singing contest will be moving to ITV has dominated recent conversation about The Voice. As it returns to the BBC for one last series, attention will switch to the performers themselves, who will try to impress the new judging line-up.

This year, singers Boy George and Paloma Faith join will.i.am and Ricky Wilson on the hunt for new musical talent.

This week’s hopefuls include entertainer Bernie Clifton, better known to some viewers as a friend of Oswald the Ostrich.

 

Sunday

Walking the Himalayas

Channel 4

8pm

Wood has his ears cleaned in India's Himalayan foothills 
(Credit: C4 / Tom McShane)

Explorer Levison Wood continues his 1700-mile trek across the backbone of Asia.

In this episode, Wood is reunited with old friend Binod Parya. Parya saved Wood’s life when, aged 19, he was caught up in political violence in Nepal.

This visit is far from calm either, as the pair has to flee their campsite to avoid being flooded by monsoon rains. After failing to find shelter, they press on towards Parya’s home town in darkness. Things get even worse, however, when the brakes on the taxi fail, threatening not just the expedition, but the lives of its passengers.

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