Channel 5

Palin travelled over 1300 miles through the secretive country, at a historic moment for the region.

The presenter and his crew were in the country during the momentous meeting of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and South Korean president Moon Jae-In, and captured the reactions of ordinary citizens.

“The visit was an eye-opener for me, and I'm sure it will be the same for others,” said Palin, who returned from his trip earlier this month. “In all my travels around the world I have never had the same sense of fascination and revelation as on this journey to North Korea.”

British public service broadcasters proved relatively resilient in 2017, despite strong competition from SVoD and other digital distractions.

The best performer was the smallest of the PSBs, Channel 5. The channel’s audience share rose by 2.2% – comfortably ahead of ITV, up 1.2%, and Channel 4, down 0.2%. The audience for Channel 5’s portfolio of channels grew by 5%, led by 5Spike, which jumped by an extraordinary 27%.

Williams was chairing an Edinburgh International Television Festival panel which aimed to address the issue of abuse and harassment in the industry in the wake of scandals involving Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and others.

The 117 new episodes will bring the total number of Peppa Pig episodes to a staggering 381, which will be broadcast globally in 180 countries from Spring 2019 and will provide Peppa Pig content at least four years. 

The animated series, produced by award-winning Astley Baker Davies, follows the adventures of Peppa Pig and her family and animal friends as she experiences day to day activities, including going to the park, attending playgroup, going swimming, going on holiday and visiting family.

The hit dating show will take romantic hopefuls back to a time when you could not be judged on your best selfie and there was no such thing as an online dating profile. 

The 90s match-making show has had a modern update; a new generation of singletons will compete to find their potential mates in front of a live audience with new twists, as well as the introduction of LGBT contestants for the first time on the show. 

Blind Date began in 1985 and was hosted by Cilla Black for 18 years on ITV. After a long 13 years, Channel 5 are bringing back the much-loved dating show, in a new revamped format.

The show is expected to air on Friday nights, with plans for it to be back before the end of 2017.

If David Lynn ever grows tired of being a television executive, perhaps he should consider a career in diplomacy. When it is suggested to him that the power struggle at Viacom’s New York HQ – which finally saw the departure of CEO Philippe Dauman last August – may have troubled his own working life, Lynn barely bats an eyelid. 

Monday: The Halcyon

ITV, 9pm

This new series, set in 1940, stars Olivia Williams and Steven Mackintosh, and tells of the highs and lows of life in the Blitz years. In the first episode, Lord Hamilton, owner of the Halcyon Hotel returns to find it threatened with a scandal.

The four-part barging show will see well-known faces take two narrow boats and a dog along Britain's canals to sample life at a slower pace.

Nigel Havers, Debbie McGee, Lorraine Chase and Simon Callow face obstacles and hilarity as they commandeer a course down two of Britain’s most favourite canals, the Kennet and Avon and the Llangollen. 

Taking a step back from the limelight to sample life in the slow lane, the four bargers pair up to enjoy their first-ever canal boat holidays.

Monday: MPs: Behind Closed Doors

Channel 5, 9pm