TV Picks: 31 January – 6 February 2011 ('Apprentice USA', 'Boardwalk Empire', 'Harry Hill's TV Burp', 'Hawaii Five-0', 'Louis Theroux', 'Marchlands', 'The Promise', 'Secret Diary Of A Call Girl', etc.)

Every Monday I browse the UK television schedules for the coming week, selecting each day's best new shows. Below you'll find the result of that work...

MONDAY 31st

The Battle for Bomb Alley: Panorama (BBC1, 8.30pm) Documentary investigating the differences between the coalition forces fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Storyville: Meet The Climate Skeptics (BBC4, 10pm) Documentary on the skepticism about global warming that has started to influence the public's perception of the environmental issue.

TUESDAY 1st

The Apprentice USA (BBC1, 12.20am) Season 6 of the US version of the business reality gameshow. Stars Donald Trump.
Extraordinary Dogs (Channel 5, 7.30pm) Documentary on rescue dogs from around the world.
A Farmer's Life For Me (BBC2, 8pm) Eight-part series where nine couples get the chance to trial a rural lifestyle. Hosted by Jimmy Doherty.
The Betty Driver Story (ITV, 8pm) Documentary on the career of soap actress Betty Driver, who plays Betty in Coronation Street.
Let The Stories Begin (Sky1, 8pm) Preview of Sky Atlantic's TV offerings, featuring interviews with Jon Hamm, Sean Bean & Kelly Macdonald. Presented by Mariella Frostrup.
The Vampire Diaries (ITV2, 9pm) Season 2 of the US teen vampire drama continues.
Boardwalk Empire (Sky Atlantic, 9pm) Season 1 of the US gangster drama set during 1920s Prohibition. Stars Steve Buscemi & Kelly Macdonald. This feature-length pilot is directed by Martin Scorsese.
Do We Really Need The Moon? (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary on the moon and its influence on the Earth. Presented by Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock.
Secret Diary Of A Call Girl (ITV2, 10pm) Series 4 of the risque drama about a high-class prostitute. Stars Billie Piper.
Jersey Shore (MTV, 10pm) Season 3 of the US reality drama.
Blue Bloods (Sky Atlantic, 10.30pm) Season 1 of US cop drama. Stars Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg & Bridget Moynahan.

WEDNESDAY 2nd

Beauty & The Beast: Ugly Face Of Prejudice (Channel 4, 8pm) Six-part series about people and their struggle with their physical appearance.
Gossip Girl (ITV2, 8pm) Season 2 of the US drama continues. Stars Blake Lively & Leighton Meester.
Midsomer Murders (ITV1, 8pm) Final episode of the mystery drama to star John Nettles as Detective Barnaby.
Who Gets The Best Jobs? (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary on social equality in the UK. Presented by Richard Bilton.

THURSDAY 3rd

Livingstone: Serious Explorers (BBC1, 4.30pm) Seven children follow in the footsteps of legendary explorer Dr Livingtone.
Louis Theroux: The Ultra Zionists (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary where quirky journalist Louis Theroux spends time with a subculture of Jewish settlers on the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Marchlands (ITV1, 9pm) Five-part supernatural drama about three families living in the same house, across three separate eras ('60s, '80s and '10s), all linked by the tragic death of a girl in 1967. Stars Jodie Whittaker, Denis Lawson, Tessa Peake-Jones, Dean Andrews, Alex Kingston, Elliot Cowan, Jamie Thomas King & Sydney Wade.
Abraham Lincoln: Saint Or Sinner (BBC4, 9pm) Documentary on the famous US President's enduring legacy and political reputation.
Lunch Monkeys (BBC3, 10.30pm) Series 2 of the sitcom.

FRIDAY 4th

Law & Order (Channel 5, 10pm) Season 17 of the US crime drama.
Welcome To Romford (Channel 4, 7.30pm) Documentary on a minicab firm in Romford.

SATURDAY 5th

The Lock Up (BBC3, 12.15am) Eight-part documentary following police officers in Hull.
Harry Hill's TV Burp (ITV1, 7pm) Series 11 of the show where madcap comedian Harry Hill takes a comical look at the week's television.
Faulks On Fiction (BBC2, 9pm) Four-part series where Sebastian Faulks examines the British novel.

SUNDAY 6th

Masterchef New Zealand (Watch, 7pm) Kiwi version of the popular culinary challenge show.
The People's Supermarket (Channel 4, 8pm) New series where restauranteur Arthur Potts Dawson tries to create a new type of supermarket.
The Promise (Channel 4, 9pm) Four-part drama following parallel stories of a teenage Londoner visiting her grandfather in Israel, and a British soldier in 1940s Palestine. Stars Claire Foy, Christian Cooke, Itay Tiran, Katharina Schuttler & Perdita Weeks.
Hawaii Five-0 (Sky1, 9pm) Remake of the action cop drama. Stars Alex O'Loughlin, Scott Caan, Daniel Dae Kim & Grace Park.
Freddie Flintoff Versus The World (ITV1, 10.45pm) Eight-part series following the laddish ex-cricketer around the world, competing against other sportsmen. In this opener, Flintoff is joined by fellow cricketer Darren Gough in Mexico.