by On British television this week we have the return of Anneka Rice, who remains as tireless as ever as her Challenge series makes a comeback.
Also reappearing is Det Supt Roy Grace (John Simm), who has a new case load to deal with on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, Friends actor David Schwimmer puts his baking skills to the test for charity, while two Strictly stars pack their passports for a sun-kissed adventure.
Read on for a rundown of all these upcoming TV goodies…
Saturday, March 18, 8:50 p.m.: Challenge Anneka | channel 5
Energetic Anneka Rice returns for more heartwarming missions, this time on Channel 5. And as always, she brings her signature blue truck and sound engineer Dave Chapman.
Continue reading: Anneka Rice ‘broken and depressed’ by severity injury
For the first challenge, she’s at Foal Farm in Kent, which has been rehabilitating thousands of abandoned dogs and giving them new homes for 60 years. But space is now tight and staff are worried as they face the prospect of turning homeless dogs away. Enter Anneka with an ambitious plan to build a brand new mega kennel block. But can she get things done in just three days?
Sunday, March 19, 8 p.m.: Grace | ITV1
Brighton-based detective Roy Grace is your Endeavor surrogate on a Sunday night when actor John Simm returns in the role for three new cases, all adapted from the bestselling Peter James books.
In the first – a dramatization of Dead Like You – we find ourselves at the Royal Edward Hotel, where the police leave Deputy Chief Constable Alison Vesper. But a chilling development leaves Grace and Branson tasked with interviewing all hotel guests, including senior officials present at check-out.
Sunday, March 19, 7:45 p.m.: The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer | C4
Bake Off never fails to pull an A-list star out of the piping bag for its celebrity issues, and this year is no exception as Friends actor David Schwimmer dons an apron.
Continue reading: Celebrity Bake Off line up
He’ll be joined by pop star Jesy Nelson, as well as comedians Rosie Matafeo and Tom Davis, to complete challenges, posed only on this occasion by Matt Lucas (co-host Noel Fielding is ill). For the Signature, it’s savory cakes. When it comes to the technical, we have tricky French confectionery. And with the showstopper, bakers are asked to recreate their most embarrassing celebrity fail in meringue.
Tuesday, March 21, 9 p.m.: Anton and Giovanni’s adventures in Sicily | BBC1
Anton Du Beke and Giovanni Pernice are swapping Strictly for Sicily as they vacation together for this joking travelogue.
Both appear fashionably stylish (of course!) as they tour Gio’s homeland, stopping in the port town of Sciacca in this opening episode. On the program: the white beaches of Porta Blanca, the Valley of the Temples and Catania, the second largest city on the island. This last location is of particular importance to Giovanni as he moved here at the age of 14 to further his dance career.
Wednesday, March 22, 9 p.m.: Race Across the World | BBC1
This third season comes with a move up from BBC2 to BBC1 and finds five teams attempting to scurry over 10,000 miles in Canada. The catch? They don’t have smartphones, internet access or credit cards – just the cash equivalent of the fare to fly the route.
Your starting point is Vancouver on the Pacific Coast and the goal is to clear seven checkpoints before arriving in St. Johns on the island of Newfoundland, the easternmost city in North America. It’s a trek that will take teams through a number of the most remote regions on earth…
Friday, March 24, 9/10 p.m.: Drift: Partners in Crime | Sky Atlantic
There’s plenty of stunt spectacle in the opening double bill of this German police drama, complete with car crashes, boxing matches and even a bridge collapse. Also interesting is the partnership at its core, with Ken Duken and Fabian Busch playing reunited siblings who form an unlikely police duo.
So get to know Ali and Leo Zeller: One is a risk-taking loner, the other stronger and more straightforward. But they are about to be thrown into a case that will take them from Munich to the Bavarian Alps and then onto the streets of Athens.
Friday, March 24: My Kind of Country, Episode One | AppleTV+
Reese Witherspoon is one of the minds behind this new music competition series that has scouts and judges around the world searching for artists who have the potential to become the next big country star.
Leading singer-songwriters Jimmie Allen, Mickey Guyton and Orville Peck each handpick a roster of up-and-coming talent before inviting them to the home of country music in Nashville, Tennessee. The overall winner then receives a grand prize from Apple Music, who are also willing to support and showcase their talents on the platform.
Watch: David Schwimmer shares the reason for joining Bake Off
