What to watch on TV this week: 16 – 25 April

Ready for a jam-packed Easter weekend that’s packed with telly treats? Returning favourites include Who Do You Think You Are?, Springtime On The Farm and Race Across The World, while there’s two awe-inspiring musical performances to enjoy in An Evening With Elton John And Brandi Carlile and Gareth Malone’s Messiah: The Concert.

If you’re after some family-friendly entertainment to keep the kids amused this Easter, then check out our round-up of movies showing across the long weekend below. Happy viewing!

• Matilda – Good Friday, 3pm, ITV2 HD (CH 115)

• Hop – Good Friday, 5.05pm, ITV2 HD (CH 115)

• The Secret Garden – Saturday 19 April, 1pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

• Addams Family Values – Saturday 19 April, 5.55pm, ITV2 HD (CH 115)

• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Easter Sunday, 1.30pm, ITV3 HD (CH 117)

• Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway – Easter Sunday, 2.20pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory – Easter Sunday, 3.40pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Oliver! – Easter Sunday, 3.40pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Mrs Doubtfire – Easter Sunday, 5.30pm, ITV2 HD (CH 115)

• Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom – Easter Sunday, 11.15pm, Film4 HD (CH 428)

• The Borrowers – 12.25pm, Easter Monday, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

With all this plus our usual sport and movie picks of the week, there’s something for all tastes across the service. And don’t forget, with Virgin TV Go, you can take your telly on the move with you. There’s so much good stuff on this week that we’ve compiled a list of the best TV shows to watch. Bookmark this page to keep up to date with the latest changes.

Pick of the day: Just Act Normal
9pm + 9.35pm, BBC Three HD (CH 107/113)

Inspired by Janice Okoh’s award-winning play Three Birds, this comedy drama will have you in stitches. The series follows three siblings (played by newcomers Chenée Taylor, Kaydrah Walker-Wilkie and Akins Subair) who will do anything to stop the authorities from finding out that their mother has gone missing. Sam Buchanan (My Fault: London), Jennifer Metcalfe (Hollyoaks), Ivanno Jeremiah (Halo) and Loose Women’s Jamelia also star.

What else to watch:

• The Secret Genius Of Modern Life – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• Worst House On The Street – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Springtime On The Farm – 8pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

• Celebrity Big Brother – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• The Feud – 9pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

Pick of the day: Love My Face
10pm + 11.05pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

Author and activist Jono Lancaster hosts this groundbreaking docuseries where he and a team of experts offer cutting-edge care and support to people who have visible facial differences. In the first episode Lancaster, who himself was born with the rare genetic disorder Treacher-Collins syndrome, meets three individuals who have come to the clinic to explore whether a potentially transformative treatment option is right for them.

What else to watch:

• Interior Design Masters With Alan Carr – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Bad Dog Academy – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Springtime On The Farm – 8pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

• Celebrity Big Brother – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Gangs Of London – 9pm, Sky Showcase HD (CH 109)

Pick of the day: Springtime On The Farm
8pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

Easter is fast approaching and that can only mean one thing – springtime is in full swing. At least that’s the case at Canon Hall Farm where flowers bloom, lambs frolic and farmers gear up for their busiest season. All week long, Helen Skelton, Jules Hudson and JB Gill are exploring the great outdoors, taking in a visit to a flower farm championing diversity and a meeting with extraordinary women in agriculture to mark the 75th anniversary of the Women’s Land Army.

What else to watch:

• Beyond Paradise – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• What’s The Big Deal: Britain’s Best Buys – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Celebrity Big Brother: Live Eviction – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Hacks – 9pm, Sky Max HD (CH 110)

• Austin – 9.30pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

Pick of the day: An Evening With Elton John And Brandi Carlile
9.05pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

Step into a phenomenal evening of entertainment with music legend Elton John and Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile. Hosted by Dan Levy, the concert special features live performances from the dazzling duo as well as captivating stories from their extraordinary careers and a preview of songs from their upcoming album. We can’t wait!

What else to watch:

• Our Dream Farm With Matt Baker – 6.05pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Britain’s Got Talent – 7pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Doctor Who – 7.15pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• The Jonathon Ross Show – 10.20pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Spinal Destination – 11.55pm, U&W HD (CH 125)

Pick of the day: Gareth Malone’s Messiah: The Concert
6.10pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

Gareth Malone has taken on his toughest challenge yet. This Easter the choirmaster has coached eight newbie choral singers to perform Handel’s Messiah in aid of BBC Children in Need. Now it’s time to see if Malone’s gruelling rehearsal schedule has paid off as the novices take to the stage alongside a world-class orchestra for the performance of a lifetime. Pass the tissues!

What else to watch:

• Easter Day Service: Live From St Mary Redcliffe Bristol – 10am, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Our Changing Planet: Restoring Our Rivers – 7pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Grace – 8pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Pilgrimage: The Road Through The Alps – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Piano – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

Pick of the day: 999: The Critical List
9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

While many of us will be relaxing on the Easter Monday bank holiday, NHS medical staff across the country will be hard at work as shown in this new docuseries. Filmed at Royal Blackburn Hospital, the show follows the realities of the life-and-death decisions that the hospital’s critical list team face daily, as they juggle urgent cases that come through their doors in A&E’s busiest month for five years.

What else to watch:

• Food Unwrapped’s Great British Grub – 7pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• Masters Of Reinvention – 7pm, U&Yesterday HD (CH 129)

• Chess Masters: The End Game – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• Pilgrimage: The Road Through The Alps – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Feud – 9pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

Pick of the day: Who Do You Think You Are?
9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

The nation’s most popular docuseries is back on screens for more astounding revelations as celebrities far and wide explore their ancestral roots. The new series kicks off with Hollywood film star Andrew Garfield who discovers the fate of his Jewish ancestors during the Second World War. Diane Morgan, Mishal Husain, Ross Kemp, Aisling Bea, Will Young, Fred Sirieix and Layton Williams also feature in this series.

What else to watch:

• Stacey & Joe – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Inside Longleat – 8pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

• Pilgrimage: The Road Through The Alps – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Feud – 9pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

• Barristers: Fighting For Justice – 10pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

Pick of the day: Race Across The World
9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

Five pairs of fearless adventurers are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime as they race a whopping 14,000km across the world’s largest continent, Asia. Beginning at the Great Wall Of China, the duos will have to navigate crowds, congestion and cultural barriers through China, India and Nepal all while travelling with the lowest budget in the show’s history. Eek. Tune in each week to find out who will emerge victorious and nab the £20,000 prize pot.

What else to watch:

• Worst House On The Street – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• The Secret Genius Of Modern Life – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Feud – 9pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

• Just Act Normal – 9pm + 9.35pm, BBC Three HD (CH 107/113)

• I, Jack Wright – 9pm, U&Alibi HD (CH 114)

Pick of the day: Trump Revolution: 100 Days That Changed The World
9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

One hundred days have passed since Donald’s Trump second presidency began in January earlier this year. Now this eye-opening documentary examines the impact of Trump’s actions since his inauguration, from unprecedented political decisions to economic policies that have resulted in stock market chaos. Leading voices, insiders and commentators share their expert opinions on Trump’s strategy and the future of his presidency.

What else to watch:

• Interior Design Masters With Alan Carr – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Bad Dog Academy – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Ambulance – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Gangs Of London – 9pm, Sky Showcase HD (CH 109)

• Love My Face – 10pm + 11.05pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

Pick of the day: The Fast Show
9pm, U&GOLD HD (CH 124)

In need of big laughs for your Friday night viewing? Then look no further than one of the biggest sketch shows in British comedy history. With the first series airing from Easter Monday, you can catch the likes of Charlie Higson, Paul Whitehouse, John Thomson, Caroline Aherne, Arabella Weir and Mark Williams in classic episodes that are packed with memorable characters, iconic catchphrases and plenty of side-splitting comedy capers.

What else to watch:

• Beyond Paradise – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• What’s The Big Deal: Britain’s Best Buys – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Celebrity Big Brother: Live Final – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Hacks – 9pm, Sky Max HD (CH 110)

• Austin – 9.30pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

Football – Burnley v Sheffield United
Easter Monday, 5pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103) + Sky Sports Football/HD (CH 513/503)

The race for this season’s Championship title has been terrific. Leeds were top at the start of March but then slipped, taking just eight points from a possible 18. Just when it looked as if Sheffield United were going to steal in and nab the title, they lost three in a row. And while those two have swung between brilliance and nerviness, Burnley have been relentless, solidifying their place near the top of the table with a series of phenomenal defensive displays.

So Sheffield United’s visit to Turf Moor on Easter Monday could be crucial for the promotion picture. A Burnley win would open up a big gap and surely consign United to the play-offs. If the Blades can do what no other team has this season and beat Burnley on their home ground, it could keep the battle going right to the wire. If it’s a draw… well, Burnley will probably be happier, but it’ll be even better for Leeds.

It’s a thoroughly intriguing game in prospect, and it promises to cap off an Easter weekend of fantastic EFL football in style. Don’t miss it.

Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory

Easter Sunday, 3.40pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

Get ready to be transported to a delicious world of pure imagination in the 1971 screen adaptation of Roald Dahl’s sweet-toothed children’s tale. Gene Wilder gives a sublime performance as the world’s most famous and eccentric chocolatier in this classic film, in which Charlie Bucket joins four other children on an adventure to Wonka’s legendary chocolate factory. The catch? Well, we won’t spoil the magic for you. Don’t forget your golden ticket!

What else to watch:

Looking for more movies this week? We can help with that.

• Looking for something to watch on Sky Cinema? Our monthly round-up has the best on the service this month

• Looking for something on Netflix? Try our monthly guide to new releases here

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