Into the second week of the Easter break, TV can provide a great filler of revision breaks or a source of procastination. Either way, The Edge has collated the best TV shows airing in the upcoming seven days. As well as the updated remake of Thunderbirds, ITV’s Vera returns to the screen as well as Bear Gryll’s survival challenge. Most excitingly is the beginning of the end for Mad Men. Read the full round-up below.
Thunderbirds Are Go!: The Tracy brothers and their friends at International Rescue set out to foil the nefarious plots of the evil Hood. An updated remake of the classic 1960s marionette series, this time featuring computer-animated characters on live-action modelled sets. The adventures get under way as a powerful artificial seaquake strands a research team in an undersea lab and the crew of the Thunderbirds must determine who caused it. With the voices of Rosamund Pike, Kayvan Novak and Thomas Brodie-Sangster, with the original Parker – David Graham – returning to voice Lady Penelope’s long-serving chauffeur. Watch this Saturday on ITV for some nostalgia at 5pm.
Vera: Return of the crime drama starring Brenda Blethyn. The detective investigates a fire that rips through a holiday park on the Northumberland coast, destroying three cabins. A young woman’s body is discovered and the resort’s owner, Jim Viner, fears the victim is his sister Deena when he returns from a weekend away with his daughter Clare. With Jim’s suspicions confirmed, a police report then reveals Clare’s boyfriend Ryan and his friends had been partying near the scene hours before the blaze started, but where are they now, and where is Deena’s best friend Sally? Tune in this Sunday at 8pm on ITV.
Meth and Madness in Mexico: Stacey Dooley Investigates: The documentary strand heads to remote and hostile regions to meet producers and traffickers involved in the global drugs trade, beginning with a trip to Mexico, where Stacey Dooley finds out about the lucrative trade in crystal meth. The presenter joins the army as they close down ‘super labs’ that have been appearing across the country, and hears about cartel brutality from the families of their victims. Plus, the documentary looks at how some communities have set up their own vigilante groups to try and fight off the drug-supplying gangs. Catch it this Tuesday on BBC Three at 9pm.
Geordie Shore: Charlotte finds out about a pact between Gary and Aaron and hatches a plan. Meanwhile, James is having doubts over his future in the house. Tune in this Tuesday at 10pm on MTV.
The Island with Bear Grylls: The survival challenge returns, with men and women taking part on separate islands in the Pacific Ocean, filming everything themselves and stripped of all the luxuries of modern life. The story of each location is told on alternating days, with the first edition following the male participants as they are forced to tackle fierce currents to swim ashore, before finding a safe place to rest and enduring a series of harsh tropical storms. Watch this Wednesday on Channel 4 at 9pm.
Mad Men: The historical drama show returns for its final seven episodes this week. The first half of season seven was a difficult climb back to the top for Don and a lot happened along the way. There was Bert Cooper’s death (and beautiful musical send-off) in the mid-season finale, the moon landing and even Michael Ginsberg’s shocking self-mutilation. Tune in this Thursday on Sky Atlantic at 10pm.
Treme: The drama chronicling the rebuilding of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina returns for its final five episodes. It is November 2008 and as Barack Obama wins the presidential election there is hope his administration will bring renewed attention and financial aid to New Orleans. Meanwhile, Janette opens her own Bywater restaurant, LaDonna rebuilds Gigi’s bar and Antoine becomes invested in his students’ lives. Starring Khandi Alexander, Wendell Pierce and Melissa Leo. Tune in this Thursday at 11pm on Sky Atlantic.
