This week sees international phenomenon Game of Thrones back on our screens, as well as the return of New York funny man Louie C.K. and a smattering of great films.
Stop what you’re doing and stick this lot in your planner before you forget!
Game of Thrones (Season 5 *Premiere*)
Monday, 13 April – Sky Atlantic, 9pm
Where else can we start? It might have felt like seven winters have passed since we were last in Westeros but the epic fantasy drama is finally back! This season promises the mix of sex, violence, skulduggery and back-stabbing (with a little magic thrown in for good measure) that we’ve come to expect from the critically-acclaimed series.
In a surprising turn of events, with the on-screen version quickly catching up to the novel series (A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin) some plotlines featuring this year are entirely unchartered territory. So, for the first time, book readers will be just as much in the dark as show watchers!
The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Tuesday, 14 April – 5*, 10pm
Four hormonal teenagers escape to said cabin in said woods in a set up that most of us will have seen played out a thousand times over. Only this isn’t your typical horror flick!
What follows is a glorious love letter to horror throughout the ages as it toys with tropes and mangles conventions with an enthusiasm for the genre that will reignite even the most jaded video-nasty fan. A must-see for those who like their horror so tongue-in-cheek that it’s bursting out the other side.
The Leader Interviews
Wednesday, 15 April – BBC One, 7.30pm
For once, the nation won’t just be voting on who’ll be booted out of the Big Brother House come eviction night!
With the big day just around the corner, find out what the man in No.10 (for now) has to say in the run up to the General Election in May.
Jeremy Paxman’s Newsnight replacement, Evan Davis, will be grilling David Cameron on the Tory policies and promises. As an economist, it’s likely Evans will be looking to take the PM to task on his “long-term economic plan”.
Louie (Season 5 *Premiere*)
Thursday, 16 April – FX, 11pm
Comedian Louis C.K. is back to spread his infectious cynicism and wit in a fictional version of his life based on his stand-up material.
Look out for Louis’ own personal brand of parenting that will have mums and dads out there vigorously nodding in agreement as well as falling about laughing.
While he does play up to his role as world-weary father at his wit’s end, his no-nonsense and generally enlightened approach to raising his daughters is actually nothing short of admirable.
This is the guy who said: “I’m not raising children, I’m raising the grownups they’re going to be.” We can all learn a little something from Louie!
QI XL (Season 12 Finale)
Saturday, 18 April – BBC Two, 10.20pm
And the crowd goes mild! National treasure Stephen Fry hosts the last in the current series of the quiz show that prides itself on being mildly interesting (and very, very funny).
Catch regular panellist, Alan Davis, along with comedienne Jo Brand, Australian stand-up Colin Lane and star of Peep Show, David Mitchell, in this extended edition of the season finale.
This season covered the letter ‘L’ – and rest assured it was in a far more comprehensive way than Sesame Street!
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
Sunday, 19 April – Channel 5, 7.20pm
Do you remember the 90s? The Spice Girls were everywhere, Tamagotchis were periodically dying and being revived across the country and Jim Carey was still funny! Ah, those were the days…
Why not round off the weekend with the rubber-faced goon in arguably the best role of his career as the eccentric sleuth. Someone has kidnapped the Miami Dolphin’s mascot (a dolphin, funnily enough) and it’s down to the zany P.I. to get to the bottom of it. Aaaaaaalllrighty then!
