The 10 best TV shows to watch this week, from Gangs of London to Love Is Blind

Shantaram

Friday 14 October, Apple TV+

Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy) plays a rugged fugitive in this adaptation of Gregory David Roberts’ bestselling novel. It’s the 80s and, having escaped from an Australian prison, Dale travels to Bombay (now Mumbai) for a new life under an alias. But when he falls in love with a woman who gets him involved in some underhanded business, he must decide whether he wants to prioritise love or freedom.

The Larkins

Sunday 16 October, 8pm, ITV

A return of the Darling Buds of May reboot, which was a hit with viewers last year. As the second series begins, it is summer 1959, which means Pop and Ma must prepare themselves for another rowdy, fun-filled school holiday. Primrose, meanwhile, is pursuing a career as a journalist… and falling for the new village vicar.

Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel

Sunday 16 October, 9pm, BBC Two

From The Lion King to Dune and Gladiator to Interstellar, Hans Zimmer has created some of Hollywood’s greatest scores during his 40-year career. This documentary follows the composer’s rise from the new wave (for a time he played with The Buggles) to one of cinema’s most distinguished names. Lifting the lid on his techniques, the man himself shares the secrets of his craft.

Somewhere Boy

Sunday 16 October, 10pm, Channel 4

From the makers of The End of the F***ing World, this compelling drama tells the story of Danny (Lewis Gribben), a teenager who has been hidden away by his worried father since he was a baby. For 18 years, ever since his mum died in a car crash, Danny has spent his life indoors, watching happy movies and listening to Benny Goodman records. But when a devastating event forces him to get acquainted with what lies beyond, Danny finds he is not at all equipped to deal with a world he didn’t know existed.

The House Across the Street

Monday 17 October, 9pm, Channel 5

Claudia (Shirley Henderson) doesn’t get out much, but when a little girl goes missing in her town, she can’t stop herself from getting involved. As her interest starts to grow into an obsession, she turns her attention away from the missing girl, Emily, to her family and her teacher, George (Craig Parkinson), with whom she starts to fall in love.

Judi Love: Black, Female and Invisible

Monday 17 October, 11.05pm, Channel 4

As part of Channel 4’s Black History Month programming, comedian and Loose Women panellist Judi Love interrogates the hurdles Black British women face every day. She learns of shocking statistics which indicate that they are disadvantaged when it comes to health, education and work, and meets those who are challenging the status quo.

Rob Burrow: Living with MND

Tuesday 18 October, 7pm, BBC Two

Widely regarded as one of rugby league’s greatest players, Rob Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019 and given two years to live. He has surpassed that expectation and survived Covid – and this film explores what his life looks like now. Despite being “a prisoner” in his body, the former sports star displays an immense amount of courage, assuring his loved ones that he has no intention of “giving in” to his illness.

Love is Blind

From Wednesday 19 October, Netflix

Those looking for love on Netflix’s most bananas dating show haven’t been so lucky – only a handful of those matched are still together. Will the third series work a charm? Thirty more willing singles enter the Love is Blind “pods”, where they date potential partners from a different room. If one proposes without ever having seen their beloved (and the other accepts, of course), they will go on to form a relationship in the real world and test whether love really is blind.

Aldi’s Next Big Thing

Thursday 20 October, 8pm, Channel 4

Anita Rani and “fresh produce consultant” Chris Bavin host this new competition, which gives small food and drinks companies the opportunity to pitch to one of the biggest supermarkets in the UK. Every episode, Aldi’s managing director of buying, Julie Ashfield, will pick her favourite products to take to the development stage. Pitches include camel milk, dessert sushi, crisp-filled chocolate bars and Yorkshire pudding beer. Yum?

Gangs of London

Thursday 20 October, 9pm, Sky Atlantic

With the Wallace family ravaged, the capital’s underworld once again has a vacuum of power. Enter heroin baron Asif Afridi (Asif Raza Mir), who soon has a monopoly over the drugs trade with the help of brutal gang leader Koba (Waleed Zuaiter). Furious with this sudden dictatorship, the scrappy London gangs start to fight back against Afridi, while ex-undercover cop Elliot (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) is forced to work for the Wallaces’ powerful investors.