News

Banished: BBC Two, 9pm

BAFTA-winning writer Jimmy McGovern returns to British television to tell the story of the first settlers in Australia - British officers and convicts, all lost and endlessly at odds.

Russell Tovey, MyAnna Buring and Julian Rhind-Tutt head up an excellent cast in this grim but rewarding drama.

Cucumber: Channel 4, 9pm

If you're not watching Cucumber, you're missing out - last week's episode was simply stunning and tonight we explore the fall-out on Henry (Vincent Franklin).

Be sure to tune in for another instalment of E4's excellent companion series Banana at 10pm too.

Ross Kemp: Extreme World: Sky1, 9pm

It's the last in the current series of Kemp's scintillating documentary series, which presents an unbiased look at troubled territories at home and abroad.

Tonight, Ross examines how British seaside towns have become a dumping ground and an easy target for drug dealers.

Arrow: Sky1, 8pm

With Oliver (Stephen Amell) still missing, the rest of Team Arrow must lead an uprising in the glades against vicious mobster Brick (Vinnie Jones).

The heroes will need all the help they can get - but will they accept aid from their enemy, Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman)?

Cucumber: Channel 4, 9pm

Russell T Davies' blackly comic drama takes an even darker turn in tonight's episode, which sees Lance (Cyril Nri) take centre stage.

As Lance tries to work out the truth about Daniel (James Murray), Henry (Vincent Franklin) takes a final desperate chance to win his ex-boyfriend back - but events quickly spiral out of control.

Ross Kemp: Extreme World: Sky1, 9pm

Tonight on Kemp's uncompromising Sky1 series, he rides along with some of Australia's notorious motorcycle clubs - major players in the country's drug trade.

Although the bikers traditionally operate a no-media rule,...

Cucumber: Channel 4, 9pm

The trio of Russell T Davies comedy-dramas returns for a third outing tonight, kicking off with Cucumber at 9.

Henry finds himself in hot water when a scheme of his goes wrong, and then he gets entangled in Freddie's revenge plot against a former teacher. Lance, meanwhile, is interpreting Daniel's very mixed signals as a come-on. As always, Banana follows at 10pm on E4, with Tofu available on 4oD.

Ross Kemp: Extreme World: Sky1, 9pm

Former EastEnders star Ross Kemp travels to the Central American republic of Honduras this week.

The city of San Pedro Sula is one of the world's most dangerous cities, and tonight we see the journey of people trying to flee the gang-controlled streets for a better chance - even if it costs them their lives.

Fortitude: Sky Atlantic, 9pm

Sky Atlantic's new drama, starring Stanley Tucci, Michael Gambon,...

Death In Paradise: BBC One, 9pm

Winter blues? Watch whodunit drama Death In Paradise, set against the beautiful backdrop of the Caribbean island Saint Marie.

In tonight's episode, all is not as it seems as a death rocks the island's seemingly cosy Heritage Society. Meanwhile, Di Goodman (Kris Marshall) tries not to let his feelings for Camille (Sara Martins) get in the way of his job.

Cucumber: Channel 4, 9pm

Queer As Folk writer Russell T Davies presents an original new comedy-drama series, exploring the passions and pitfalls of 21st century gay life in Britain.

Cleverly interlocking with two other series, Cucumber is followed by Banana at 10pm on E4, while the first episode of Tofu also debuts tonight on 4oD.

Banana: E4, 10pm

The second of Russell T Davies's new trilogy series comes to E4, featuring witty and heartfelt interlinking stories with exciting new acting...

Ross Kemp's shift from soap star to acclaimed investigative journalist began with the BAFTA-winning series Ross Kemp on Gangs in 2006. In the years since, he's worked with Sky on a string of uncompromising documentary films, including 2008's ...in Afghanistan and, since 2011, Extreme World.

While the recognition factor from his acting past may help to gain his documentary work some much-needed publicity, Kemp is no mere celebrity frontman - he spends months and months working on each series of Extreme World, both on the ground and in the editing room.

Speaking to Kemp, his commitment to the show is abundantly clear. He speaks passionately and knowledgeably about the variety of topics covered in the latest series, from the plight of Australian biker gangs deemed outlaws by the authorities, to the racism and inequality still present in Memphis, USA half a century after the signing of the Civil Rights Act.

The...

Ross Kemp will not return for EastEnders' 30th anniversary. The 50-year-old star insists he will not join his on-screen mother Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) in rejoining the BBC One soap for their upcoming week of live episodes because of prior filming commitments. He said: ''I can't join her [Windsor]. It's just about space in my diary.'' The 'Ross Kemp: Extreme World' host has played Grant Mitchell in the popular drama on and off since 1985 and admits he would definitely consider reprising the role in the future. He told the Gloucester Citizen newspaper: ''I would never rule out going back to 'EastEnders', I owe...

Ross Kemp will not return for EastEnders' 30th anniversary. The 50-year-old star insists he will not join his on-screen mother Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) in rejoining the BBC One soap for their upcoming week of live episodes because of prior filming commitments. He said: ''I can't join her [Windsor]. It's just about space in my diary.'' The 'Ross Kemp: Extreme World' host has played Grant Mitchell in the popular drama on and off since 1985 and admits he would definitely consider reprising the role in the future. He told the Gloucester Citizen newspaper: ''I would never rule out going back to 'EastEnders', I owe...

Ross Kemp has confirmed that his show Extreme World will be back for a fourth run.

The investigative documentary series sees Kemp travel to 'extreme' parts of the globe to explore how conflicts and hardship have afflicted the locals.

Out last night to celebrate @sky1 commissioning series 4 of #ExtremeWorld. Great news, the journey begins! #thumbsup pic.twitter.com/jMm0DGcaIJ

— Ross Kemp (@RossKemp) March 13, 2014

Kemp announced the show's renewal on Twitter, adding: "Great news, the journey begins!"

In a statement to Digital Spy, a Sky spokesperson said: "We're incredibly proud of Ross Kemp's Extreme World series and are talking to the team about it returning next year. As soon as we have any more details, we will share them with our customers."

The third series of Ross Kemp: Extreme World launched with 251k viewers in January and drew to a close with 300k last month.

The most recent run...

The Great British Sewing Bee: BBC Two, 8pm

The number one amateur sewing competition is back with a brand new series! This season will see ten contestants fighting it out to impress judges May Martin from the Women's Institute and Savile Row designer Patrick Grant. Tonight's challenges will see the wannabe seamstresses attempt to make a simple tunic out of cotton, transform a plain high-street skirt in just 90 minutes, and fit a model with a made-to-measure silk nightgown. If there has been a gap in your life since The Great British Bake Off, then this is the show to fill it!

Ross Kemp: Extreme World: Sky 1, 9pm

Tonight's penultimate episode of Extreme World will see the former East End bad boy jetting Stateside. Amidst the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, Ross Kemp will be taking a closer look at the lives of those who were affected by the...

Ross Kemp: Extreme World is midway through its third series, with the next episode - documenting civil conflicts in Lebanon - airing tonight at 9pm on Sky1.

In its previous three episodes, the series has uncovered horrific examples of human trafficking and sex slavery in India and chronicled shocking violence in Northern Ireland.

The second episode - aired on January 28 - even saw Kemp boldly face down a gang of armed guerrillas in Papua New Guinea.

No matter where it lands, Extreme World remains utterly captivating - it's never an easy watch, but here's just a few reasons why the show is must-see television.

There's much more to Ross Kemp than Grant Mitchell

Its predecessor Ross Kemp on Gangs won a BAFTA in 2008, but Extreme World has never quite got the credit it deserves - and that's at least partly down to Ross Kemp's former career as a soap star.

Ross Kemp: Extreme World: Sky1, 9pm

In tonight's episode of the hard-hitting documentary series, former soap star Ross Kemp travels to Northern Ireland where he finds that the country remains deeply divided. Kemp and his crew set out to discover what makes both sides so unwilling to let go of the past and witnesses a peak in violence during the July marching season.

Law & Order: Svu: Channel 5, 10pm

The gritty NYPD drama returns for a 12th season. In tonight's season premiere the Special Victims Unit are called to the Burtons' family home after a little girl's mysterious disappearance. With no sign of forced entry, the girl's father reveals that she was adopted and that he and his wife's biological daughter was also abducted ten years previously - a case that remains unsolved. Expect edge-of-your-seat suspense throughout!

American Horror Story: Coven: Fox, 10pm

Prepare to hide behind your pillow...

Ross Kemp: Extreme World: Sky1, 9pm

Now starting its third run, this hard-hitting documentary series follows Ross Kemp as he and his crew film and expose crime and destitution. In this series opener, Ross travels to India to investigate sex trafficking, and secretly filmed footage reveals the disturbing scale of the industry.

The Following: Sky Atlantic, 10pm

The hit Us thriller returns for a second season, as former FBI agent Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) is called back in to investigate a series of murders eerily similar to those committed by Joe Carroll (James Hardy). But he died in the explosion at the end of the last season... didn't he?

Film 2014: BBC One, 11.25pm

Claudia's back! Winkleman and her partner in crime Danny Leigh return for a new series of film discussion. Reviewed tonight: the dark folk music drama Inside Llewyn Davis and CIA thiller Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.

Ross Kemp is back on Sky1 and back in some of the globe's most dangerous spots, exposing the dark underbelly of destinations like Papua New Guinea and Rio de Janeiro in a new series of Extreme World.

Digital Spy caught up with Ross and learnt five facts about the very real danger he and his crew face every time the cameras roll.

The new series of Extreme World sees Ross and his crew held at gunpoint in Papua New Guinea

"I felt like when our house was burgled as a child. You go from a state of shock, to a feeling of personally being invaded, to a stage of anger - so the anger came out in me!

"One thing that does hopefully lay to rest is that myth that we carry around five armed guards with us wherever we go. If I turned up to do an interview with security on my shoulder,...

Ross Kemp: Extreme World has been recommissioned by Sky1.

The factual series will return for a six-episode third run, with Kemp visiting Rio de Janeiro and Northern Ireland.

The former EastEnders star will also visit Papua New Guinea, Mumbai and Calcutta in the new documentaries, with two further episodes currently in pre-production.

In a statement, Kemp said: "I'm incredibly proud of the films we make for Sky1. We remain dedicated to giving a voice to those caught up in some of the most extreme situations throughout the world.

"I hope that this series continues to resonate with the Sky1 viewer and that they continue to share our passion for the programmes that we make."

Celia Taylor, Head of Features & Factual, added: "Ross and the team at Freshwater Films continue to deliver hugely impressive and credible factual content.

"The first two series were a hit with Sky customers, so I am...