What's on TV

The best of the best, V Loves is our selection of some of the greatest TV documentaries, comedies and dramas.

Breaking the Taboo
Narrated by Morgan Freeman, and featuring interviews with Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, this documentary shows in gripping detail how the war on drugs has failed and – controversially – suggest that liberalisation is the answer to a problem of worldwide epidemic proportions.

Ethel
Rory Kennedy’s documentary tells the story of her mother, Ethel Kennedy. The wife of assassinated presidential hopeful (and Rory’s father) Robert F Kennedy, Ethel has had an amazing life and as the film shows, is an incredible character.

McCullin
War photographer Don McCullin is the subject of this fascinating made-for-cinema documentary. McCullin is a fascinating character, his many adventures seemingly imprinted on his rugged features, and though the film includes newsreel material as well as testimony from colleagues, it’s his charisma that shines through, not forgetting his iconic, black and white images, which remain seared on the brain.

Nashville
Created by Callie Khouri, best-known for her era-defining Thelma & Louise script, Nashville is a new musical show based in the not-exactly-short-of-drama world of country music.

Smash
Simply put, Smash is in a field (or should that be stage) of its own, where the drama and performances are just as high calibre as the musical numbers. Onboard we have the first episode of season two, which sees the return of regulars Jack Davenport, Anjelica Houston and Debra Messing, the movers and shakers behind the Broadway smash, Bombshell.

Sound City
Dave Grohl of Nirvana and The Foo Fighters takes the directorial reins for this documentary love letter to the legendary Sound City Recording Studios. Look out for the scene where he and Paul McCartney get together – it's history in the making.

Sky Sports Radio Show & Soccer AM
Sky Sports Radio Show, a weekly round-up of all the pressing news and views from the wide world of sports; while on a slightly more fun and frivolous note, we also have the legendary footie show Soccer AM. The show is usually broadcast on a Saturday morning but you can enjoy it any time thanks to specially selected content . Only the very finest material makes the grade. Hosted by Helen Chamberlain and Max Rushden, (as well as Baby Elvis, Cheryl Mole etc.) the best of Soccer AM finds players, celebrity guests, pundits, fans and, of course, the ‘soccerettes’, chewing over the hot topics of the day, as well as taking part in challenges such as the hotly contested Crossbar Challenge, the Ten-Yard Bucket Challenge and the nail-biting Soccer AM webcam.

NFTS Film Festival
We have teamed up with The National Film and Television School (NFTS) for the fifth year running to bring you a selection of some of their best graduate short films and give you the chance to vote for your favourite. The festival is a real mix of, animation, documentary, comedy and affecting drama and has something for everyone. Each short is beautifully shot, and at no longer than 45 minutes you can watch them all.

Letters from Palestine
What if in your great-grandfather's letters there is a mystery nobody in your family wanted to talk about? In 1920 Angelo Levi Bianchini, set out to Palestine on a mission and never came back. This film is a personal journey into the Middle eastern conflict and into the death of a man who believed in the dream of a land shared by Arabs, Jews and Christians.

Ernesto
Seven Year old Ernesto feels left out when he realises he's the only kid in school with a full set of milk teeth. When his efforts to fit in fail miserably, Ernesto resorts to drastic measures to get rid of them, but his teeth have other plans...

Abuelas
In a small apartment in Buenos Aires, an old woman eagerly awaits the birth of her grandchild and all the joys of becoming a grandmother. However, horrific circumstances mean that she will be forced to wait for over 30 years. Using real-life testimonials this animated-documentary raises issues of memory, repression and loss.

Smash
Simply put, Smash is in a field (or should that be stage) of its own, where the drama and performances are just as high calibre as the musical numbers. Onboard we have the first episode of season two, which sees the return of regulars Jack Davenport, Anjelica Houston and Debra Messing, the movers and shakers behind the Broadway smash, Bombshell.

Whether it’s the best of British comedy with An Idiot Abroad, the best of American comedy with Modern Family or the hilarious animated comedy American Dad – we’ve got something to make you smile.

Alan Carr: Chatty Man
There's no doubt Alan Carr has a distinctive, perhaps even polarising presenting style: you either love him or you hate him. The A-list, fortunately, loves his probing and occasionally very cheeky interviewing technique, making his chatshow a must-see.

Alan Partridge: Welcome to the Places of My Life
A supremely funny spoof of those celebrity tour-guide shows, this finds the redoubtable Alan showing viewers the hotspots of his native Norfolk. Included are landmarks such as Thetford Forest, as well as Alan’s daily stop-offs, such as his local newsagent and, in one truly hilarious sequence, his local swimming baths.

American Dad
Near-the-knuckle animated comedy about dysfunctional Smith family. Eccentric director Werner Herzog is the guest star in this episode, in which Roger discovers he has an alter ego called Ricky Spanish – and must help him make amends.

An Idiot Abroad
In this first episode of series three, the unshakeable Karl is joined by Warwick Davis as they begin an adventure in Venice, where they visit a masquerade ball and Karl tries out a water jet pack. Very funny stuff!

Anger Management
Loosely based on the Jack Nicholson movie of the same name, this record-breaking US sitcom stars Charlie Sheen as an anger management therapist, who, as this opening episode shows, finds juggling his patients, his lovelife and teenage daughter a bit of a tall order.

Brand X With Russell Brand
In his first-ever talk show the controversial funnyman is joined by celebrity guests for a mix of political satire, stand-up, chat and even a touch of Agony Aunt-style problem-solving. As riotous as you’d expect.

The Big Bang Theory
Season six of the hit sitcom continues with the episode The Decoupling Fluctuation, in which Penny wrestles with the issue of whether or not to break up with Leonard. Trouble is, she can’t decide: is he a lovable nerd, or just a nerd?

The Carrie Diaries
In the pilot episode of this brand new teen drama we find ourselves in the company of a certain Carrie Bradshaw (yes, Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw) in 1984 during her final year of junior high school.

Community
This extremely funny comedy series starring Chevy Chase and Ken Jeong follows a group of students at a community college and, thanks to its inspired use of pop culture references and parodying clichés, it has amassed a huge cult following.

Futurama
In this episode, Zapp Dingbat, Leela invites the staff of the Planet Express to her parent’s anniversary party. All is going well until the happy couple turn out not so happy, have a huge row and end up getting divorced.

How I Met Your Mother
This brilliant, award-winning sitcom is told in flashback and concerns a group of friends negotiating love lives in the Big Apple. But which of the ladies who populate Ted’s life did he eventually end up with?

John Bishop’s Britain
The Liverpudlian comedian’s foray into the great British character continues with a mix of stand-up, sketches and real-life stories told by celebrity guests and members of the public. In this episode they ask what it means to ‘be British’.

Live at the Apollo
Kevin Bridges is our host, with Phil Jupitus and Sarah Pascoe his guests in a typically uproarious and characteristically near-the-knuckle edition of the stand-up comedy showcase.

Miranda
In this episode from series three our accident-prone heroine offers to look after a young child, which as you can imagine turns out to be a very bad idea indeed. And just don't mention that trip to the chiropractor.

The Middle
Frankie’s still trying to hold her family together in this episode from season four. Meanwhile Sue and Brick buy a safe at a pawn shop hoping to strike it rich, while Axl continues to hobble around with a broken foot.

Modern Family
The sitcom that has been taking America and The UK by storm uses the mockumentary format to focus on the many different parts of an extended and, yes, very modern family. Fresh and most importantly very funny, it’s had critics doing happy cartwheels.

Napoleon Dynamite
The cult film is now a cartoon, with the original cast returning as voices and Dynamite still practising his ninja moves and dancing. As in the movie, the comedy arises from the difference between the person Napoleon thinks he is, and the person he really is.

Peep Show
This curtain-opening instalment from the well-received series eight finds Mark asking Dobby to move in with him – and Jeremy faced with the prospect of moving out to make way. True to form, he’s not going without a fuss…

Suburgatory Series 2
Tess is still trying to make sense of life in her weird suburban neighbourhood full of ‘perfect moms’ in this acclaimed US sitcom. In this first episode from season two, she decides to take part in the local talent show – with, um, ‘mixed’ results.

The New Normal
Gay couple Bryan and David enlist single mum Goldie as a surrogate in this superb sitcom of very modern manners. Things would be idyllic but for the presence of Goldie’s grandmother, Jane (Ellen Barkin) who is, shall we say, somewhat ‘conservative’...

Two and a Half Men
In Avoid The Chinese Mustard Walden hires an actress to play the part of his girlfriend, but ends up falling for her. Meanwhile, Jake and Missi plan a rendezvous at the beach house, which does not go well…

16 Kids & Counting
It's a big year for the Radfords, the UK's biggest family living under one roof. Sue and Noel are not only expecting their 16th child, they are also preparing to become grandparents for the first time - and they throw into the mix plans for a family holiday…

50 Years of Bond Cars: A Top Gear Special
Richard Hammond pays homage to half a century of Bondage with this affectionate look at 007’s many cars. Daniel Craig and Sir Roger Moore both feature, there’s an exclusive behind-scenes look at Skyfall, and Richard attempts to build his own underwater Lotus.

Brazil With Michael Palin
Despite being one of the world’s best-travelled men, Palin had never been to Brazil until this recent BBC series. Here he discovers how the fifth-largest country in the world has become a global economic player – as well as taking in some of the more esoteric sights on offer.

Headspace (on-the-go)
Ever wanted to sleep better, feel calmer, focus more or just get some relief from that busy mind? Well it's probably time to get some Headspace. Headspace is meditation made relevant to modern life. Learn for free with Andy Puddicombe, the man the Times (London) call 'The Expert's Expert'.

Get unique daily guided meditations, science facts and figures and progress reports, all designed to make it as easy as possible for you to get some calm and clarity.

So make sure you take care of your mind this year and download the Headspace app (on-the-go).

Headspace The Benefits of Meditation
From greater creativity to an increase in your attention span, the benefits of meditation are many - so instead of trying to list them, we interviewed Yale University’s Judson Brewer for the scientific opinion on why meditation works – plus, hear from other Headspace beginners. If you’re looking for a nudge to try Take 10, this is it.

Headspace Take 10
If you've ever wanted to sleep better, have more focus or just stop the endless thoughts from clattering around your brain, let the man the Times calls ‘Britain’s top meditation guru’ show you how. In just 10 minutes, he’ll take you through simple, practical techniques for getting a bit more Headspace in your life.

Headspace Guide to getting some Sleep
Catching zzz's on a plane can be somewhat of a struggle. Until now! In just 10 minutes, Andy Puddicombe can teach you a simple technique that will help you get off to the land of nod whether you’re in the air or back on solid ground.

Headspace for the Journey
Anxieties about flying, impatient to disembark after landing, or worried about whether your baggage is ever going to come out at the other end? Travelling can be stressful – but with this dedicated technique, you’ll feel calmer and tease out the tension. (It’ll pay even more dividends if you’ve tried Headspace Take 10, too…)

Masterchef
It’s the first series of season eight of the tastebud-tickling cookathon, and presenters John Torode and Gregg Wallace are hard at work whittling down wannabe Masterchefs. Watch out, because as Gregg will no doubt say (several times) “cooking doesn’t get any tougher than this!”

MythBusters
Episode of the hugely popular Australian science show where special-effects experts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman use science to test the validity of rumours, myths, movie scenes, adages, internet videos, and news stories.

One Life
A documentary that deserves to be savoured in all its glory, One Life takes a look at nature’s most remarkable sights. Narrated by Daniel Craig, the film compiles the best of more than 10,000 hours of BBC wildlife footage. From the astonishing - tufted capuchin monkeys, to the occasionally distressing, as Cheetahs hunt an ostrich, and of course, plenty of cute and cuddly cubs at play.

Paul Hollywood’s Bread
The bread expert – and Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood – presents a series in which he reveals the secrets of breads from all over the world – and shows how a loaf can be transformed into delicious dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Room 237
This feature-length documentary features film buffs who don’t just think Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is a great horror movie but believe that from the dialogue to the patterns on the carpet, it’s full of hidden messages. But what do the messages say? Some of the theories are astounding.

Space Dive
Only one man knows what it’s like to step off the edge of space and plummet towards earth, and his name is Felix Baumgartner. This incredible documentary tells the story of the moment in October he did just that – a record-breaking freefall through the sound barrier, having jumped from 24 miles up – literally the edge of space. A superb document of a truly epochal event.

The Gadget Show
Anything goes, from a review of the latest MP3 player to a record-breaking Tetris attempt, in this round-up of reviews, news and previews of all the latest gadgets and tech technology.

The Choir: Military Wives
You know the drill. The indomitable, utterly inspiring choirmaster Gareth Malone teaches choral singing to rank amateurs. In this series, wives and girlfriends of military personnel in Afghanistan gear up for the performance of a lifetime at the Royal Albert Hall.

The Secret Life of Dogs
Dog lovers, get ready to be amazed. Using a mix of research and the latest in thermal imaging, this documentary explores why dogs bark, why they lick your face, whether they dream, and even how they appear to understand what you’re thinking.

Downton Abbey
It's the wedding we've all been waiting for. Finally, Matthew and Mary tie the knot. Needless to say this means plenty of drama Downton style, not least of it when Cora's mother Martha astonishes everybody with her critical and ‘revolutionary’ American ways.

Elementary
Jonny Lee Miller stars as Holmes and Lucy Liu as Watson in this new take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous sleuth. A contemporary reading, it finds the great detective fresh out of rehab and living in Brooklyn, with Watson his ‘sober companion’.

Grimm
This cop drama has a twist: the lead character, Nick, is a detective who actually belongs to a group of hunters called Grimms, who keep humanity safe from supernatural beasties. His two lives clash with near-fatal results in this opener.

Made in Chelsea
A ‘structured reality’ show very much in the style of The Only Way Is Essex, Made in Chelsea focuses on the lives and loves of the young, rich and perfectly groomed inhabitants of the titular borough – with most of the interest lying in Caggie and Spencer’s on/off relationship.

Revolution
In the second episode of JJ Abrams’ sci-fi epic, Charlie continues in her quest to pick her way through a post-apocalyptic world controlled by warlords and militia, find her uncle and uncover the truth.

The Carrie Diaries
In the pilot episode of this brand new teen drama we find ourselves in the company of a certain Carrie Bradshaw (yes, Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw) in 1984 during her final year of junior high school.

The Following
Kevin Bacon gives an intense performance in this gory drama series about a former cop, Ryan Hardy, who finds himself on the trail of a diabolical network of serial killers. In this pilot episode, Hardy discovers the horrifying truth about the head of the syndicate, his former nemesis Joe Carroll (James Purefoy).

Vegas
First chance to see this new drama set in 1960s Las Vegas, starring Dennis Quaid as Sheriff Ralph Lamb and Michael Chiklis as mobster Vincent Savino. In this opener, Savino takes over The Savoy in a bid to attract the city’s high rollers. And the game is on.

The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead has managed to achieve cult status as well as commercial success, thanks to award nods and a raft of critical plaudits. It stars Andrew Lincoln, as Rick, a sheriff’s deputy, who awakes from a coma to find the world had been overtaken by undead, flesh-eating ‘walkers’. It’s gory, of course, and often heart-wrenching but most of all its superior edge-of-your-seat drama.

Vampire Diaries
This first episode of the fourth series, ‘Growing Pains’, finds Elena struggling with her transition – should she feed and become a vampire, or die? Meanwhile, her friends work to try and revert her to human. But is it too late?

The Girl
Alfred Hitchcock was well known for lusting after his leading ladies, but his infatuation with Tippi Hedren, star of The Birds, was intense, even by his standards. A wonderful portrait of 1960s Hollywood, it boasts two standout performances: Toby Jones as Hitchcock is at once sinister and pitiful, but Sienna Miller in the title role not only looks the part but draws out a mix of ambition and defiance.

Truly the best of Bollywood – including music, interviews and travel shows, and top Indian sitcoms.

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
A troubled Jethalal wants to get rid of his brother- in law, Sundar.

Highway On My Plate–Coast To Coast
Food enthusiasts Rocky Singh and Mayur Sharma, have together travelled more than 70,000 kilometres across the length and breadth of India in search of memorable eating experiences.

YRF Heroines
The late producer-director, Yash Chopra, widely regarded as the ‘King of Romance’. He made every actress he worked with look simply fabulous on screen. In this 100th year of Indian Cinema, we bring you an exclusive music video selection featuring a number of leading ladies that have adorned Yash Raj Films over the years including, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit & Kajol.

Arjun
‘Arjun’ is about a rebellious cop with an attitude. He becomes a part of the Emergency Task Force and solves cases, which no one else can but does not hesitate to break any rule by helping helps the victims. 

Mandarin and Cantonese language shows including celebrity interviews, drama and celebrity challenge game shows.

A Date With Lu Yu
This time round Lu Yu meets Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung

All Star World Exam
Natalis Chan and Fala Chen are among the stars to take up the challenge.

Handicraft 2
An exploration of exquisite traditional Chinese crafts, from handmade paper to delicate sugar sculptures.

Grab a Bite
Michelle Lo guides you through various locations in Hong Kong to explore the best food there.

Mandarin and Cantonese language shows including celebrity interviews, drama and celebrity challenge game shows.

A JOURNEY TO KYOTO & KYOTO CUISINE
Explore the traditions and culture of Kyoto.

MASQUERADE
Contestants have to pretend to be anything from celebrities to household objects

Before and After
Dramatic renovation show with architect Takumi.

Sweet Sweets - Traditional Japanese Sweets
An engaging documentary about Japanese confectionary.

Fun for kids of all ages with Disney favourites including The Wizards of Waverley Place, Fish Hooks, Hannah Montana and The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Wizards of Waverly Place - Zeke takes up magic and Alex casts a spell so he does well.

Jessie - Luke needs a new member to join his paintball team.

A.N.T Farm - Chyna and Fletcher decide to help heartbroken Gibson.

So Random - A selection of hilarious sketches. Selena Gomez stars.

Austin and Ally - Austin records Ally's song without telling her.

Shake it up - Gary chooses CeCe and Gunther to appear on a TV show.

Good Luck Charlie - Amy tried to get her family involved in the hospital gala.

Fish Hooks - Bea lies to get a job on a TV commercial.

Zeke and Luther - Luther accidentally gets himself adopted by a family.

Pair of Kings - Brady and Boomer have to take part in the King Challenge.

Kickin' It - A new kid says he's an amateur at karate but turns out good.

Phineas & Ferb - Is this Candace's chance to bust the boys at last?

Lab Rats - 14 year old Leo finds three bionic siblings in his new house.

The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes - Hydra attacks the UN, it's up to Iron Man to save the world.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - The clubhouse gang get together and clean the clubhouse.

Handy Manny - Renaldo needs a fence for his new dog.

Special Agent Oso - Oso helps a friend learn his favourite song.

Jungle Junction - Zooter wants to give up her dream of flying.

Imagination Movers - Smitty doesn't think he's good enough to play basketball.

Jake and the Never Land Pirates - Jake's puppy Patch steals Captain Hook's boot.