TV review: Bankers – Fixing the System

Bob Diamond had to quit his role as Chief Executive of Barclays Bank after the Libor sandal

It’s tough to make good, engaging, interesting TV about the banking crisis, writes Simon Penfold. By its very nature, it is technical, often involves arcane language and seems to require lots of talking heads in grey suits.

TV review: The Apprentice

Lord Sugar with the line-up of candidates for the ninth series of the highly successful show

And so it begins again. The bravado, the Mohammed Ali-esque sound bites, the blunders, the sharp suits, writes David Lumb.

TV review: The Flying Archaeologist

Ben Robinson flew enthusiastically over the British countryside

I went on a school trip to Wroxeter Roman City many moons ago. It was – and I’ll probably get a fatwa from archaeologists for typing this – a bit of a let-down.

TV review: Masterchef: The Final

The ‘Ackney girl done good! . . . part-time DJ Natalie Coleman

And then there were three. Eight weeks of collapsing soufflés, botched béarnaise and scorched steaks came to a scintillating finale as Dale, Larkin and Natalie pulled on their chefs’ whites for one final service. Their mission was simple: to be crowned MasterChef 2013.

TV review: All Star Mr & Mrs

Philip Schofield’s character is perfect for this family show as he puts couples at ease

My first memories of Mr & Mrs were of watching the show with my mum in the early 1970s on days off sick from school.

TV review - Alex Polizzi: The Fixer Returns

Alex Polizzi puts stubborn people in their place

She’s been described as the female Gordon Ramsay, telling business owners exactly what she thinks of their establishments. writes Heather Large.

TV review: Vicious, The Job Lot

Freddie and Stuart – Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Derek Jacobi

In one of my favourite films, Mike Judge’s Office Space, the phrase “looks like someone’s got a case of the Mondays” comes up several times.

TV review: Doctor Who

The Doctor and Clara in Journey to the Centre of the Tardis

Utter chaos and confusion. Oh, it must be the middle of the latest episode of Doctor Who.

TV review: The Politician's Husband

David Tennant and Emily Watson play competitive husband and wife MPs

In the corridors of power, there is no room more perfect for relaxation and contemplation than the gents’ lavvies.

Great British Sewing Bee star Sandra so happy to reach final

Hospital worker Sandra Lavender of Wednesfield got into the final of Great British Sewing Bee – ‘it’s been a fantastic experience’

Star seamstress Sandra Lavender today looked back over her ‘fantastic’ time on Great British Sewing Bee after reaching the final of the BBC 2 television show – and revealed she kept her appearance secret from friends at first.

TV review: Great Bear Stakeout and 10 O'Clock Live

Grizzly bear and cub trying to survive in snowy Alaska

Given its rather jokey title and the fact that Scottish comedian and actor Billy Connolly was providing the narration, it was no surprise that the Great Bear Stakeout hardly compared with David Attenborough at his best.

TV review: The Great British Sewing Bee - The Final

Octogenarian Ann, a grandmother from Birmingham, triumphed

Excuse me – back of the queue for tailor’s chalk and overlockers please. Yes, after this four-week run of riveting competitive sewing I predict there will be many people compelled like me to hunt out their old Singers, sharpen their scissors and run up a little something in twill.

TV review: Broadchurch

A community with so many secrets and so many suspects for the killing of a young boy

TV’s greatest whodunnit since Who Shot JR? was finally solved last night – and if you’ve recorded ITV’s smash hit Broadchurch and don’t want to know the result, look away now.

TV review: Bill Bailey's Jungle Hero

Bill Bailey gets up close to a female predatory bush cricket

Victorian naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace’s role in establishing the theory of evolution is today known by few, writes John Corser.

TV review: The British Animal Honours

Dog lover extraordinaire Paul O’Grady hosted the awards

Our 12-year-old Labrador cross wasn’t the least bit interested in The British Animal Honours (ITV), writes Carl Jones.

TV review: The Century That Wrote Itself

Presenter Adam Nicholson delves into the writings of diarists

Many people keep a diary but few honestly believe that one day it will become one of the most influential books in history.

TV review: Ocean Giants

Whales can be enormous beasts – a blue whale can grow to nearly 100 feet long

When national treasure Stephen Fry is involved in a television documentary you can be almost sure that it will be worth a watch. Almost.

TV review: The Hoarder Next Door

Primary school teacher Jo’s home was a shocking sight

Last night’s televisual entertainment was – quite literally – a load of rubbish.

TV review: Britain's Got Talent

Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden got tearful – again

Well, it trundled back into our living rooms with about as much subtlety as an out of control freight train and didn’t take its foot off the accelerator for 90 minutes.

TV review: Trauma Doctors

Trauma doctors, Dr Gareth Grier, Dr Gareth Davies, Dr Simon Walsh and Dr. Anne Weaver

Unfortunately, there’s often the faintest whiff of ‘naff’ about Channel 5. Their shows have a tendency to give you all the glitz and glamour of a grease-caked arcade machine in a fish and chip shop in Rhyl.