“Better than The Split”: 7 “outstanding” TV shows to watch this week on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more

If the endless scrolling for something good to watch has you giving up before you’ve even begun, we’ve come to your rescue. There’s heaps of great TV coming this week, so we’ve spent some time working our way through it all to bring you the shows that are truly outstanding.

From the return of a legal drama that's better than The Split to ITV’s next big true crime drama and the return of Lesley Manville to our screens (hurrah!), there’s something to please everyone. So, get ready for a week of brilliant TV with our pick of the 7 shows to watch on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more.

Secret Service

ITV's latest page-to-screen adaptation is already proving popular with viewers with the fourth episode set to really up the ante. The book in question is Tom Bradby’s bestselling novel, which focuses on MI6 agent Kate Henderson (played brilliantly by Gemma Arterton) who uncovers a Russian plot involving a senior UK politician. Kate believes the politician is a Russian asset - but if they are, what exactly is their motive? Continues on ITV1 and ITVX on Tuesday 5^th April at 9pm.

Amandaland

Following the triumphant Christmas special, the BBC’s popular Motherland spin-off is back. Amanda (Lucy Punch) is still in SoHa and she’s juggling her kids, her Senuous brand and her “co-lab” working at Kitchen’s Bathrooms and Kitchens. She also happens to have her eyes on a big house in the area that’s up for sale, but there’s only one person who can help her get it: her mother Felicity (Joanna Lumley). We can only imagine how that will go. Series 2 is arriving on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm on Wednesday 6^th May.

Citadel

The spy thriller that’s been called better than Slow Horses is finally here for a second series. Series 1 introduced us to two spies played by Richard Madden and Priyanka Jonas, whose memories were wiped when their agency, Citadel, was destroyed by criminal syndicate Manticore. Lesley was as compelling as you’d imagine as manipulative Dahlia Archer, the UK Ambassador to the US, who was also a Manticore agent and now it’s time for her to return to work. Not least because Manticore is on the cusp of establishing a new world order. Arriving on Prime Video on Wednesday 6th May.

Matlock

The Split’s biggest rival (many fans think it's even better) returns for the latter half of series 2. Our heroine is lawyer Madeleine “Matty” Matlock, who’s working at a prestigious law firm – but she’s not exactly who she says she is. Matty is working undercover as she suspects the firm hid documents that could have prevented her daughter’s death to an opioid overdose - and she’s not going anywhere until she gets justice. If you enjoy a pressure-cooker drama, it’s a must-watch. Series 2, part 2 is arriving on Sky Witness and NOW at 10pm on Wednesday 6^th May.

Legends

This eye-opening series from the creator of The Gold is inspired by the incredible true story of a group of everyday British Customs officers who were given a top-secret mission: to infiltrate the country’s most notorious criminal drug gangs, and help take them down. Just a small task then. Starring Steve Coogan, Victoria's Tom Hughes and You's Charlotte Ritchie, we'll see how they each took on new identities and put their lives in grave danger to become, well, legends. Arriving on Netflix on Thursday 7th May.

Hudson & Rex

If you haven’t yet dived into this Canadian detective drama, there’s no time like the present to catch up. The series follows a charming detective named Charlie Hudson (John Reardon) and his unexpectedly brilliant partner, Rex, who has four legs and uses his nose to solve crimes because he is, in fact, a dog. While Hudson uses human intuition, Rex brings a unique talent with his heightened animal senses, often spotting the clues his human partner misses. Series 8 is arriving on U&Alibi at 8pm on Sunday 10^th May.

Believe Me

ITV’s next big true crime drama takes harrowing events to a new level with the story John Worboys (played by Daniel Mays), who used his profession as a taxi driver to prey on women. Worboys was convicted in 2009 for sexually assaulting 12 women between 2006 and 2008, but the drama puts the real spotlight on three of his victims - played by Aimée-Ffion Edwards, Miriam Petche and Aasiya Shah - and their fight to be taken seriously. Arriving on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm on Sunday 10th May.