“A detective drama for the ages”: 7 “superb” TV shows to watch this week on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more

If you’re well and truly fed up of searching for something good to watch, we’ve come to your rescue. We’ve had a sneak preview of all the big TV shows coming to our screens this week and we've sorted the good from the bad to bring you the superb ones.

From a detective drama for the ages (Death Valley is back!), to a new romantic drama from Adolescence creator Jack Thorne and a spy thriller to fill the Slow Horses-shaped hole in your life, there’s so much good stuff coming this week. So, remotes at the ready for the 7 best shows to watch this week on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more.

Believe Me

ITV’s latest true crime drama has already earned quite an audience, and the final two episodes are almost here. If you haven’t got stuck in yet, the series tells the harrowing story of John Worboys (Daniel Mays), who used his profession as a taxi driver to prey on women. With the spotlight on the ordeal of his victims - played by Aimée-Ffion Edwards and Aasiya Shah – it’s a confronting yet compelling watch. Continues on ITV1 at 9pm on Sunday 17^th and Monday 18^th May. The full series is also available to watch on ITVX.

Death Valley

Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth are making a very welcome return as unlikely crime-solving duo John Chapel and DS Janie Mallowan. While Janie has been promoted, retired actor John is reluctantly re-entering the world of acting in a Welsh fantasy TV series. But his day on set is interrupted when the pair are called to investigate a murder. If you’re a fan of detective dramas, this is one for the ages. Series 2 is arriving on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 8.15pm on Sunday 17^th May.

Falling

Adolescence creator Jack Thorne has yet another brilliantly compelling series on the horizon, this time in the form of romantic drama Falling. We'll meet Anna (Keeley Hawes), a devoted nun who’s deeply committed to her faith and the wider community, and David (Paapa Essiedu) a Catholic priest who’s equally devoted to his church. Both have made a lifelong vow to commit themselves to God – so what happens when they fall in love? Arriving on Channel 4 at 9pm on Tuesday 19^thMay.

The Boroughs

The creators of Stranger Things are behind this supernatural series, which means we’ve got pretty high hopes for it. The drama begins in a seemingly perfect retirement community in New Mexico, but a grieving newcomer’s monstrous encounter inspires him to join a misfit crew of unlikely heroes – and they’ll soon realise that their "golden years" are more dangerous than anyone expected. Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard and Denis O’Hare are among the cast. Arriving on Netflix on Thursday 21^st May.

Race Across the World: The Final

Five intrepid teams have been on the journey of a lifetime, racing more than 12,000km across Europe and Asia and now the final is upon us. Jo and Kush, Katie and Harrison, Molly and Andrew, Puja and Roshni, and Mark and Margo are all hoping to finish first in Hatgal by Lake Hövsgöl in Mongolia – and with setbacks occurring left, right and centre, it’s anyone’s game! Arriving on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 8pm on Thursday 21^st May.

Ponies

One that’ll fill the Slow Horses-shaped hole in your life, Sky’s twisty new spy thriller takes us to 1970s Moscow where Bea (Emilia Clarke) and Twila (Haley Lu Richardson) are working anonymously as secretaries in the US Embassy. But when their husbands mysteriously die, they hang up their secretary shoes and embark on a mission to uncover what really happened – and it’s a decision that will take them to the heart of a vast Cold War conspiracy. One that’ll have you hooked. Arriving on Sky Atlantic and NOW on Friday 22^nd May.

Dear England

The small-screen adaptation of James Graham’s multi award-winning play about Gareth Southgate (played by Joseph Fiennes) and the England men’s football team is here. A fictionalised account of the struggles and successes of England’s football teams, we meet Gareth as he aims to start a new chapter with the England men's team. And with the worst team track record for penalties in the world when he takes over as manager, he’s got rather a lot of work to do. Jodie Whittaker, Jason Watkins and John Hodgkinson also star. Arriving on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm on Sunday 24^th May.