Mike Ward s World Cup Alternatives blog

Flick through the TV schedules for the next month or so and the chances are you'll spot something a wee bit unusual.

Namely, the fact they're showing rather a lot of football, at least on BBC1, BBC2 and ITV.

The World Cup (I refuse to call it the FIFA World Cup, I'm petulant that way) will be dominating or, at least, significantly disrupting the regular TV schedules right up to its conclusion on July 13.

Which is fine if you happen to love the game. In fact, it's more than fine; for the true armchair football fanatic, it's absolute heaven. And your YouView box seriously comes into its own, recording-wise, for those late-night, past-your-bedtime fixtures being beamed from Brazil.

But what if you're not that fussed about this football fiesta or, worse, actually shudder at the very thought of all those live televised games and extended highlights packages, night after night?

For the non-football fan, is there anything else to look forward to between now and mid-July?

In a word, yes. In two words, yes, definitely. In fact, this is one of those times when you really come to appreciate the breadth of programming available through YouView.

Starting on Dave, for example, on Monday June 16, theres the brand new series Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled. Its a simple idea Alan natters, in front of a studio audience, with four top funny-folk per show (starting with Noel Fielding, Andrew Maxwell, Kerry Godliman, Jon Ronson), their entirely script-free conversation being triggered by an interesting fact about each guest.

Dave is also taking us back to the very start of the brilliant Gavin and Stacey, with triple-bill, Monday-to-Friday re-runs from June 23. And of course youre never far away from a Top Gear Special, in this case Burma (July 2) and Africa (July 3)

Another great digital channel, Drama, has an abundance of fine alternative offerings throughout the tournament.

Hugh Bonneville, Miranda Richardson and Miles Anderson star in Scold's Bridle (Saturday June 14), based on a murder mystery by Minette Walters.

Suranne Jones and Tom Ellis take the lead roles in the brilliantly creepy James Herbert three-parter The Secret Of Crickley Hall (Saturday July 5). And on Saturday July 12, in another triple-bill, Drama is showing the original BBC1 series of House Of Cards, starring Ian Richardson.

Also on Drama, look out for Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Silk Stocking (Friday June 20), starring Rupert Everett and Ian Hart; plus the Daniel Craig drama Archangel (Wednesday July 9) and the Sally Lockhart mystery Ruby In The Smoke (Friday July 4), starring Billie Piper.

All that, plus The 39 Steps (the 2008 version, with Rupert Penry-Jones) going out on Friday June 27, and the wonderful comedy-drama Learners (Sunday June 29), with David Tennant and Jessica Hynes.

On terrestrial, Channel 4's highlights include a fascinating documentary marking the 20th anniversary of the OJ Simpson trial, currently scheduled for Sunday June 15 (bear in mind, by the way, that a lot of these transmission dates are still subject to confirmation), plus the return of its hilarious sitcom Friday Night Dinner (Friday June 20), starring Tamsin Greig, Paul Ritter, Simon Bird, Tom Rosenthal and Mark Heap.

There's also a brand new show, This Old Thing (Wednesday June 25), where Dawn O'Porter celebrates her love of vintage fashion and shows how to repair and revive clothing to bring it up to date, rather than constantly splash out on new stuff.

Also coming up on Channel 4, theres John Barrowmans Pets with Problems (Monday July 7), Bill Baileys stand-up performance Quampeddler (Thursday July 10) and the return of Davina McCall with The Million Pound Drop (Friday July 11).

Over on Channel 5, the latest series of Big Brother, with its Power Trip theme, will run throughout the summer. There are also new series, including Brand New Home For 5K a property makeover show with Linda Baker and continuing favourites such as The Dog Rescuers with Alan Davies (Tuesdays at 8pm).

American Idol is also back on Channel 5s digital sister channel, 5*.

Finally, despite all the football coverage, the BBC and ITV still have a few treats lined up. ITV, for instance, has Alison Steadmans Shetland (Tuesday June 24), a number of Long Lost Family catch-ups and the intriguing documentaries Inside Aspreys and Inside Champneys (Thurs July 3 and Thursday July 10). Theres also The Nations Favourite Motown Song on Sunday July 6.

And on BBC1 in early July we have new dramas The Honourable Woman (Maggie Gyllenhaal in a fast-paced political thriller, written and directed by Hugo Blick) and Common (a Jimmy McGovern one-off, with Nico Mirallegro, Daniel Mays and Jodhi May).

Oh, and life goes on in Soapland, of course, even if the episode times get shuffled around a bit. Coronation Street has Tinas funeral (its not the most civilised affair, as you might imagine), EastEnders has a major Ronnie Mitchell storyline and in Emmerdale theres even a guest appearance from British Olympic cycling star Victoria Pendleton. I kid you not.

Rumours of Wayne Rooney turning up in Hollyoaks, on the other hand, have been flatly denied.

Shame.

LINK:	http://www.youview.com/news/2014/06/09/blog-world-cup-alternatives-by-...
	See more stories from youview

Most recent headlines