Geek shows and movies on UK TV in the coming week

We’re almost completely dependent on the BBC for new programming heading our way this week. But Channel 4 brings us a return of a series midstream, with episode 13 of season 4 of The Big Bang Theory. Although the nasal whining can get a bit much at times, there’s lots of geeky goodness to be found in the show, with guaranteed references to games, shows and films we know well and love. We have a Lazy Geek’s Guide here that may help you decide if it’s worth the couch commitment, and The Love Car Displacement episode airs tonight, Friday July 8th, at 11:05pm.

It looks like the popularity of X-Men: First Class and Mad Men, among others, has firmly established our recent enjoyment of period drama, when well written and executed, of course. A new six part series, The Hour, takes us back at bit further, to the mid-50s and into the BBC’s own newsroom, where an investigative programme of the same name is produced. Billed as a spy thriller, the show stars Dominic West (The Wire, Centurion), Romola Garai and Ben Whishaw, and launches on Tuesday, July 19th, at 9:00pm on BBC2. Here’s a trailer for a flavour of the show…

The week’s highlight for many happens on Thursday, July 14th at 9:00pm on BBC1. That’s when the first of ten episodes of Torchwood: Miracle Day is broadcast in the UK. It’s entitled The New World, and you’ll need to tread carefully among sites until then, as the show starts in the US tonight. But with a bit of caution you can catch this eagerly awaited debut without tainting or taming the thrills.

We’ve had some tempting coverage in the wait for the show, including an especially fun interview with Eve Myles, which you can find here, and we’ll be anxious to hear your thoughts on this newest adventure for Captain Jack Harkness and Gwen Cooper, and their American counterparts and combatants.

Here are a few more short videos of what to expect on Thursday, if you simply can’t wait…

Esther Meets Captain Jack

Captain Jack explains Torchwood

What future for Oswald Danes?

Now, on to those films showing through the weekend and a bit beyond.

This week there’s a double dose director showing, with two from the mind of Mel Brooks, High Anxiety and Spaceballs. And a triumvirate from Joel Schumacher with Tigerland, The Client, and The Lost Boys.

For kids, James And The Giant Peach repeats, and another Roald Dahl favourite, Matilda, airs as well.

DiCaprio fans get a triple treat with Gangs Of New York, The Beach and The Departed.

As always, if we missed anything interesting, have a shout in the comments, with our thanks.

Please also note: the ordinal numbers for dates will help you scan through this simple list with your browser’s search function. Enter ‘9th’ in your browser’s Find box or window to highlight and/or tab through all movies shown on Saturday. Enjoy!

On: Sky Movies Premiere    Date: Friday 8th JulyTime: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm Premiere+1, then daily through 14th July)ArmageddonOn: Sky1    Date: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm 10th July Sky2, 9:00pm 12th July Sky1, 10:10pm 14th July Sky2)

Back To The FutureOn: ITV2Date: Sunday 10th JulyTime: 6:45pm (and 7:45pm ITV2+1)

BackdraftOn: ITV1     Date: Friday 8th JulyTime: 10:35pm

Bad SantaOn: 5*   Date: Friday 8th JulyTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm 5*+1)

BarbarellaOn: ITV4Date: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 10:55pm (and 11:55pm ITV4+1, 11:55pm/00:55am 13th/14th July)

Batman BeginsOn: TCMDate: Tuesday 12th JulyTime: 9:00pm

BeetlejuiceOn: 5*Date: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm 5*+1)

BladeOn: TCM  Date: Friday 8th JulyTime: 10:55pmChain ReactionOn: E4Date: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm E4+1)

CrankOn: ITV1     Date: Tuesday 12th JulyTime: 10:35pmDark WaterOn: BBC 1     Date: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 11:35pmDarkmanOn: SyFy   Date: Friday 8th JulyTime: 10:50pm (and 11:50pm Syfy+1, 10/11:00pm 9th July)Detroit Rock CityOn: TCMDate: Tuesday 12th JulyTime: 11:45pm

DoomOn: ITV1Date: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 03:05am

Dumb And DumberOn: WatchDate: Thursday 14th JulyTime: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm Watch+1)

FanboysOn: Sky Movies Premiere   Date: Friday 8th JulyTime: 6:15pm (and 7:15pm Premiere+1, then daily at similar times through 21st July)Fatal AttractionOn: Film4Date: Wednesday 13th JulyTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1)

FranticOn: ITV3Date: Sunday 10th JulyTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm ITV3+1)Futurama: Bender’s Big ScoreOn: Sky1   Date: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 11:00am (and 12:15pm 10th July)Gangs Of New YorkDate: Saturday 9th JulyOn: Channel 4    Date: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm 4+1)

GomorraOn: BBC 4Date: Wednesday 13th JulyTime: 11:25pm

Grown UpsOn: Sky Movies PremiereDate: Friday 8th JulyTime: 10:00am (and 11:00am Premiere+1 & 8/9:00pm, then daily through 14th July)

Happy FeetOn: Comedy Central  Date: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 3:00pm (and 4:00pm CC+1, 4:50/5:50pm 10th July)High AnxietyOn: Film4Date: Sunday 10th JulyTime: 11:00am (and noon Film4+1)High CrimesOn: Film4Date: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1)In The LoopOn: BBC 2  Date: Sunday 10th JulyTime: 10:30pm

Infernal Affairs IIOn: Channel 4   Date: Sunday 10th JulyTime: 01:10am (and 2:10am 4+1)James And The Giant PeachOn: Film4Date: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 3:10pm (and 4:10pm Film4+1)

Jurassic Park IIIOn: ITV2   Date: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 7:15pm (and 8:15pm ITV2+1)KidulthoodOn: BBC 3Date: Wednesday 13th JulyTime: 10:00pm

Knocked UpOn: ITV2Date: Sunday 10th JulyTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm ITV2+1)

Licence To KillOn: ITV1  Date: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 3:55pm

Lord Of WarOn: BBC 1Date: Friday 8th JulyTime: 11:30pmMaster And Commander: The Far Side Of The WorldOn: Channel 5   Date: Sunday 10th JulyTime: 9:00pm

MatildaOn: Channel 5   Date: Sunday 10th JulyTime: 4:35pm

Mystic RiverOn: TCMDate: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 9:00pmOcean’s TwelveOn: ITV1    Date: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 10:15pmOnly YesterdayOn: Film4    Date: Friday 8th JulyTime: 4:00pm (and 5:00pm Film4+1)

PhiladelphiaOn: Channel 5    Date: Monday 11th JulyTime: 10:00pmShadow Of A Doubt (1943)On: Film4     Date: Sunday 10th JulyTime: 2:55pm (ans 3:55pm Film4+1)

Sherlock Holmes Faces DeathOn: TCM  Date: Sunday 10th JulyTime: 5:25pm (and 9:35am 11th July)

SleepersOn: ITV3Date: Friday 8th JulyTime: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm ITV3+1, 11:30pm/00:30am 10th/11th July)

SpaceballsOn: SyFyDate: Sunday 10th JulyTime: 3:10pm (and 4:10pm Syfy+1)

SpawnOn: TCMDate: Wednesday 13th JulyTime: 11:00pmStar Trek: GenerationsOn: E4Date: Sunday 10th JulyTime: 11:45pm (and 00:45am 11th July E4+1)StardustOn: Film4Date: Wednesday 13th JulyTime: 6:35pm (and 7:35pm Film4+1)

Stephen King’s It (Part I)On: horror channelDate: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 00:50am

Stephen King’s It (Part II)On: horror channelDate: Sunday 10th JulyTime: 00:50amTango And CashOn: ITV4Date: Friday 8th JulyTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm ITV4+1, 9:00pm 11th July, 1:10am 12th July TCM)

Terminator 2: Judgment DayOn: ITV2  Date: Monday 11th JulyTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm ITV2+1)

The BeachOn: Film4Date: Friday 8th JulyTime: 11:10pm (and 00:10am 9th July Film4+1, 11:50pm/00:50am 12th/13th July)

The ClientOn: Film4Date: Monday 11th JulyTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1)

The DepartedOn: Film4Date: Tuesday 12th JulyTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1)

The JerkOn: ITV4Date: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm ITV4+1, midnight/1:00am 11th/12th July)

The Legend Of ZorroOn: Channel 5   Date: Sunday 10th JulyTime: 6:30pmThe Long Kiss GoodnightOn: 5*Date: Monday 11th JulyTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm 5*+1)

The Lost BoysOn: TCM   Date: Friday 8th JulyTime: 9:00pm (and 1:15am 9th July)

The Railway ChildrenOn: ITV3   Date: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 1:45pm (and 2:45pm ITV3+1)The Simpsons MovieOn: Channel 4Date: Saturday 9th JulyTime: 7:15pm (and 8:15pm 4+1)

TigerlandOn: more4  Date: Friday 8th JulyTime: 10:00pm (and 11:40pm 13th July)

The Accidental TouristOn: TCMDate: Friday 8th JulyTime: 3:00pm (and 7:15am 9th July)

The Ladykillers (1955)On: Dave  Date: Friday 8th JulyTime: 4:00pm (and 5:00pm Dave Ja Vue, 10/11:am 9th July)

TwisterOn: ITV2    Date: Sunday 10th JulyTime: 4:30pm (and 5:30pm ITV2+1)