Geek shows and movies on UK TV in the coming week

Sky Atlantic launches in the UK, bringing Boardwalk Empire with it. Plus, catch up on Mad Men season 4, and a whole host of movies...

In the preceding few weeks we’ve had the new series of shows start up with Being Human, Hustle, Not Going Out and Primeval returning to awaiting fans. And a few new shows have shoved their way onto the schedules with Episodes, 10 O’Clock Live and How TV Ruined Your Life settling snugly into their respective spots.

And after quite a feast of fresh programming, this week brings us leftovers (although they’re imported leftovers of the highest quality), and a treat many of us won’t be able to enjoy. I suppose we can’t gorge every week, and they’re both still well worth the couch commitment, provided you can tune in, of course…

Reheated and served up to everyone in equal portions comes the fourth season of the excellent, imported Mad Men. First shown on BBC4 last autumn and winter, the premiere episode is called Public Relations. We reviewed the series when it first aired, and you can follow along and add your thoughts to the comments here, starting Monday, January 31st at 11:20pm on BBC2. You’ll find all the Mad Men reviews and mentions of the show here.

On Tuesday, February 1st, Sky satellite subscribers will be treated to a new channel called Sky Atlantic. It will feature HBO programming from the US, with a premiering show on our shores being Boardwalk Empire, the story of Atlantic City’s early days, filled with crime, corruption and a lot of undressed actors and actresses. Starring Steve Buscemi alongside an excellent supporting cast, the pilot airs Tuesday at 9:00pm on Sky Atlantic. The channel is exclusive to Sky subscribers, but if it’s being beamed into your home, you can follow along with reviews, starting here, and see all the Boardwalk Empire reviews and news here. Let us know what you think of the show and the new channel, or lack of it in your living rooms.

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Now, on to the films showing through the weekend and a bit beyond. There’s a battle of the bad comic hero to film adaptations with The Punisher versus Spawn. (It’s a fight no one wants to win, so defend your favourite!) And you can also catch Liam Neeson in early ass-kicking mode in Krull, nestled among many other fine films. 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 ’29th’ in your browser’s Find box or window to highlight and/or tab through all movies shown on Saturday. Enjoy!


Along Came A SpiderOn: Channel 4   Date: Saturday 29th JanuaryTime: 10:20pm (and 11:20pm 4+1)

Austin Powers In GoldmemberOn: Film4Date: Friday 28th JanuaryTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1, 9/10:00pm 2nd Feb)

BecketOn: BBC 2  Date: Sunday 30th JanuaryTime: 1:20pm

BigOn: Film4Date: Sunday 30th JanuaryTime: 7:00pm (and 8:00pm Film4+1)CellularOn: Film4Date: Tuesday 1st FebruaryTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1)

Die Hard 2On: Film4Date: Sunday 30th JanuaryTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1, 9/10:00pm 3rd Feb)

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Dog SoldiersOn: Film4 Date: Sunday 30th JanuaryTime: 11:20pm (and 00:20am 31st Jan Film4+1)

Falling DownOn: ITV4 Date: Thursday 27th JanuaryTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm ITV4+1, 11:05pm/00:05am 28th/30th Jan)

Fantastic FourOn: Channel 4 Date: Saturday 29th JanuaryTime: 7:00pm (and 8:00pm 4+1)From Dusk Till DawnOn: Channel 4 Date: Sunday 30th JanuaryTime: 00:20am (and 1:20am 4+1)

Get ShortyOn: ITV4Date: Monday 31st JanuaryTime: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm ITV4+1)

GremlinsOn: TCMDate: Wednesday 2nd FebruaryTime: 10:55pm

Hard TargetOn: ITV1   Date: Monday 31st JanuaryTime: 02:00am

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Harold And MaudeOn: TCM  Date: Sunday 30th JanuaryTime: 9:00pmHarry BrownOn: Sky Movies PremiereDate: Friday 28th JanuaryTime: 10:15pm (and 11:15pm Premiere+1, the daily at similar times through 3rd Feb)HulkOn: ITV1 Date: Saturday 29th JanuaryTime: 1:50pm

InvictusOn: Sky Movies Premiere  Date: Friday 28th JanuaryTime: 10:00am (and 11:00am Premiere+1 & 8/9:00pm, then daily at similar times through 3rd Feb)

JunoOn: Film4Date: Saturday 29th JanuaryTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1)

Kelly’s HeroesOn: Five USA Date: Saturday 29th JanuaryTime: 7:10pm (and 8:10pm Five USA+1)KrullOn: SyFy Date: Saturday 29th JanuaryTime: 4:20pm (and 5:20pm Syfy+1, 2/3:00pm 30th Jan)

Lethal Weapon 2On: Sky1Date: Saturday 29th JanuaryTime: 9:00pm

Never Cry WolfOn: BBC 2 Date: Saturday 29th JanuaryTime: noon

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Ninja AssassinOn: Sky Movies PremiereDate: Saturday 29th JanuaryTime: 00:15am (and 1:15am Premiere+1, then daily at similar times through 4th Feb)

Pale RiderOn: TCM Date: Sunday 30th JanuaryTime: 10:45pm

PandorumOn: SyFyDate: Sunday 30th JanuaryTime: 02:20am (and 3:20am Syfy+1)

Phone BoothOn: Film4Date: Wednesday 2nd FebruaryTime: 00:30am (and 1:30am Film4+1)Pom PokoOn: Channel 4 Date: Thursday 3rd FebruaryTime: 03:25am (nad 4:25am 4+1)

SpawnOn: TCMDate: Wednesday 2nd FebruaryTime: 9:00pm

Requiem For A DreamOn: BBC 2  Date: Friday 28th JanuaryTime: 11:50pmRoboCopOn: SyFyDate: Sunday 30th JanuaryTime: 00:20am (and 1:20am Syfy+1, 9:50/10:50pm 2nd Feb)

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Se7enOn: TCM Date: Friday 28th JanuaryTime: 11:00pmShrek The ThirdOn: BBC 3  Date: Sunday 30th JanuaryTime: 7:35pm (and 8:00pm 2nd Feb)SleeperOn: TCMDate: Saturday 29th JanuaryTime: 1:20pm (and 5:00am 30th Jan)

Star Trek: InsurrectionOn: Film4Date: Sunday 30th JanuaryTime: 1:00pm (and 2:00pm Film4+1)

Star Trek: NemesisOn: Film4Date: Monday 31st JanuaryTime: 6:50pm (and 7:50pm Film4+1)

The Evil DeadOn: horror channel Date: Sunday 30th JanuaryTime: 10:55pm

The Eye (Gin gwai)On: Film4Date: Sunday 30th JanuaryTime: 02:05am (and 3:05am Film4+1)The Falcon And The SnowmanOn: TCM Date: Sunday 30th JanuaryTime: 01:40am

The Fifth ElementOn: Five Date: Sunday 30th JanuaryTime: 1:20pmThe Life Aquatic With Steve ZissouOn: Comedy CentralDate: Saturday 29th JanuaryTime: 01:40am (and 2:40am CC+1, 1:45/2:45am 30th Jan)The MatrixOn: ITV2Date: Saturday 29th JanuaryTime: 11:10pm (and 00:10am 30th Jan ITV2+1, 11:30pm/00:30am 2nd/3rd Jan)The Neverending StoryOn: ITV2Date: Saturday 29th JanuaryTime: 10:05am (and 11:05am ITV2+1)

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The Princess BrideOn: FIVER Date: Saturday 29th JanuaryTime: 7:00pm (and 8:00pm Fiver+1)

The PunisherOn: FiveDate: Thursday 3rd FebruaryTime: 10:00pm

The StingOn: ITV4Date: Sunday 30th JanuaryTime: 4:25pm (and 5:25pm ITV4+1)The Sum Of All FearsOn: Watch  Date: Saturday 29th JanuaryTime: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm Watch+1, 9/10:00pm 30th Jan)

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)On: horror channel   Date: Saturday 29th JanuaryTime: 10:55pm

Wall StreetOn: Sky1 Date: Sunday 30th JanuaryTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm, 2nd Feb & 9:00pm 3rd Feb Sky2)Where The Wild Things AreOn: Sky Movies PremiereDate: Friday 28th JanuaryTime: 6:00pm (and 7:00pm Premiere+1 and daily at similar times through 10th Feb)