Geek shows and movies on UK TV in the coming week

This week, naturally, it’s all about the scares and there are plenty of films and shows to provide the shivers for Halloween and the next seven days or so.

But the scheduling genies have also managed to squeeze in the laughs among the shrieks this week, for those too squeamish for the scream-inducing telly treats.

We start off with a newcomer to the eponymously named stand-up comedian sketch show club with The Stephen K Amos Show airing tonight, Friday, October 29th at 10:00pm on BBC2. There’s plenty of room for series of this sort and we look forward, with a warm welcome, to Mr Amos’ particular brand of funny stuff.

Those UK fans of the world’s first loveable serial killer who managed to not have the season 4 ending spoiled (and to do so, they must have banned the Internet from home and work), can all go back online after the Dexter finale tonight, Friday, October 29th at 10:00pm on FX. Hello, Dexter Morgan is followed by the gripping season closer, The Getaway, at 11:00pm.

Wallace And Gromit’s World Of Invention will be hosted by the Plasticine pair and looks at gadgets and contraptions similar to what the cheesiest of cheese lovers himself might dream up. The first of six episodes focuses on earthly-inspired inventions in Nature Knows Best, broadcast on Wednesday, November 3rd at 7:30pm on BBC1. There’s a supporting website with tonnes of info, competitions and build-your-own kits as well, here.

In the spirit of all things devilish, we’ll let you know that Brimstone, a terrific, but short-lived show that we talked about in our favourite reapers list here, fretting we’d never see it again, is airing on the horror channel Saturday, October 30th at 8:00pm, where it restarts from the pilot episode, Altar Boys. Only a dozen more episodes follow, but each is worth a look, if only for a gander at John Glover in a most diabolical performance.

We leave the dark behind for a bit and return to the funny side on Saturday, October 30th when The Armstrong And Miller Show is back on BBC1 at 9:45pm  The duo of Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller has consistently supplied some memorable skits and spoofs and there’s no reason to believe that won’t continue for another series.

If you missed the first showing of A History Of Horror With Mark Gatiss, the revealing mini-series returns for a perfectly scheduled repeat starting Sunday, October 31st at 1:20am.

(Please note: the time change from BST to GMT occurs Sunday at 1:00am.)

But on the night, we most eagerly anticipate the Psychoville Halloween Special. Having followed the characters of Psychoville in their first season, it’s been too long since the comedy-horror creation of Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton invaded our small screens. The special airs, quite fittingly, on Sunday, October 31st at 10:00pm on BBC2, bringing with it Imelda Staunton to an already hefty cast of comedy heavyweights. You can read our interview with the scripters and stars here, and prepare for the next series as well (which, according to our interview with Simon Pegg, will feature a very special cameo).

Now, on to the films showing through the weekend and a bit beyond. 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 ’30th’ in your browser’s Find box or window to highlight and/or tab through all movies shown on Saturday. Enjoy!

AlienOn: Film4Date: Saturday 30th OctoberTime: 10:35pm (and 11:35pm Film4+1)

An American Werewolf In LondonOn: SyFyDate: Saturday 30th OctoberTime: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm Syfy+1)

Big Trouble In Little ChinaOn: E4Date: Saturday 30th OctoberTime: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm E4+1)

Black SheepOn: BBC 2Date: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 11:30pm

Blind FuryOn: Five USADate: Monday 1st NovemberTime: 11:00pm (and midnight Five USA+1)

Blow OutOn: TCMDate: Monday 1st November 2010Time: 9:00pm (and 1:15am 2nd Nov)

Bugsy MaloneOn: Film4Date: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 1:00pm (and 2:00pm Film4+1)

CloverfieldOn: Film4Date: Saturday 30th OctoberTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1, 9/10:00pm 4th Nov)

Deep RedOn: horror channelDate: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 10:55pm

Dodgeball: A True Underdog StoryOn: Film4Date: Tuesday 2nd NovemberTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1)

Dracula: Prince Of DarknessOn: ITV4Date: Monday 1st NovemberTime: 01:05am (ans 2:05am ITV4+1, 11:35pm/00:15am 2nd/3rd Nov)

Dumb And DumberOn: FiveDate: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 9:00pm

Flags Of Our FathersOn: more4Date: Friday 29th OctoberTime: 9:00pm (and 00:40am 30th Oct)

For Your Eyes OnlyOn: ITV4Date: Thursday 28th OctoberTime: 8:00pm (and 9:00pm ITV4+1, 4@50/5:50pm 29th Oct)

Godzilla (1998)On: WatchDate: Saturday 30th OctoberTime: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm Watch+1, 3:25/4:25pm 31st Oct)

Halloween (1978)On: BBC 4Date: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 11:35pm

Halloween IV: The Return Of Michael MyersOn: BBC 2Date: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 01:15am

How The West Was WonOn: TCMDate: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 5:15pm (and 9:00am 1st Nov)

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)On: TCMDate: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 11:25pm

Kind Hearts And CoronetsOn: Channel 4Date: Tuesday 2nd NovemberTime: 04:10am (and 5:10am 4+1)

Kindergarten CopOn: ITV2Date: Saturday 30th OctoberTime: 4:55pm (and 5:55 ITV2+1, 9:25/10:25am 31st Oct)

KrullOn: SyFyDate: Saturday 30th OctoberTime: 4:40pm (and 5:40pm Syfy+1, 1:50/2:50pm 31st Oct)

Logan’s RunOn: Film4Date: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 4:25pm (and 5:25pm Film4+1)

Merlin (1998)On: FiveDate: Saturday 30th OctoberTime: 1:30pm

My Name Is BruceOn: SyFyDate: Saturday 30th OctoberTime: midnight (and 1:00am Syfy+1)

NetworkOn: TCMDate: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 01:30am

Night Of The Living Dead (1968)On: BBC 4Date: Saturday 30th OctoberTime: 11:45pm

Night WatchOn: Film4Date: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 00:50am (and 1:50am Film4+1)

OctopussyOn: ITV4Date: Friday 29th OctoberTime: 7:20pm (and 8:20pm ITV4+1, 10:20/11:20am 30th Oct)

OperaOn: horror channelDate: Friday 29th OctoberTime: 10:55pm

PandorumOn: SyFyDate: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 11:00pm (and midnight Syfy+1)

PhenomenaOn: horror channelDate: Monday 1st NovemberTime: 01:30am

Queen Of The DamnedOn: TCMDate: Saturday 30th OctoberTime: 11:05pm

RayOn: ITV3Date: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm ITV3+1)

Rosemary’s BabyOn: Film4Date: Saturday 30th OctoberTime: 00:55am (and 1:55am Film4+1)

Saw IVOn: Channel 4Date: Friday 29th OctobTime: 11:20pm (and 00:20am 30th Oct 4+1)

Say Anything…On: Film4Date: Saturday 30th OctoberTime: 1:00pm (and 2:00pm Film4+1, 4:30/5:30pm 4th Nov)

Scream 3On: Comedy CentralDate: Friday 29th OctoberTime: 11:55pm (and 00:55am 30th Oct CC+1, 00:30/1:30am 1st Nov)

Sleepy HollowOn: Film4Date: Friday 29th OctoberTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1)

TenebraeOn: horror channelDate: Monday 1st NovemberTime: 9:00pm

The Amityville Horror (2005)On: ITV1Date: Friday 29th OctoberTime: 10:35pm

The Bird With The Crystal PlumageOn: horror channelDate: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 9:00pm

The Canterville GhostOn: FiveDate: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 3:15pm

The ExorcistOn: TCMDate: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 9:00pm

The Hound Of The Baskervilles (1939)On: TCMDate: Monday 1st NovemberTime: 3:00pm (and 7:15am 2nd Nov)

The InnocentsOn: Film4Date: Monday 1st NovemberTime: 00:50am (and 1:50am Film4+1)

The Long Kiss GoodnightOn: ITV4Date: Saturday 30th OctoberTime: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm ITV4+1)

The MummyOn: ITV2Date: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 3:35pm (and 4:35pm ITV2+1)

The OthersOn: Film4Date: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1)

The ThingOn: ITV4Date: Friday 29th OctoberTime: 11:45pm (and 00:45am 30th Oct, 1:10am/1:10am* 31st Oct ITV4+1)

The WitchesOn: FiveDate: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 5:15pm

Three KingsOn: ITV2Date: Monday 1st NovemberTime: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm ITV2+1)

ThunderballOn: ITV13Date: Saturday 30th October 3Time: 3:20pm

Training DayOn: Sky1Date: Saturday 30th OctoberTime: 9:00pm (and 9:00pm 31st Oct Sky2, 11:00pm 3rd Nov Sky1, 10:00pm 4th Nov Sky2)

TriangleOn: SyFyDate: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Syfy+1)

Willy Wonka And The Chocolate FactoryOn: ITV3Date: Sunday 31st OctoberTime: 3:20pm (and 4:20pm ITV3+1)