Alan Dee’s guide to the pick of the week’s TV

CSI: NY (Five, 9.30pm)

Gary Sinise and Sela Ward return as Mac and Jo for the eighth season of this much-loved crime drama.

It opens with an emotionally-charged opening episode that marks the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Mac lost his beloved wife was killed on September 11, so expect some heart-rending scenes.

Sunday

Top Gear (BBC Two, 8pm)

One of the most illegally downloaded shows on the planet is back, and in the first of a new run the 691bhp Lamborghini Aventador, McLaren’s hi-tech MP4-12C, and Blighty’s aptly named Noble M600 are among the supercars being tested by Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond.

They will be trying out a high-speed testing ground so vast it can be seen from space.

The trio will also be taking a nerve-wracking drive in Rome before reaching its conclusion with a timed challenge against the Stig at the Imola circuit.

Plus, there’s a look at some of 2012’s most exciting cars.

Monday

The Royal Bodyguard (BBC One, 9pm)

For those of us who have stuck with this amusingly charming effort from small-screen legend David Jason, tonight sees the airing of the concluding episode of the series about Hubble, the hapless security chief to the royals, who literally fell into his job.

When the princess attends a hen party, Hubble finds himself head of security. However, as you can imagine things don’t go according to plan, and he loses the young royal among the crowds. As if that wasn’t enough for the ageing security chief to worry about, there follows a mysterious attack, and it’s then decided that actually, Hubble could do with a bodyguard of his own.

Tuesday 31/01/12

Alex Polizzi - The Fixer (BBC Two, 8pm)

She’s one of the biggest names around but it’s not often you will see it up in lights.

That’s because illuminating the moniker Alessandra Maria-Luigia O Polizzi Di Sorrentino would cost a fortune in bulbs.

But the spotlight is firmly on the slimmed down name of Alex Polizzi, third generation hotelier of the internationally-renowned Forte family.

This new vehicle sees Alex turn her attention to family firms that have reached breaking point. She tackles both their financial failures and domestic dramas and tries to guide them back on to the path to success.

Wednesday

Bouncers (Channel 4, 10pm)

While shadowing a bouncer in any town or city of a Saturday night would prove an eventful and certainly eye-opening evening, telly bosses behind this documentary seem to think Newport, the gateway to Wales, has the extra entertainment factor.

This offbeat film follows the boys of Newport’s biggest security firm during a summer of brawls, booze and camaraderie.

Thursday

Inside Men (BBC One, 9pm)

The story of three employees of a security depot who plan and execute a multi-million pound cash heist. Watch out for s0me really tense interplay between the top-drawer cast and amazing set designs, as well as magnificent scenery courtesy of filming in the vaults at the old Bank of England in Bristol.

Friday

New Girl (Channel 4, 8.30pm)

As the star of movies including (500) Days of Summer and Elf, Deschanel has proved she can be kooky in her sleep.

For newcomers to New Girl, Jess (Deschanel) is a twentysomething whose life was turned upside down when she discovered her long-term boyfriend had been cheating on her. The comedy follows her as, with the help of her three male flatmates, Jess tries to get to grips with being back on the dating scene.

Some people might think that looking like Zooey Deschanel may mean that Jess won’t stay single for long.

Cece seems to agree as she spends the night in her flat, and tries to convince Jess that Nick wants to be more than just friends with her.

Look Out For: It’s more a case of listen out for, but the theme tune is provided by Deschanel’s band She & Him.

Zooey Deschanel says: “[New Girl] wasn’t written for me initially, but it was sort of a perfect fit. You go to a store and there’s a dress that just looks like it was made for you, but it wasn’t. That’s what it was like.”

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