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

SATURDAY

Alan Carr’s New Year Specstacular (Channel 4, 9pm)

For the turn of a new year, Alan Carr takes over Channel 4’s basement and invites along guests including Jonathan Ross, Micky Flanagan, Gok Wan, Heston Blumenthal, Kirstie Allsopp and his Radio 2 co-presenter Melanie Sykes. Perhaps the most exciting addition to the line-up is Strictly judge Alesha Dixon, who certainly got into the party spirit when she recently appeared on Chatty Man _ maybe that was just a warm up for this main event.

Sunday

Sherlock (BBC One, 8.10pm)

Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Watson (Martin Freeman) are back to crack on with their next case.

The first episode sees our detective duo investigating a case of blackmail at the very heart of the British establishment. They find themselves dealing with international terrorism, rogue CIA agents and a shadowy conspiracy which, let’s face it, is more or less just another day at the office for Holmes and Watson.

Monday

Endeavour (ITV1, 8pm)

Colin Dexter, who created and wrote the Inspector Morse novels on which the TV series was based, said he never wanted anybody else to play the curmudgeonly yet oddly lovable detective following John Thaw’s death.

Nevertheless, he’s returning to our screens, but in an altogether different shape and age – he’s played by Shaun Evans.

Endeavour focuses on the policeman’s early career and its broadcast will also mark the 25th anniversary of the first Inspector Morse TV episode, The Dead of Jericho.

Tuesday

Public Enemies (BBC One, 9pm)

Based on a screenplay by acclaimed writer Tony Marchant, this three-part drama stars Anna Friel as Paula, a probation officer who’s just returning from suspension after an offender she was supposed to be keeping an eye on committed a shocking crime.

She has a chance to redeem herself, however, when she’s assigned to the case of Eddie (Daniel Mays), a 28-year-old murderer.

He’s about to be released back into a community that doesn’t want him, and nobody is really sure if he’s learned his lesson. Paula, meanwhile, knows she can’t make a mess of this case; her future depends on getting things right this time.

Wednesday

One Born Every Minute (Channel 4, 9pm)

The series about new lives, and the people who create them, heads north to Leeds General Infirmary after two years at Southampton.

Filming 24-hours a day, seven days a week, it records the intimacy and drama of everyday life in a maternity hospital.

Thursday

The Restoration Man (Channel 4, 9pm)

Architect George Clarke is back to help with major projects which could rescue historic homes.

Friday

Hustle (BBC One, 9pm)

More adventures for a group of London-based con artists aiming to make a big payday at the expense of someone else’s misfortune.

This first instalment of the last ever series sees the grifters passing themselves off as a renegade army unit as they take on a dodgy gold dealer who badly needs a taste of his own medicine.