By Now that we've calmed down from all of the big awards shows that littered the start of the year, we can settle in for an amazing week's worth of telly – including the return of several big-name stars: there's Netflix's machiavellian mastermind, a bespectacled joker and his famous friends and a crime-fighting priest with abs. Heavens be praised!
1. HOUSE OF CARDS – Friday on Netflix
A timely Presidential campaign is the backdrop for this fourth season of Kevin Spacey's gripping drama. But how the hell can he survive much longer without people finding out he's a murderous git? Even Donald Trump hasn't gone that far, Frank. Say goodbye to your weekend when this gets released in full in the early hours.
2. GRANTCHESTER – Wednesday at 9pm on ITV
This could have been another boring by-the-numbers period crime drama, but this has something about it. That something is most probably James Norton as ripped priest Sidney, but it's also his lovely bromance with Robson Green's copper Geordie that make this not your average drama. A laid-back treat.
3. FAMILY GUY – Monday at 9pm on ITV2
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One of the biggest disappointments of BBC Three moving online was that we no longer got the constant run of Family Guy late at night. But fear not, as ITV2 has poached Seth MacFarlane's comedy, and its 14th season debuts tonight. Giggity.
4. DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW – Thursday at 8pm
DC may be playing catch-up with Marvel in the movie game, but they're leading the pack on the small screen. So much so, that we already have an Avengers-style team-up series based around villains as they travel through time to stop even bigger villain Vandal Savage from destroying the world. It has Doctor Who's Arthur Darvill and plenty of ludicrous timey-wimey plots that even his old TARDIS-driving mate would get confused at.
5. ALAN CARR: CHATTY MAN – Thursday at 10pm on Channel 4
In an intriguing new Thursday night slot, Alan Carr brings back his drinks cabinet and comfy sofa for a 16th series. Always a lively and silly alternative to other chat shows, this week Chatty Man welcomes Friends star Matthew Perry, Philip Schofield, writer Caitlin Moran and The 1975 to the studio.
6. DOCTOR THORNE – Sunday at 9pm on ITV
Downton Abbey was ITV's mother hit that no-one saw coming. Now writer Julian Fellowes will attempt to follow it up with this three-parter, and it's obviously a period drama. Adapted from Anthony Trollope's series of Barsetshire novels (so don't expect it to be a one-off), it has an impressive cast including Tom Hollander, Lovejoy himself Ian McShane, The Thick of It's Rebecca Front and Mad Men star Alison Brie. Could this be our new Sunday night guilty pleasure?
7. MURDER – Thursday at 9pm on BBC Two
They haven't beaten around the bush with this one – Murder is what it's all about. This intriguing new three-part series casts us as a jury member as we try to work out who's guilty. Characters talk to the camera as we study their expressions, and it's incredibly addictive (and feels like a fancy episode of Peep Show). Following from its previous one-off in 2012, The Killing's Birger Larsen is back directing this hidden gem.
8. BEAR GRYLLS: MISSION SURVIVE – Thursday at 9pm on ITV
He seems to have about 20 shows on at once at the moment, Grylls. He's back with a second series of this six-parter in which seven celebrities push themselves to the limit in the wilds of South Africa. Quite why, we don't know, but it's brilliant TV. This time we have Neil Morrissey, West End star Samantha Barks and soap actress Michelle Collins. Not exactly A-list, but still better than the last Celebrity Big Brother.
