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'Strictly Come Dancing' returns: The weekend's top telly picks 17-19 September

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2021 contestants Greg Wise, Katie McGlynn, Dan Walker, AJ Odudu, Rhys Stephenson, Tilly Ramsay, Tom Fletcher, Judi Love, Adam Peaty, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Robert Webb, John Waite, Nina Wadia, Ugo Monye, Sara Davies. (BBC)
The 'Strictly' class of 2021. (BBC)

This weekend's biggest TV news is of course that Strictly Come Dancing is back, with a chance to see who the couples will be in Saturday night's launch show on BBC One.

Other highlights to look out for include the Celebrity MasterChef final on Friday, the return of Gogglebox, and a new series of acclaimed teen drama Sex Education which begins streaming on Netflix.

Read more: All you need to know about Strictly 2021

West End show Everyone's Talking About Jamie gets a film version at Amazon Prime Video, while the weekend rounds off on Sunday night with tense drama from Suranne Jones series Vigil.

Friday

Celebrity MasterChef - BBC One - 9pm

WARNING: Embargoed for publication until 00:00:01 on 22/04/2021 - Programme Name: Celebrity Masterchef S16 - TX: n/a - Episode: Celebrity Masterchef S16 - Contestant Generics (No. Contestant Generics) - Picture Shows: **STRICTLY EMBARGOED NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE 00:01 ON THURSDAY 22ND APRIL 2021** Kadeena Cox - (C) Shine TV - Photographer: Production
Will Kadeena Cox win the trophy? (Shine TV)

All week, the famous amateur cooks have been battling through challenges in the hopes of making Friday night's grand final.

Joe Swash, Kadeena Cox and Megan McKenna are the three cooks in with a chance of lifting the trophy, but who will cook their way to glory?

Read more: Who are the Celebrity MasterChef finalists?

Gogglebox - Channel 4 - 9pm

The Malones.
The Malones are back for a new series. (Channel 4)

The TV review show usually offers us a bit of light entertainment, but it's been sad times for the Gogglebox cast recently with Pete McGarry, Andrew Michael and Mary Cook all sadly passing away this summer.

However, the show is back for a new series and it's still a highlight of the week for many viewers, who'll be looking forward to seeing the cast's opinions on the week's telly.

Sex Education - Netflix

The much-anticipated series 3 is streaming. (Netflix)
The much-anticipated series 3 is streaming. (Netflix)

Teen drama hit Sex Education is making a much-anticipated return to Netflix this weekend, where series three will begin streaming.

Moordale welcomes a new headteacher this term, but she's far from the cool teacher she first appears to be as she tries to dramatically change the school's sexually open culture.

Read more: Sex Education returns with raunchier-than-ever series 3

Added to that are plenty of new relationships, old loves and sexual explorations as well as Gillian Anderson's character Jean's unexpected pregnancy.

Everybody's Talking About Jamie - Amazon Prime Video

One of the West End’s most delightful hits is set to finally head to the big screen, telling the story of a teenager in Sheffield who overcomes prejudice as he attempts to live his dream and become a drag queen. Newcomer Max Harwood is to play the title role, though many eyes will be on Richard E. Grant as seasoned drag performer Loco Chanelle — a role recently portrayed on stage by <em>RuPaul’s Drag Race</em> winner Bianca Del Rio. This was set for a February release, but is now undated. (Credit: 20th Century Studios)
The film begins streaming on Amazon Prime Video. (20th Century Studios)

It's been a huge hit in the West End, and now the show's film version is coming to Amazon - great news for anyone who hasn't been able to make it to the theatre.

Max Harwood plays Jamie, a teen looking to pursue a drag career in Sheffield, while Richard E. Grant is his drag mentor in this tale inspired by a true story.

Saturday

Strictly Come Dancing - BBC One - 7.45pm

'Strictly' returns for the 2021 launch show. (BBC)
'Strictly' returns for the 2021 launch show. (BBC)

It's one of the TV events of the year and this time we're back to a full series of Strictly as the celebs line up to show us their dance moves.

This week it's the launch show where we'll see which celebrity is matched with which pro dancer - including former Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite who will become part of the show's first all-male competitive pair.

Read more: Katie McGlynn says Caroline Flack is her Strictly inspiration

At the end of the episode we'll get a chance to see who the strong contenders are with the group dance, before the couples return for the first live show next week.

When Nirvana Came to Britain - BBC Two - 9.30pm

Programme Name: When Nirvana Came to Britain - TX: n/a - Episode: When Nirvana Came to Britain (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: Nirvana outside the Dalmacia Hotel in Shepherds Bush in 1990, taken by Martyn Goodacre  - (C) Martyn Goodacre - Photographer: Martyn Goodacre
The documentary tracks Nirvana's success in Britain. (Martyn Goodacre)

Music documentary When Nirvana Came to Britain tracks the grunge band's rise to fame on their trips to the UK from their US home, starting in small venues and pubs in 1989 and leading up to their sell-out shows by 1994.

Former band members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic look back over their successes and the eventual tragic loss of frontman Kurt Cobain, who took his own life in 1994.

Sunday

Last Man Standing: Suge Knight and the Murders of Biggie and Tupac - BBC Two - 9pm

Programme Name: Last Man Standing: Suge Knight And The Murders Of Biggie & Tupac - TX: n/a - Episode: Last Man Standing: Suge Knight And The Murders Of Biggie & Tupac (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: in prison, 2001 Suge Knight - (C) South Central Project Ltd - Photographer: South Central Project Ltd
Suge Knight was the CEO of Death Row Records. (South Central Project Ltd)

There's another music-themed documentary on Sunday night, although this one has a true crime spin to it as it examines the evidence of Suge Knight's involvement in rappers Notorious BIG and Tupac Shakur's deaths.

Former Death Row Records CEO Knight was recently sentenced to 28 years for manslaughter and documentary maker Nick Broomfield picks up the subject from his 2002 film Biggie & Tupac.

Vigil - BBC One - 9pm

WARNING: Embargoed for publication until 00:00:01 on 14/09/2021 - Programme Name: Vigil - TX: n/a - Episode: n/a (No. 5) - Picture Shows:  Newsome (PATERSON JOSEPH) - (C) World Productions - Photographer: Screengrab
Tension is rising on HMS Vigil. (World Productions/BBC)

It's the penultimate episode of hit Sunday night drama Vigil, starring Suranne Jones as a detective carrying out a murder investigation aboard a Navy submarine.

The tension ramps up this week as hostile boats begin tracking HMS Vigil, the police and MI5 try to work out who the Russian informant is, and communications remain down.

The Who Cares Wins Awards with The Sun - Channel 4 - 7.30pm

Davina McCall.
Davina McCall hosts the awards. (Channel 4)

A new spin on the awards ceremony sees Davina McCall host a night in tribute to the healthcare heroes who have helped us through the pandemic.

Honouring carers and medics in various categories, the awards also welcome stars including Kate Garraway and David Beckham.

Watch: Who is Strictly's John Whaite?