The Muppet Show Is It Cake? Valentine’s Day: The seven best shows airing this week | TV and radio

Choose the week
Puppet show

The Muppet Show is a nostalgia hit of the highest order: the parents of the target audience for this one revival will likely be more excited about it than the kids of 2026. So there’s a fine balance to be struck and the question of who exactly it’s aimed at isn’t resolved. However, the gang’s chaotic energy must transcend generational barriers. There’s boiling beef between Miss Piggy and guest Sabrina Carpenter, cameos from Seth Rogen and Maya Rudolph, self-conscious musical parodies, mocks of Statler and Waldorf, and much more. If anything, he’s trying to push too much, which might be an indication that a new series might be the next logical and welcome step? Phil Harrison
Disney+, starting Wednesday, February 4

Investigation of Lucy Letby

Given the horror of the crimes of which she was convicted and questions about the integrity of that sentence, it is unlikely that we will lack documentaries about the Lucy Letby case in the coming years. This film includes never-before-seen footage of her arrest and interrogation, but it does not add much to the understanding of the charges against her. There’s also a quick summary of the uncertainties surrounding the case, including a lack of motive, procedural issues at the hospital involved and the troubling question: If Lucy Letby didn’t kill seven children, why did they die? pH
Netflix starting Wednesday, February 4

Mo Gilligan: In motion

Popular London comedian Mo Gilligan has moved to the US and landed his first Netflix special. As always, it’s a solid, sweet observational comedy from Gilligan, honed through years of red carpet and awards ceremony banter. Over the course of the collection, he makes the most of his new outsider status to reflect on the experience of being British in America, talks about the impact of fame on his family and explores the many manifestations of “Gentlemen: Never Put Your Shirt on Before Your Boxers.” pH
Netflix starting Tuesday, February 3

Is it a cake? Valentine’s Day

In perhaps the pinkest TV special ever, is it cake? The gang gets together to celebrate Hysterical Valentine’s Day. As always, the irrepressible Mickey Day oversees the entire silly dessert. Items presented (or not?) in Flour, Eggs and Decorating (by a selection of real-life couples) include huge red lips, candles, boxes of chocolates, romance novels, bottles of wine, and, inevitably, several broken hearts. Like the sweets at the center of the display, they are completely devoid of nutritional value but as part of a balanced diet they are extremely difficult to resist.
Netflix starting Wednesday, February 4

Chess queen

This exciting documentary feels like a real-life version of The Queen’s Gambit, as it explores the story of Judit Polgár, a Hungarian girl who dreamed of conquering the world of elite chess. The sexism she faced was notable – according to one interviewee, women lacked the logical thinking and emotional self-control to excel. Polgár’s journey towards proving him wrong began when he broke into the world’s top 100 players at the age of 12 and culminated in a 15-year battle against Garry Kasparov, which included gaming innovation and significant controversy.
Netflix starting Friday, February 6

Arctic Circle

This Finnish show distinguishes itself from similar crime dramas with its quirky flair. Season 4 is a case in point: there’s no such thing as a run-of-the-mill serial killer here — instead, a mysterious series of deaths in a retirement home are ultimately linked to an astronomical event that occurred two millennia ago. Once again, Police Chief Nina Koutsalo is tasked with unraveling a puzzling situation that expands to include space exploration, international terrorism, the revival of a religious cult, and a visiting astrophysicist poking his nose.
Channel 4 starting Friday, February 6th

Finding Harmony: King’s Vision

It’s hard to imagine his late mother thinking even for a moment about being the subject of an intimate documentary on Prime Video. But Charles III decided to do things differently. However, don’t expect anything remotely ‘warts and all’ – this is a carefully crafted affair, essentially exploring the King’s lifelong commitment to promoting respect for nature and sustainability through the King’s Foundation. Narrated by Kate Winslet, it portrays Charles as a maverick, holding out for an environmental vision in the face of pressure from special interests.
Prime Video, starting Friday, February 6