What’s on telly tonight? Our pick of the best shows on Thursday 17th May

(Image credit: Colin Hutton)

TV Times top picks for today

What’s on telly tonight? Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight the best shows on Thursday 17^th May

Humans, 9pm, C4

The new series of the dystopian sci-fi drama begins a year after the momentous events of the second series finale when the synthetic humans became conscious beings with minds of their own. Their immediate decision to down tools led to worldwide chaos and the loss of 110,00 human lives. Now feared and hated by humans, the robots struggle to have any rights in a society that segregates, oppresses and even lynches them. While synths Max (Ivanno Jeremiah) and Mia (Gemma Chan) believe that peaceful methods will get their voices heard, some of their fellow synths believe violent protest is the way forward. The stage is set for another compelling and thought-provoking series. Rating: ****

Genial Fred Sirieix always offers a shoulder to cry on in First Dates – and he’s doing the same for aspiring restaurant owners in this compelling business show. Each episode sees two sets of foodies run pop-up restaurants and try to win over potential investors who are scrutinising their every move. First up, young but talented pals Ruth and Emily go all out to land £600,000 for their British-inspired venture, while driven Scot Ewen wants £100,000 to launch a seafood establishment. The most gripping moment comes when, after three days at the helm, they wait in their empty restaurant to see if an investor will return with some life-changing cash… Rating: ****

Kid Criminals, 10pm, Really

‘I know right from wrong,’ explains Garrett Clutter, 15. ‘It’s just that I choose to do wrong.’ Garrett is in a unit for sex offenders at Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility in Indiana. Among the staff at Pendleton is no-nonsense but gentle and insightful counsellor Tammi Prince, and watching her at work as this two-part documentary (first shown on C4 in 2015) begins is amazing. We also meet William McConnell, 18, a repeat offender unhappy at facing another birthday inside, and Tavarius McNair, 14, who is on the verge of a breakthrough in his counselling sessions with Tammi. Sad and hard to watch, but not without hope. Rating: ****

More previews tomorrow.

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough.

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!