Peter Kay’s Britain’s Got the Pop Factor and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice

Channel 4, 8pm

This is Peter Kay’s first major new work on TV for four years in which he spoofs – you guessed it – reality talent shows with characteristic accuracy and affection. Cat Deeley presents a “live final” of an X-Factor-style extravaganza and it’s down to three finalists – R Wayne, foursome 2 Up 2 Down, and Geraldine, played by Kay himself. The judges are Neil Fox, Nicki Chapman and Pete Waterman, and the results follow straight after a documentary about his record-breaking 2002 stand-up tour. If you are doing something else on Sunday night, you probably shouldn’t be.

Stephen Fry in America

BBC One, 9pm

In the spirit of a Michael Palin travelogue, Stephen Fry travels across all 50 states in a rented black cab, seeing a-little-bit-of-this and a-little-bit-of-that and trusting that some sort of coherent narrative or vision will emerge. This seems unlikely. “America,” he says, “strikes me as a land of contradictions – almost anything you say about it is true, and the opposite is true as well.”

He begins his journey with the states that comprise New England. He goes lobster fishing and deer hunting; he tours a nuclear submarine and mixes his own brand of Ben and Jerry’s ice-cream. He chats to the founder of Wikipedia, a bunch of Goodfellas in New York and a witch in Salem. Some people will find it amiable and informative; others will regret a wasted opportunity.

A Touch of Frost

ITV1, 9pm

The curmudgeonly detective (David Jason) returns for a new run of three episodes. But given the subject matter, there’s not much in the way of grumpy fun to be had tonight.

A man is released on parole after serving 20 years in prison for the murder of 14-year-old girl; he is also suspected of involvement in the disappearance of another girl whose body was never found. Frost was just starting out on his career at the time and was instrumental in getting the man convicted. Now the former prisoner returns to live in the village where the murders took place and where feelings still run high. Frost himself spends most of the episode glaring, snarling and snapping. Here is a man who looks ready for retirement.

Cracking Up

BBC Two, 10pm

Alastair Campbell describes his massive breakdown 20 years ago. In the past, he has written: “I was overpromoted; I hit the bottle, got completely manic and cracked.” He was drinking around 16 pints of beer and a bottle of Scotch a day; finally, on a trip to Scotland, he drove his car dozens of times around a roundabout before ending up in the police cells. He has always been open about what he calls his 24-carat crack-up, believing that other people who suffer from mental illness can draw strength and hope from what he – and those closest to him – went through. “I’m able to look back on it and say it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Though at the time, it was a waking hell.”

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