Ball and Boe: One Night Only (ITV, 9pm)

THOSE who missed the two great UK tenors Michael Ball and Alfie Boe at the MetroRadio Arena, Newcastle, last Thursday, gain another chance to watch the two singers in action.

The duo also seem to enjoy the banter that can ensue on the road and, during their recent gigs, they have poked fun at the drama surrounding the US Presidential election. Admittedly, it's not exactly high-class satire, but it's an awful lot more interesting than just some bloke standing there belting out a big tune.

Both Ball and Boe are noted for their vocal talents and charisma, but they're not the huge egos that some stars tend to be, which is probably another reason why they work together so well. They have an easy charm and common touch that appeals to people of both sexes and all classes.

Ball is the double Olivier Award-winning star of the stage, who first made his debut in 1985 in the sensational musical phenomenon Les Miserables, and went on to work alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber in The Phantom of the Opera. Fellow Les Miserables alumnus Alfie Boe found his way to fame via singing while working on cars in the North-West. Their duet album Together is currently on sale, and the pair perform theatrical classics from the record, as well as an exclusive medley from the classic musical set during the French Revolution that remains close to their hearts and played such an important part in their careers.

The duo will also be welcoming guest stars to share the stage with them for some of the most unique collaborations in modern music. There will also be plenty of laughs along the way as Michael and Alfie both share memories and anecdotes of their careers in the entertainment business. They also appeared on the Strictly Come Dancing results show a few weeks back.

"We've got an album, we've got a tour and now we've got an ITV special," says Ball. "You can't get better than that. We have some great material to share with the viewers; I can't wait to get started."

Boe adds: "We had such a laugh making the album, making our own TV show is going to be great. Make sure you tune in for some special performances."

Ball and Boe will be selecting songs from For Once in My Life, When You Wish Upon a Star and You'll Never Walk Alone, plus the likes of Ain't That a Kick in the Head and Tell Me It's Not True.

Joining them on stage will be singer-songwriter Rick Astley as well as Olivier Award-winning performer Maria Friedman, who counts appearances in Chicago, Ragtime and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on her resume, although most viewers will recognise her from her stint as Elaine Peacock in EastEnders.

Rick Stein's Long Weekends (BBC2, 9pm)

THE chef heads to the north-eastern Greek city of Thessaloniki, which nestles on the northern shores of the Aegean Sea. The city is revered as the gourmet capital of Greece and birthplace to possibly the greatest warrior general that ever lived – Alexander. Rick explores a city of many identities, boasting a young student population apparently hungry for dishes that reflect the freshest of seafood. Back home, he prepares veal and aubergine stew after meeting the doyenne of Greek cooking, Vafa Alexiadou.

Walliams & Friend (BBC1, 9.30pm)

MULTI-talented thespian Sheridan Smith takes the fateful step of agreeing to become David Walliams' latest 'friend', transforming into a real-life Barbie doll, facing an unlikely dilemma while filming a swords-and-sorcery epic, and hitting all the wrong notes as a cruise ship singer with a chip on her shoulder. David and Sheridan also play bickering husband-and-wife contestants on an ill-fated game show and feature in a politically correct parody of 1970s Carry On films, Carry On Up the Sexual Harassment Tribunal.

Viv Hardwick