The TV listings are a minefield. Channel hopping can leave you locked in a vicious repetitive cycle that leave you in a vicious repetitive cycle of channel hopping, locked, hammering the buttons in a cycle of vicious… you might end up watching Smallville on E4… and no-one wants that do they? Let’s try and sidestep the pap and gun straight for the joy.

Friday – QI, BBC Two, 10pm

I’m quite embarrassed to admit that I used to think that Stephen Fry was a smug git and not very funny to boot. I was so obviously wrong that it pains me now. No matter. I like him now. I especially enjoy his quite interesting quiz, which tonight, looks at exploration. Thankfully, Jimmy Carr isn’t one of the guests tonight (god I despise him) instead favouring Bill Bailey, Rich Hall, Sean Lock and Alan Davies. Expect wild tangents and high brow mirth (mixed with potty mouthed asides from the panel). Jolly good fun what!

Read over for the rest of the weekend’s picks…

Saturday – The Culture Show, BBC Two, 7.10pm

The arts magazine show is back. Occasionally, this show can be a bit sniffy, but when it’s on form, it reveals real treasure. The first programme of the new series sees Mark Kermode conducting a rare interview with Neil Young and, apparently, makes the ballsy decision to tell him why he hated his music for years. Quentin Tarantino is also featured, talking about how he chooses those cracking soundtracks for his flicks. Completing the line-up are the stars of Irish film musical Once, music from The Young Knives and Andrew Graham-Dixon’s guide to British land art. Okay, I can give or take the last two… but Quentin Tarantino and Neil Young! Come on!

Sunday – Michael Palin’s New Europe, BBC One, 9pm

Hands up if you don’t like Michael Palin. Obviously I can’t see whether you’ve put your hand up or not, so I’ll have to assume that no-one on earth dislikes him. Sunday, we see Palin travelling through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, meeting the locals, seeing the sights that lie off the beaten track, being bled by leeches and watching people walk over hot coals. He does it so we don’t have to. Marvelous.

One To Avoid – Robin Hood, BBC One, Saturday, 7.30pm

It’s just a bit rubbish isn’t it? Dialogue jumps between “thou” and “y’alright mate?”. The action doesn’t swash my buckle and it’s all a bit forced. Perhaps one for the kids, but certainly not a discerning TV viewer.