Here's a look ahead at the best of this weekend's TV:

Saturday September 3

Strictly Come Dancing: The Launch (BBC1, 6.50pm) - It's that time of year again when celebrities top up their fake tan and get ready to shake a tail feather - yes, Strictly Come Dancing is back. Well, sort of - the competition proper doesn't start for a couple of weeks, but this launch show gives us a chance to take a good look at this year's line up, and discover which professional dancer they will be partnered with. The class of 2016 is made up of Birds of a Feather actress Lesley Joseph, singer-songwriter Anastacia, fashion model Daisy Lowe, TV presenter Laura Whitmore, former Eternal singer Louise Redknapp, BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty, Team GB gymnast Claudia Fragapane and EastEnder Tameka Empson. The men are double Olympic medal-winner Greg Rutherford, former shadow chancellor Ed Balls, singer Will Young, DJ Melvin Odoom, Hollyoaks actor Danny Mac, sports presenter Ore Oduba, and TV legal eagle Robert Rinder. We'll get a chance to assess their form as they take to the floor for a group number.

Proms Extra 2016 (BBC2, 6.50pm) - As Strictly Come Dancing gets underway on BBC One this evening, Katie Derham and her guest, celebrated soprano Lesley Garrett, should have plenty to talk about off-camera - not only are they both former contestants on the show, they were both paired with Anton Du Beke. However, on the last in the present series of Proms Extra, they will mostly be looking ahead to the final week of concerts, with a little help from composer and musician Mark Simpson and conductor Simone Young, who is fresh from her own Proms debut.

The X Factor (ITV, 8.15pm) - Dermot O'Leary presents as more would-be pop icons face their room auditions, which make a return to the show following their absence last year. These private auditions give contestants a chance to display their musical abilities in much more intimate conditions, without a baying audience to distract them - or back them up should Simon Cowell and co offer withering feedback. Will any potential winners emerge this week, or will Louis Walsh, Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Osbourne be left wondering why they came back?

Casualty (BBC1, 9.10pm) - Last week, the long-running medical drama celebrated its 30th anniversary with a special feature-length edition, but will it be back to business as usual this week, or are the staff still dealing with the aftershocks? Elle certainly feels the need to rally the troops as yet more emergency cases arrive - in fact, we wouldn't blame her if she was regretting taking up a position at the hospital. Meanwhile, Alicia is put in a difficult position after she discovers an uncomfortable truth.

Newzoids (ITV, 9.15pm) - New series. The satirical sketch show blending traditional puppetry and animation returns, as impressionists Jon Culshaw, Debra Stephenson, Lewis Macleod and Simon Greenall take aim at a fresh selection of politicians, celebrities, royals, sports stars and other headline-generating folk. Among the public figures being skewered this week are Olympic diver Tom Daley, White House hopeful Donald Trump, survivalist Bear Grylls, and the beleaguered Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn. Also receiving the Newzoids treatment are actor and gossip-column favourite Tom Hiddleston, singer Adele, comedy actor and entertainer James Corden and the young Princess Charlotte.

The Nation's Favourite Carpenters Song (ITV, 9.45pm) - Richard Carpenter takes a seat at the piano to celebrate some of the musical hits he achieved alongside his sister Karen between 1969 and 1983. Over the course of 13 years, the California-born pair recorded 11 albums, 31 singles, and a selection of TV specials, and hit the top of the US charts with three number-one releases. However, their career was cut short by Karen's death in 1983, as the result of heart failure brought on her eating disorder. This programme charts the highs and devastating lows of the brother-sister duo's remarkable time in the limelight, and makes use of a new ITV poll revealing which Carpenters' song has been voted the UK's favourite. Features contributions by the Carpenters' friends and collaborators, including Burt Bacharach and Petula Clark, and famous fans such as Nicole Scherzinger, the Corrs, and Myleene Klass.

Sunday September 4

World Cup Qualifier Live (ITV, 4.30pm) Slovakia v England (Kick-off 5.00pm) - Coverage of the 2018 World Cup Group F qualifier at the Stadion Antona Malatinskeho in Trnava, which is Sam Allardyce's first game in charge of the Three Lions. The former Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United and Sunderland boss replaced Roy Hodgson following England's dismal 2-1 defeat by Iceland at Euro 2016, and will be hoping to make a good first impression here. These sides played out a disappointing 0-0 draw in the group stage of that same tournament in the summer. Presented by Mark Pougatch, with commentary by Clive Tyldesley and Glenn Hoddle, and analysis from Ian Wright and Lee Dixon.

Roald Dahl's Most Marvellous Book (C4, 6.30pm) - Thanks to the nature of his best-selling children's books, David Walliams has been dubbed the 21st century answer to Roald Dahl, a term he probably loves as he's a huge fan of the much-missed author. It also makes him the ideal person to front this documentary, which offers an insight into Dahl's beloved books and characters, and ties in with the 100th anniversary of his birth. The programme also features a countdown to establish which of his tales is the most popular among readers, as voted for by members of the British public. So, will Charlie and the Chocolate Factory be the winner? Or will George's Marvellous Medicine, The BFG or Matilda have the right ingredients for top spot? Offering their opinions will be celebrity fans Jarvis Cocker, Julie Walters, Richard Curtis and Steven Spielberg.

Speed with Guy Martin (C4, 8pm) - New series. The motorcycle racer competes in the Nevada Open Road Challenge, the fastest road race in the world, in which Highway 318 is closed to allow top of the line supercars to compete in time trials. Guy decides to make the challenge even greater by entering the contest in his Ford Transit van - but unfortunately, a crash has left the vehicle in need of some extensive repair work. He gathers a team of race engineers to rebuild the van and turn it into a racing machine capable of taking on some of the world's fastest cars.

A Very British Deterrent (BBC2, 8pm) - Drama-documentary exploring the history of Britain's nuclear deterrent, based on declassified top secret files and expert testimonies. The film focuses on tense events during the Cold War, when a series of political crises left the UK without any nuclear weapons. It finds that Prime Minister Harold MacMillan (played here by Simon Williams) was determined that Britain should remain a nuclear power, and was even prepared to jeopardise the UK's relationship with the US for the sake of independence.

Battlebots (Spike, 8pm) - The newly revived Robot Wars came to an end last week, but if you are desperate for a Sunday night fix of home-made machines bashing each other to bits, never fear - Spike has the perfect replacement in the form of this series. Molly McGrath is on hosting duties as 24 sets of robot-builders put their creations to the ultimate test and send them into the arena. Chris Rose and Kenny Florian provide the commentary, so we don't miss any of the metal-mashing mayhem, while engineer and NASA astronaut Leland Melvin is among the judges.

Victoria (ITV, 9pm) - The sumptuous period drama continues, as a chartist uprising in Newport threatens to undermine the monarchy. Victoria's uncle Leopold thinks the answer is for the young queen to marry her cousin Albert, but while the viewers know (with the benefit of hindsight and history) that this is pretty good advice, Victoria seems determined to rule alone. However, Leopold starts to suspect that his niece is turning up her nose at potential suitors because she's more interested in her Prime Minister, Melbourne.

Poldark (BBC1, 9pm) - At long last, the eagerly awaited second series of the smash-hit period drama is back, and it picks up exactly where the last one left off - with Ross's life in danger. He's been accused of wrecking and murder, and seems set on a course of self-destruction when he refuses the help of those around him to get him off the hook. He even refuses to accept Francis's attempts at reconciliation, which leads his distraught cousin to make a potentially tragic move, while arch enemy George stops Demelza's efforts to give the judge some damning evidence. Aidan Turner returns in the lead role, and although he claims he'll be keeping his shirt on more in this second run, his presence alone should guarantee the BBC another big Sunday evening success.