This week's best TV, music and DVD releases

TV - Cucumber and Banana, 9pm on Channel 4 and 10pm on E4 on Thursdays

Creator of Queer as Folk and the revival of Dr Who, Russell T Davies has created three interlinked shows – one for Channel 4, one for E4 and an online documentary (Tofu).

Drama series Cucumber (C4) and Banana (E4) start on Thursday exploring the pitfalls and passions of 21st century gay life. Cucumber follows 46-year-old Henry and long-term boyfriend Lance who embark on a disastrous date night, after which their lives will never be the same again. In Banana, Dean is young and has a flat, a job and all the sex he wants but his problems are catching up with him.

TV – National Television Awards 2015, 7.30pm to 10pm on Wednesday, January 21

Dermot O’Leary hosts the big back-slapping and awards-giving night for telly’s biggest stars at Greenwich’s O2.

TV – Crims, 10pm on Thursday, January 22, on BBC Three

The BBC comedy about a pair of mates in prison has been making some waves and continues this week. In episode three, Luke is horrified to find Gemma is still living with Roger and they are considering getting a dog. Gemma’s brother – and Luke’s cellmate – Jason has a solution: why doesn’t Luke propose?

DVD – The Boxtrolls (PG) out Monday, January 26

Sir Ben Kingsley stars in the critically acclaimed animation about a community of cave-dwelling, cardboard box-wearing creatures who raise an orphaned boy.

(c) Rankin 2014

MUSIC – Gaz Coombes, Matador. Out Monday (January 26)

Gaz Coombes’ solo effort Matador is intense and musically expansive, providing some ideal January mood music while he rakes over the coals of his old Britpop band Supergrass.