Updated: Wednesday, 9th September, 2009 4:54pm

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What's On the Box this week?

RTE - RTE's 2009/2010 new schedule consists of an assortment of new and returning home-produced programmes. In the coming season there will be over 55 brand new home-produced series and documentaries.

In the new factual series and documentaries, programmes will explore contemporary Irish life - from an examination of Ireland's international position in the global economic slump, 'Addicted To Money', authored by David McWilliams, to a profile of one of Ireland's most respected artists, Sean Scully.

Also included is a further instalment of David Coleman's study of Irish childhood in '21st Century Child', to a brand new four-part series entitled 'Does God Hate…' presented by Marian Finucane. In drama, a new series of the popular show 'Raw' is also in store, whilst 'The Clinic' returns for another season. 'Fair City', now in its 20th year, will continue to be broadcast four days per week.

Lifestyle formats plug into and reflect a self-sufficiency theme, offering tips on living thriftily - with a new series 'Rachel Allen Home Cooking', and 'Living Lightly', a timely and illuminating six-part series that follows three Irish families as they strive to revolutionise the cost and quality of their lives.

RTE News and Current Affairs will continue to be at the forefront of events, and 'The Frontline' with Pat Kenny next month can be guaranteed to instigate lively debate on the most important news stories of the week between selected guests and a studio audience.

In addition, RTE Young People's will continue to deliver creative and engaging indigenous programming for young people, in the ad-free environment of 'Den Tots' for pre-schoolers, and throughout 'The Den' for older age groups across the day.

Other notable programmes will include 'Killers Profiles' - the murder of Fareh Swaleh Noor by the Mulhall sisters and that of Rachel O'Reilly by her husband, Joe; 'Battle of the Sexes' - a two-part series exploring the relationship between modern Irish man and woman; 'The Way We Worked' - a six-part series looking at changes experienced in work practices in Ireland; 'Charlie Bird's American Year' - behind the scenes with RTE's Washington correspondent; 'The Sheriff & Me' - series of intimate portrayals of people coping with serious debt; 'Ireland's Mad Men' looks at the pioneers of Ireland's advertising industry, and 'The Seahorseman' - a four-part series which tells the story of the ancient seahorse, its fight for survival and an Irish man's dream to save it.

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TV3 - The TV3 autumn schedule sees the station aiming to broadcast over one-third of airtime with Irish programming.

The upcoming schedule will be anchored by TV3's daily studio output. 'Ireland AM' will be celebrating its 10th birthday, and 'The Morning Show with Sybil & Martin' will be another TV3 staple, as well as the recently launched personal advice show 'Midday', which will adopt an all-female line-up.

Airing in the coming months will be the second series of 'The Apprentice' followed by the new 'The Apprentice: You're Fired' show hosted by Brendan O'Connor in front of a live audience.

Also in the lineup is 'The Forgotten Irish', a two-part programme on Irish emigrants in London; Donal MacIntyre's new six-part series 'Ireland's Crime Capitals'; the 'Irish Deal or No Deal', in association with The National Lottery, presented by magician Keith Barry. Also scheduled are TV3's first two-part drama series 'The Guards'; a weekly business show, 'Business Matters', fronted by Ivan Yates, and the return of live UEFA Champions League with anchor Matt Cooper.

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BBC - The BBC commemorates the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War with a new, five-part period drama, 'Land Girls'. The drama follows the lives and loves of four girls away from home, striving to do their bit for Britain in the Women's Land Army (WLA) while trying to come to terms with the fact that their lives may never be the same again. Created by Roland Moore, 'Land Girls' follows the girls as they adapt to their new surroundings, and knuckle down to some hard work - and play.

Suranne Jones leads an impressive cast in the gripping new drama serial 'Five Days', set around a newborn baby abandoned in the toilets of a Yorkshire hospital and a Trans-Pennine commuter train is halted by a suicidal jumper. Are they connected?

The BBC will also premiere an animated Doctor Who, 'Dreamland', which will see the Doctor - played by David Tennant - arrive at the infamous alien hotspot, Roswell.

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ITV - Highlights of the new ITV season include new a number of new dramas, including 'Collision', a serial created by Anthony Horowitz which tells the story of a major road accident and a group of people who have never met but who all share one single defining moment that will change their lives.

There is also 'Murderland', written by David Pirie, a three-part thriller starring Robbie Coltrane as Detective Douglas Hain; acclaimed writer Peter Bowker's adaptation of Emily Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights'; 'An Englishman In New York', in which John Hurt reprises his iconic role as Quentin Crisp; as well new series of favourites such as Agatha Christie's 'Marple', 'Blue Murder', 'Doc Martin', and 'The Fixer'. There's also the return of acclaimed comedy, 'Benidorm', with a new hour-long format, and the return of the BAFTA-award winning 'Harry Hill's TV Burp'.

Animal lover Joanna Lumley turns cat detective to investigate the unique relationship we have with our number one pet in 'Joanna Lumley: Catwoman', whilst in Robson Green's 'Wild Swimming Adventure', the actor embraces the growing trend for outdoor swimming as he goes on a challenging tour of Britain's waters. In 'John Sergeant on the Tourist Trail', the former newsman returns to his roots as a tour guide and embarks on a celebratory journey around Britain, taking in the most famous tourist sites plus destinations not found in mainstream guidebooks, and Alan Titchmarsh takes an in-depth look at how influential 'The Seasons' are on everyday life in Britain.

In other factual programming, 'Outbreak', a landmark documentary to mark the 70th anniversary of World War Two, uses the words of those who were there and footage from the time to tell the story, hour by hour, of 3rd September 1939, the day that Britain declared war on Nazi Germany.