This week’s best TV
FRIDAY CRUISING WITH JANE MCDONALD (C5, 9pm)
THE Wakefield-born entertainer sets sail for a two-part special that finds her exploring Australia and New Zealand.
McDonald’s adventure begins with an open-top bus tour of Sydney and a trip to the Opera House, where she finds herself centre stage. Then it’s on to Tasmania, where the presenter meets the staff and furry inhabitants of a wildlife sanctuary.
Her next stop is New Zealand, where she visits the wettest place on Earth and a city with a rich Scottish heritage, sees devastation wrought by earthquakes and enjoys a glass (or more) of wine at a vineyard.
SATURDAY GERMAINE BLOODY GREER (BBC Two, 9pm)
THE Melbourne-born feminist author, who now lives in Essex, burst into our national consciousness with The Female Eunuch in 1970. In this documentary, which contains a rich seam of archive footage and a brilliant soundtrack, she recalls what it was like to be at the centre of such a storm of publicity at the age of 31.
As well as commenting on the impact of her famous work, Greer, 79, also has her say on women’s role in the media and today’s society.
SUNDAY POLDARK (BBC One, 9pm)
THE period drama is back and there are some major changes afoot. Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) leaves his native Cornwall and heads for London to make his mark on politics.
But it seems his wife Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) is still torn between her husband and Hugh (Josh Whitehouse), who is planning to stand against MP George Warleggan (Jack Farthing) in the forthcoming election.
MONDAY FLOWERS (C4, 10pm)
THE bittersweet comedyreturns for a second run. It centres on the Flowers family – depressed dad Maurice (Julian Barratt), music teacher wife Deborah (Olivia Colman) and their 25-year-old twins – inventor Donald (Daniel Rigby) and musician Amy (Sophia Di Martino).
In the first of a doublebill, Maurice is on medication and Deborah is about to become the published author of a book about his depression.
Meanwhile, lodger Shun (Will Sharpe) is boozing away the summer days, and Amy’s band, the Pink Cuttlefish Orchestra, are coming to stay at the ramshackle Flowers’ house.
TUESDAY OUR GIRL (BBC One, 9pm)
THE new series of military drama continues. In this second episode, Georgie (Michelle Keegan) meets undercover Special Forces operative Bones (Oliver Rix) – and he doesn’t make the best first impression.
Meanwhile, 2-Section try to trade the detained son of a rebel leader for an imprisoned Nigerian military medic, unaware their captors are setting a trap. It leads to a tense stand-off, but will everyone make it out alive this time?
WEDNESDAY THE FAST FIX: DIABETES (ITV, 9pm)
IN THE first of a two-part strand, Anita Rani examines how people with Type 2 diabetes attempt to reverse the condition by living on a controversial liquid-only diet. Aside from the potentially life-saving ramifications, it could save the NHS billions of pounds.
Cameras follow five overweight patients as they move into an experimental diabetes reversal unit. For four weeks they will live on a diet of 800 calories a day in an attempt to shed more than two stone.
THURSDAY FIFA WORLD CUP 2018: OPENING CEREMONY (ITV, 2.30pm)
FOR non football fans, the fortnight or so since the domestic and European campaigns ended probably seem an inadequate break from the beautiful game.
However, for most of us, the wait is now finally over for the 2018 Fifa World Cup and we can now bask in a 31-day feast of football.
The 21st staging of the tournament gets under way today, but before the action kicks off, there is the opening ceremony at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium. Featuring musicians, dancers and gymnasts, the extravaganza will pay homage to all things Russian, closing with a spectacular firework display.