Seven Days

MIKE MULVIHILL’S guide to the week’s TV

SATURDAY

Strictly Come Dancing 6.40PM, BBC1

There are 13 couples left – unlucky for one celebrity after tomorrow’s dance-off. We now know who to expect at the top of the leaderboard, but as always, it’s more fun to see the genuine novices improving each week.

Murray Walker: Life In The Fast Lane

7PM, BBC2

To celebrate his 95th birthday last week, here is a tribute to the veteran commentator, who was the voice of motorsport for more than 50 years, featuring contributions from Formula One legends and some great archive footage.

Black Hollywood: ‘They’ve Gotta Have Us’

9PM, BBC2

The photographer Simon Frederick tells the story of how black actors and film-makers have overcome many obstacles over the past 90 years to become part of the Hollywood mainstream. Contributions from actors ranging from screen legend Harry Belafonte to Star Wars’ John Boyega, plus some memorable film clips, help to bring this three-part series to life.

Secrets Of The Gladiators: Rome Unwrapped

9PM, CH5

This documentary tells the story of Rome’s Colosseum, an extraordinary amphitheatre built 2,000 years ago to accommodate the Romans’ love of brutal entertainment.

Killing Eve

9.25PM, BBC1

In episode five of this slick thriller, Eve (Sandra Oh) gets Frank (Darren Boyd) to a safe house, where he reveals that the murderous Villanelle (Jodie Comer) is being paid by a shadowy organisation known as ‘The Twelve’ to spread destabilisation across the world. But how long will Frank stay safe with Villanelle on his tail?

The Jonathan Ross Show

9.50PM, ITV

Jonathan’s guests are Black Earth Rising star Michaela Coel, footballer Peter Crouch, comedian Joe Lycett and, if you haven’t seen enough of them tonight, Strictly judges Shirley Ballas, Darcey Bussell and Craig Revel Horwood. Music is by Tom Odell.

SUNDAY

Countryfile

5.55PM, BBC1

Ellie Harrison is in Derbyshire, exploring some of the things you can do on a very different day out. Her day starts on Carsington Water, where she learns how to build a makeshift raft, before she takes part in the worldfamous Bonsall Hen Racing Championships.

Doctor Who

6.55PM, BBC1

There are those who maintain that it is totally unbelievable that a woman could ever play a two-hearted alien who can travel through space in an old police phone box – but it won’t be long before Jodie Whittaker has won over even the most hardened of doubters.

Phil Spencer’s Stately Homes

7PM, CH4

Phil visits beautiful Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, home to the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, where he learns how the castle was built – and discovers evidence of an aristocratic sex scandal painted on the ceiling.

Great Canal Journeys

8PM, CH4

Timothy West and Prunella Scales are in Italy to travel from Lake Maggiore to the Naviglio Grande canal, navigating a route taken by marble-carrying barges for over five centuries.

Butterfly

9PM, ITV

This new, three-part drama follows a family struggling with their 12-year-old son’s desire to live as a girl. It’s a topical issue, handled with sensitivity and care by a cast led by the impressive Anna Friel as the child’s mum.

MONDAY Autumnwatch New England

8PM, BBC2

For the first time, the team will present live from America’s east coast, where six billion trees have been changing colour from green to yellow, orange and red – one of the greatest autumn spectacles in the world. Gillian Burke, Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan will also introduce some new animal characters, including black bears, bobcats and beavers.

Peter Kay’s Comedy Shuffle

9PM, BBC1

Back for a new series comes the clip show featuring some of the comedian’s finest moments, including stand-up performances and memorable scenes from his hit shows.

Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds

9PM, CH4

It’s week three of the 12-week experiment at one of the largest retirement villages in the UK, Lark Hill in Nottingham, and the timetable is all about memory – something that proves equally testing for both the very young and the very old.

For Facts Sake

9.30PM, BBC1

Fans of Mrs Brown’s Boys – and only fans of Mrs Brown’s Boys – will enjoy this new panel show hosted by the hit BBC comedy’s creator, Brendan O’Carroll, and featuring members of the cast as team captains. Take away the crude language, and this is a show that would look more at home in the daytime schedules.

TUESDAY

Love Your Home And Garden

8PM, ITV

Anne and Mike have been married for 54 years, but for the past decade, this devoted couple have been coping with Mike’s dementia. As his condition worsens, their house and garden are becoming increasingly difficult to cope with – that is, until Alan Titchmarsh and his team ride to the rescue.

The Great British Bake Off

8PM, CH4

Velkommen to Danish Week! The bakers are faced with some unfamiliar recipes as they battle to impress Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood; tasks include a final challenge in which they must deliver an elaborate pastry Showstopper fit for a Danish birthday party.

Informer

9PM, BBC1 See TV feature, page 18.

A Dangerous Dynasty: House Of Assad

9PM, BBC2

Part two of this revealing series on the family that has ruled Syria for decades. It’s 2000, and former eye doctor Bashar al-Assad is now President – and his British-born wife, Asma, is First Lady. But they are already facing problems on all sides as the regime is accused of killing a political enemy.

Ben Fogle: New Lives In The Wild

9.15PM, CH5

For his last adventure of the current series, Ben ventures to the vast freezing seascape of the Arctic Circle, off the coast of Norway, to live with fellow explorer Randi Skaug, the first Norwegian woman to climb Mount Everest – an experience that changed her life.

WEDNESDAY

The Apprentice

9PM, BBC1

At last, the teams have names! It’s week three, and the meddling Lord Sugar mixes up the boys and the girls into Team Typhoon and Team Collaborative. But who will make the most dough when it comes to selling cakes?

The Parachute Murder Plot

9PM, ITV

BBC1 stalwart Fiona Bruce swaps sides for the week to tell the incredible true story of a husband’s plot to kill his skydiving wife by tampering with her parachute.

Grand Designs

9PM, CH4

Identical twins Nik and Jon Daughtry run a graphic design company together, drive the same car, and even own identical dogs. So it makes sense that they are planning to build two nearly identical houses next door to each other in Sheffield. Kevin McCloud visits a project that’s fraught with double the trouble.

How To Get A Good Night’s Sleep

9PM, CH5

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford embark on a mission to cure their own sleeping disorders, and also help some other Brits who are struggling to get a good night’s sleep.

THURSDAY

Eat Well For Less?

8PM, BBC1

Gregg Wallace and Chris Bavin are in Buckinghamshire to show the Venter family how they can change their eating habits and save money for a much-needed family holiday.

Canada: A Year In The Wild

8PM, CH5

It’s spring in episode three, and a female black bear emerges from her den with a tiny cub. Now begins the arduous task of teaching him how to survive on Canada’s spectacular west coast.

Avalanche: Making A Deadly Snowstorm

9PM, BBC2

This illuminating documentary follows a team of scientists who, earlier this year, set out to see right into the heart of a massive avalanche to reveal the secrets of its lethal power.

Gordon, Gino And Fred: Road Trip

9PM, ITV

On the second leg of their journey, Gordon Ramsay, Gino D’Acampo and Fred Sirieix travel to France, where Fred has been asked to co-host an Oyster Festival in the beautiful Arcachon Bay in just four days’ time.

Child Of Mine

10PM, CH4

Narrated by Amanda Holden – whose son, Theo, was stillborn – this emotional featurelength documentary sensitively follows three couples’ personal experience of losing a child before birth. A difficult but important watch.

FRIDAY

The Lakes With Paul Rose

8.30PM, BBC2

The Lake District has been home to explorer Paul Rose for the past 20 years, so who better to guide us around one of the country’s top beauty spots in a picturesque four-part series?

Have I Got News For You

9PM, BBC1

Jo Brand, who is second only to Alexander Armstrong on the list of most regular guest hosts, is in the presenting chair again this week.

Gardeners’ World

9PM, BBC2

As the series concludes, Monty Don offers advice on protecting tender plants over the winter, Nick Bailey helps us to choose the right trees for small gardens, and Carol Klein explains the science behind autumn colour.

Would I Lie To You?

9.30PM, BBC1

Joining host Rob Brydon and team captains David Mitchell and Lee Mack on the hilarious celebrity panel show are Rylan Clark-Neal, Mary Portas, Sara Pascoe and Paul Sinha.

The Graham Norton Show

10.35PM, BBC1

Graham’s guests are actors Michael Caine, Sally Field, Chris Pine and Rami Malek, with music from Christine And The Queens.