Wild and pawsome

BBC1, 8pm NO ONE can fail to be enthralled by the sight of a cheetah racing across a plain at top speed to catch its prey.

From scenes of endearing family life to gory, ruthless hunts, these wildlife documentaries have every emotion covered. You can be horrified at one moment as a puma takes down a penguin, but then in another your heart will swell to see a tiny kitten clamber around a forest.

Yes, there is a kitten in this big cat documentary. Not a big cat at all.

In fact, the Sri Lankan rusty spotted cat could fit in the palm of your hand, and at 200 times smaller than a lion, is the smallest cat of all. It has a squeaky mew but has super big senses to help it survive.

But the scene-stealers tonight are, of course, the big cats – the leopards, lions, lynxes, tigers and cheetahs.

They are captivating and there is some remarkable footage.

In Africa, Honey the leopard has been wearing a radio collar for a decade, allowing scientists to track her every move. Now she is battling to raise a cub.

And in the Himalayas, perhaps the world’s most lonesome cat is searching for a mate. A male snow leopard may just get one chance in his life to do it.

Oh, and if you’re wondering who the narrator is, it’s Bertie Carvel, the Doctor Foster baddie. His voice is perfect for adding a dramatic tone.