BEST OF THE REST
CANNY COPS BBC1 10.35pm
WE’VE seen a fair few documentary series following the workings of a police force – but this is one with a difference.
Partly because the cops in Durham Constabulary who serve the communities of Peterlee and the surrounding coastal areas are on first name terms with most of the criminals they’re arresting!
And it shows the dark sense of humour of the people on both sides of the law.
Years ago this part of Britain was the centre of the industrial north east and the birthplace of the steam railway. But with the closure of its pits, factories and railway industry – not to mention years of austerity and neglect – it’s now one of the most deprived areas in the country.
Filmed over seven months, we see how the police deal with the high levels of crime and drugs in the area and try to keep their townsfolk on the straight and narrow.
THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF Channel 4, 8pm
IT’S Biscuit Week, which of course means plenty of puns about which of our dozen remaining bakers will snap under the pressure, or crumble at the first sign of dodgy dough.
Twenty-year-old Jamie has already proved he’s a jammy dodger, by avoiding last week’s eviction despite a pretty catastrophic first showing in Cake Week.
We’re fine with that though – the adorable lad has got People’s Champ written all over him.
The signature challenge is a messy affair, as they must make delicious biccies and completely coat them in chocolate.
Then it’s on to the old-fashioned classic (aka rather boring and not very tasty) fig rolls for the technical. One of Paul’s dad’s favourites, apparently.
For the showstopper the bakers are tasked with making a large intricate biscuit sculpture, leading to the likes of edible giant spiders, chickens, dragons and an organ (cue hilarious innuendoes and plenty of raised eyebrows).