MUST-SEE SHOWS
BRITAIN’S ANCIENT TRACKS WITH TONY ROBINSON
Tonight, Channel 4, 7pm WILLIAM WORDSWORTH once wandered lonely as a cloud, and the eponymous host is now following in his footsteps. Once more Tony Robinson will be exploring the ancient trackways that criss-cross Blighty and the legends that surround them.
This week he examines Wordsworth’s old stomping ground, Offa’s Dyke, and discusses what some think might have been the subterranean resting place of King Arthur. Sir Tony also encounters Wales’s fearsome dragon and considers the lucrative gold coin dispensed by King Offa.
ELECTRIC DREAMS: THE COMMUTER
Tomorrow, Channel 4, 9pm A RAILWAY station employee is desperately unhappy in his job and unhappy home life, plus his son’s psychotic disorder has become an unbearable burden. Everything changes when a passenger requests a ticket to a town that does not exist.
He becomes tempted to follow her route in the hope that this mysterious destination may be the only place where he can escape the frustrations of his life once and for all. Starring Timothy Spall and Tuppence Middleton.
LIAR
Monday, ITV, 9pm THINGS hot up even more tonight as Laura takes a trip to Edinburgh to find out more about the death of Andrew’s wife. However, her investigative efforts lead her to uncovering a shade more than she perhaps bargained for. Meanwhile, the tensions between Tom and Katy reach fever pitch as their dark secret looks set to emerge.
Once again, we’re forced to ask ourselves – are there really two sides to every story?
REFORMATION: EUROPE’S HOLY WAR
Tuesday, BBC2, 9pm HISTORIAN David Starkey reveals how the Protestant Reformation unleashed fundamentalist beliefs, terror and holy war across Europe in a way that is all too familiar to many people today.
Timed to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the doors of All Saint’s Church in Wittenberg, the presenter charts the spread of Luther’s ideas,
and explores the consequences of his actions – both on the Christian faith, and on society at large.
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
Wednesday, BBC1, 8pm THE last in the current series of the genealogy series finds Ruby Wax facing the age-old question of nature versus nurture. Her Jewish parents fled Vienna and the Nazis for America in 1938, but by her own admission, the comedian and mental health campaigner grew up in a dysfunctional household – her father was volatile and her mother could be: “hysterical...screaming in the street”.
Ruby explores whether her own illness has its roots in their behaviour – which was in turn influenced by their traumatic experiences – or if it could be genetic.
THE HOUSEING ENFORCERS: FIRE SAFETY SPECIAL
Thursday, BBC1, 8pm THE Grenfell Tower tragedy has left many people wondering how safe their own homes are, and what they would in the event of a fire. In this special edition of The Housing Enforcers, Matt Allwright looks at some of the common causes of blazes and how to prevent them, and meets tenants who have been affected by fires.
HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU
Friday, BBC1, 9pm THE long-running satirical panel game is back to dissect the news at a time of natural disasters and the world seemingly on the brink of nuclear war, it’s fair to say that if we don’t have the chance to laugh at the state of things, we may well end up in tears.
Curating the lighter side of the week’s news is Alexander Armstrong, who has more than proved himself on the show – this will be his 30th appearance as presenter.
He’ll be joined, of course, by regular team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton.