PICK OF THE WEEK

SATURDAY

Novels That Shaped Our World (BBC2, 9.45pm)

The second documentary examining fictional writing from three different perspectives considers the subject of race and colonialism. It looks at books including Robinson Crusoe, the first novel ever published in English, in 1719, whose hero was a slave trader, and two famous American novels published more than a century apart - Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Toni Morrison’s Beloved. The programme also comes up to date with titles such as Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses and Paul Beatty’s The Sell Out.

The Heart Guy (Drama, 10pm & 11pm)

For the past three years, Australian TV drama Doctor Doctor has gone down a storm with viewers on home turf. And like many an Aussie drama, it’s also found a firm fan base here. For whatever reason, the show was renamed for this neck of the woods, but the saga of heart surgeon Dr Hugh Knight, working as a country GP in his former home town of Whyhope, has lost little of its appeal. As the saga returns for a fourth run, Hugh (Rodger Corser) becomes distracted by the arrival of Tara, an alluring new doctor. In the second of the double bill, Hugh’s superiority has left him without a Cardiac Unit, and minus a job.

The Hit List (BBC1, 6.25pm)

New series. Marvin and Rochelle Humes present the return of the music-based quiz show, in which contestants must name as many hit songs and artists as possible under intense pressure, with a £10,000 jackpot up for grabs for the winners. Across three rounds, their knowledge is put to the test, as they attempt to identify huge hits across various decades. In the first episode, sisters Sara and Vanessa from London, friends John and Rachel from Glasgow, and father and son duo Fluff and Freddie from Kent take part.

Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1, 7.05pm)

It’s that time of year again when the show makes its annual pilgrimage to the spiritual home of ballroom dancing, Blackpool. All the celebrities want to make it this far in the competition, but in the weeks leading up to this show, it’s been even trickier than usual to work out exactly who should be booking their seat on the coach and who should hang fire before buying a Kiss Me Quick hat. Admittedly, many viewers were ready to put money on ex-Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher and CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual making the final after week one, but this series has still seen plenty of upsets, whether it’s due to injuries or unexpectedly early exits.

The X Factor: Celebrity (STV, 8.20pm)

Some viewers were initially cynical about the idea of a celebrity take on the singing contest, especially those who could remember the previous attempt, X Factor: Battle of the Stars, from 2006. So, has the show changed their

minds? The ratings are still lagging behind those of its big Saturday night rival, Strictly Come Dancing, but at least X Factor: Celebrity has got people talking, especially on social media. Fans have been sharing on their opinions on everything from Chaser Jenny Ryan’s voice to Olivia Olson’s departure and Nicole Scherzinger being so impressed by Try Star’s version of Swing Low Sweet Chariot she awarded them her ‘safe seat’ instead of one of her own acts.

SUNDAY

The War of the Worlds (BBC1, 9pm)

HG Wells’ classic sci-fi novel has been adapted many times before, but in most versions (with the notable exception of Jeff Wayne’s concept album), the action has been transplanted to contemporary America. However, the BBC’s new three-part adaptation opens in Britain in 1905 - less than a decade after Wells’ story first appeared in print. The drama isn’t staying entirely faithful to the book though, as it brings in two new characters, Amy (Eleanor Tomlinson) and George (Rafe Spall), who have scandalized the neighbourhood by falling in love, despite the fact that he’s already married. Disapproving tuts are about to become the least of their worries though when a mysterious capsule lands on Horsell Common - and unleashes a deadly heat ray.

I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! (STV , 9pm)

Everyone from former Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow to Girls Aloud’s Nadine Coyle has been rumoured to be taking part in this year’s series, while presenters Ant and Dec have suggested that their dream signing would be Richard Madeley. But now we’re about to get our first good look at the class of 2019 as they arrive in the jungle. After all these years, the British celebs should have a pretty good idea of what they’re letting themselves in for, but the realities of roughing it in the camp (not to mention those infamous Bush Tucker Trials) can still be tougher than they imagined. And on the off chance they have

been preparing by sleeping in the garden and sticking their faces into bowls full of bugs, we’re promised there will be some surprises in store.

Guy Martin: World’s Fastest Tractor (Channel 4, 9pm)

Just when you thought you had seen everything, along comes speed demon Guy Martin with one of his quirkiest projects yet. He hopes to win a Guinness World speed record in, you guessed it, a tractor. He’s not chosen this random machine for the sake of it, but Martin is a ‘wannabe farmer’, who also does a bit of ploughing and muck-spreading in his own tractor. Over the past 12 months, he has been working with JCB to produce the world’s

fastest tractor, and naturally his quest to be the fastest Guy on Earth led to one of his most unusual challenges.

Reggie in China (BBC2, 9pm)

New series. Reggie Yates travels to China and visits four very different cities. His first stop is Shenzhen, which over the past 40 years has grown from a region dominated by fishing and farmland to a bustling metropolis that is home to 12 million people and at the centre of the country’s technological revolution. He meets the inventors of an earpiece that uses algorithms to translate speech into other languages, discovers more about the differing attitudes between generations, and witnesses

a demonstration of a flying motorcycle.

The Richard Dimbleby Lecture (BBC One, 10.30pm)

Many people might have dreams of changing the world, but few can claim to have done it. However, engineer and computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee can proudly hold up his hand on that score. The man with more letters after his name than a hand at Scrabble will be talking about his aspirations for the future of the world wide web, which he invented 30 years ago; the same year that Prince Philip gave his Richard Dimbleby lecture. The latest takes place at London’s Design Museum, and is hosted by Jonathan Dimbleby.

MONDAY

The Brokenwood Mysteries (Drama, 8pm)

If you’re a newcomer to this saga, it’s set in a seemingly quiet country New Zealand town, where Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea) finds murder lurks in even the most homely location. His unconventional approach to police work is countered by Detective Constable Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland), who has learned to tolerate his methods. In the first episode of series six, Mike and his team are drawn into a world of Victorian dress-up and escapism when they investigate a murder at a steampunk event.

Save Well, Spend Better (C4, 8.30pm)

Experts give advice at a hub where partners, friends, siblings, young adults and parents with money worries can come clean to their loved ones and get help. The team includes entrepreneur Bianca Miller Cole, global wealth consultant Ann Wilson, financial adviser Emmanuel Asuquo, and life coach Anna Williamson. In the first edition, parents Louise and Graham reveal why they can’t say no to their kids despite being in crippling debt, and friends Eric and Phoebe’s fear of missing out has left them in pay-day loan purgatory.

Vienna Blood (BBC2, 9pm)

The BBC dumped Ripper Street, citing poor ratings, and yet it seems to be launching a very similar period crime drama this week. Vienna Blood is based on a series of successful novels by Frank Tallis, adapted for the screen by Steve Thompson, whose previous credits include episodes of Sherlock and Jericho; he also created Jericho. Matthew Beard takes the lead role of Max Liebermann, a brilliant young English doctor living in the titular Austrian city while studying under psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. His path crosses with that of local police detective Oskar Rheinhardt (Juergen Maurer), and his help proves invaluable in solving a baffling and disturbing murder case. Conleth Hill and Amelia Bullmore are among the supporting cast.

Cold Call (C5, 9pm)

Showing every day until Thursday, this four-part drama is a cautionary tale starring Coronation Street veteran Sally Lindsay, who is reteamed with her Mount Pleasant co-star Daniel Ryan. Lindsay plays June Clarke, who works as a carer for her mum Sophie. Her daughter Hana has a baby on the way, so in a desperate bid to raise some cash, June sells her home, little realising that Sophie is going to be tricked into handing over the cash to a bunch of scammers. Penniless and rehomed by the council, June begins attending a support group for fraud victims, where she bumps into old school mate Des (Ryan). He’s obsessed with the idea of dishing out vigilante-style justice on those behind the scam, and persuades a reluctant June to lend him a hand.

24 Hours in A&E (C4, 9pm)

New series. The return of the documentary about life inside an A&E department, following patients treated in the same 24-hour period at St George’s in south-west London. Fourteenyear-old Eduard is rushed in after falling from a swing and fracturing his ankle, while 62-yearold Rosina is treated having broken her wrist on the dancefloor at a family party. Paula is in Resus having been unable to take in food through her feeding tube and it is not only her health that is in danger, but also that of her unborn baby.

TUESDAY

Johnson v Corbyn: The STV Debate (STV , 8pm)

They’ve clashed numerous times in the House of Commons, and now Prime Minister Boris Johnson and leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn are about to go head-to-head in a live TV debate with millions watching at home. Both men will be desperate to get one over on the other, to steal a march on their biggest rival ahead of the General Election on December 12. Whoever impresses those watching at home the most will certainly feel more confident about their chances of success - and even those who have already decided which party they’re voting for should find the cut and thrust of the situation fascinating. Julie Etchingham is the moderator, and later in the evening the leaders of other parties will get a chance to comment on the debate and set out their own electoral plans.

Our Yorkshire Farm (C5, 8pm)

The Owen family’s nine kids have all finished school for the summer, but there’s still plenty of work to be done on the farm. The biggest priority is rounding up all 1000 sheep from the moors and getting them ready for shearing. However, gathering the flock is made nearly impossible when the quadbikes are stolen. Fifteen-year-old Reuben steps in to help on his dirt bike, while Edith, 11, and Violet, 9, get an urgent crash course in sheepdog handling.

Greg Davies: Looking for Kes (BBC4, 9pm)

The eponymous funnyman pays tribute to Ken Loach’s 1969 adaptation of Barry Hines’ classic novel, A Kestrel for a Knave. In Barnsley he meets members of Hines’ family, including his brother Richard, who was the inspiration for the book’s protagonist, Billy Casper. Greg also

chats to Loach and Dai Bradley, who played Billy in the film, and talks to Jarvis Cocker about the character’s impact on British pop culture. As this documentary reveals, the story is as powerful now as when the film was released 50 years ago

Inside Britain’s Banking Fortress (C4, 9pm)

You may not have heard of it, but Broadgate - a 32-acre complex in the City of London - is at the centre of Britain’s banking empire, with billions flowing through it every day. Filmed over the course of two years, this fascinating documentary takes us inside this secret fortress devoted to finance, where bankers, CEOs, cleaners and security guards rub shoulders but very rarely interact. All, from the richest to the poorest, have been invited to tell their stories. There’s also a look back at Broadgate’s history, which began more than 30 years ago when then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher broke ground on the site; she wanted the place to become the epicentre of her free market revolution, and how today, it could rise to prominence again in the wake of Brexit.

Gold Digger (BBC1, 9pm)

Julia brings Benjamin to her Devon home, and he is taken aback to see the extent of her wealth. The visit is disrupted by a tense confrontation with Ted, who questions Julia’s motivations for forming a new relationship. Julia opts to return to London, and asks to meet Benjamin’s friends - but when he refuses to show her where he lives, she begins to fear he is hiding something from her. Della turns up unannounced on her ex’s doorstep, and is put under pressure by her brother into digging up dirt on Benjamin.

WEDNESDAY

DIY SOS: The Big Build (BBC1, 8pm)

This time, Nick Knowles and the team transforms a home in Bromsgrove. Karis, a 28-year-old woman who has cerebral palsy, currently lives with her mother, Karen, but now her own health is deteriorating and it is making caring for Karis almost impossible. The family have decided that Karis should move in with her older sister Jo, but her entire home is inaccessible for Karis, so the team decides to build a large two-storey extension to make the house more suitable. Elsewhere, Billy takes on jousting at Warwick Castle.

Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs (STV, 8pm)

The eponymous funnyman meets Samson, an Akita who doesn’t share the usual traits of the breed. Normally they’re aloof and standoffish, but Samson’s like a huge teddy bear. The vet team just need to work out what’s wrong with his injured nose. Paul assists a former racing greyhound, who’s spent most of his time in kennels. Can the pride of Birkenhead help him get ready for life in a domestic home? And it’s an emotional time when cameras follow a dog called Hugo, who’s been down on his luck. He

could wind up being adopted by the family who own his brother.

Boeing’s Killer Plane: What Went Wrong? (C4, 9pm)

When Boeing unveiled the 737 Max, it promised a quieter ride for passengers, with increased fuel efficiency and an eight per cent reduction in operational costs, as well as a new anti-stall system. No wonder it became the fastest-selling aircraft in the manufacturer’s history with more than 5,000 orders. But then on 29 October, 2018, Lion Air Flight 610 crashed into the Java Sea, killing all 189 people on board. Less than five months later, Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX also crashed at the cost of

157 lives. With investigations into the latter tragedy still ongoing, this documentary uses CGI and state-of-the-art flight simulation to look at what went wrong and whether the catastrophes could have been avoided.

Guilt (BBC2, 9pm)

Max sits in on Angie’s police interview and the truth about Walter’s death is getting closer to being revealed. To protect his brother, the lawyer orders Jake to leave the country with Angie, telling him he will sort everything out. But Angie is still not convinced they can trust Max. Having uncovered Sheila’s guilty secret, Max thinks he finally has the upper hand over his blackmailer, and with the tables finally turned,

Max offers Sheila a tempting deal to bring matters to a close - once and for all. Last in the series.

The Apprentice (BBC1, 9pm)

In the eighth week of the competition, the candidates are challenged to host a corporate away day onboard the iconic Belmond British Pullman Train, arranging food, drinks and entertainment and also securing a good ticket price. The task will require the teams to show off their organisation and hospitality skills as they hope to impress the corporate clients. For one team the journey gets off to a bumpy start, while the others are left red faced when they have to deal with hungry guests. Back in the

boardroom, one of the candidates is sent home from the competition.

THURSDAY

How to Stop Your Nuisance Calls (C5, 8pm)

An investigation into the plague of nuisance and scam callers, such as incessant calls about PPI or accidents that never happened. Alexis Conran tells the stories of victims like Jeff, who lost £20,000 to fraudsters pretending to be his bank, and Jessica, who was brainwashed into thinking she was being monitored by the FBI. Alexis also meets police, bank representatives and members of the call centre industry to ask whether enough is being done to help, and reveals just what people can do to stop these callers.

What Makes a Murderer (C4, 9pm)

New series. Convicted murderers submit themselves to biological and psychological investigations to determine whether they truly had control over their actions. First up is 71-year-old John Massey, Britain’s longestserving murderer, who spent 43 years in prison for the fatal shooting of a nightclub bouncer in 1975. Neurocriminologist Professor Adrian Raine looks for biological causes of his aggressive, risk-taking and psychopathic behaviour, and forensic psychologist Dr Vicky Thakordas-Desai takes him back in time to his most painful childhood experiences.

Giri/Haji (BBC2, 9pm)

As the emotional impact of Hotaka’s death takes its toll, the Moris set aside their conflict and hold a makeshift vigil where they make Yuto an offer - but it will mean betraying his brother. Rodney continues to deny his feelings of guilt over Tiff’s death, while in Tokyo, Rei and Natsuko break Sora and Eiko out of the safe house and hit the road, with a pair of yakuza hot on their trail. Kenzo and Yuti’s plans to return to Tokyo are derailed by Ian, who threatens to pass photos of them at Sarah’s flat to the police.

New Amsterdam (More4, 10pm)

If you’ve not read the source novel Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital by Eric Manheimer, then chances are you’ll take this often gripping stethosoap at face value. The fact it stars former Doctor Who veteran Freema Agyeman is an added bonus. This week, Max (Ryan Eggold) convinces Dr

Sharpe (Freema) to take a risk on his course of treatment, Meanwhile, Bloom (Janet Montgomery) grapples with a difficult conversation; Frome (Tyler Labine) works to help a transgender patient, and Dr Kapoor (Anupam Kher) considers helping his son in a big way after advice from a friend.

FRIDAY

Unreported World (C4, 7.30pm)

Iraqi society has changed over the last five years and young Iraqis in particular want to look increasingly Western - even provocative. Influencing these trends are the social media stars who have garnered millions of followers, so reporter Sahar Zand heads to the troubled nation to meet a few of them. Huge nationwide protests against corruption have been making headlines, but these young millennials are taking on power in a different way - by celebrating beauty, fashion and rap.

Still Open All Hours (BBC1, 8.30pm)

Granville creates a special blend of snuff, but will his customers notice any beneficial effects? The ladies get dressed up for line-dancing, while Gastric is prompted to go on a diet. A furtive Mr Newbold thinks he’s found a pastime to share with Mrs Rossi - away from the prying eyes of Mrs Featherstone. However, a determined Black Widow enlists assistance from Granville and Leroy for a crash-course in how to ride a bicycle. David Jason, Stephanie Cole, Tim Healy, Johnny Vegas and Maggie Ollerenshaw star.

Would I Lie to You? (BBC1, 9.30pm)

Jay Blades is known for his no-nonsense approach on hit BBC programme The Repair Shop. However, the Hackney furniture up-cycler and restorer will probably have to be economical with the truth here, as he takes part in the latest edition of the comedy panel show. Joining Jay on David Mitchell’s side is The Royle Family actress Sue Johnston.

Meanwhile, Lee Mack’s team is made up of Radio 1 broadcaster Alice Levine and comedian Bob Mortimer. The latter is notorious for his ‘Mortimerian’ tall tales and caused a stir on his previous WILTY outing last year, claiming that he cracks an egg in the bath because it’s what musician Chris Rea once did for him after they’d been recording a single together for their beloved Middlesbrough FC.

Country Music by Ken Burns (BBC4, 9.30pm)

ET star Peter Coyote narrates this nine-part series examining the history of the American art form, and how it evolved across the 20th century. Episode one explores the genre’s earliest years up to 1933, when so-called ‘hillbilly music’ grew in popularity. After centuries of gestating in the American South, hillbilly began reaching more people through phonographs and radio. The Carter Family, with their ballads and old hymns, and Jimmie Rodgers, with his mix of blues and yodeling, became its first big stars. Dolly Parton, Rosanne Cash and Merle Haggard are among the contributors.

The State of It (BBC Scotland, 10.30pm)

In this first episode, The State of It sets its sights on Technology and meets cutting edge beauty influencer, Kendra, who shares her corned beef master plan for world domination. Also this week, the team look at modern day sperm donation, genetic engineering by post and an ingenious music streaming service. Elsewhere, resident animators Will and Ainsley consider crypto currency. Also this week, comedian Stuart McPherson shares his insights, there’s a technological revolution coming down the tracks for subway travel and Robert meets science whizz Elon Musk. Sort of. Alongside Robert Florence, The State of It stars comic talent Susan Riddell, Nathan

Byrne, Joe Hullait, Rachel Jackson, Laura Lovemore and Bigg Taj. The State of It is a Comedy Unit production for BBC Scotland and made by the same team behind the BAFTA Scotland award-winning Scot Squad.

The Graham Norton Show (BBC1, 10.40pm)

The man every A-lister wants to drink wine with is joined by Elizabeth Banks, the American actress is best known for starring as Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games movie series and as Gail Abernathy-McKadden in the Pitch Perfect films. Banks can soon be seen as Susan Bosley in the new Charlie’s Angels reboot, which she also wrote and directed. Joining her on the sofa is pop princess Kylie Minogue. The Australian has recently announced details of a new live album and DVD, plus an expanded edition of her greatest hits collection Step Back in Time. She will be chatting to Graham about those releases and her long career, before performing a special version of her hit single Slow.