PICK OF THE WEEK

SATURDAY

Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway (STV, 7pm)

The lads are back in what ITV likes to describe as ‘the happiest 90 minutes of the week’. They’re probably not far wrong with that description actually. The Geordie duo have been hosting the show since 2002 and it’s always been a ratings-winner thanks to its joyous mix of entertainment, music, comedy and games. We’re already looking forward to which stars have agreed to take part this time around. The new run comes hot on the heels of Ant and Dec’s 19th award for Most Popular Entertainment/TV Presenter victory at the National Television Awards.

The Greatest Dancer (BBC1, 7.05pm)

The pressure is mounting, with only seven acts left in competition, all battling to make it to next week’s semi-final, and ultimately win £50,000 and perform on Strictly Come Dancing. Tonight, sees the continuation of the live shows, beginning as the four superstar Captains Todrick Hall, Cheryl, Matthew Morrison and Oti Mabuse - and their acts take part in a spectacular group dance. Then it’s up to the dance acts alone as they attempt to create an unforgettable performance on the theme of Dance Fusion.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC2, 8pm)

The Rocky Mountaineer is one of the world’s most famous trains, which runs across three Canadian routes. Michael Portillo is boarding it in Kamloops and plans to travel all the way to the spa resort of Banff. The start and end points are not, however, the most important part of his journey - it’s the scenery he sees en route that captures his imagination. Portillo steps off to sample the sights of Kicking Horse Pass, the highest point on the 19th century transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway, and also waxes lyrical about Lake Louise and the complex tunnels blasted through the nearby mountains. He also learns about the dangers faced by the European and Chinese labourers who built the route.

The Voice UK (STV, 8.30pm)

Emma Willis hosts the first of this year’s Battle Rounds in the singing contest. Coaches will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones, Olly Murs and Meghan Trainor all return to their infamous red chairs as the acts they have chosen from the blind auditions go head to head and fight for their place on their coach’s team. The singers that impress their coach the most remain in the competition with a chance of winning a recording contract. Will those that aren’t so lucky be stolen by another coach or will they be going home?

Casualty (BBC1, 9.10pm)

Violette tries her best to get clean in rehab, and is prepared to fight Ruby for custody of baby Harmony. However, a bad decision leads to devastating consequences for the sisters. Faith

struggles to cope with Luka’s diagnosis and considers joining a support group for parents of children with cancer, and turns to Dylan for comfort. After complaining to Will about his latest dating rejection, Ethan meets Fenisha at the vending machine. Starring Kelly Gough, Maddy Hill, Kirsty Mitchell and Jack Nolan.

SUNDAY

Doctor Who (BBC1, 7.10pm)

The end of the series is nigh - the latest episode is the penultimate of this year’s run, and the first in a two-part series finale. The Bletchley Circle’s Julie Graham and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Game of Thrones star Ian

McElhinney make guest appearances alongside Steve Toussaint of Judge Dredd and Mutant Chronicles fame, but for most viewers, the real excitement comes in the fact that a classic villain is returning. The Cybermen raise their ugly, emotionless heads once again as the Doctor travels to the far future in a bid to save the last remaining members of the human race from their clutches. But in doing so, it seems she may have placed her best friends in grave danger.

Call the Midwife (BBC1, 8pm)

Sister Julienne decides it is time to take matters in hand when a letter arrives from the council saying that it will cut funding to Nonnatus House and no longer pay for the

accommodation, and goes to see Violet at one of her open sessions as a local councillor. At clinic, Nurse Crane meets and cares for heavily pregnant Bonnie, who is not married but committed to the baby’s father Eddie, while Kevin’s dependency on pain relief is discovered by the team and Dr Turner and Miss Higgins must find a way to help him. Last in the series.

Endeavour (STV, 8pm)

When the detective is called to investigate what appears to be a freak accident at Lady Matilda’s College, he uncovers a potential link between a series of peculiar incidents across Oxford. Despite Thursday’s scepticism, he becomes convinced the accidents are the

result of foul play. Lady Matilda’s meanwhile, is in the midst of a referendum campaign which will decide whether or not the college should become co-educational. When a woman is attacked while walking alone on a towpath, Endeavour and Thursday try to find the assailant before they strike again.

Last Tango in Halifax (BBC1, 9pm)

At long last, the fifth series of Sally Wainwright’s touching drama has arrived. Anne Reid and Derek Jacobi are back as pensioners Celia and Alan, whose late-flowering love forms the backbone of the story. However, their marriage isn’t going well - it seems they’re suffering from than sliced loaves of bread. Matt Tebbutt is in

Italy to investigate why buffalo mozzarella is much more expensive than that from cows and in the process he meets some of the most pampered livestock in the world. Meanwhile, Briony May Williams has the less glamorous assignment of uncovering the surprising secret to the making of mushy peas.

TV EXTRA: PAGE 95

MONDAY

Flesh and Blood (STV, 9pm)

Showing on consecutive evenings across the week, this new four-part drama boasts an impressive cast, including Francesca Annis, Imelda Staunton, Stephen Rea and Russel Tovey. It also gets off to a gripping start as, in the wake of a family celebration, a body lies on the beach. But to find out who it is, we’re going to flash back a few weeks to when a group of adult siblings discover that their recently widowed mother Vivien (Annis) is in love with a new man, retired surgeon Mark (Rea). The announcement leaves the siblings, who are all dealing with their own personal problems, questioning the speed of the relationship - and how fast their mum has moved on. Even Vivien’s neighbour Mary (Staunton), who feels protective of the family, is worried by this turn of events.

Murder 24/7 (BBC2, 9pm)

A new series following real-life murder cases begins with the investigation into the death of 36-year-old Courtney Valentine-Brown, who was found stabbed in a flat in in Southend-onSea. The opening episode concentrates on the crucial first 48 hours, as senior investigating officer, Stuart, and the forensics team get to work to piece together what happened. With no eyewitnesses or CCTV, identifying the killers is going to be difficult, but the police receive a lead when a witness comes forward to say she saw four people enter the flat just before the murder - and she recognises two of them. Operational Support are called in to lead the search for the two suspects, but while they eventually track down one, the other is nowhere to be found.

MasterChef (BBC1, 9pm)

New series. John Torode and Gregg Wallace return with the cookery competition, as a new batch of contestants are put through gruelling culinary challenges to test not just their skills, but also their knowledge of food and ability to cope in a professional kitchen. This year they will have to cook not only for their place in the competition but also the right to wear a coveted MasterChef apron, with six contestants in each heat and only four aprons up for grabs, beginning by preparing their signature dish.

Inside No 9 (BBC2, 10pm)

Student journalist Gabriel is determined to interview world-famous magician Neville Griffin, who is renowned for being extremely protective of his secrets and believes stealing a magic trick is a crime worse than murder. But how would he know that, exactly? The latest instalment of the darkly comic drama anthology, written by and starring The League of Gentlemen’s Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, with guest appearances by Fionn Whitehead, Jill Halfpenny and Tom GoodmanHill.

TUESDAY

Love Your Garden (STV, 8pm)

Alan Titchmarsh and co are back with a new series, ready to transform the gardens of some very deserving people. They begin in Hull, where they’re turning a suburban plot into an exciting wildlife retreat for an inspiring, natureloving teenager. Although some viewers who don’t have green fingers may wonder if that just involves giving up on mowing the lawn and letting nature take its course, there’s a lot more to it than that - especially as, in a Love Your Garden first, the team are also creating an outdoor cinema. As well as working their magic on the Hull garden, the team will also be offering advice on creating a beautiful, childsafe pond and revealing which are the best trees for adding privacy to an overlooked space.

Back in Time for the Corner Shop (BBC2, 8pm)

New series. A family of five works in a corner shop to reveal how such businesses have changed over the course of the past 100 years, aided by presenter Sara Cox and social historian Polly Russell. The first episode covers shops from the Victorian era to the First World War. The family must learn to bake their own counter goods, measure loose products like tea, flour and sugar by hand, and make deliveries with a horse and cart. They also receive a visit from Kelly Holmes, who puts them through an Edwardian workout and discover the impact of food shortages on corner shops as the war drew on.

The Split (BBC1, 9pm)

Hannah finds her personal and professional lives colliding when she is forced to work with Nathan and his new protegee on the Hansen case. She desperately tries to clean up any evidence of her affair, only for Christie to uncover a secret about her past that leaves him consumed with anger - and secrets threaten to spill out at an anniversary party. The lawyers attend their first meeting with Richie’s representatives to discuss childcare arrangements, which leaves Hannah concerned that her opponents will fight dirty and that Fi has not told her everything. Guest starring Anna Chancellor.

Royal History’s Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley (BBC Four, 9pm)

For years, the story of the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 has bolstered a sense of Britain as an island nation manifestly destined for imperial greatness. Tales of Sir Francis Drake calmly finishing his game of bowls and Elizabeth I rousing her troops at Tilbury with the ‘heart and stomach of a king’ have become iconic. However, as Lucy discovers, history has been manipulated and mythologised somewhat by generations of writers, politicians and artists. She explores how Elizabethan propaganda spun the defeat of the Spanish Armada as a Protestant victory for the Virgin Queen and discovers how the Victorians celebrated it as the start of the Empire when Britain ruled the waves.

Ben Fogle: Make a New Life in the Country (C5, 9pm)

Ben travels to Britain’s northernmost point to meet a former nanny who left London to pursue her dream of running her own farm. Her property is home to goats, sheep, rabbits, chickens and donkeys and features a vegetable delivery service, but the harsh

weather of the remote region has taken its toll on the business through some challenging winters. Ben helps her to stock up the farm shop and meets some of the more unusual animals in her menagerie, including chickens that change sex and ponies that change colour.

WEDNESDAY

Grand Tours of Scotland’s Lochs (BBC2, 7.30pm)

New series. Paul Murton returns to explore more of the nation’s lochs, beginning by heading to Wester Ross to find out about the heritage of Little Loch Broom. He then travels to the off-grid community of Scoraig, where he learns about violin making and wind power, before taking the plunge to explore the hidden depths of Corrieshalloch Gorge. In Ullapool, on the shores of Loch Broom, Paul learns the Russian word for parsley, and how a huge fleet of Russian fish factory ships known as Klondykers used to visit the town.

Harry Redknapp’s Sandbanks Summer (STV, 8pm)

This week, Harry is joined by footballing friends John Barnes and Chris Kamara, as he shows off what Sandbanks has to offer from the sea. The I’m a Celebrity star challenges the duo to a full-throttle powerboat showdown on the Solent - but will the King of the Jungle also be master the seas; or will Harry and Barnsey fall short of ex-navy footballer ‘Kammy-kaze’? The loser of the race has to buy supper in at Harry’s favourite chippy, where they sample a local pickled-delicacy and Kammy takes a turn behind the counter. The following day, Harry, John and Sandra climb aboard a luxury yacht, and a pit-stop at the Cowes Torquay offshore race allows Harry to take a closer look at the super-fast powerboats that roar past his house, before Barnsey gets up close and personal with the nudists of Studland Bay.

Saving Lives at Sea (BBC2, 8pm)

The documentary telling the story of the unpaid volunteers who sacrifice their free time to staff more than two hundred RNLI lifeboat stations across the UK returns with a particularly dramatic episode. It sees the volunteers racing to the rescue of a sharkattack victim, while two fishermen caught by the tide find themselves stranded in a rising sea. Elsewhere, two young boys are swept out to sea in a rip current. The episode also explores some of the sacrifices the volunteers make - as well as braving dangerous conditions, they’re also jeopardising their social lives.

Kevin McCloud’s Rough Guide to the Future (C4, 9pm)

Kevin McCloud sends three celebrities around the world to take a light-hearted look at some of the planet’s biggest issues and the technology that could offer solutions. In the final episode, Jon Richardson travels to America to learn about the latest advances in

technology that claim to prolong life, and Phil Wang goes to China to explore how technology is enabling new ways for people to earn a living. Elsewhere in Japan, Alice Levine learns about the robots that are becoming as advanced as humans. Last in the series.

The Hairy Bikers’ Chocolate Challenge (Channel 5, 10pm)

This week, the budding chocolatiers are challenged to make a supersize bar with bitesized pieces with lots of texture, as well as getting to use some of the latest chocolatemaking gadgets - which do not always work as intended, leading to some unexpected meltdowns. Meanwhile, Si and Dave delve

deeper into the world of chocolate as they visit a top-secret sensory lab that uses an elite force of super tasters to test their products. Very few have the expert palate required to be tasters, but the Bikers put their foodie reputations on the line and audition for a place on the panel.

THURSDAY

Inside MI5: Keeping The UK Safe - Tonight (STV, 8.30pm)

Cameras have never previously been allowed to film in the heart of the Security Service, but in this documentary, Rohit Kachroo gains unprecedented access to MI5. Filmed as London experienced two attacks at

Fishmonger’s Hall and Streatham, it offers a fascinating insight into the UK’s fight against terrorism. Featuring contributions from Director General Sir Andrew Parker and former Prime Minister Theresa May, who was herself the target of a plot foiled by MI5, the programme also asks what lessons have been learned from previous attacks and if our intelligence agencies can deal with the everevolving threats to our country.

10 Years Younger in 10 Days (C5, 9pm)

Most people want to turn back their body clock and look a bit younger. Thankfully, 10 Years Younger is back with more jawdropping makeovers, as well as tips for

viewers, after the hit show’s move from Channel 4 to Channel 5. Cherry Healey takes over as host, and the challenge is bigger than ever before - the experts will attempt to transform people’s looks and lives in just 10 days, without any surgery. Each episode will follow two contributors who are desperate to reverse the signs of ageing but have no idea how to go about it. Farmer Gail has spent more time caring for her animals than herself and feels her life in the great outdoors has left her looking older than her years. Meanwhile, dog walker Sarah has been hiding herself and her insecurities under layers of baggy clothes. Hopefully the experts’ tips and treatments will give them the confidence boost they need without

having to go under the knife.

Death in Paradise (BBC1, 9pm)

We’re only three weeks into DI Neville Parker’s tenure as the latest fish-out-of-water, typicalBrit-abroad detective to ply his trade on the Caribbean island of Saint Marie. However, the early feedback has been positive from the viewers and the arrival of former Royle Family actor Ralf Little as the hit show’s fourth sleuth seems to have given the sun-soaked mystery drama the shot in the arm it needed. We’ve already seen the Manchester detective investigate an electrocution in a hotel bathtub and the deaths of an ex-SAS soldier and a hair salon owner. And now, for the final mystery of the series, a blind actress seems to be the only witness to her husband’s murder - but Neville and the team are unsure if she can really be trusted.

Hospital (BBC2, 9pm)

Eighty-one-year-old Joe has been left with a hole in his heart after suffering a heart attack, and face a complex procedure that carries a high-mortality rate. Ellie, 28, is one of the growing population of adults with congenital heart disease, who had devices fitted into their hearts as children, and need further procedures as they get older. Already cancelled twice before, she hopes that this time her operation to replace her pulmonary valve with keyhole surgery will go ahead, so she can begin to plan her wedding to Jade.

Hunted (C4, 9pm)

Childhood sweethearts Jess and Ella are running scared in rural Yorkshire as the Hunters prowl the country lanes in hot pursuit, while businesswoman Toni moves further north - unaware her every move is being tracked. Best friends Ben and Rob try to get one step ahead by communicating with friends via Xbox but one crucial error may cost them dear. Having been let down by their friend, Frankie and Dan reach out to their network for help. However, they quickly realise they are trapped in their ‘safe house’.

Meet the Richardsons (Dave, 10pm)

This new comedy series provides viewers with a fictional window into the funny and frustrated marriage of stand-up comedians Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont. We get glimpses into the couple’s home and work lives (well, as exaggerated version of them), as they are surrounded by celebrity friends and their Hebden Bridge neighbours - who also reveal what they really think of them. In tonight’s opening episode, the Richardsons decide to throw a huge birthday party for their daughter, Elsie. But predictably, things don’t quite go to plan.

FRIDAY

Our Coast (BBC2, 8.30pm)

Adrian Chiles and Mehreen Baig explore the south-western coastline of Scotland, with Mehreen taking to the skies with former RAF fighter pilot Archie Liggat, who is now using his skills to document large-scale pollution hidden along the coastline. Adrian, meanwhiile, visits Portpatrick to meet Calum Currie, who has persuaded his community to buy shares in the town’s harbour - revitalising it for all who live there. Plus, Patrick Aryee joins volunteers help to track rare birdlife on the Ailsa Craig and Joe Lindsay visits an artists’ colony that was the setting for cult film The Wicker Man. Last in the series.

The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard (C5, 8pm)

Paul Middleton, aka Piglet, and the team attempt to finish the restoration of a 9F locomotive that has taken more than 50 years, and also bring the monster King Edward IV engine to the branch line for its gala. It cost a small fortune to transport there, and Piglet doesn’t know if the huge engine will fit on the small branch line. Plus, the programme meets Beth, the railway’s first female loco driver, and follows Gill and Sammie on the Pullman dining train for their last afternoon tea service of the season.

Celebrity Britain by Barge: Then & Now (C5, 9pm)

Bill Oddie, Jennie Bond, Anne Diamond and Pete Waterman are heading to Scotland’s oldest canal, the Forth and Clyde, which was built in 1790 and was the first to go sea-to-sea. In honour of the first travellers to use the canal, our famous four will be transporting a hogshead of water that they’ve collected from the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea. But they’ll also be learning why it wasn’t just used for moving sea water around, as they find out more about its industrial past - and why the advent of steam led to it being a way for daytrippers to enjoy a day out in the countryside. Along the way, the gang also joins Jennie on a personal pilgrimage to see the largest equine sculptures in the world and moors up for the night at the Falkirk Wheel, an extraordinary rotating boat lift.

Eric Burdon: Rock ‘n’ Roll - Animal (BBC Four, 9.30pm)

A look at how pop group the Animals were important standard bearers of the ‘British Invasion’ of America, behind the Beatles, but ahead of the Rolling Stones, the Who and the Kinks. Alongside his passion for original American blues, frontman Burdon got together in the late 1960s with the black LA band WAR - itself a political statement in the Black Panther era - and, inspired by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and Rahsaan Roland Kirk, expanded his musical spectrum with jazz and funk. This documentary reveals how Burdon’s creative output made a profoundly authentic contribution to pop culture.

Frankie Boyle’s Tour of Scotland (BBC2, 10pm)

The comedian explores Scottish creativity on a journey from Oban to Glasgow. Travelling through the Highlands, Frankie visits the home of Grant Morrison, who has written stories for some of the comic world’s most iconic characters. Resuming his trek, he travels from Dunoon to Bannockburn, the site of Robert the Bruce’s most famous battle, where he learns how to fight with a sword and shield just like the Scots knights of the 1300s. Frankie also witnesses young artists brightening up the darker corners of Glasgow and reflects on the city’s shameful past, profiting off slavery in the British colonies. Last in the series.