PICK OF THE WEEK

take a job on the docks, but instead he pursues his dream of working with animals and attends an interview in Yorkshire. However, his potential new boss Siegfried Farnon doesn’t just want to chat – he puts James’s skills to the test by taking him out to local farms. On the plus side, that does give the novice a chance to meet farmer Helen Alderson (Rachel Shenton).

Sheridan Smith: Becoming Mum (STV, 9pm)

Back in May, the heavily pregnant Sheridan Smith took a starring role in an episode of ITV’s Isolation Stories, a series of short dramas about different people coping with lockdown. However, that wasn’t the only filming she took part in as she prepared to become a first-time mum. This documentary finds the acclaimed actress and singer and her partner Jamie telling the story of her pregnancy, and explores her struggles with mental health. It’s thought that as many as one in three women experience mental health issues in pregnancy, and as well as following Sheridan as she attends her first scans, pre-natal classes and sessions with a specialist therapist, it also looks at the resources available for other mumsto-be in need of support.

War on Plastic: The Fight Goes On (BBC1, 9pm)

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Anita Rani present an update on the campaign against single use plastic, challenging a British family from Berwick to do go plastic free on a budget. Hugh discovers what becomes of the packaging for pre-packed sandwiches, and Anita conducts experiments on teabags to discover the secrets of their construction. The programme also examines how the Coronavirus pandemic has led to a rise in single use plastic for safety reasons, and asks whether we really need to return to buying fruit and veg wrapped in plastic.

Call the Cops (C4, 9pm)

New series. A look at the challenges the Devon and Cornwall police force face patrolling the 730 miles of coastline in their jurisdiction. Cornwall is famous for a long history of smuggling, but this criminal activity is not a thing of the past. In this episode, the police control room receives a call from a member of the public on Friday morning, claiming unusual cargo is being unloaded from a tiny boat into a waiting van. Soon 30 police units from across both counties have been deployed, but a shocking discovery is made when the vehicle is tracked down.

WEDNESDAY Harlots (BBC2, 9pm)

The first series of period drama Harlots came to an end last week but the good news is that BBC2 is going straight into the second season with another double bill. In the opener, Lydia (Lesley Manville) finds herself in court facing the newly appointed Justice Hunt. She shouldn’t expect much support from Margaret (Samantha Morton) and Nancy (Kate Fleetwood), who are busy trying to find people to give evidence against her. But Margaret does have problems of her own as her marriage crumbles.