PICK OF THE WEEK

SATURDAY

Strictly: The Best of Movies (BBC1, 7.30pm)

Many people feared that Strictly would be cancelled this year. After all, it’s hard to socially distance while tangoing, especially if you don’t want to be marked down by Craig Revel Horwood for gapping, but the good news is that the BBC are going ahead – they’ve even announced the line-up. And while we wait for the class of 2020 to take to the floor in October, the BBC is tiding us over with four special episodes, each looking back at some incredible routines. Hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, future shows will recapture the magic of Blackpool and the show’s Musical weeks, as well as the best of the finals, which will also contain a tribute to 2014 champion Caroline Flack. But we’re beginning with a look back at Movie Week.

Madness: Before and After (Sky Arts, 9pm)

Along with The Specials, Madness were one of the leading bands of the ska revival of the late 1970s and early 80s. As their career progressed, they branched away from their trademark ‘nutty sound’ and incorporated large elements of Motown, soul and British pop. And although the band managed one crossover American hit, they remained a British phenomenon, influencing generations of musicians. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of their first commercial recording, this intimate portrait captured in 2019 follows the group as they play three homecoming shows at Camden’s Roundhouse and a unique show at the Electric Ballroom.

The Queen vs No 10: Behind Closed Doors (C5, 9pm)

studio lights, they came up with some bizarre answers to seemingly straightforward questions. Maybe that’s why the All Star version, hosted by Vernon Kay, didn’t have quite the same charm, although it did run for an impressive 12 series. Now though, a revamped version is back, hosted by Gino D’Acampo, who invites families to play for a £30,000 jackpot.

Us (BBC1, 9pm)

David Nicholls wrote the novels Stater for 10 and One Day, and his TV credits include the acclaimed Patrick Melrose. So, expectations are high for this new drama series, which he adapted from his own bestselling book and it also doesn’t hurt that it boasts an impressive cast. Tom Hollander stars as Douglas

Petersen, who has been planning a Grand Tour of Europe for his wife Connie (Saskia Reeves) and their only child Albie (Tom Taylor). It’s supposed to be the holiday of a lifetime and the perfect way to mark their last summer together before Albie heads off to university. But just before they leave, Connie drops the bombshell that she’s not sure she wants to stay married, and suddenly Douglas realises that this trip to some of the most romantic cities in the world, starting with Paris, could also be his last chance to make his wife fall back in love with him.

The Singapore Grip (STV, 9pm)

In the second episode of the drama set in Singapore at the time of the Japanese invasion, Matthew Webb is given a tour of his father’s dilapidated residence, but it’s the rubber plantation that really troubles him when he observes some questionable practices. Joan sweeps him off to an amusement park with Monty and Ehrendorf, where Vera becomes intrigued by the newcomer, and soon he finds himself in the middle of a tug-ofwar between Vera and Joan, who are bothb battling for his affections. But very soon, Singapore is hit by a war of a different kind.

MONDAY

Inside the Bomb Squad (C4, 8pm)

The UK’s elite bomb disposal unit is often called on by the police to investigate illegal weapons used in gang warfare and tonight Sergeant David ‘Podders’ Podmore is summoned after a shooting in the Liverpool area. The victim’s house has been raided and a potential improvised explosive device made out of industrial fireworks has been found. Meanwhile, down in Aylesbury, Sam Jones and his No.2, Corporal Matt Coogan, have been called to a property to assess a mortar bomb. Finally, Alex ‘Swansea’ Hughes is called to Llandudno, where a magnet fisherman has taken a mortar that he’s found to a garage close to some gas canisters.

Only Connect (BBC2, 8pm)

Victoria Coren Mitchell returns with TV’s toughest quiz, as a trio of Boston United fans known as the Pilgrims take on the Corkscrews – a team of wine lovers. Even picking the question poses a challenge in this show, as the contestants have to choose from six Egyptian hieroglyphs, before engaging in lateral thinking in order to find the links between a series of seemingly random words or phrases. As usual, there is no prize money on offer, the only motivation the teams need is the pride of being crowned Only Connect champions at the end of the series.

The Secret History of Writing (BBC4, 9pm)

We take it for granted, but every time we pick up a pen, we are employing the most powerful technology ever invented. Writing began about 5,000 years ago making civilisation itself possible, and every innovation of the modern world is based on the foundation of the written word. But how and where did writing begin, and who began it? In the first of three films about the history of writing, we uncover the hidden links between all the diverse systems in use today and trace the origin of our own alphabet to a turquoise mine in the Sinai

Desert and a man riding a donkey whose name was Khebded.

Rose West & Myra Hindley: Their Untold Story with Trevor McDonald (STV, 9pm)

They are widely regarded as the worst female serial killers this country has seen. Moors murderer Myra Hindley killed five children in 1960s alongside her lover Ian Brady, while Rose West was found guilty of 10 horrific murders alongside her husband, Fred West. But what people don’t know is the story of what happened after they ended up in jail. On conviction, West was sent to HMP Durham, where Hindley also resided, alongside IRA terrorists, sex offenders and arsonists. There, the women formed a close friendship that developed into an affair. Here, Category A prisoners, including reformed Mafia member Marisa Merico and ex-gangster Linda Calvey, tell Sir Trevor McDonald how West revealed her murderous temper in prison, while former prison governor Veronica Bird describes how Hindley persuaded a female guard to help her escape.

The Diagnosis Detectives (BBC2, 9pm)

Michael Mosley and the experts conclude the series by helping a young woman who lives with a constant fever. Twenty four year-old Carys has suffered with headaches, nausea and vomiting, repeated infections and a constant fever for nine years. She’s seen numerous specialists, but no one has given her a satisfactory explanation for her symptoms. While the team begin their detective work, Michael introduces them to another patient who is desperately searching for answers. Andrew, 43, suffers up to 50 unexplained seizures every week and it’s having a devastating effect on his life – unable to work he is practically housebound.

TUESDAY

The Great British Bake Off (C4, 8pm)

It’s back! Hurrah! There was a period, not so very long ago, when fans thought there would be no 2020 series, but where there’s a will, there’s always a way. The run has been filmed at a secret Essex location, with the cast and crew – along with 20 hotel staff members and assorted children belonging to those involved – all housed in a self-contained biosphere so that they could disregard social distancing guidelines on camera. That also, of course, means that should someone deserve it, they will receive a famed Paul Hollywood handshake rather than an elbow rub or, even worse, a thumbs-up. Prue Leith also returns as a judge, with presenter Noel Fielding joined by new co-host Matt Lucas. The bakers’ first tasks are a Battenburg with a twist, a fruit sponge technical and, in the showstopper, something that pays tribute to their heroes.

Danny Dyer on Harold Pinter (Sky Arts, 9pm)

As he prepared to tread the boards in Pinter’s The Dumb Waiter in 2019, EastEnders actor Dyer worked on this documentary about the

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here in a role created especially for her by Quentin Tarantino – he reportedly gave her the script for her 30th birthday.

THURSDAY

The Girl on the Train (2016) (Film4, 9pm)

Following an acrimonious divorce from her cheating husband Tom, Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt) takes regular train journeys past her old house where he is now settled with his mistress Anna and their baby. One morning, Rachel stares bleary

save her from hanging. Isabella realises that her brother is determined to discover her secret and enlists the help of William to save her daughter. Then, Fallon asks Blayne for help when he realises that he could be exposed for attacking Amelia Scanwell, but is firmly told that he must find a more permanent solution.

Ambulance (BBC1, 9pm)

It’s a busy Friday shift, and control have already taken over 300 emergency calls in the past hour. Former traffic cop Gary, and Fabio who works in finance, are on duty for the next 12 hours, and are dispatched to a patient who has fainted at Oxford Circus Underground Station. However, it’s not going to be easy reaching the

THURSDAY

Inside Culture with Mary Beard (BBC2, 7.30pm)

The revered classicist and scholar returns to the small screen with a new five-part series delving into the cultural world. She begins by taking a trip to Stonehenge, a place she has been passionate about since childhood. Beard takes a turn about the world-famous mysterious stone circle, where she catches up with various figures, including Turner Prizewinning conceptual and video artist Jeremy Deller. She also reveals which areas of the arts and culture have done well during the pandemic, and which have suffered.

Saving Lives at Sea (BBC2, 8pm)

The volunteers who operate Hoylake’s rescue hovercraft are used to rushing out in all weathers to help members of the public, but they’re somewhat taken aback by their latest mercy dash – it involves assisting a porpoise, a creature that really should know better than to get caught by an outgoing tide. Two hundred miles to the north, the best-dressed victim ever seen by the Kinghorn crew – a teenage wedding guest in suit and tie – needs to be plucked from a rocky outcrop before it vanishes into the sea.

GPs: Behind Closed Doors (C5, 8pm)

Aofie’s studying hard for her A-Levels but is struggling to sit at a desk and write due to the persistent pain in her collar bone. During an examination, GP Dr Arif notices that Aofie’s shoulders are not correctly aligned and sends her off for further tests. Meanwhile, Dr Razak is next door with Alisha who has come in with her baby son Adam. Alisha has hip dysplasia – a misalignment of the hip joint-which is causing her immense pain. It is tricky for her to get around, let alone work, so she has been attempting to manage her pain with a dangerous cocktail of strong, opiate-based painkillers.

London Zoo: An Extraordinary Year (STV, 9pm)

It’s 192 years since London Zoo, located in Regent’s Park, first opened its doors to the public. Many extraordinary things have happened in the intervening decades, but few years have been as unusual as 2020, during which it was forced to close its doors for the first time since the Blitz. In this documentary, we find out what happened as the staff tried to keep the animals - and themselves - happy and healthy for three months before visitors were allowed in again in June; there’s also a chance to see how its sister zoo Whipsnade got on. Jo Clinton-Davis, ITV’s controller of factual, says of the programme: “The story of what’s happening behind the scenes at ZSL at this unique moment is a fascinating and compelling one. The familiar world of the zoo but as we’ve never seen it before.”

Lodgers for Codgers (C4, 10pm)

Che has never had a real home to call his own. He’s spent all his life in temporary accommodation, so probably feels as if he’s died and gone to heaven when multi-millionaire Charlie offers him a place to stay. But can they find some common ground, or is Che’s dream about to be shattered?

FRIDAY

The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice (C4, 8pm)

Bake Off is back and that means so is its sister show, An Extra Slice. As usual, Jo Brand will be joined by a panel of celebrity Bake Off fans to discuss the best bits, air some unseen footage and speak to the baker who has left the tent. The first line-up features presenters AJ Odudu and Richard Osman and the man who may have been feeling as nervous as the Bake Off class of 2020 when the competition got underway – new host Matt Lucas. They’ll be sharing their first impressions of this year’s bubble of bakers, and revealing whose showstopper stood out. Tom Allen is also back to check out viewers’ attempts at cake-making.

Secret Scotland with Susan Calman (C5, 8pm)

For the second leg of her journey, Susan is exploring the beautiful Trossachs and west of Scotland, which is home to some of the country’s most dramatic scenery, taking in glens, castles and rare wildlife. She begins with a tour of the fairy tale Castle of Inveraray, courtesy of His Grace, the Duke of Argyll, head of Clan Campbell, although it turns out that not all its secrets are picture-perfect. She also calls in at Loch Katrine, where she gets exclusive access to a world-class feat of Scottish engineering, and Inverawe, where she discovers the secrets to Scotland’s worldfamous smoked salmon.

The Romantics and Us with Simon Schama (BBC2, 9pm)

As the recent fuss over the Last Night of the Proms and the reports that Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory would be performed as instrumentals proved, music plays a strong role in many people’s sense of patriotism and national belonging. Simon Schama will be asking why as he looks at how the Romantics influenced our ideas of modern nationalism, which he discovers may have its roots in 17th-century Switzerland and doctor Johannes Hofer’s diagnosis of an emotional malady he called nostalgia that was triggered by music.

Atlantic: A Year in the Wild (C5, 9pm)

It’s summertime and the living is, well, if not exactly easy, at least the North Atlantic is at its warmest and the food is plentiful. So, it’s the perfect time for youngsters to feed, grow and prepare to start living independently. The UK’s coastal waters prove to be the perfect place for sharks and whales to feast, but in the extreme north of the Atlantic, the short summer means food is already in danger of drying up for the Arctic fox cubs.

Later with Jools Holland: Mercury Prize 2020 (BBC2, 10pm)

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Jools Holland is back for a new run of his longrunning music series which, for the most part, will be sticking to the lockdown format from earlier this year. We start with a special episode featuring the winner of the 2020 Mercury Prize. We won’t know who that it is until September 24 (although the bookies’ favourite is Michael Kiwanuka followed by Stormzy), but we do know that whoever the victor is, they will be discussing the creative process behind their album.