PICK OF THE WEEK

SATURDAY

John Lennon: A Life in Ten Pictures (BBC2, 9pm)

Four decades after his passing, Lennon remains a towering cultural figure, one whose influence on everything from popular music to peace initiatives resonates to this day. The latest edition of this documentary series looks back at the former Beatle’s life via 10 memorable images, with the significance of the photos and the circumstances of their taking discussed by those who were there and who knew him best. It’s a journey that took him from a difficult childhood in Liverpool via the German city of Hamburg to international stardom with the Beatles, peace campaigning with his second wife, the avant-garde artist Yoko Ono, and a tragic death outside his home in New York City in December 1980.

Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow - Celebrity Special (STV, 7.30pm)

Following a revamped version of Name That Tune last month, Alan returns with an all-star edition of the classic musical game show. I’m a Celeb star Shane Richie joins another former EastEnders actor Richard Blackwood, along with presenters Gabby Logan and Vick Hope, as the quartet attempt to identify songs played by a house band. The star who can name the most in the shortest time possible will get the chance to win a £25,000 jackpot for a charity of their choice.

Charles & Harry: Father & Son Divided (C5, 9pm)

Royal commentators and experts look back on key moments in the lives of Prince Charles and his younger son Harry to chart the development of their relationship from its earliest days during the break-up of Charles’s marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales. They examine moments of crisis throughout the Duke of Sussex’s life to explore what more could his father have done for him, and ask what the pair can do to resolve their current estrangement in the wake of the explosive Oprah Winfrey interview in March.

Casualty (BBC1, 9.20pm)

Rash is thrown into the deep end when Ethan signs him up for the finance meeting. Already overwhelmed, Rash’s day gets even more complicated when he discovers that his old athletics coach Adil has been brought into the ED. Robyn is intrigued to hear that Rash used to be a rising athletics star, but it becomes clear that the memory is a painful one for Rash. Meanwhile, Faith is determined to get her life back on track following recent events. And after indulging in some innocent flirting with Iain, the pair form a bond while treating elderly couple Bobby and Ken. And Tina’s resilience is put to the test when a patient dies after a procedure.

The Jonathan Ross Show (STV, 9.35pm)

The host is joined by legendary Welsh singer Sir Tom Jones, who recently became the oldest male artist to have a UK No1 album, aged 80 years and 10 months, with his 41st studio LP Surrounded By Time. Also on the show is Tom’s former The Voice UK colleague, multiplatinum selling singer Paloma Faith, as well as former professional wrestler and star of upcoming Netflix zombie thriller Army of the Dead, Dave Bautista. There’s also laughs, courtesy of one of the country’s hottest comedians James Acaster.

SUNDAY

50 Years of Mr Men with Matt Lucas (C4, 6pm)

Since the creation of Mr Tickle in 1971, the Mr Men and Little Miss books have brought fun and laughter to generations of families. Presented by super fan Matt Lucas, this fun documentary charts the history of the colourful little characters from the fictional town of Mister Land who changed global publishing forever and found their way into the hearts and bedtime stories of generations of children. Creator Roger Hargreaves died in 1988, however, his son, author and illustrator Adam, continues writing and drawing the books. And to celebrate the milestone birthday in 2021, we get to see the five prototype new characters he has created, with the two most popular becoming the latest members of the Mr MenLittle Miss universe in September.

The Pursuit of Love (BBC1, 9pm)

Although both Linda (Lily James) and her cousin Fanny (Emily Beecham) have escaped Alconleigh and are now married, their lives couldn’t be more different. While Fanny embraces motherhood and tries to fulfil her role as a ‘good’ wife to Alfred, Linda’s marriage to Tony quickly begins to disintegrate as she throws herself into a glamorous lifestyle, partying until dawn. And when she finds herself pulled away by an enigmatic stranger, she faces a big decision – will she give into temptation and start a new life?

Gods of Snooker (BBC2, 9pm)

Although snooker was firmly established on our TV screens by the early 1980s, the game’s money-spinning potential had not yet been

realised. Sports promoter Barry Hearn had recently taken a young hopeful called Steve Davis under his wing, and as Alex Higgins’s career took a downward turn, Davis became a winning machine, helping Hearn build his snooker empire. In 1985, nearly 20 million people stayed up to watch Davis play Dennis Taylor in the World Championship final, and after that, a select group of cue-wielding sportsmen were suddenly the biggest superstars in the country.

Delia Derbyshire: The Myths and the Legendary Tapes (BBC4 9pm)

Written and directed by Doc Martin star Caroline Catz, who also performs the lead role, this cinematic portrait is a conceptual and atmospheric journey into the legacy and character of the Coventry-born electronic music composer and pioneer who, in 1963 conceived one of the most familiar compositions in sci-fi, the Doctor Who theme. The Arena film expands upon the idea that Derbyshire, who died in 2001, was an extraordinary artist who lived outside of time and space, and her life story is told through her own musical creations.

Cruising with Jane McDonald (C5, 9pm)

It’s the second week of the Wakefield Wonder’s fabulous Caribbean cruise and her next stop is Grand Cayman, the playground for the rich. While she could just sip champagne and hit the shops, Jane has other ideas. With horse riding along the beach an option, she saddles up and hits the sand. Then it’s off to the beautiful island of Roatan off the coast of Honduras, where Jane discovers the wonders of the deep aboard a yellow submarine. She scales new heights in ancient Belize, where a trek through the jungle ends with her exploring an ancient Mayan temple. The trip finishes on the island of Cozumel off the coast of Mexico, where Jane parties the night away at a colourful local carnival.

MONDAY

The Pact (BBC1, 9pm)

This new drama is worth a look for its impressive cast alone – it stars Laura Fraser, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Eddie Marsan, Aneurin Barnard and Adrian Edmondson, and that’s just for starters. However, just in case that isn’t enough to convince viewers to check it out, there’s also an intriguing premise. It follows friends Anna, Nancy, Louie and Cat, who all work at a local brewery, where they are thoroughly fed up with their bullying, spiteful young boss Jack. So, after a particularly drunken work function, they make the snap decision to bundle him in a car and dump him in the woods. It’s supposed to be a prank, but no one is laughing when Jack is subsequently found dead. The women agree to keep their actions a secret to protect each other, but that’s going to be harder than they anticipated.

Motherland (BBC2, 9pm)

It may be about the perils of parenthood, but we don’t see much of the characters’ kids in this acclaimed sitcom. However, they are growing up – some of them are now on the cusp of leaving primary school. It seems that’s come as something of a surprise to Julia (Anna Maxwell Martin), who is panicking about the catchment area she lives in, and wondering whether a religious conversion might be the way to get her offspring into the right second school. Meanwhile, Liz (Diane Morgan) advises Kevin (Paul Ready) on divorce lawyers, only to make a discovery about her own situation in the process.

Innocent (STV, 9pm)

Don’t worry too much if you didn’t see the first series of Innocent, which starred Lee Ingleby as a man who claimed to be the victim of a miscarriage of justice. Admittedly, you did miss out on a gripping thriller, but the new second series picks up with a new cast and story, so you won’t be lost. This time around, Katherine Kelly heads the cast as teacher Sally Wright, who was convicted of murdering her 16-yearold pupil Matty Taylor, supposedly because she was trying to cover up their affair. Sally has always maintained she’s innocent, and after five years in prison, she’s cleared of the crime and freed to return to her home in the Lake District. But can Sally rebuild her life after losing everything? And if she didn’t kill Matty, who did?

Classic British Cars: Made in Coventry (BBC4, 9pm)

As part of the BBC’s creative highlights to mark Coventry’s role as UK City of Culture 2021, this documentary looks at the rise, fall and rebirth of the motor industry in the Midlands city. Coventry-born motoring journalist Mark Evans shares the story of the classic cars made in the city, from the industry’s beginnings in 1897 through to the present day. There are interviews, rare archive footage and photographs detailing the stories behind the creation of classic marques such as the Daimler, the Triumph, the Riley and the Jaguar, as well as the companies and people behind them.

Inside No 9 (BBC2, 9.30pm)

Ending a hugely popular drama isn’t easy – look at the mixed response to the last episode of Line of Duty. As Inside No 9 is an anthology, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith don’t have quite that problem, but perhaps this latest edition still strikes a chord with them. It focuses on The Ninth Circle, a fantasy epic series which is generally considered to have gone out on a low with a disappointing finale. Show-runner Spencer Maguire is keen to put that behind him and move on to other projects, but it seems Ninth Circle obsessive Simon Smethurst has other ideas.

TUESDAY

All That Glitters: Britain’s Next Jewellery Star (BBC2, 8pm)

After five weeks of fierce competition, the series draws to a close as Katherine Ryan hosts the final. The eight talented up-andcoming jewellers have been whittled down to three and they return to the workshop in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter to battle for the title. To win, they’ll have to make a pair of pearl earrings that could be a bestseller and a bespoke maang tikka, a traditional Indian wedding headpiece for bride Nikki. But who will award-winning industry experts Solange Azagury-Partridge and Shaun Leane crown as the champion?

The Martin Lewis Money Show: Live Summer Special (STV, 8pm)

With Coronavirus restrictions finally easing and the travel traffic-light system coming into effect this week, many of us are asking: “When can we go holiday?” Never fear, financial guru Martin Lewis is joined by his co-presenter Angellica Bell for a one-hour special in which they look at the possibilities, perils and pitfalls of breaks, both at home in the UK and away in foreign (and probably sunnier) climes. The duo will also be bring viewers up to speed on the latest personal finance and consumer news.

The Money Maker (C4, 9pm)

This week, Eric Collins investigates the burgeoning meal delivery market by paying Birmingham-based Winny’s Meals a visit. Shaun Sookoo started his Caribbean-inspired frozen meal delivery company three years ago when he decided to turn his mum’s homecooked meals into a business and had friends queuing round to block to buy them. Winny’s Meals has been expanding at an exponential rate, but when Eric takes a deep dive into their books, he’s shocked to discover there are serious problems. Not only are customers not reordering, but it transpires Winny isn’t actually

involved anymore. With £120k of his own money invested in the business, Eric has no option but to change literally everything. But will it work, can can he help Shaun successfully pitch the all-new brand to one of the UK’s biggest supermarket chains?

Hospital (BBC2, 9pm)

Although it’s great to see the real-life heroes finally getting the praise and exposure they deserve on the box, there’s one healthcare-based documentary series that stands head and shoulders about the rest. The BBC’s award-winning Hospital programme continues tonight, as the gynaecological oncology department, at University Hospital, Coventry, led by surgeon Smruta Shanbhag, emerges from the pandemic facing a backlog of suspected cancer patients. As women previously afraid to visit their GP because of Covid reveal symptoms, referrals for suspected gynaecological cancer reach almost 50 a week.

Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer (BBC4, 10.05pm)

This four-part series explores the lessons learned from previous global pandemics – including smallpox, cholera, the Spanish flu and others – and reveals how scientists, doctors, self-experimenters and activists changed how we think about illness and ultimately paved the way for modern medicine. Historian and broadcaster David Olusoga and best-selling author Steven Johnson combine their expertise to guide viewers across 300 years of medical innovation and go behind the scenes to meet the unsung heroes who are tackling public health threats. The opening episode looks at the development of vaccines.

WEDNESDAY

Martin Lewis’ Extreme Savers (STV, 8pm)

Whether it’s getting savers to switch banks, encouraging shoppers to seek out price-match refunds, or turning entering competitions into a cash-boosting hobby, Martin Lewis has provided Brits with countless tips on how we can all save a few quid. However, the people featured in this series have taken saving to a whole new level. In the second edition, he introduces us to a woman who went from big debts to owning her own home – by living in her sister’s garage for two years. Plus, there’s a family who are saving hundreds by foraging for their food.

The Psychedelic Drug Trial (BBC2, 9pm)

Mental health issues seem to constantly be in the headlines these days, with an increasing number of people opening up about their problems, particularly their battles with depression. This fascinating documentary, filmed over the course of 16 months, follows a groundbreaking new trial at Imperial College London in which, under controlled conditions, a psychedelic drug is being tested for its effectiveness in combating the problem alongside that of a standard antidepressant. Professor David Nutt, Dr Robin Earhart-Harris and Dr Rosalind Watts lead the experiment, in which they examine the immediate and longterm effects on the participants while hoping to discover a revolutionary method of treating one of today’s biggest medical challenges.

A Very Royal Baby: From Cradle to Crown (C4, 9pm)

Royal babies are always a cause for celebration for many people. But down the centuries, the way in which their arrival has been announced has changed out of all recognition. This new one-off documentary tackles the subject, but with a particular focus on the last 100 years, which would cover the births of the Queen, all four of her children and eight grandchildren, including Prince Harry. Much of the focus of the programme is on his offspring and the media intrusion he and his wife Meghan feel they have suffered – giving insights into what happened during her baby shower probably won’t ease their relationship with the press either. But there’s also an explanation of why the royals have swapped the tradition of giving birth at home in favour of private hospitals.

The Great British Sewing Bee (BBC1, 9pm)

We’re now at the halfway stage of the competition, and those left in the running must think they stand a chance of going all the way to the final. However, judges Patrick Grant and

Esme Young will be giving the sixth sewer their marching orders tonight. But first there are three challenges to face during reduce, reuse and recycle week. The haberdashery’s fabric stash has been replaced by charity shop clothes and soft furnishings from which the competitors must make a waistcoat, a stylish women’s garment and a dress utilising old jeans.

Murdered by a Mob (C5, 9pm)

In 2013, disabled Iranian refugee Bijan Ebrahimi was murdered by a neighbour. It was the culmination of seven years of harassment and terror for the 44-year-old, who had reported numerous death threats made against him. His tormentors falsely accused him of being a paedophile, and his tragic death gained international media attention amid claims of institutional racism. This documentary uses CCTV footage and expert testimony to piece together what happened in the days leading up to that fateful night.

Johnny Vegas: Carry on Glamping (C4, 10pm)

It’s week three of the comedian’s efforts to create the ultimate glamping site, and it still feels as if he’s a million miles away from having everything finished. Luckily for him, his assistant Bev is a no-nonsense sort of person and is determined to get their field in Yorkshire ready for guests as soon as possible. Johnny’s decision to make extravagant last-minute changes to the Maltese bus design doesn’t help matters, but a converted American school bus and a Morris Minor Caravanette soon put a smile on his face.

THURSDAY

Subnormal: A British Scandal (BBC1, 9pm)

Last year, one of the episodes of Steve McQueen’s anthology series Small Axe told the story of Kingsley, a young black boy who was moved from a mainstream school to an institution for the so-called ‘educationally subnormal’. Although the tale itself was fictional, it was inspired by real events that took place until 1971 when the practice was exposed in a pamphlet written by Bernard Coard. Now newcomer Lyttanya Shannon’s documentary, which is executive produced by McQueen, tells the true story of how black parents, teachers and activists banded together to force the education system to change while also highlighting controversial debates on race and intelligence and the impact the unofficial policy had on children.

The Live Revival (Sky Arts, 9pm)

This three-part series sees music artists revisit the venues they gigged in at the start of their careers to give exclusive one-off performances in a bid to put the spotlight back on muchloved pubs and clubs. The likes of Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller, David Gray, Skin, Ben Lovett, Glen Matlock, The Fratellis, Sleaford Mods, Pauline Black, Tom Grennan, Amy Macdonald, Frank Turner and James will recall the impact these venues had on their careers and weigh in on why it’s so critical to keep them alive. Among the venues featured are the 100 Club and Omeara in London, Thekla in Bristol, Rock City in Nottingham and, of course, King Tut’s in Glasgow.

Taskmaster (C4, 9pm)

The previous episodes have been hilarious and, at times, utterly jaw-dropping, but they’ve all merely been tasters for this week’s event – the grand finale. Who will be taking home Greg Davies’ golden head on a spike? Channel 4 isn’t letting that slip just yet, but we are promised some memorable moments in the run-up to the unveiling. So, prepare to be amazed as Charlotte Ritchie stumbles into some sand, Lee Mack dunks Alex Horne, Sarah Kendall shows off her fish fingerstacking prowess, Mike Wozniack leaves everyone stunned and Jamali Maddix staggers around.

Saved By a Stranger (BBC2, 9pm)

Get your hankies ready for the latest tearjerking episode. Anita Rani’s first story involves identical Jewish twins George and Peter, who were born in Berlin six months after Hitler came to power. After going into hiding, they and their parents were eventually helped to escape Germany by a friend, Mr Schadler, who risked his own life in the process. Now 87, the brothers are hoping to thank his ancestors. Rani then meets Clare, who took in 21 Bosnian refugee children before trying to find a way to locate the families they had been forced to leave behind.

Escape to the Farm with Kate Humble (C5, 9pm)

The presenter gets up extra early to go for a pre-dawn walk with ornithologist Dr Steph Tyler before foraging for wild garlic with expert Liz Knight. Sadly, Kate’s homegrown rhubarb isn’t ready to eat yet, so she visits professional grower Chris, who’s a few miles further up the Wye Valley, to find out why his is available. The animals are also tended to, including Kate’s favourite pig Dahlia, who may be pregnant, and Bella, an elderly, blind border terrier cross in need of some special treatment on her creaky joints.

FRIDAY

Inside the Balmoral: Scotland’s Finest Hotel (C5, 7pm)

Since it was opened in 1902, the Balmoral Hotel has welcomed royalty, heads of state and JK Rowling, who famously finished writing the Harry Potter books there. Now, the prestigious Edinburgh institution is also opening its doors to the cameras for a new series exploring the work of the staff who aim to deliver 24/7 luxury, and finding out how they go about sourcing the best Scottish produce – including whiskies. In the first episode, the French national team and its 100-strong entourage arrives for the Six Nations.

Great British Menu: The Finals (BBC2, 8pm)

The chefs who take part in Great British Menu don’t just have to rustle up some nice dishes – they also have to make sure that the food they are cooking hits a brief. This year, they have been battling it out to get their starters, fish courses, mains and desserts to a banquet celebrating British Innovation, and the theme has allowed them to get very inventive. The finals, which have been running across the week, have decided who will be cooking which course, and tonight they finally get to serve them at an outdoor banquet at Jodrell Bank in Cheshire to guests including Professor Sarah Gilbert from Oxford’s successful Covid vaccination programme.

The World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys (C5, 9pm)

In the second episode, we undertake a voyage on Taiwan. Our first stop is the island’s greatest natural attraction, Taroko Gorge, which was created over millions of years by a combination of river erosion and mountain uplift. We continue along the coast into Yilan County, Taiwan’s most easterly region and a popular destination for cyclers and hikers. Beyond Yilan, we reach the capital Taipei, and delve beneath the city’s ultra-modern surface to find a new take on the craft-brewing industry.

This Time with Alan Partridge (BBC1, 9.30pm)

Never let it be said that Alan Partridge’s magazine show This Time is fluffy – it’s a show that’s unafraid to tackle the difficult issues. Tonight, for example, there’s a hard-hitting expose of the chemsex phenomenon, and if hearing Alan explain what that is doesn’t put younger viewers off trying it for themselves, surely nothing will. There’s also time for drama therapist Izzy Barnes to lead a live workshop in the studio, which could be even more embarrassing than the chemsex piece.