THIS WEEK’S TOP TV PICKS
ANIMALS Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs – Back In Business Wednesday, ITV, 8pm
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home had never closed its doors to the public throughout its 160-year history – but that all changed in March due to the coronavirus lockdown. After eight years presenting his series on the animal charity, Paul O’Grady was back and on hand to witness the last-minute arrangements to find homes for more than 80 animals before the temporary closure, and this documentary captures the emotional events at a unique moment. It’s a touching watch, particularly as we see O’Grady’s own heartstrings plucked when he’s asked to become a foster owner and has to decide which puppies he’ll be taking home to join the five dogs he already has.
ENTERTAINMENT Glow-Up: Britain’s Next Make-Up Star Thursday, BBC2, 8pm
The second series of this oddly likeable talent contest for wannabe make-up artists (or MUAs as they’re known, such as Ophelia Liu, right) has been shown on BBC3, but if you’re not a streaming fan, here’s another opportunity to catch it. Just make sure you avoid any spoilers on social media. Last year, Ellis Atlantis was crowned the winner of the first series and has gone on to forge a career in the industry. The contestants will be desperate to follow in his footsteps. As ever, we’ll lose one each week if they fail to impress judges Val Garland and Dominic Skinner up to the grand final. Host Stacey Dooley is on hand to soothe any frayed nerves.
CURRENT AFFAIRS Stephen Lawrence: Has Britain Changed?
The fallout from the horrific murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence (right) by white youths in 1993 and the subsequent initial failure by the police and judicial system to bring his killers to justice forced Britain and its institutions to face unsettling truths about racism in our society. Now, the global Black Lives Matter protests that followed the killing of George Floyd in the US have left this country asking how much has changed. Rageh Omaar and Anushka Asthana lead a live debate that asks if the apparent advances in racial equality are illusory – and what we have to do to ensure that no one is ever discriminated against because of the colour of their skin.
ARTS Imagine… Sunday, BBC1, 6pm
For a lot of us, lockdown has meant quite a lot of extra sofa time watching the TV. Not so the Kanneh-Mason family. In a house bursting with classical music, seven sublimely gifted siblings have been joyfully playing their instruments for hours every day over the past few months. Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason (above) – who memorably performed at the wedding of Meghan and Prince Harry – and his brothers and sisters are caught on camera in their home in Nottingham with parents Stuart and Kadiatu in a truly inspirational documentary. Talking to presenter Alan Yentob, they open up about their extraordinary lives and, best of all, treat viewers to a feast of wonderfully accomplished performances.
DOCUMENTARY Once Upon A Time In Iraq Monday, BBC2, 9pm
It was the war that reshaped the world at the start of the 21st Century but what has life been like for those in Iraq who experienced the toppling of Saddam Hussein’s regime and the resulting turbulence, from the occupation by allied forces to the reign of terror by Isis? This landmark five-part series presents the story from the point of view of those who were there, including Iraqi citizens like Baghdad musician Sally Mars (above), and soldiers on both sides of the conflict. Here is the definitive record of the invasion that altered the balance of power in the Middle East for ever and changed millions of lives for better or worse.