Hughes on the trail of ancient wonders

Bettany Hughes’ Treasures Of The World (C4, 6.50pm)

THE engaging historian, author and broadcaster travels to Bulgaria where she demonstrates its incredible mosaic of cultures.

There’s a 6000-year-old hoard of gold treasure to be found in Varna by the Black Sea, while in the valley of the Thracian Kings she visits a 2300-year-old tomb which still has its vibrant, colourful frescos intact.

Our Dream Farm With Matt Baker (C4, 7.50pm)

HAVING provoked controversy at its launch, with some people wondering whether a 10-year tenancy of a farm is an appropriate prize for a TV show, the pastoral competition continues.

What the series has done, though, is shine a light on exactly what is involved in the running of a farm. Matt Baker, who lives on an organic sheep farm, has long been a champion of the British countryside and the people who make a living by working it. Here, he tasks the remaining hopefuls (the first elimination was last week) with looking after the ewes during their lambing and hosting an educational farm visit for a group of energetic schoolchildren. Giles and Sally want to see the kids learning about farming, conservation and food production – but also having fun.

Neil Diamond At The BBC (BBC2, 8.25pm)

LEGENDARY singer-songwriter Neil Diamond has a knack for writing timeless tracks that seemingly never fade from popularity. Which means the BBC has decades of appearances on a range of BBC programmes including Wogan, The Shirley Bassey Show, Later With Jools Holland and Top Of The Pops from which to draw clips of classic performances, as well as some rare interview footage.

The programme is the first of an evening dedicated to Diamond, and is followed by Neil Diamond: Solitary Man (9.25pm), a documentary charting his life and career, and three live concert recordings.

Abba: 50 Years Of Pop (C4, 8.50pm)

FIFTY years ago at Brighton Dome, Abba won the Eurovision Song

Contest with Waterloo and cemented their place as legends of popular music. Not only that, the foursome also put Sweden on the pop map, paving the way for five decades of not just Abba hits but also chart-toppers from the likes of Europe, Max Martin, Roxette, Ace of Base and Robyn. This documentary uses archive footage to tell the story of Abba and Sweden’s impact on the musical landscape.

Have You Got It Yet? The Story Of Syd Barrett And Pink Floyd (Sky Arts, 9pm)

SYD Barrett was Pink Floyd’s singer, primary songwriter and guitarist from their formation in 1965 until their psychedelia-defining 1967 debut album Piper At The Gates Of Dawn.

This documentary, which is the highlight of an evening of shows dedicated to the band, follows Barrett’s life, charting his creative and destructive impulses, his breakdown and exit from the group, as well as his subsequent life before his death in 2006, aged 60.

It features interviews with Barrett’s friends, lovers, family and bandmates Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Nick Mason.