10 switch-ons
OUR PICKS OF THE WEEK’S BEST TV
Robot Wars
BBC2, 7pm, today
New series. Dara O’ Briain and Angela Scanlon present the first group heat, with eight teams facing off through two group battles in the arena for a place in the grand final.
A twist on the format sees random house robots being sent to attack competitors who stray into the wrong part of the arena.
Professor Noel Sharkey, Dr Lucy Rogers and Professor Sethu Vijayakumar judge the operators’ skills and select a victor in the case of an uncertain outcome.
How’d You Get So Rich?
Channel 4, 10pm, Mon
Comedian Katherine Ryan asks the super-duper-wealthy elite the titular question to find out what they did to become one of the world’s top 1% of earners.
What they tell her is often surprisingly moving, remarkable and inspirational – and you never know, hearing their tales may set you on the road to extreme wealth too, rather than simply being green with envy at their luxurious lifestyles.
Top Gear
BBC2, 8pm, today
We’re back on the road with Matt LeBlanc, Chris Harris and Rory Reid.
The guys race across Kazakhstan in a Mercedes saloon, a Volvo estate and a London taxi, all of which have done at least 480,000 miles – the equivalent distance of going to the Moon and back.
X-Men actor James McAvoy gets behind the wheel of a Toyota to take part in the Star In A Reasonably Priced Car/Star In A Rallycross Car segment.
The Secret Life Of The Zoo
Channel 4, 8pm, Tue
At Chester Zoo, giraffe Tula is a week overdue after a 13-month pregnancy. Keepers are anxious as she gave birth to a stillborn calf last year.
Cameras also follow a brood of penguin chicks as they face the ordeal of joining the main pool, where they must compete for fish with the adult penguins.
And baby silvery gibbon Eko learns how to swing between ropes – 50 feet up.
Mutiny
Channel 4, 9pm Mon
New series. Nine men recreate a voyage by William Bligh in 1789, when he and his crew crossed 4,000 miles of the Pacific Ocean from Tonga to Timor after being cast adrift from HMS Bounty by mutinying seamen.
SAS: Who Dares Wins’ instructor Anthony Middleton is in charge of a crew of eight made up of sailors and novices, attempting the journey in a replica 23ft open wooden boat, with similar equipment and the same rations of food and water Bligh’s men had.
Inside Windsor Castle
Channel 5, 8pm, Tue
The last of the series going behind the scenes at the royal residence takes us up to the 1992 blaze which seriously damaged the castle.
But it begins 20 years earlier in happier circumstances as the monarch celebrated her 25th wedding anniversary. There were more big occasions to come, including the Queen’s silver jubilee and what seemed to be the fairytale wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.
Harry Hill’s Alien Fun Capsule
ITV, 8.30pm, Thur
Sometimes being able to forget our woes by just being plain daft is a wonderful thing, so carry on the good work, Harry!
Last week’s opening edition was bonkers and hilarious in equal measure. If anything, this week’s is even better thanks to an appearance by Kathy Burke – she rarely pops up on TV these days, so when she does, you know it’s for something close to her heart and worth tuning in for.
The Bruce Forsyth Story: From Palladium To The Palace
Channel 5, 9pm, today
Sir Bruce Forsyth turned 89 last month and his showbiz career has spanned 75 years.
This documentary tells his story and features contributions from those who have worked with him, as well as biographers and Bruce himself.
He first appeared on screen as an 11-year-old in 1939. After honing his craft in London’s variety clubs, he was spotted by an agent and given his big break on Sunday Night At The London Palladium in 1958.
Following that, he became a national treasure, hosting some of Britain’s best-loved shows, including The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right and Strictly Come Dancing.
Walks With My Dog
More4, 9pm, Thur
New series in which celebrities explore the British landscape with their four-legged friends.
In the opening episode, Robert Lindsay walks his two Labradors on the Cornish coast, Phil Spencer visits the historic Kent marshes with his cocker spaniels and Angela Griffin returns to her Yorkshire roots with her cavapoo.
For more pooch-related entertainment, at 11pm Channel 4’s Rich Dog Poor Dog explores the wealth gap by comparing the lives of two pet owners.
Gardeners’ World
BBC2, 8pm, Fri
New series. Monty Don kicks off the gardening year from Longmeadow, sharing his tips for pruning, planting up pots for spring colour and sharing his plans for the coming year.
At Packwood House in Warwickshire, the herbaceous borders come under Adam Frost’s scrutiny as he finds out how they have been planted for maximum colour and impact.
Carol Klein will be sharing some of her heroes of gardening. She begins with plantswoman, garden designer and author Beth Chatto.