Seven Days
MIKE MULVIHILL’S guide to the week’s TV
SUNDAY
Countryfile 7PM, BBC1 HHHH Flamborough Head in north Yorkshire is home to England’s largest on-shore sea bird colony, and Anita Rani is on hand to witness the arrival of a rare albatross. Below the cliffs, Tom Heap explores some chalk caves.
Antiques Roadshow
8PM, BBC1 HHHH
On a second visit to Kenilworth Castle in the West Midlands, the team of experts assess such treasures as early Meccano toys, a radio set that was used by specialops troops during the Second World War, and a set of nursing medals that span three global conflicts.
Love Island
9PM, VIRGIN ONE HHH
As in many affairs, the passion of first love fades with time, and so it seems with the fans of this show. Still there’s enough interest in what’s going on in the villa to hold our attention, and the conveyor belt of new arrivals never seems to stop.
Baptiste 9PM, BBC1 HHHH See TV Week, page 25.
The Handmaid’s Tale
9PM, CH4 HHH
Nick learns of June’s whereabouts, Aunt Lydia strikes a deal with Lawrence, and the Commanders agree to a short ceasefire — but before that’s due to start, Gilead bombs Chicago, and June is injured.
MONDAY Killing Escobar
9PM, BBC2 HHHH
In 1989, the ex-SAS Scottish mercenary Peter McAleese was hired by a Colombian drug cartel to kill the notorious druglord Pablo Escobar. McAleese tells that story frankly in this riveting documentary.
Long Lost Family
9PM, UTV HHHH
Professional dancer Amanda is on the trail of her mother, 50 years after she was given up for adoption; Ann, meanwhile, is looking for her birth father — and her search results in an unexpected discovery...
Taken: Hunting The Sex Traffickers
9PM, CH4
HHHH
This impressive three-part series followsthe work of a covert unit investigating a gang that traffics women to work in British brothels.
TUESDAY
Wild China With Ray Mears
7.30PM, UTV HHH
The second leg of his tour takes Ray into the tropical rainforest, where he meets elephant conservationist Dr Bao Mingwei and searches for a rare Asian elephant.
Secrets Of The Museum
8PM, BBC2 HHHH
The cameras have been allowed back behind the scenes at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London for a second series. Follow the experts who work in this treasure trove.
Love Your Garden 8PM, UTV HHH Alan Titchmarsh creates a traditional formal garden for 74-year-old Richard Warren, who has been a serving special constable for 52 years.
Bake Off: The Professionals 8PM, CH4
HHHH
It’s the semi-final, and the four teams must keep a steady hand to make it through to the final. For their showpiece challenge,the duos must create a magical table scene inspired by a teddy bear’s picnic. Are judges Cherish and Benoit in for a big surprise?
Uprising 9PM, BBC1
HHHHH
The Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen is behind this powerful three-part series, which examines a key year in the history of British race relations, a time of bitter tensions and political division. It begins in January 1981 with the horrific New Cross fire that left 13 young black people dead and caused simmering racial tensions to boil over. Continues on Wednesday and Thursday.
Forensics: The Real CSI
9PM, BBC2 HHHH
With the victim of a knife attack in a medically induced coma and unable to reveal any details, the team have to use forensic evidence to identify his attacker.
Torn Apart: Family Courts Uncovered
10PM, CH4
HHH
Two years in the making, this documentary – which includes shocking personal testimony, and previously unseen footage of children being forcibly removed from safe and loving homes at midnight – reveals what really goes on behind the closed doors of family courts.
Viva Ceol Tíre
10.30PM, TG4 HHHH Jo Ní Chéide with lively country music videos from around Ireland, with Nathan Carter, Mike Denver, Niamh Lynn, Andy Cooney, Dave Lawlor and The Murphys.
Gold Diggers
11PM, CH4 HHH
This racy new Russian thriller from Walter Presents is described as ‘Dynasty meets Dallas’. Socialite Marina Levkoeva seems to have it all — but then a friend from the past turns up.
WEDNESDAY The Repair Shop
8PM, BBC1 HHHHH
A rare historic painting, a vintage sewing machine, a special Beatles souvenir coming from the Swinging Sixties and a splintered stained-glass window are the items being lovingly restored in the workshop this week.
Kirstie And Phil’s Love It Or List It: Brilliant Builds
8PM, CH4
HHH
This week’s episode is all about loft conversions, as Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer look back at two families who wanted to transform their dark and dingy attics into wonderful living spaces. Plenty of ideas for your own home.
George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations
9PM, CH4
HHH
In this new series, the genial Geordie architect meets the brave people taking on ambitious building projects, breathing new life into empty commercial properties. He begins in Cornwall, where Richard and Sarah are renovating an old high-street bank.
This Way Up 10PM, CH4
HHH
In the second part of Aisling Bea’s spirited comedy drama, Áine (Bea) and Richard (Tobias Menzies) are looking to move their relationship to the next level, while Shona (Sharon Horgan) shops for wedding dresses.
Deutschland 89 10.45PM, RTé2
HHH
Various agencies want control of Martin, but that they are all making the same offer. He’s also tasked with infiltrating a group of West Germans. Plus, Rose pays Lenora a visit.
THURSDAY
Can I Improve My Memory?
8PM, CH4 HHHH
In the second part of the memoryboosting experiment, Chris Eubank, Len Goodman, Anna Richardson, Amber Gill and Nina Wadia must memorise hundreds of facts about a famous person. And the one who recalls the least will be leaving the competition.
Martin Clunes: My Travels And Other Animals
8.30PM, UTV
HHH
The final collection of memories finds Martin in Africa where, in 2012, he was involved in an extraordinary mission to put lions back into a remote Kenyan wilderness.
Diana’s Decades 9PM, UTV
HHHH
We end in the 1990s, a decade that saw a new sense of liberty dawning across Britain and Princess Diana becoming the emblem of a new spirit of emotional candour before her death in 1997.
Escape To The Chateau: Make Do And Mend
9PM, CH4
HHH
Dick and Angel answer a call from a couple who want to transform their narrowboat into a beautiful boat bolthole, before they bring an old doll’s house back to life.
Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted
10PM, CH4 HHH
Episode three finds the intrepid chef in Laos, where he takes to the Mekong river in a kayak in search of culinary inspiration.
FRIDAY Domhan An Dúlra 5.55PM, TG4
HHH
Today we’re exploring the lengths animals will go to, to breed. While some perform dances or show off their plumage, a few species die in their devotion and drive to create offspring.
RHS Flower Show Tatton Park
7PM, BBC2 HHHH
Adam Frost, Arit Anderson, Frances Tophill and Rachel de Thame present highlights from the Royal Horticultural Society’s flower show, which is held in the grounds of Tatton Park in Cheshire.
Gardeners’ World
8PM, BBC2 HHHH
At Longmeadow, Monty Don gives advice on pruning fruit, while Adam Frost travels to Brodsworth Hall in South Yorkshire to meet the hard-working chap who is restoring the gardens to their 19th-century glory.
The Lateish Show With Mo Gilligan
10PM, CH4 HHH
Mo returns with a second series of his chat, music and sketch show. Tonight’s guests are Jack Whitehall, Nathalie Emmanuel and Lily Allen; Anne-Marie sings with the house band.
SATURDAY
Take Off With Bradley & Holly
6PM, BBC1 HHHH
Following the successful debut of this game show at Christmas in 2019, the BBC have poached ITV’s Holly Willoughby and Bradley Walsh again for a full run. Each week, studio audience members will see their names appear on the Take Off departure board. Then, competing in a variety of games, they will have the opportunity to win a global getaway, which this week is a trip to Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Tokyo 2020:
Today At The Games
7PM, RTé2 HHHH
A look back over the opening day of the delayed Olympics. The first medals of the Games were awarded in shooting, while the men’s road race winner was crowned after a gruelling 234km course.
Pavarotti In Hyde Park
9.30PM, BBC2 HHHH
Katherine Jenkins looks back at the 1991 outdoor concert given by tenor Luciano Pavarotti to celebrate 30 years of singing opera.
The Heart Of Saturday Night
9.25PM, RTé ONE HHHH
Una Healy and Loah introduce musical performances from Dublin’s Mansion House.