TV PICKS OF THE WEEK
Joan armatrading: me myself i Saturday, BBC2, 8.40pm
The channel continues its recent trend of dedicating an evening to a particular music star.
The first show is a documentary originally broadcast on BBC Four in 2019, but it’s well worth another look – not least because it features a rare interview with Armatrading herself in which she opens up about her life and career.
Then, after a 50-minute break for Later... with Jools Holland, there’s a chance to see her in action in Joan Armatrading at Asylum Chapel, which was recorded last year.
frozen Planet ii Sunday, BBC1, 8pm
The nights are drawing in and the days are growing colder – and this stunningly shot wildlife series isn’t doing anything to make viewers feel any warmer. The penultimate episode focuses on the snow-covered forests and open tundra of the far north, a place with temperatures so low, much of the ground has remained frozen since the last ice
age. That means, of course, that its inhabitants have had to adapt to survive in such harsh conditions. Among them are Arctic foxes which roam for miles in search of their main food source, tiny lemmings which are hidden deep underground.
our dementia Choir sings again with Vicky mcclure Monday, BBC1, 9pm
Four years ago, Line of Duty actress Vicky Mcclure formed a choir made up of people living with dementia, and in the process showed how music could change their
lives. It was undeniably uplifting, but in the follow-up documentary, Vicky meets up with existing members Mick and Julie and new recruits Kev and Leslie, only to discover that there hasn’t been as much progress as she might have expected. There is a still a lack of support for people who are diagnosed with the condition, there are growing issues surrounding care and music therapy is not widely available. So, Vicky is turning to the choir to help her raise awareness of the issue by releasing a single.
the great British Bake off Tuesday, Channel 4, 8pm
It’s Dessert Week in the grounds of Welford Park, and the latest batch of bakers get all steamed up in a tricky Signature. Then, they tackle a classic lemon meringue pie in the Technical, and for tonight’s Showstopper, the group is tasked with creating a sponge cake with a surprise hidden inside.
Only one can claim the coveted Star Baker crown, but who will judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith choose to leave Britain’s most famous tent for good? As usual, presenters Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas lighten up proceedings.
The Gadget Show: Better Tech, Better Life Wednesday, Channel 5, 7pm
Ortis Deley and Georgie Barrat show a hectic household how they could make their lives easier by exploring the latest smart blinds. They also ask whether you need to spend big on a toastie maker to get great-tasting results, and have a look at a cutting-edge yet budgetfriendly robotic vacuum cleaner.
Jon Bentley puts two pushchairs to the test, while Harry Wallop shows us how to save cash on train tickets. Finally, wireless headphones are tested that claim to charge in both indoor and outdoor light.
The National Television awards 2022 Thursday, ITV, 8pm
The NTAS are all voted for by the viewers – and for the last 20 years, they’ve picked Ant and Dec as the winners in the Best Presenter category. They go head to head with Alison Hammond, Graham Norton and Bradley Walsh. Netflix’s hit Heartstopper is particularly well-represented. It’s going up against Time, Trigger Point and This Is Going to Hurt in the New Drama category.
Professor T Friday, ITV, 9pm
Ben Miller is back for another darkly comic mystery, this time involving the murder of an artisan baker. The victim had been receiving death threats, and the finger of suspicion points to the son of a killer who was convicted on the baker’s testimony. So, the police think they are dealing with an open-and-shut case, but will Professor T realise that it isn’t a piece of cake after all?