TV PICKS OF THE WEEK
Top Gear Sunday, BBC1, 8pm
Freddie Flintoff is trying his hand at F1 – F1 Stock Car Racing, that is. It’s a full-contact motorsport where bumping your opponent is actively encouraged, and it seems like it should be the perfect fit for the fearless (and very competitive) Fred. But is he in for a bruising experience?
Chris Harris is also in the world of racing as Mercedes invite him to try
out an F1 car they have built for the road, while Paddy Mcguinness gets behind the wheel of a Ranger Rover that’s being billed as the most luxurious car Land Rover have ever built.
1966: Who Stole The World Cup? Monday, Channel 4, 10pm
It is one of the most iconic images in British sporting history, when Queen Elizabeth II presented England captain Bobby Moore with the gleaming Jules Rimet Trophy at the old Wembley Stadium in 1966.
However, it almost never happened, as the trophy was stolen just months before the tournament. Ahead of the 2022 World Cup which kicks off in Qatar this weekend, this documentary, narrated by Alan Ford, looks at the tale, which involves spivs, wide boys from south London, the Flying Squad and a dog named Pickles, and is worthy of any classic British crime flick.
louis Theroux interviews – Bear Grylls Tuesday, BBC2, 9pm
invites Louis Theroux to spend time with him on the private island where he and his wife Shara spent the summer.
Louis is determined to get under Bear’s skin to find out what really makes him tick, an interrogation that begins with some tough questions about his subject’s spell at boarding school, a period in which he was taken to see a number of self-help gurus.
Bear also takes Louis on a Scout troop trip in south London, a Marine Reserve training camp and to Cornwall, where he’s the guest of honour at his family’s own adventure festival.
Location, Location, Location Wednesday, Channel 4, 8pm
Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer kick off a new series on the Kent coast. Phil’s with Ellen, who is moving out from her mum and dad’s in Hertfordshire and wants to live amid Margate’s vibrant LGBTQ community.
Meanwhile, Kirstie’s with Sophie, Matt and baby Tate, who need to get out of Sophie’s mum’s and find their own home in Broadstairs.
oti Mabuse: My south africa Thursday, BBC1, regions vary
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse was born in South Africa in 1990 – the year Nelson Mandela was released from prison. That means she grew up during a time of great change in her native country.
In this new documentary, she’s revisiting South Africa to take
viewers on a tour of her childhood home and places that inspired her, while also learning how much the country has changed in the 10 years since she left.
the Last Leg Friday, Channel 4, 10pm
It’s a brave TV scheduler who lines up a new series against Children in Need, but that’s what somebody at Channel 4 has done. The show continues to be a major success, so it’s no surprise to see it return for a 26th run. Tonight, Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker are joined by Peter Crouch, AJ Odudu and Rose Ayling-ellis.