PICK OF THE DAY

FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS WITH ALISON HAMMOND 8PM, ITV1

★★★

She has some big, compassionate, animal-loving shoes to fill, but Alison Hammond has signed up to replace Paul O’grady and continue the story of Battersea Dogs and

Cats Home. More pets are being abandoned than ever before, and animal charities such as Battersea have their work cut out. In this first of six new episodes, Alison gets emotional when she tends to tiny puppy Oscar, and also meets a nineyear-old spaniel whose owner fell ill and could no longer take care of her.

CHANGING ENDS 8.30PM, ITV1 ★★★★

You’ve got to feel for young Alan Carr, growing up in the 1980s with a macho dad and nosey, judgmental neighbours. With grown-up Alan hovering in the background to narrate his loosely autobiographical tale, first shown on ITVX last year, it’s the casting of Oliver Savell as young Alan that really makes this six-part sitcom work – he’s definitely a minime, but not too much. Shaun Dooley as Alan’s dad, Graham – the manager of fourth-division Northampton Town FC – is also very good, conveying the struggles of loving but not always understanding his adorably eccentric son.

IT’S SHOWTIME! 9PM, ITV1 ★★★★

Many of us have made rash or bold decisions after a night at the pub, and this documentary follows the Darlington drinkers who went the full furlong and clubbed together to buy a racehorse. An inspiring, funny and moving true story of a group of friends who dared to dream big.

DANNY DYER: HOW TO BE A MAN 10PM, CH4

★★★★

Danny Dyer is on a mission to find out if there really is a war against men, and why it is that influencers such as Andrew Tate are proving so popular. He brings his very sweary, honest and unvarnished style to proceedings, but also knows when to shut his trap and take the serious stuff seriously. And there is some very serious – as well as enraging and heartbreaking – stuff in this first episode. Concludes tomorrow.

IMAGINE… PET SHOP BOYS: THEN AND NOW 10.40PM,

BBC1 ★★★★ Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe (left), the most successful duo in the history of British pop, have always been camerashy. But they’ve allowed Alan Yentob to join them backstage on their current tour and share music from their latest album, Nonetheless.