FOUR OF THE BEST
The World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys Channel 5, 8pm
The 200-mile Ligne de Cevennes travels northwards through the Massif Central to France’s volcanic heart – Clermont Ferrand and the spectacular Puy De Dome. The route takes travellers across three incredible historic viaducts, plunges deep underground to explore the area’s hidden wildlife and traverses through several impressive valleys. It also winds through one of the world’s most spectacular national parks, before reaching its final destination, a collection of 80 dormant volcanoes.
Portillo’s Empire Journey Channel 5, 9pm
Michael Portillo travels to South Africa to explore how the lure of riches led Britain into barbaric wars, dividing the country along racial lines. He visits the crumbling Fort Napier, the British garrison in Natal, where battles were planned and executed against the Zulu people.
The white minority devised rules to subdue the native black population, corralling people into squalid townships and offering them menial jobs. Eventual conflict with the descendants of Dutch settlers – Boers – was inevitable. Michael learns how Mohandas Gandhi fought the racial segregation that would later calcify into apartheid.
The Last Leg: Locked Down Under Channel 4, 10pm
Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker hook up once again, broadcasting respectively from their homes in Melbourne, London and Huddersfield to present their usual mix of political satire, entertainment chat and light-hearted comment on the latest events. Comedian, actor and writer Stephen Merchant beams in from home (giving viewers a chance to see his bookshelves, or maybe his kitchen) giving his thoughts on life in isolation – and anything else that crosses his mind.
Later – with Jools Holland BBC2, 10pm
The music programme continues in its lockdown incarnation as
Jools chats from his south London studio via videolink to Golden Globe-winning actor, comedian, musician and writer Hugh Laurie, inviting him to recount his musical journey. Laurie’s picks reflect the influences that can be found on his own two records Let Them
Talk and Didn’t It Rain, the former featuring collaborations with Tom Jones, Irma Thomas and Dr John. As usual, there’s also time for Jools to focus on new music, with a unique performance by multi-instrumentalist and singer Jacob Collier, who will be making his debut on the show.