TV review Take one show format, add Berry and stir

A formidable warrior, builder and statesman, Rameses II declared himself a living god. But was the pharaoh the great man that the awe-inspiring monuments built in his name suggest, or just an egotist who had mastered the art of political spin? Historians and archaeologists reappraise his reputation by examining some startling new discoveries, including an inscription at Abydos which tells how the young Rameses was instructed in the art of war by his father. Plus, computer-generated imagery reveals what the Great Hall at Karnak would have looked like, as well as the massive complex at Abu Simbel where Rameses first portrayed himself as a living god.

SUNDAY

The Big Painting Challenge (BBC1, 6pm) Mariella Frostrup and the Rev Richard Coles present the final from Chatham’s historic dockyards, where the artists must paint a self-portrait for their first challenge. The finalists then receive individual masterclasses in the aspects that coaches Diana Ali and Pascal Anson feel they need help, which involves everything from painting with rollers to working blindfolded. In the final round, the contestants have a free hand to paint whatever they

RIDDLE me this. What has Mary Berry in it but is not the Great British Bake Off? What has a group of amateur cooks doing battle with each other but is not the GBBO? What features pally chats over a hot food processor but is not the GBBO? That’s right, it’s Britain’s Best Home Cook (BBC1, Thursday, 8pm), aka Not the GBBO (in case the lawyers are watching).

To be fair, there was no marquee in Home Cook, but give it time. Mary looks like she is itching to get busy with the tent pegs. Oh, and the new show has the contestants living together, as in Big Brother, and a “silent judging round”. Wonder how many W1A-style meetings it took to come up with that one. (“They taste the food, but they say nothing. Silent TV. Genius.”)

Host for the eight-part series is Claudia Winkleman, whose primary duty is to dispense hugs whether the contestants want them or not. Among the ten hopefuls is a woman from Glasgow called Josie, who I dearly hope turns out to have a partner called Frankie. Despite valiant attempts to stir up tension, including bellowing how many minutes were left in each round (not at all like GBBO), this was stodgy stuff. But it does have Mary Berry and it doesn’t have Bake Off in the title, so “result”.

Foreign affairs reporter Lyse Doucet attempted to explain the longest running multinational conflict since the Second World War in Syria: The World’s War (BBC2, Thursday-Friday, 9pm). Doucet has been there from the start, as we saw in clips from her many reports. This was gold-standard, plain-speaking journalism, exactly what the subject needed, with Doucet taking many high profile players, including representatives of the Syrian government, to task. While the world for

choose to impress judges Daphne Todd and Lachlan Goudie, before one of them is named this year’s winner.

The Durrells (STV, 8pm)

The family meet members of a travelling circus and get involved in helping them to drum up business. Larry falls in love with a contortionist, while Margo takes to the ring in person to perform a very dangerous act. Gerry is more concerned with making sure all of the animals featured in the show are well-treated. Spiros cannot bring himself to return to his empty house and begins spending more and more time at the Durrells’ home – but the magic of the circus brings him and Louisa closer together. Britain’s Best Home Cook hopeful Josie, a wealth client executive from Glasgow the most part continues to look away, we cannot say we were not told.

Love in the Countryside (BBC2, Wednesday, 9pm) was the latest spin on dating shows, this one hosted by Sara Cox. The Radio 2 DJ was keen to talk up her credentials, billing herself as “a farmer’s daughter”. Heaven forbid we would ever think a reality show matching city slickers with country mice was in any way shallow and contrived. First Dates with cowpats it is, then.

Among the rural hopefuls was Christine, who runs a 250-acre sheep farm in Dumfries and Galloway, and a

Ballet’s Dark Knight: Sir Kenneth MacMillan (BBC4, 9pm)

Born in 1929 into a family with no background of dance or music, Sir Kenneth MacMillan became one of the leading choreographers of his generation. He was artistic director of the Royal Ballet in London between 1970 and 1977, as well as its principal choreographer from 1977 until his death in 1992, and this profile examines some of his groundbreaking productions. It also asks why he considered himself an outsider, and tells the story of his private struggle with alcoholism, anxiety and depression. The programme features footage of shows including Romeo and Juliet, Manon and Mayerling.