PICK OF THE WEEK

SATURDAY Britain’s Most Historic Towns (C4, 8pm)

Alice Roberts visits Canterbury to explore the Plantagenet era, when the powerful house held the throne between 1154 and 1485. She discovers the secrets of the city’s cathedral, a centre of ecclesiastical power and also the site of the shocking murder of Thomas Becket. She also discovers the lasting impact of the Black Death and joins a modern-day pilgrimage in medieval garb. Aerial archaeologist Ben Robinson provides a bird’s-eye view of how the religious institutions of the era still dominate the city’s topography.

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2019 (BBC2, 8.30pm)

It’s the world’s longest running and largest open-submission show, which means any artist can enter and stand a chance of hanging alongside the great and the good within these hallowed halls. Kirsty Wark and Brenda Emmanus will be following three hopeful amateur artists, and delving into the process of curating and hanging the most complicated exhibition in the UK art calendar. They visit famous artists creating work for this year’s show including Bob and Roberta Smith, Polly Morgan and Jeremy Deller, and get to know this year’s co-ordinator Jock McFadyen. There’s also a look behind the scenes of the opening night party, where viewers meet well known folks hoping to purchase an art bargain, and hear a live performance from chart-topping singer-songwriter James Bay.

Tyson Fury: Rise & Fall of the Gypsy King (Channel 5, 9pm)

In case you didn’t know it, the titular heavyweight boxer is one of British sport’s most controversial figures. The six-foot nine fighter became a force to be reckoned with four years ago when he defeated long reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko. However, Tyson Fury’s outspoken views on women, abortion and gay culture caused outrage. Though he looked like a broken man by the end of 2017, his fight against Deontay Wilder a year later proved he was far from over. Here he talks about his struggle with mental health and his extraordinary career.

Killing Eve (BBC1, 9.15pm)

Carolyn introduces Eve to her new team before Eve briefs them on the Villanelle case, and Villanelle finds someone to take care of her while she recovers, conning an unassuming man into letting her recuperate at his house. Meanwhile, Eve, having been taken back under Carolyn’s wing, meets her new team and has to tell them everything she has learned about Villanelle. Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer and Fiona Shaw head the cast of the spy thriller, which also features Owen McDonnell, Sean Delaney and Julian Barratt.

Piers Morgan’s Life Stories (STV, 9.35pm)

In the autumn of 2018, at an age when he could have been enjoying his retirement, Harry Redknapp travelled to the Australian jungle for a series of stomach-churning challenges. Obviously for football fans he was already well known, but to those who knew little about him, he became an instant star. Redknapp has spent the past few months reaping the rewards of winning I’m A Celebrity, including those money-spinning website adverts. Now he chats to Piers Morgan about the twists and turns of his life, including his near-death experience where he lost a friend. The king of the jungle also opens up about the dawn raid on his house, and the death threats he received when he became manager of Southampton FC. And no Harry interview would be complete without him mentioning his beloved wife Sandra.

SUNDAY Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2019 (STV, 6.30pm)

Returning to London for the first time in more than a decade, this celeb-filled event will take place at Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge Stadium. Presenter Dermot O’Leary will be guiding us through proceedings, while Kirsty Gallacher is the pitch-side reporter. Michael Owen; David Seaman; Rachel Yankey, and Lee Mack are just a handful of the big names taking part. There will also be a half-time performance from Unicef UK Ambassador Rita Ora. Clive Tyldesley provides the commentary, and there will be contributions from Olivia Colman and James Nesbitt. Every pound donated to Soccer Aid for Unicef until 23 July, 2019 will be matched by the UK government, doubling the difference contributors make to children’s lives.

Equator from the Air (BBC2, 7pm)

Gordon Buchanan completes his equatorial journey in Southeast Asia. The Scot reveals evidence that Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, is sinking, and discovers how drones are helping to manage a dangerous conflict between elephants and farmers in Sumatra. In areas of Borneo afflicted by deforestation, he searches for orangutans at night, and helps the veterinarian team health-check orphaned apes at the rehabilitation centre in Sepilok, Malaysia. Finally, he finds out how aerial tech offers hope for endangered Siamese crocodiles.

Gentleman Jack (BBC1, 9pm)

A widowed vicar arrives in Halifax with the intention of claiming Ann Walker’s hand in marriage – and Eliza Priestley resolves to help him succeed in his objective. Anne sets out to prevent the clergyman causing any trouble, but discovers further threats to her relationship in the shape of Ann’s personal demons and interfering family. Work continues apace on the transformation of the Lister estate, and a grisly discovery in the pig sty gives Mary Sowden reason to believe that Thomas is lying about exactly how his father disappeared.

13 Moments: The Death and Destruction of Michael Jackson (Channel 5, 9pm)

A decade after the singer’s death, he remains an untouchable genius to some. A string of chart hits and best selling albums, including Thriller and Bad, cemented his status as a superstar. Yet for many, Michael Jackson’s legacy will forever be tarnished by the stories and controversies which surrounded him in his later years. Interviewing friends, staff, fans, psychologists, and journalists who chronicled his career and life, this film charts a seemingly glittering life that had in fact been far from charmed – from the very start.

BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2019 (BBC4, 9pm)

Trying to pick the best vocalist from around the globe is a far from easy task, as this ever engaging competition proves. Since 1983 it has been a platform for a wealth of tunesmiths, and every two years there’s a chance for entrants to shine. More than 400 hopefuls applied for this year’s event, before the final few were whittled down. Now, as the first round begins, 20 of the world’s most outstanding classical singers, from 15 countries, take part, all hoping that by the finale on Saturday, June 22, they will be victorious.

MONDAY

Thatcher: A Very British Revolution (BBC2, 9pm)

The concluding part of the documentary looks at how Margaret Thatcher’s leadership style and the issues of Europe and the poll tax split her cabinet and created public anger, leading to her downfall. Protests against the poll tax resulted in violence in central London, but more damagingly there was widespread disenchantment in Tory strongholds across the country. Fractures emerge with senior cabinet colleagues, worsened by her European policy and Geoffrey Howe’s resignation leads to a leadership challenge. Last in the series.

War on Plastic with Hugh and Anita (BBC1, 9pm)

Anita Rani turns the attentions of the residents of the Bristol street to the bathroom products and takes them to the local sewage works, where they get a very graphic introduction to the problem of wet wipes. Hugh FearnleyWhittingstall examines why so much British plastic waste is ending up rotting on illegal dump sites in Malaysia, presenting his findings to English environment minister Michael Gove, and travels to Plymouth University to learn about the prevalence of microplastics in nature.

Long Lost Family (STV, 9pm)

Scaffolder Nicholas Rhoades was adopted as a baby and grew up in Croydon with a loving family. He enjoyed a very happy childhood, but when his adoptive mother passed away from a heart attack, Nick was devastated. He always knew he was adopted, and several years ago, he went to the address on his birth certificate with the intention of finding his biological mother, but decided against it. It wasn’t his birth mum Jacqueline on the other side of that door, but his sister Cayley. In this week’s show, they finally get the chance to meet, and Nicky travels to Chicago to find out more about his mum. Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell also address the issue of a great great grandmother who’s desperate to find the daughter she was separated from more than 60 years ago.

Year of the Rabbit (C4, 10pm)

The detective and Strauss continue to hunt for the mysterious killer who has taken the guise of mythical figure the Brick Man, while Mabel joins them despite not having persuaded her father, Chief Inspector Wisbech, to give her an actual police badge yet. Meanwhile, Tanner takes a hit that was meant for Rabbit, and Lydia emerges from the shadows with designs on Mabel. Comedy drama set in Victorian London, starring Matt Berry, with Alun Armstrong, Freddie Fox, Susan Wokoma, Keeley Hawes and Paul Kaye.

Hey Tracey! (ITV2, 10pm)

Joel Dommett’s career has gone stratospheric since his time on I’m A Celebrity. Now the amiable funnyman is back with a new series designed to ease those Monday night blues. The premise: celebrities make cold calls to businesses to get answers to questions in the hope of winning money for members of the public. If the famous faces don’t know the answer to Joel’s unusual queries, they can enlist the help of Tracey, his virtual assistant. Episode one features Chris Ramsey, Charlotte Crosby, Georgia Steel, Luisa Zissman, Luke Kempner and Joe Swash.

TUESDAY

The Thames: Britain’s Great River with Tony Robinson (C5, 8pm)

Reaching central London, the actor and presenter boards an industrial working ship on the Thames, learning it is a route not without risks as ships must squeeze under bridges at high tide and avoid running aground at low tide. At the Chelsea embankment, Tony explores the Physic Gardens where early botanical remedies were created from exotic plants brought in by river from all over the world. On the south bank, he goes mudlarking, scouring the shore at low tide for objects discarded by revellers past, before getting a bird’s-eye-view of the river from the Shard. Tony’s final stop is Tower Bridge.

Her Majesty’s Cavalry (STV, 8.30pm)

Cameras continue to follow the oldest and most recognisable regiment of the British Army, the Household Cavalry during a year of dramatic change. This week we see them in the deserts of the Middle East, as the armoured side of the regiment head out on manoeuvres to Oman. The Household Cavalry are taking part in the largest expeditionary exercise the British Army has been involved in for 16 years. Despite the formidable heat, they need to demonstrate their fighting capabilities. Back in Britain there’s fewer problems with the weather as the most skilled riders in the regiment are rehearsing for the Musical Ride at the Royal Windsor Horseshow. They will perform incredible moves on top of their horses in front of a huge crowd, and the Queen.

Years and Years (BBC1, 9pm)

As Viv Rook’s regime tightens its grip, the entire Lyons family is forced to take action. Spurred on by both Muriel and Daniel, Rosie faces up to the troops surrounding her home, and takes radical action with Lincoln’s help. But when Bethany reveals the shocking truth about her father, Edith and Celeste form a secret alliance to stop him. Stephen’s in too deep as the mysterious Erstwhile Policy turns deadly, forcing Edith and her girlfriend Fran to embark

on a reckless, dangerous mission for Viktor’s sake. Last in the series.

Ransom (5USA, 9pm)

This slick new drama centres on a team of crisis negotiators who help multinational organisations, government agencies and individuals to manage hostage and other crisis situations. The action begins in a church, where a gunman is holding 14 people hostage. Crisis Resolution’s experienced negotiator Eric Beaumont is trying to connect with the perpetrator. With the help of a deliberately stray marksman, he attempts to restore the man’s faith enough for the situation to be resolved. Luke Roberts, previously seen in Crossroads and Black Sails, and Sarah Greene (Penny Dreadful) head the cast.

The Planets (BBC2, 9pm)

Professor Brian Cox examines Saturn, a planet raised in the freezing outer reaches of the solar system that began life as a strange combination of rock and ice. Born outside the snow line, with an abundance of building materials, it soon grew to dwarf Earth, drawing in colossal amounts of the hydrogen and helium that permeated the early solar system. As Nasa’s Cassini probe has discovered, the planet remained ring-less most of its life, until a fateful encounter changed everything. Less than a hundred million years ago, one of Saturn’s ice moons was drawn too close to the planet. In a truly cataclysmic event, the entire moon was destroyed and the rings were born.

WEDNESDAY The Supervet: Noel Fitzpatrick (C4, 8pm)

Professor Noel Fitzpatrick returns for a 14th series, and there’s no shortage of moving cases, including Barney, a four-year-old pug and beagle cross who has been hit by a bus. An ankle has been crushed and there is extensive damage to his leg, leaving owners Rebecca and Chris at their wits’ end. The dog’s wound poses a serious infection risk, and he has lost 40 per cent of the bone in the damaged leg, so Noel creates an innovative two-tier treatment, involving an external ankle frame for support. Fitzpatrick also deals with 10-month-old Labrador cross Gylly, who has developed lameness and an unusual bone deformity. Noel is the world’s only surgeon to offer a total shoulder replacement, which could give Gylly a fully working shoulder joint.

Summer of Rockets (BBC2, 9pm)

Two days after being shot at the airfield, Samuel wakes up in hospital. Kathleen and Richard are warned that the secret service may be listening into their telephone calls as they discuss their search for Anthony. Meanwhile, Samuel decides that his family should stay in separate locations to stay safe, and makes his own plans to go into hiding, where he can meet Katleen in secret. Drama series set in the UK during the Cold War period, following an inventor and designer of bespoke hearing aids who is tasked with a secret mission by MI5.

The Restaurant that Makes Mistakes (C4, 9pm)

Four-part documentary following a daring experiment in which the UK’s first-ever restaurant staffed by people with dementia opens its doors. Under the watchful eye of Michelin-starred restaurateur Josh Eggleton, waiter Roger – who struggles with reading and writing – tries to pluck up the courage to take his first order. Meanwhile, former legal representative Jacqui is tasked with remembering the restaurant’s greeting, but with dementia damaging her memory and her bad eyesight, it proves to be a huge challenge. As things heats up in the kitchen, an unexpected food critic is spotted at Table 3.

Wild Bill (STV, 9pm)

When a mysterious stranger wanders into Boston suffering from amnesia, it provides Bill with the opportunity to crack a notorious unsolved case, but he soon comes to realise that the truth is more complicated than it first appears. Meanwhile, Kelsey succeeds in getting Bill to finally engage with his dead wife’s memory, and Oleg puts the pressure on Muriel. Comedy drama following an American police chief as he moves to the UK and joins the Lincolnshire Police Force. Starring Rob Lowe, Rachael Stirling and Angela Griffin.

Mum (BBC2, 10pm)

All good sitcoms need at least a series to bed

in, but this offering has been terrific from the first episode to this, the last. It was a stroke of genius to set the final run in a posh house where all the regulars are free to either get on one another’s nerves or, in the case of Cathy and Michael, try and hide the fact they are an item for fear of upsetting her grieving son, Jason. If you’ve not already binged this final episode on Iplayer, which dropped after the series three, episode one-opener, then you’re in for a treat, not least thanks to the kitchen showdown between Cathy and Pauline. Lesley Manville and Peter Mullan are superb as the besotted couple, with Dorothy Atkinson outstanding as the acid-tongued Pauline. Lisa McGrillis, Sam Swainsbury, Ross Boatman and Karl Johnson shine in support.

THURSDAY

George Clarke’s Old House, New Home (C4, 8pm)

New series. George Clarke helps more people unlock the potential of old houses. He begins by helping NHS theatre nurse Hannah, whose Edwardian worker’s cottage is so small she has had to give the only decent bedroom to her two lively children while she sleeps in the front room. Can he provide the luxurious master bedroom she needs? George also helps a couple renovate their detached home, which would not be so bad if not for the previous owners’ love of glass chandeliers,

Roman columns and marble-effect tiles.

Chicago PD (5USA, 9pm)

Series six of the police drama from Law and Order boss Dick Wolf kicks off, and Voight finds himself in very hot water. He has blood on hands as Platt pounds on his door. Letting her in, he assures her he is fine, having served ‘justice’ on the man who killed Officer Olinsky in prison. At a crime scene, Voight is approached by Deputy Superintendent Brennan, who tells Voight he is suspended as he may be charged with murder. Jason Beghe and Anne Heche star, while ER veteran Eriq La Salle (last seen in Hugh Jackman smash Logan) directs the drama.

Death Row:

Countdown to Execution (STV, 9pm)

Susanna Reid travels to Texas to meet convicted killer Billie Wayne Coble in the days leading up to his scheduled execution. In 1989 he pleaded guilty to triple murder and has been on death row ever since. Now 70, he is fighting for a last-minute stay of execution. If it fails, he will be the oldest man put to death in Texas for more than 100 years. Susannah asks Billie to relive the night of the crime and tries to find out how it has affected him and also speaks to his relatives and others involved in the case.

Catch-22 (C4, 9pm)

Almost 50 years after the movie version of Joseph Heller’s acclaimed novel comes this TV conversion. It’s the story of Yossarian, a US Air Force bombardier in the Second World War who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. The enemy is the lesser of two evils, because his own side keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. If Yossarian makes any attempt to avoid his dangerous assignments, he’ll be in violation of the eponymous rule. In episode one, young American flyers get their first taste of war and discover that military bureaucracy is deadlier than the enemy. Executive producer George Clooney stars with Christopher Abbott, Kyle Chandler, Hugh Laurie, Giancarlo Giannini and Tessa Ferrer.

TV extra: George Clooney - Page 79

Ambulance (BBC1, 9pm)

Watching the emergency services in action has become hugely popular these days. Barely a week goes by without a fly-on-the-wall documentary popping up on our screens that follows the police, firefighters or medics as they go about their daily work. But there’s no wonder such series pull in the ratings – this is real-life drama at its best, with actual heroes saving lives. Expect more of the same from the latest edition of this show which follows work of the North West Ambulance Service in Greater Manchester.

FRIDAY

A Question of Sport (BBC1, 8pm)

It’s a sobering thought for sports fans that this enduring quiz celebrates its 50th anniversary in January. You can expect plenty of celebrations closer the time, but for now Sue Barker presenters another helping of teasers. Taking part are golfer Matt Wallace; Great Britain sprinter Imani-Lara Lansiquot; European gold medal-winning gymnast Ellie Downie, and England cricketer Sam Billings. Team captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell naturally hope their sides have bragging rights just before the closing titles roll.

The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard (C5, 8pm)

Under pressure to bring in extra revenue now that the somewhat challenging season is nearing its end, the North York Moors Railway team decides to put on a special ‘curry train’ night together with a massive bash for Halloween. Visitors and staff alike put in the effort to make it a night to remember, though proceedings are threatened when the lights in the carriages suddenly stop working. The Bishop of Wakefield comes to bless Eric Treacy, an engine that has been through a £500,000 overhaul taking over two years. Last in the series.

The Nile: Egypt’s Great River with Bettany Hughes (C5, 9pm)

A hundred miles south of Cairo a stretch of the Nile was once considered Egypt’s main highway, used by Cleopatra to travel the country. More than 2,000 years after her, Bettany visits a vast desert catacomb where tens of thousands of mummified animals were once left as an offering. Further upstream, there is a chance to swim in the Nile, and look inside the tombs where Tutankhamen’s discoverer, Howard Carter, first got hooked on Egypt. Bettany explores the longest tomb yet found, before heading to the Dendera temple, where Cleopatra herself may have once wowed her lover Julius Caesar.

Still Game (BBC1, 9pm)

Series nine of the popular sitcom is also the last, so make the most of this six-parter as Jack, Victor and the rest of the Craiglang gang return. Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill’s saga continues to celebrate growing old disgracefully, and once more the pensioners rail against everything modern life has to throw at them. In episode one, Isa is mugged and Winston comes to her rescue. Unaware that his selfless deed is being filmed, he is soon transformed into an internet sensation. Although the viral star downplays the attention, Methadone Mick emphasises the advantages of internet fame, and Winston soon embraces his new-found celebrity status. The supporting cast includes Jane McCarry, Sanjeev Kohli and Gavin Mitchell, and look out for Line of Duty’s Martin Compston as a phone salesman.

The Looming Tower (BBC2, 9.30pm)

As the mid-summer of 2001 ends, the CIA becomes aware that Al-Hazmi and Al-Mihdhar have vanished and must relay the information to the FBI. After learning that a man has been flagged for ignoring the landing component of a flying lesson, I-49 requests a list of Arabs enrolled in US flight schools who have other aggravating factors. Marsh complies, but conceals the fact that two of the men in her file are known al-Qaeda operatives. O’Neill accepts a job as head of security at the World Trade Center as Atta’s al-Qaeda cell decides to finalise its deadly plans.