PICK OF THE WEEK

SATURDAY

The Great Garden Revolution (C4, 8pm)

Ecological gardener Poppy Okotcha takes inspiration from the countryside to create a wild planting design that brings nature into our backyards in a low-maintenance way. Designer Joel Bird shows us how to make a living tipi for the kids to play in (and for adults too), while craftsman Bruce Kenneth adds a stunning table with its own herb patch and inbuilt bar, as well as showing us how to bring bird life into the garden. The team also visit the Barnes family; beginner gardeners looking for an outside space that goes with their stunning view of the Saddleworth countryside in the Pennine hills.

Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow - Celebrity Special (STV, 7.30pm)

You can’t beat a bit of Bully! Alan hosts an allstar special of Bullseye, the darts-themed game show hosted by Jim Bowen and later by Dave Spikey. Three teams of celebrities and professional darts players will be answering questions and throwing arrows in the hope of getting through to the Epic Endgame and winning £30,000 for their chosen charity. The stars taking part are for England goalkeeper David Seaman, actress Angela Griffin and Ninja Warrior host Chris Kamara. They will joined on the oche by darts pros Fallon Sherrock, Wayne Mardle and Joe Cullen. Richard Ashdown keeps score.

Blinded: Those Who Kill (BBC4, 9pm)

The sequel to the gritty Danish series Darkness: Those Who Kill follows criminal profiler Louise Bergstein (Natalie Madueno), who becomes personally involved in an investigation into three unsolved murders of young men on the island of Funen. Despite being killed at intervals of a few months under similar, horrific circumstances, the police failed to solve the murders, and five years later, the perpetrators are still at large. One of the victims was 18-year-old Markus, whose mother, Alice, is close friends with Louise’s mother. When Alice is diagnosed with cancer, she asks Louise for help in finding her son’s killer, and when another young man is found murdered in a manner similar to the first three victims, Louise and Odense police chief Karina H0rup (Helle Fagralid), embark on a race against the clock to find the culprit.

Muhammad Ali: A Life in Ten Pictures (BBC2, 9pm)

He was the most beloved sports hero of the 20th century, battling fearsome opponents in ring, political adversaries out of it, and later in life, the cruel effects of Parkinson’s disease. The latest edition of this series uses 10 photographs to reveal the defining moments in iconic boxer Muhammad Ali’s remarkable life which transcended sport to race, politics and foreign policy. Interspersed with the images are interviews with those who knew Ali best – including Olympic swimmer Janet Evans, who passed the Olympic torch to him in Atlanta in 1996, as well as his daughter Jamillah Ali, and

journalist Gary Younge. Throughout his remarkable life and since his death in 2016, many things have been written and said about Muhammad Ali. Here, the pictures do the talking, as we get a visual story of the man simply known as ‘The Greatest’.

The Jonathan Ross Show (STV, 9.35pm)

Jonathan joined by 81-year-old thesp Sir Ian McKellen, who is playing a boyish Hamlet, thought to be ‘30 years old, or a little younger’, in a production at Theatre Royal Windsor this summer. Also dropping by is former Strictly judge and the most famous British ballerina of her generation, Dame Darcey Bussell, and comedian and presenter Romesh

Ranganathan. Plus, singer-songwriter Rag ‘n’ Bone Man will be looking forward to his performance alongside P!nk at Tuesday’s Brit Awards, as well as performing in the studio.

SUNDAY

Tipping Point: Lucky Stars (STV, 7pm)

Ben Shephard is back with another edition of the popular quiz show in which three celebrities take on the extraordinary arcade-style machine in the hope of winning £20,000 for charity. Tonight, Made in Chelsea’s Sam Thompson, comedian, writer, and actress Suzi Ruffell and Episodes actor and Portrait Artist of the Year presenter Stephen Mangan attempt to outwit the mechanical marvel to walk away with the

jackpot. But can the trio avoid the riders, and utilise the lateral movement, broad shoves, and rapid, ambient, ghost and boomerang drops to secure the prize?

The Pursuit of Love (BBC1, 9pm)

This new three-part period drama is something of a labour of love for Emily Mortimer – she adapted Nancy Mitford’s classic novel, directed the series and also takes a supporting role. It’s the story of Linda Radlett (Lily James) and her beloved cousin Fanny Logan (Emily Beecham), who are both stuck in 1920s Oxfordshire, waiting for their lives to truly begin. For Fanny, whose mother (Mortimer) has been nicknamed the Bolter due to her habit of abandoning

husbands and her own child, that means finding comfort and stability, but Linda wants excitement and adventure. When the glamorous Lord Merlin (Andrew Scott) brings Tony Kroesig (Freddie Fox) to their coming-out ball, it seems Linda’s dreams of romance and escape are coming true, but Fanny senses trouble ahead.

Gods of Snooker (BBC2, 9pm)

The 1980s was a golden age of snooker, when millions of viewers would tune in to watch it and players became household names. This new three-part series takes us back to that era, hearing from some of the sporting heroes who shot to fame including Jimmy White, Steve

Davis, Dennis Taylor, Stephen Hendry and Ray Reardon. However, the first episode puts the focus on Alex “The Hurricane” Higgins and his role in bringing snooker out of the backrooms of working men’s clubs and into the national spotlight.

SAS: Who Dares Wins (C4, 9pm)

It’s been a tough year for many people, but it seems that 21 men and women have decided they need even more of a challenge and have signed up to go through the most unforgiving selection course yet as SAS: Who Dares Wins returns for a new run. Chief Instructor Ant Middleton and his team of Directing Staff (DS), Foxy and Billy, are joined by ex-SAS operative

Melvyn to put the recruits through their paces in the wilds of Scotland. In the opening episode, the process starts before they even arrive, as the DS hijack the train bringing them to their base.

Fargo (C4, 10pm)

Some people may have originally been a bit bemused by the idea of a drama anthology series set in the world of the Coen brothers Oscar-winning film Fargo, but not focusing on the same characters. However, the first three series proved that the concept definitely worked, and brought us great performances from Martin Freeman, Billy Bob Thornton, Kirsten Dunst and Ewan McGregor among others. So expectations are high for this fourth instalment, which unfolds in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1950 and sees two crime syndicates vying for control. This time around, the cast is led by Chris Rock as a crime boss who has come up with an intriguing business idea, with support from Ben Whishaw and rising star Jessie Buckley.

MONDAY

Three Families (BBC1, 9pm)

It’s been described in some quarters as the BBC’s next ‘must-see’ TV show, and it’s easy to see why – not only does it feature an amazing cast, it’s based on several compelling and moving true stories. The UK made abortions legal in 1967 – except in Northern Ireland; it wasn’t until 2019 that they were permitted. Writer Gwyneth Hughes has set her story in the six-year run-up to that event while revealing how three women and their families dealt with a very particular set of difficult circumstances; their real identities and certain details have been changed to protect their anonymity. Sinead Keenan, Lola Petticrew, Amy James-Kelly and Genevieve O’Reilly head the cast, with fine support from Colin Morgan and Owen McDonnell.

Motherland (BBC2, 9pm)

We’ve recently witnessed her incredible turn as the toe-curlingly vile DSI Carmichael in Line of Duty, and now Anna Maxwell Martin is back on our screens in an altogether different mode – although her character is almost as unpopular when the sitcom’s third series begins. Julia has been ostracised by the other mothers, just as a pandemic strikes – rather than being Covid-19, it’s nits that are wreaking havoc. Julia thinks that organising a ‘nit treatment party’ will get her back into everyone’s good books, but she may be disappointed. Meanwhile, Anne has big news, Meg has a crisis, Kevin has been a naughty boy and Liz is waiting for some news.

The Queen and Her Cousins with Alexander Armstrong (STV, 9pm)

Originally set to be shown shortly after Prince Philip’s death, this documentary was pulled in favour of a tribute to him, but it should be worth the wait. Although Alexander Armstrong is not of royal blood himself, the Pointless host is nevertheless curious to know what it means to be part of the extended royal family. He travels across the country to meet Her Majesty’s cousins. Using the monarch’s vast family tree as his road map, he catches up with relatives from many branches of the her family – from the ancient lineage of the Mountbatten dynasty, to the Queen Mother’s Scottish Bowes Lyon side – as well as an international princess.

The Highland Vet (5SELECT, 9pm)

Another series of the programme set at the most northern mainland veterinary practice in Britain. This week, Caithness-born vet Shondie faces the most dramatic case of her career when an emergency case arrives. Leyla, a twomonth-old Tamaskan puppy, has been brought in after being attacked by an older dog. Shondie and vet nurse Lee Ann battle through the night to save the puppy with a broken jaw – and things get worse when they discover a mysterious metal object in her belly. Practice director Guy risks missing yet another date with his wife when he’s called to an emergency at a farm 30 miles away. A two-year-old heifer has landed herself in trouble after jumping a wall while on heat to get near a neighbour’s bull.

Inside No 9 (BBC2, 9.30pm)

Can Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith really pull off another wildly inventive series to match its predecessors? If the calibre of guest star is anything to go by, the answer seems to be ‘yes’. Each episode of the darkly comic anthology show is a perfectly crafted half hour – very few have featured bum notes, which is quite remarkable when you consider the fact we’re about to welcome the sixth run to our screens. Among those who will be popping up over the next few weeks are Gemma Whelan, Lindsay Duncan, Adrian Dunbar and Sian Clifford, while Derek Jacobi becomes the first guest to return to the show – he narrated a Christmas edition a few years back. The opening episode focuses on the planning of a heist.

TUESDAY

Dream Kitchens and Bathrooms with Mark Millar (C5, 7pm)

In Aberdeenshire, Emily and Chris want a traditional farmhouse-style kitchen to be the heart of their cottage in the countryside. However, to afford the quality materials they want, the couple must take on some of the jobs themselves – flooring and upcycling a huge wardrobe. Will their handmade efforts live up to the quality of the rest of the work? In

Maidstone, Camellia and Evan are lovingly decorating their dream home, but the main family bathroom is freezing and damp – not ideal with young children. It proves to be a massive challenge to demolish and rebuild it on their budget of £3,500.

Hospital (BBC2, 9pm)

To say the last year has been extraordinary for the NHS is an understatement. The documentary series returns to tell the story of these unprecedented times, with the pandemic laving nearly five million people waiting for treatment in England alone. This first episode captures a pivotal moment at University Hospitals Coventry, which delivered the world’s first Covid vaccine outside of a trial, as it fights to restore services. The critical care unit is at capacity and, despite numbers falling in the community, it is still treating seriously ill Covid patients. The difficult decision is taken to ration intensive care beds for all major operations

and three specialities – cardiac, thoracic and neuro – are told that between them, they can only access two beds a day.

The Money Maker (C4, 9pm)

Eric Collins heads to Sussex to visit an awardwinning artisan bread company in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic. Alex, CEO of The Sussex Kitchen, is haemorrhaging customers and in danger of going bankrupt within a month. To make some much-needed dough, Eric has to convince social-media sceptic Alex to pivot his business away from wholesale and delivering products to restaurants and hotels to online customers. However, the Money Maker has his work cut out persuading Alex to change tack at the hyper speed he demands and what he believes is required.

Lego Masters USA (E4, 9pm)

For week five, the remaining teams are given the challenge of making a Lego city block that will be brought together as a huge city. Each pair gets a vacant lot in the mega city and, with 14 hours to work their magic, they they can do whatever they want to it. While Sam and Jessica opt for a fairytale tower, Mark and Boone build their version of pop’s food cart tower, and Aaron and Christian create a sustainable city. Plus, Tyler and Amy make a triscraper, Richard and Flynn come up with an adventure complex, Mel and Jermaine design a winter plaza, and Krystle and Amie knock up their own cyberpunk city.

Our Yorkshire Farm (C5, 9pm)

The roof is becoming a major concern for the Owens, as they worry about the impact that winter storms may have on the building. The family are also trying to establish a new flock, and gather the sheep with unsheared fleeces who are at risk of perishing during any seriously bad weather. For the children, returning home from school is the cue for tending to their various pets. Sidney continues training his sheepdog Nell, while Violet tends to ninemonth-old calf Ciara, an animal she’s handreared after the calf’s mother suffered an udder infection.

WEDNESDAY

Martin Lewis’ Extreme Savers (STV, 8pm)

We’re used to seeing the financial expert dishing out advice for being sensible with our cash – he may even be at least partly responsible for the behaviour of some of the people featured in his latest series. Here he meets those who go the extra mile in their obsession with remaining frugal, including a man who showers in rainwater, a woman who thinks reusable toilet roll is the bee’s knees and a competition addict who ‘won’ her baby. Whether any viewers are inspired to follow their approaches to life remains to be seen.

Danny Boy (BBC2, 9pm)

Anthony Boyle and Toby Jones star in a hardhitting feature-length drama based on a true story. It focuses on the events surrounding the Al-Sweady inquiry, one of the biggest ever

public inquiries to take place in Britain. Boyle plays Brian Wood, a decorated soldier declared a hero on his return from Iraq before being accused of war crimes by human rights lawyer Phil Shiner (Jones). We’ll witness Wood’s battlefield exploits, including the event that led to him receiving the Military Cross, before heading to the courtroom for the biggest fight of his life – to clear his name. Alex Ferns, Pauline Turner and Leah McNamara also appear as Wood’s parents and wife; Baftawinning writer Robert Jones penned the script.

Davina McCall: Sex, Myths and the Menopause (C4, 9pm)

For many women, entering the menopause is

something they don’t want to talk about. In fact, as McCall reveals here, she was advised, when hers began at the age of 44, not to discuss it publicly because it could ruin her image. Nine years on, she’s determined that others shouldn’t go through such a situation and hopes that by opening up about her own symptoms – which included hot flushes, depression, mental fog and confusion, all of which she tried to hide – women everywhere will be encouraged to chat about their own experiences. McCall is also keen to bust myths and tackle taboos surrounding the transition while examining the science and fear around hormone replacement therapy and the lack of specialist education available to GPs.

Trevor McDonald & Charlene White: Has George Floyd Changed Britain?

(STV, 9pm)

The death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, sparked protests around the world and returned to the headlines last month when police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of unintentional second-degree murder, thirddegree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Now, as the first anniversary approaches, Trevor McDonald and Charlene White host an hour-long documentary exploring the impact of Floyd’s death on the UK. As well as examining the effect of the Black Lives Matter movement and the debates it sparked, they ask to what extent prejudice is

embedded in British society and what still needs to change.

The Great British Sewing Bee (BBC1, 9pm)

The remaining amateur sewing experts must channel their inner child this week when Patrick Grant and Esme Young set them three tasks involving clothing for youngsters. The pattern challenge sees them create a romper suit, while the transformation focuses on turning an adult wetsuit into a kids’ fancy dress outfit. Finally, a child’s raincoat is the order of the day – it should be fully waterproof and have enough movement in it to allow the wearer to jump in muddy puddles.

THURSDAY

Kew Gardens: A Year In Bloom (C5, 8pm)

It’s home to some of the most diverse, exciting and important plant life in the world. Now, cameras are going behind the scenes at Kew Gardens to chart the changing of the seasons and follow the work of the dedicated staff as they battle poisonous caterpillars, handle devastating storms and preserve endangered species. In the first episode, it’s winter but you wouldn’t necessarily know that in the glasshouses, especially the Palm House, where Solene and her team are making sure the banana plants don’t smash through the ceiling.

Britain’s Biggest Families: 31 Kids and Counting the Pennies (STV, 9pm)

Stories about how many people are struggling to make ends meet are continually hitting the headlines and food banks are being used more than ever. With that in mind, how do families with a lot more than the average 2.4 children cope? This documentary aims to answer that question by meeting up with three of the nation’s supersized broods – which are still growing – who describe how they manage their budgets. Among the topics covered are birthdays, Christmas, family days out and the importance of keeping organised.

Saved By a Stranger (BBC2, 9pm)

The latest episode of the inspirational series features Navy veteran David, who was just 20 when he found himself caught up in the Falklands conflict. He was aboard the SS Atlantic Conveyor on 25 May, 1982, when it was struck by two Exocet missiles. Twelve men lost their lives in the attack, and now David wants to reconnect with some of his fellow survivors to find out how they have coped with trauma. We also meet author Darryl, who was born in Kenya to Goan parents and moved to the UK in 1968 when he was just four. His family struggled to cope with the racism they experienced, but Darryl found a safe haven at his primary school. Now, he’d like to thank the teachers who gave him the confidence to succeed.

Frank of Ireland (C4, 10pm)

The comedy series starring brothers Brian and Domhnall Gleeson concludes with a double bill – and in the final episode, there’s a guest appearance from their real-life dad, Brendan. In the first instalment though, Frank discovers Mary is planning to sell their house. Rather than accept that he’ll finally have to move out, Frank waits until he mum has left, then locks her out and tries to claim ownership. But who will break first – Mary, Frank or Aine, Doofus, Nicola and Stephane, who have been barricaded in there with him?

FRIDAY

Unreported World (C4, 7.30pm)

Mass protests have been taking place across Myanmar since the military seized control on February 1. Elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party are among those detained, while hundreds of people, including children, have been killed. In this shocking report, a filmmaker is on the front line in Yangon as young protestors risk everything to defy the military junta’s coup. As the death toll in the city mounts, the early optimism and hope of a protest movement disintegrates as the security services launch a brutal crackdown on unarmed civilians. Then, as pressure to release political prisoners and journalists intensifies, so does the bloody crackdown.

Inside Culture with Mary Beard (BBC2, 7.30pm)

The classicist begins the new series by reflecting on how we remember, not only as individuals, but also as a society and as a nation. She will be joined by by a panel, including Ghanaian-British architect David Adjaye, Turkish-British writer and women’s rights activist Elif Shafak, artists Edmund de Waal and Cornelia Parker, poet and broadcaster Lemn Sissay and Absolutely Fabulous actress Jane Horrocks. They discuss what, after a year of uncertainty, we will choose to remember – and to forget.

Classic Albums (Sky Arts, 8pm)

Pieces of a Man was the debut studio album of American recording artist Gil Scott-Heron. Released in 1971, the record serves as the follow-up to Scott-Heron’s live debut album, Small Talk at 125th and Lenox, and it features compositions that were recorded in a more conventional song structure rather than the spoken word style of his previous work. The album marked the first of several future collaborations between Scott-Heron and musician Brian Jackson. Although it earned modest success upon its release, Pieces of a Man has since received retrospective praise from critics who have commended its influence on subsequent dance and hip hop music.

Gregg Wallace’s Big Weekend Away (C5, 8pm)

The MasterChef judge kicks off a new series of travels by heading to Europe’s oldest capital and exploring a city that has arguably done more to shape the modern world than any other. Athens’ 5,000 years of history are still on show and Gregg explores as much of the food, history and culture of the Greek city as he can in a packed three-day trip. Heading to the Acropolis to meet the ancient gods, popping into one of the world’s finest Byzantine churches and discovering the birthplace of the modern Olympics, Gregg charts a story that just keeps on giving. Plus, of course, there’s that amazing Mediterranean cuisine, which includes filo pies, amazing souvlaki, and donuts that were given out millennia ago at the original Olympics. And if all that wasn’t enough, Gregg even gets on stage to help with a production of a classic Greek tragedy.

Later - with Jools Holland (BBC2, 10pm)

The Piano Man returns with a second six-part series of the year. Tonight, he welcomes musical icon, Noel Gallagher, who looks back at 10 years of his band the High Flying

Birds. Also this week, Walsall-born Brit Award winner, Jorja Smith will be singing Home, a track from her new project Be Right Back, and Ohio duo The Black Keys perform a rendition of an RL Burnside track, Going Down South, from the band’s Easy Eye Sound studio in Nashville.