PICK OF THE WEEK

SATURDAY

Match of the Day Live: The FA Cup (BBC1, 4pm)

Viewers have a choice about where to watch today’s final – as befits a sporting institution, it’s being broadcast by both the BBC and ITV. The coverage has different start times, but the match itself kicks off at 4.45pm as Chelsea take on Liverpool at Wembley Stadium. It’s the second time the sides have met in a domestic cup final this season – they also went head to head in the Carabao Cup back in February. That encounter was decided by a dramatic penalty shootout that ended 11-10 in Liverpool’s favour after Blues keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga missed a decisive spot kick. Will we be in for a similar result today or can Chelsea come out on top this time? Most fans will certainly be hoping for fewer disallowed goals in this match.

Britain’s Got Talent (STV, 8pm)

There have already been plenty of memorable moments in this year’s series. Who will ever forget when Andrew Basso shocked the panel after performing one of Harry Houdini’s most dangerous and difficult stunts, the Water Torture Cell? Or what about The Witch, who left Amanda Holden terrified after crushing an apple to reveal creepy crawlies? Who will capture the imagination of the judges and the audience tonight? Ant and Dec introduce more extraordinary acts to the stage at the London Palladium Theatre.

Devon and Cornwall: Farming Lives (C4, 8.15pm)

In Lanlivery, in the heart of Cornwall, the

Dustow family have found an innovative way of keeping their potato farm in profit. Steve has developed a successful vodka distillery using their home-grown spuds, and he’s now branching out into gin-making, using other local ingredients. Meanwhile, on the Devon side of the river Tamar, siblings William and Harriet

Allin are putting their all into raising their very own flock of two sheep. And after entering every country show in the region all summer, they’re hoping for a shot at the coveted Young Handler of the Year title.

Steptoe & Son: Secrets & Scandals (C5, 9.20pm)

When it first aired, Steptoe and Son was considered the grittiest and most foul-mouthed sitcom on air – and it was also one of the most popular. As this documentary points out, it was such a hit that it’s been claimed that Labour leader Harold Wilson asked the BBC to shift the timing of an episode on the day of the 1964 general election, as he feared his supporters would stay home to watch it. That isn’t the only remarkable story to emerge, as the programme also investigates the events surrounding the arrest of co-star Wilfrid Brambell.

Later - with Jools Holland (BBC2, 9.55pm)

When a series has been on air since 1992, it’s safe to say the formula works, but Later still had

to be tweaked when the pandemic began. Now though, the music series is getting back to something resembling normal, as artists will once again be performing in the round together. The acts playing tonight are Isle of Wight duo Wet Leg, hotly tipped Nigerian artist Obongjayar, American singer and guitarist Joe Bonamassa, and London singer-songwriter Cat Burns. However, some elements of the Covid shows remain, as special guests will still get to pick their favourite clips from the Later archives.

SUNDAY

Commando: Britain’s Ocean Warriors (BBC2, 8pm)

The second episode of the documentary going

behind the scenes of the Royal Marine Commandos catches up with Tommy, a young recruit who now has the chance to put everything he’s learned into practice as he’s deployed to the Gulf in pursuit of drug smugglers. Meanwhile, there’s a reminder that even the veterans still have to undergo training. Experienced Troop Commander Sam looks back on some of his own operations, as he prepares to leave the Gulf – and the warmth – behind and to brush up his cold-weather survival skills in Norway.

SAS: Who Dares Wins (C4, 9pm)

It’s the series finale, and two teams of recruits are captured by the hunter force and

questioned by a specialist team of interrogators with over 40 years’ experience in war zones. They’re subjected to a variety of punishing interrogation techniques and attempt to use a cover story to hide their true mission. In the most feared phase of the course, they receive severe punishments, being buried alive, and thrown in water tanks, to force a confession.

Gentleman Jack (BBC1, 9pm)

Anne Lister isn’t about to let a little thing like a newspaper announcement lampooning her sexuality hold her back, but Parker thinks she should probably consider her spiralling finances before she embarks on an ambitious scheme for Northgate House. That’s not the

only potentially risky move she makes, as Anne continues to publicly support Christopher Rawson’s bid to become the Tory candidate for Halifax, while secretly trying to prove he’s been getting dirty in the coal business. Meanwhile, Ann Walker is devastated to realise her family have colluded with Captain Sutherland over the Walker estate. She suspects Parker of being involved as well, but when a letter arrives, seemingly intended to destroy her trust in her wife, will she be left wondering if there’s anyone she can rely on?

MONDAY

The Motorway (C5, 8pm)

No matter how careful a driver we might be,

disasters can still happen – as this series proves. Cameras follow those patrolling some of Britain’s busiest motorways, beginning with the M62. High in the Pennines, a driver is trapped in the snow, and with other vehicles thundering along the route, in danger of smashing into it at any moment, a serious pile-up could be on the cards. Meanwhile, near Manchester, treacherous weather conditions are causing chaos, and on the A1(M) near Doncaster, a driver’s bonnet flips up, smashing his windscreen and covering him in glass.

Joe Wicks: Facing My Childhood (BBC1, 9pm)

Thanks to his bestselling recipe books and online workouts, Joe Wicks was already well on his way to becoming the nation’s No 1 health and fitness guru before lockdown struck. But his PE with Joe lessons, which went down a treat with parents and children alike, sealed his reputation for making exercise fun and available to all, no matter their ability. Wicks presents a warm and affable side to the world, but it belies a troubled childhood as the offspring of parents with mental health issues – his mother suffered from acute obsessive compulsive disorder, while his father was a heroin addict. In this moving and revealing documentary, he opens up about his experiences, meets those who are struggling and reveals why he believes exercise is important to our all-round wellbeing.

The Chris & Rosie Ramsey Show (BBC2, 9pm)

A few years ago, Chris Ramsey was a jobbing stand-up comedian who hadn’t quite become a household name, despite his starring role in the sitcom Hebburn as well as appearances on Live at the Apollo and a co-presenting gig on I’m A Celebrity: Extra Camp. But then

Strictly Come Dancing came along in 2019 and changed everything. The public warmed to his friendly and chirpy persona, which helped boost his profile as well as the popularity of a podcast launched by Ramsey and his wife, singer and actor Rosie Winter. Now the duo are bringing their chemistry to the small screen in a new six-part series in which they speak to fellow celebrity couples about a range of subjects, including relationships, arguments and parenting.

Beat the Chasers (STV, 9pm)

We know what you’re thinking – not more quiz shenanigans involving the Chasers! But yes, it seems they’re going for total TV dominance, because the gang is back, this time with a new run of the spin-off from the regular series in which contestants must tackle an entire team of brainiacs. Tonight it’s Issa Schultz, Mark Labbett, Shaun Wallace, Jenny Ryan and Darragh Ennis who will be taking part. Bradley Walsh is also back in action to pose the questions while keeping viewers at home and in the studio amused.

Elon Musk: Superhero or Supervillain? (C4, 9pm)

According to some analysts, Elon Musk is the world’s wealthiest person with an estimated net worth of more than $252billion. It’s an eyewatering amount of money, so it’s no wonder he’s hardly batted an eyelid at agreeing to pay $44billion for Twitter. But how does someone go about acquiring such a sum, and what keeps driving them forward when they already have more cash than they could ever spend? We’re about to find out as those who know Musk, have worked with or against him and made their own fortunes via his companies offer their views.

Secrets of Size: Atoms to Supergalaxies (BBC4, 9pm)

What would the universe look like if you were a billion times smaller or a billion times bigger? Professor Jim Al-Khalili looks at the universe at different scales, from the tiniest objects just a few atoms in size, to vast structures consisting of hundreds of thousands of interconnected galaxies. He starts off by ‘Going Small’, entering the Alice in Wonderland world of objects that are too tiny to glimpse with the naked eye. Starting with the smallest insects, he moves on to encounter living cells with amazing super-powers and confronts some of humanity’s deadliest viruses.

TUESDAY

DIY SOS: The Big Build (BBC1, 8pm)

Nick Knowles and the team travel to Corby in Northamptonshire to meet the Hutchison family. Parents Jackie and Colin have three children, including the eldest, Jordan, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, neither of which slow him down – he dedicates much of his spare time to raising money for charity. Unfortunately, the clan has been living with his grandmother since expensive building issues halted the renovations to their own home. Thankfully, Knowles and co, along with various local volunteers, use their skills to help them out.

Secrets of Angkor Wat: Ancient Engineering (5SELECT, 8pm)

In 1860, French naturalist Henri Mouhot was exploring the Mekong River, when he stumbled upon an incredible stone structure that was hidden for centuries in the Cambodian wilderness. A 900-year-old complex covering more than 400 acres across a monsoonplagued swampland, Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world by land area. A vast temple that still stands many centuries after its construction, it is an enduring testament to the genius of ancient engineers. But Angkor Wat is also shrouded in mystery – how did an early society with little technology build these colossal structures?

Floodlights (BBC2, 9pm)

During the mid-1990s and early-2000s, Andy Woodward seemed to be living the dream. He was a professional footballer with a sparkling career ahead of him. A defender by trade, his skills won him many fans at the clubs he played for, including Bury and Sheffield United. However, in 2003, at the age of just 29, he walked away from the sport. Thirteen years later, as his personal life began to implode, he found the strength to go public with the nightmare that had blighted his life – he had been one of the victims of serial child sex abuser and youth football coach Barry Bennell during their time at Crewe. Gerard Kearns plays Woodward in this feature-length drama, which charts Woodward’s life and career.

Derry Girls (C4, 9pm)

When Lisa McGee’s sitcom, inspired by her own teenage years, made its debut on our screens, few imagined it would prove to be anything more than a cult success. However, it’s become a global hit, but sadly, it all comes to an end this week. On Wednesday, we’ll be treated to an hour-long special, subtitled The Agreement, which takes place a year after the events of tonight’s edition. Here, the gang’s members can hardly believe their luck – not only is it Halloween, their favourite time of the year, they’ve also secured tickets to see their