PICK OF THE WEEK TV CHOICE

SATURDAY

Sportscene Live (BBC1, 5pm)

Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic have already secured the Scottish League Cup and Premiership title, and now they are looking to complete a treble with victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park. The Hoops saw off Old Firm rivals Rangers in the semi-final, as they did in the League Cup showpiece in February. They have also lifted the cup a record 40 times, with the last of their victories coming in 2020 when they defeated Hearts on penalties. Their opponents today, Billy Dodd’s second-tier Highlanders, lifted the silverware in their only final appearance back in 2015, when they were 2-1 winners over Falkirk. They have already eliminated two top-flight clubs - Livingston and Kilmarnock - on their journey to the final and would love to take another high-profile scalp here.

Rebellion (Drama, 9pm)

First broadcast by Ireland’s RTE One in 2016 to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising, this five-part historical drama is finally making a belated appearance on UK screens. Told from the point of view of a group of friends living in Dublin, Belfast and London, it begins as the outbreak of the First World War begins to impact on Ireland. When it becomes clear that the conflict will run for many years, social stability is eroded and nationalism comes to the fore. Brian Gleeson, Ruth Bradley, Niamh Cusack and Michelle Fairley star.

Ancient Egypt by Train with Alice Roberts (C4, 9.10pm)

In this unique travelogue, Professor Alice Roberts explores the world’s oldest and greatest civilisation - and she’s doing it by train. The four-part series starts at the very end of the Ancient Egyptian empire in Alexandria, where the Romans came to take control, and travels back in time, heading south to Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. Alice digs deep to look beyond the myths and legends to understand what it must have been like to live in this fascinating, brutal and complex ancient civilisation. Starting in Alexandria, she goes deep underground in search of Cleopatra, and discovers how the Romans and the Greeks reacted to the treasures of Ancient Egypt. Then, on a visit to the site of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, Alice learns how a slave became a sultan and built his own fairy-tale caste.

Prince: A Purple Reign (BBC2, 9.10pm)

A night dedicated to the enigmatic pop superstar beings with Prince: A Purple Reign (9.10pm), a profile of the man who rose to fame in the 1980s with hits including 1999, Kiss and Raspberry Beret, and won acclaim for blurring the boundaries of genres. Then, after Later...,

Prince and the Revolution looks at the formation of the pop star’s band and how Prince’s controlling nature took hold and disagreements and disputes began to dog the once tight knit group. Finally, there is a welcome chance to see 1984 musical drama Purple Rain (12.15am).

Deep Fake Neighbour Wars - Best Bust Ups (STV, 9.30pm)

A special compilation episode of the silly ITVX sketch show that aims to ‘change the face of comedy’ by turning the UK’s best new impressionists into the world’s most famous celebrities. The other main difference is, they are now ordinary people embroiled in petty neighbour disputes. Andy Murray and his mum, Lorraine Kelly, clash with RuPaul over noisy chickens, Idris Elba gets a shock when new neighbour Kim Kardashian starts making her presence known in their communal garden, and Greta Thunberg is upset by Conor McGregor and Ariane Grande’s

perennial Christmas decorations.

Lionel Messi: Destiny (BBC1, 10.20pm)

Aged 35 and at his fifth World Cup, Qatar 2022 was Messi’s last chance to lift the only major trophy to have eluded him. Captivating interviews with Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez describe what happened behind the scenes in Qatar and how the team was built around Messi. Revealing insights from Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez and Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister take viewers deep inside the camp, while rare behind-the-scenes footage uncovers the evolution of Messi from a shy and quiet goal scorer to an inspiring leader.

SUNDAY

Spy in the Ocean (BBC1, 7pm)

An amazing new generation of spy creatures set out to explore the ocean, encountering the ingenious animals that call this habitat their home. In the first edition, the largest and most ambitious spy creature ever built has a close encounter with the owners of the largest brains on the planet: sperm whales. To reveal the greatest mind in the invertebrate world, spy octopus builds a relationship with a coconut octopus, a creature who not only a central brain but also one in each of its arms. In Thailand, spy macaque swims with freediving monkeys and captures behaviour that has never been seen before: macaques catching fish with their bare hands. And in the Caribbean, spy hermit crab loses its camera shell to a real hermit crab during a house swap.

Britain’s Got Talent Final (STV, 7.30pm)

Ant and Dec host the conclusion of this year’s nationwide talent search. Over the past few nights, we have seen a wide variety of acts, from comedians to contortionists, singers to spoon players,

all competing in the live semi-finals for the chance to win a huge cash prize and a coveted slot at the Royal Variety Performance. Will any of this year’s Golden Buzzer acts - Chickenshed, Gamal John, Ghetto Kids, Malakai Bayoh, MB14, Olivia Lynes or Unity - triumph this evening, or will another act pip them all to the post?

Inside Classical (BBC4, 8pm)

The BBC Philharmonic are conducted by internationally renowned and Olivier Awardwinning conductor Mark Wigglesworth in a programme featuring two visionary and radical works by English composers. Ralph Vaughan Williams’ most beloved piece,

The Lark Ascending, features a solo violin soaring over the orchestra, and the music’s aching, avian lyricism - inspired by George Meredith’s poem - sears itself into the imagination. The finale of the concert is Elgar’s 1911 Second Symphony - a turbulent search for an elusive ‘spirit of delight’.

Ten Pound Poms (BBC1, 9pm)

The period drama following Brits who took up the government’s offer to move to Australia for £10 after the Second World War continues. Annie invites Terry to Marlene’s party in the hope that they can let their hair down. But seeing a carefree Annie only makes Terry feel like more of an outsider, and his PTSD spirals. Eventually, he gets into an argument with two men about the barbecue and is pushed into the pool, causing a scene. Meanwhile, with her parents out all night, Pattie tries to confront her problems head-on, but she also ends up in a dangerous situation.

Love, Lizzo (BBC3, 9.45pm)

This documentary shares the inspirational story behind Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, rapper and flutist humble beginnings to her meteoric rise with an intimate look into the moments that shaped her hard-earned rise to fame, success, love and international stardom.

Cameras began following Lizzo in 2019 and chronicled everything that’s happened in the last three years as she’s skyrocketed to superstardom. There’s also neverbefore-seen footage of her childhood in Detroit, including videos even she didn’t know about.

MONDAY

Springwatch (BBC2, 8pm)

Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan continue their sojourn at RSPB Arne in Dorset, keeping an eye on the local wildlife and presenting contributions from roving reporters Iolo Williams and Gillian Burke. This week’s programmes include insights into the lifecycle of a jellyfish, what’s happening in birds’ nests across the site and a celebration of our seas. Plus, Williams visits surveys the residents of Studland Bay and visits Swanage Pier, while Burke explores the Llyn Peninsular and a seagrass meadow in north Wales.

Vicky McClure: My Grandad’s War (STV, 9pm)

We’re used to seeing Vicky McClure playing fictional heroes while righting wrongs in Line of Duty and Trigger Point. But there’s a member of her family who can lay claim to being one in real-life - her 97-year-old grandad Ralph. During the Second World War he was a member of the Royal Navy who played a role in D-Day, one of the most important and dangerous campaigns of the entire conflict. This touching and poignant documentary sees Vicky visit Ralph at his Nottinghamshire home, where he regales her with some extraordinary tales. She also retraces his steps in northern France, reunites him with former comrades and, in the programme’s best moments, is shown the ropes by Ralph during a tour of the last-remaining landing craft used at Normandy in 1944.

For Her Sins (C5, 9pm)

Jo Rogers worked in film and TV for many years as a creative executive and head of development at various companies before turning her hand to screenwriting. Her latest project is this four-part drama, which is being broadcast on consecutive days. Jo Joyner, who’s still best known for her days in EastEnders and as one half of Shakespeare & Hathaway, co-stars with Rachel Shenton, who should be well-known to Channel 5 viewers thanks to her appearance as Helen Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small. The story reveals what happens after Laura, who appears to have the perfect family set-up, meets charismatic stranger Emily. What Laura doesn’t know is that Emily is determined to ruin her life - you’ll have to tune in to find out why.

Steeltown Murders (BBC1, 9pm)

It’s time for the final episode of this excellent drama, so we’re about to find out who killed the three teenage girls at the heart of the case - if we haven’t already spoiled it for ourselves by Googling it. Paul has been wrong about a theory before, having become convinced that Dai

Williams, the stepfather of one of the victims, was responsible, until DNA testing ruled him out. But there seems to be more weight behind the idea that Joseph Kappen is the man they’re after. Paul receives permission to exhume Kappen’s body, but not everyone is fully supportive of the move.

Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland (BBC2, 9pm)

Hunger strikes as a form of protest have existed in Ireland for centuries, but during the Troubles it escalated. In 1980, republican prisoners in HM Prison Maze, as well as three inmates at Armagh Women’s Prison, refused to eat, although it was the hunger strike of 1981, during which IRA member Bobby Sands died, that remains the most notorious example. Here, the protests are retold through the eyes of three women, who discuss why prisoners felt it was the only way they had to fight back against then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s policies.

TUESDAY

The British Soap Awards 2023 (STV, 8pm)

It’s the biggest night in soap but tonight, in true serial-drama style, there’s a chance that the supposed stars of the show will be upstaged. That’s because a lot of eyes are going to be on the host, Phillip Schofield, who has unexpectedly found himself starring in a real-life soap opera of his own over the past few weeks, culminating in the announcement that he was stepping down as co-presenter of the This Morning. However, there’s still plenty of soapland drama to celebrate, as viewers get the chance to pick the Best Leading Performer (where the nominees include Danielle Harold, who has recently had fans in tears as EastEnder Lola), and Best Soap, which was taken home by Emmerdale last year. Will the gong be going back to Yorkshire, or can one of its rivals take the crown?

Waterloo Road (BBC1, 8pm)

Shola’s strange behaviour sparks a panic among the teachers, who suspect she’s hiding something. A home visit by Val sheds some light on what’s behind Shola’s actions, but will it lead to even more questions. Elsewhere, Dean tries to mark Kelly Jo’s first day out of BU, but sadly his kind gesture backfires. Joe is dealing with an unexpected visitor who leaves him and Mike questioning their future, so it’s probably not the best time for Myles to present him with a whole new set of challenges.

The Steeltown Murders: Hunting a Serial Killer (BBC1, 9pm)

The four-part drama about the decadeslong search for the murderer of three teenage girls near the town of Port Talbot came to an end on Monday, but now this documentary takes a closer look at the case. It hears from friends and family of the girls, some of whom are being interviewed