Cheetah Family & Me

BBC2, Tuesday & Wednesday, 9pm

Having become one of the most renowned natural history cameramen around, a few years ago Gordon Buchanan switched to the other side of the lens and has since proved himself to be a coolly adept presenter too.

Still, there are moments you have to wonder about his soundness of mind as he gets uncomfortably near the cheetahs he’s tracking in this two-part documentary. But it’s hugely rewarding for the viewer, as we get to contemplate the awesome nature of these incredible big cats in close detail.

Interspersed with the moments of beauty are heartbreaking facts: 20 years ago there were about 100,000 cheetahs across Africa. Now there may be barely 7,000 left, and you hope that the delightful young cubs that Buchanan captures on film make it to adulthood. ★★★★☆