Hitting the heights

Bettany Hughes’ Treasures Of The World (C4, 7pm)

THE latest leg of the presenter’s adventure takes her to Azerbaijan, beginning in the mountain village of Khinalig, the highest settlement in Europe.

It’s developed a distinctive culture and language all of its own, seemingly due to its isolated location, but a local archaeologist has uncovered fresh evidence of Roman occupation more than 2000 years ago. Hughes also learns about the literary heritage of the 12th-century writer Nizami Ganjavi, dubbed the Shakespeare of the East, and his influence on Eric Clapton’s Layla.

Britain’s Got Talent (STV, 7.30pm)

BEFORE this series began, it was announced that more “golden buzzers”’ were awarded during the audition stages than in any previous run.

Is that because the standard is higher, or just because Bruno Tonioli, Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon have realised there’s no real reason they need to ration themselves to just one? Viewers can decide for themselves tonight, as more hopefuls take to the stage in the hopes of showing that they deserve a shot at the £250,000 prize and a spot on the bill of the Royal Variety Performance.

Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker (C4, 8pm)

TONIGHT, the remaining five wannabe tenants of the National Trust’s vacant Wallington Estate are put to the test at Hexham’s livestock auction mart, where they have to purchase cattle for a buyer who can’t be there.

The National Trust wants the successful tenant to engage with their ambitious conservation plans. So, back on the farm, the applicants work with Wallington’s team of rangers, creating new wildlife habitats by planting trees and restoring areas of wetland.

Spy/Master (BBC4, 9pm)

CONTINUING BBC4’s tradition of bringing us the best in international dramas, this gripping new spy thriller comes from Romania.

Set during the Cold War, it stars Alec Secareanu as Victor Godeanu, the (fictional) right-hand man to Romanian president Nicolae Ceausescu. However, Victor has also been working as a secret agent for the Soviets and he fears his double life is about to be exposed. It seems his only hope is to use a diplomatic trip to Germany as a springboard to defect to the United States.

But that means evading his own country’s spies as well as the KGB, all while leaving his wife and child to deal with the fallout back home. In the first episode of the opening double bill, Victor has to handle Ceausescu’s growing paranoia and rumblings that he is about to be exposed.

Traces (BBC1, 9.20pm)

THE drama series comes to a gripping conclusion as Sarah

(Laura Fraser) works with McKinven (Michael Nardone) to prevent another explosion. However, they also have some big decisions to make about their futures.

They’re not the only ones at a crossroads as Kathy (Jennifer Spence) realises it’s time to make some big changes, both personally and professionally. But will any of those choices pave the way for a third series?

There’s been no confirmation of one as of yet, but fans will hope that a couple of loose ends will be left dangling, just in case.