TV PICKS OF THE WEEK
50 YEARS OF MR MEN WITH MATT LUCAS Tonight, Channel 4, 6pm
SINCE the creation of Mr Tickle in 1971, the Mr Men and Little Miss books have brought fun and laughter to generations of families. Presented by super fan Matt Lucas, this fun documentary charts the history of the characters.
Creator Roger Hargreaves died in 1988, however, his son, author and illustrator Adam, continues writing and drawing the books.
To celebrate the milestone anniversary, we get to see the five prototype new characters he has created, with the two most popular becoming the latest members of the Mr Men-Little Miss universe in September.
MOTHERLAND Tomorrow, BBC2, 9pm
IT MAY be about the perils of parenthood, but we don’t see much of the characters’ kids in this acclaimed sitcom.
However, they are growing up - some of them are now on the cusp of leaving primary school.
It seems that’s come as something of a surprise to Julia (Anna Maxwell Martin), who is panicking about the catchment area she lives in, and wondering whether a religious conversion might be the way to get her offspring into the right secondary school. Meanwhile, Liz (Diane Morgan) advises Kevin (Paul Ready) on divorce lawyers, only to make a discovery about her own situation in the process.
ALL THAT GLITTERS: BRITAIN’S NEXT JEWELLERY STAR
Tuesday, BBC2, regions vary AFTER five weeks of fierce competition, the series draws to a close as Katherine Ryan hosts the final.
The eight talented up-andcoming jewellers have been whittled down to three and they return to the workshop in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter to battle for the title. To win, they’ll have to make a pair of pearl earrings that could be a bestseller and a bespoke maang tikka, a traditional Indian wedding headpiece for bride Nikki.
But who will award-winning industry experts Solange
Azagury-Partridge and Shaun Leane crown as the champion?
MARTIN LEWIS’ EXTREME SAVERS Wednesday, ITV, 8pm
MARTIN Lewis has provided Brits with countless tips on saving a few quid. However, the people featured in this series have taken saving to a whole new level.
Tonight there’s a woman who went from big debts to owning her own home, by living in her sister’s garage for two years, and a family who are saving hundreds by foraging for their food.
SUBNORMAL: A BRITISH SCANDAL
Thursday, BBC1, 9pm
LAST year, one episode of
Oscar-winning movie director Steve McQueen’s anthology series Small Axe told the story of Kingsley, a young black boy who was moved from a mainstream school to an institution for the so-called ‘educationally subnormal’.
Although the tale was fictional, it was inspired by real events that took place until 1971 when the practice was exposed in a pamphlet written by
Bernard Coard.
Newcomer Lyttanya Shannon’s documentary, which is executive produced by McQueen, tells the true story of how black parents, teachers and activists forced the education system to change.
THE WORLD’S MOST
SCENIC RAILWAY JOURNEYS
Friday, Channel 5, 9pm
IN the second episode, we undertake a voyage on Taiwan.
First stop is the island’s greatest natural attraction, Taroko Gorge, before we continue along the coast into Yilan County, Taiwan’s most easterly region.
Then its on to the capital Taipei before a final leg on the stunning narrow gauge Alishan Forest Railway.
EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2021
Saturday, BBC1, 8pm
IN 2020, Eurovision had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but fortunately, this year’s competition is set to take place as planned.
Graham Norton introduces live coverage from Rotterdam, where singer-songwriter James Newman will represent Britain with his song Embers.