Our choice of programmes to watch week beginning Saturday, September 12

On Demand

High Fidelity (StarzPlay, available now)

Nick Hornby's 1995 novel about a music-obsessed guy getting over a break up was one of the best novels of that decade, and helped no end of folks in a similar situation. Though transplanted from London to Chicago, the film version of High Fidelity wasn't bad either. There had never been a TV series based on the book until now, and to give it a fresh spin, the lead protagonist has been gender flipped, re-imagining the story from the point of view of Zoe Kravitz (whose mum Lisa Bonet was in the film version). She plays Robyn (aka Rob) Brooks, the record store-owner who's obsession with pop culture and top five lists should appeal to many, not least because of her fourth wall-breaking narration.

Challenger: The Final Flight (Netflix, from Wed)

In April 1983, the space shuttle Challenger became the second shuttle to reach space. During almost three years of service, it successfully completed nine missions, spending 62 days, seven hours, 56 minutes and 22 seconds in space. Challenger hosted the first spacewalk of the space shuttle program and carried the first American female and first black astronauts. But in a tragedy that shocked the world during Challenger's 10th launch on January 28, 1986, broadcast live across the US, the shuttle exploded 73 seconds after lift-off, killing all seven people on board. This four-part documentary series takes an in-depth look at the Challenger disaster, a moment that changed the Nasa space programme for ever and has proved unforgettable for a generation of Americans.

The Devil All the Time (Netflix, from Wed)

Tom Holland, best known to superhero movie fans as Spider-Man, takes on an altogether more brooding role in this adaptation of the award-winning novel by Donald Ray Pollock. A dark drama spanning the time between the Second World War and the 1960s, it tells the story of a young man living in the backwoods of rural Ohio and trying to make his way in the world. But he is constantly threatened by the forces of evil in the shape of sinister characters including an unholy preacher on the run from the law, a crooked sheriff and a husband-and-wife team of serial killers. The ensemble cast includes Robert Pattinson, Sebastian Stan, Jason Clarke, Riley Keough, Bill Skarsgard, Eliza Scanlen, Mia Wasikowska and Harry Melling.

Happy Valley (BritBox, from Thu)

In case you didn't know it, Sally Wainwright is one of Blighty's best writers, having honed her skills on Coronation Street, and sublime series At Home with the Braithwaites. Happy Valley is arguably her greatest creation. It re-teamed her with Corrie's Sarah Lancashire, who was her first choice as a vengeful police sergeant in a rural West Yorkshire valley. The actress gives an outstanding performance as Catherine Cawood, a West Yorkshire cop still coming to terms with the suicide of her teenage daughter, Becky, eight years earlier. Now divorced and living with her troubled sister, Clare (Siobhan Finneran), Catherine's life is turned upside down when she hears that Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton), the man who raped her daughter and drove her to suicide, has been released from prison. Here's a chance to binge all 12 parts of the Bafta-winning saga.

Ratched (Netflix, from Fri)

Jack Nicholson may have been the star of 1975 movie classic One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, but the character it's difficult to forget - even after all these years - is Nurse Ratched, the authoritarian head nurse whose chilly demeanour left you in no doubt where you stood. Louise Fletcher picked up an Oscar for her performance - and now Sarah Paulson is stepping into her shoes in this prequel, produced by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. Set in 1947, it follows asylum nurse Mildred Ratched as she arrives in Northern California to seek employment at a leading psychiatric hospital. She presents herself as a dedicated nurse - but already a growing darkness is smouldering within. Also starring Cynthia Nixon, Judy Davis, Sharon Stone, Amanda Plummer and Vincent D'Onofrio.

Saturday, 12/9/2020

Tour de France Live 2020 (ITV4, 12noon)

Stage 14 of this year's race is a tale of volcanoes and two great rivers. The 194km route kicks off in Clermont-Ferrand and takes in the Monts du Forez and Col du Beal. The peloton then crosses five categorised climbs as it makes its way from the volcanic Puy-de-Dome department, across the gorgeous Loire - flowing northwards to the Bay of Biscay - to Lyon. After a journey from rough highlands to the plains, the finale will be played out within the urban area of the Rhone capital, and although breakaway specialists will be eyeing points, strong sprinters could also have it their way. Gary Imlach presents, with analysis from Chris Boardman and Peter Kennaugh.

Superhuman Summer: The Paralympic Rewind (C4, 6pm)

As Covid put the 2020 Paralympics on hold for at least 12 months, that left a gap in the schedules for those keen to see athletes pushing themselves to their limits. The global pause has at least given us a chance to reflect on some of those past triumphs, and this trip down memory lane should inspire many. Funnyman Johnny Vegas and Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock take a look through the archives of the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. They are joined by Clare Balding, Ade Adepitan, ParalympicsGB athletes, and Alex Brooker, Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe. The latter trio of course used that 2012 event to form The Last Leg, which recently did a terrific job of carrying on regardless during these trying times.

BBC Proms 2020: Last Night of the Proms (BBC1, 8pm)

Katie Derham hosts the climax of the classical music festival, live from the Royal Albert Hall, drawing a unique season of live performances to a celebratory close. Soprano Golda Schultz and violinist Lisa Batiashvili join Dalia Stasevska, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Singers in a programme that includes music from Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, a world premiere from Andrea Tarrodi, music by Richard Strauss, Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, and The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams. The night comes to a jubilant close with all the traditional favourites, including the Fantasia on British Sea-Songs, You'll Never Walk Alone, Rule, Britannia, Pomp and Circumstance March No 1, and Jerusalem.

Fergie Vs Diana: Royal Wives at War (Channel 5, 9pm)

Sarah Ferguson became a member of the royal family when she wed Prince Andrew in 1986. Diana had wed Prince Charles five years earlier in a grand ceremony, and at the time, Fergie and Diana shared many similarities. They were distantly related and coming to terms with their new lives having just been launched into the spotlight. However, rather than becoming good friends, as their mothers had, there claims of intense rivalry. This documentary examines how close Sarah and Diana really were, and how alleged jealousy, rows and marriage break-ups pushed them apart.

Jonathan Ross' Comedy Club (ITV, 10pm)

If you're tired of seeing the same dozen or so faces propping up game and chat shows every week, then the good news is a new wave of talent gets their chance to shine in this series. Obviously with you know what affecting chat shows, one of Blighty's most seasoned presenters has turned his attention to boosting the profiles of up-and-coming talent. Four acts will perform each night under his watchful eye. While more familiar faces will have the opportunity to try out new material, the series will also offer a stage for new comedians on the cusp of their big break. It's anybody's guess whether one or more of these acts will become breakout stars after appearing here, but it should be a lot of fun finding out. Mawaan Rizwan co-hosts this first episode, which features Kae Kurd, Flo & Joan and Sophie Duker. Plus, Rob Beckett also delivers a few new gags.

Match of the Day (BBC1, 10.20pm)

Gary Lineker presents action from the opening fixtures of the Premier League season, including Liverpool v Leeds United at Anfield and Tottenham Hotspur v Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Leeds were playing their first top-flight match since 2004, but could not have faced a sterner test against the champions, who last lost in the league at Anfield in April 2017. Meanwhile, Spurs and Everton will both have been keen to get off to a winning start after enduring disappointing campaigns last time out.

Sunday, 13/9/2020

Live Challenge Cup Rugby League (BBC One, 2.30pm)

Five-time winners Hull FC take on a Castleford side who last lifted the trophy 34 years ago. This sixth-round game was originally due to take place in August but was postponed after a number of Hull players and staff tested positive for Covid-19. The Black and Whites won back-to-back Challenge Cups in 2016 and 2017 but are entering a new era under Hull-born interim coach Andy Last. Standing in their way are Darryl Powell's entertaining Tigers side, who have endured a Challenge Cup trophy drought since 1986 and will be out for revenge after losing 28-12 to Hull FC at this stage last season.

Piers Morgan's Life Stories (ITV, 8pm)

Captain Sir Tom Moore joins Piers Morgan to look back on his extraordinary life - which spans an entire century. He reflects on the devastating accident that left him in intensive care at the age of 98 - and how his gratitude to the NHS and battle to regain mobility led to the record-breaking charity walk which first brought him to public attention. Tom takes stock of his wartime service, reveals the untold story of his first marriage and discusses how his beloved second wife Pamela brought him happiness and a family before her terminal illness left him rebuilding his life once again.

Extinction: The Facts (BBC1, 8pm)

During his career, David Attenborough has encountered some of the world's most extraordinary animals and plants. Now many of these wonders seem set to disappear from Earth forever. In 2019, with support from the United Nations, 500 scientists carried out their most comprehensive assessment of the natural world. Their findings revealed that the huge variety of life, known as biodiversity, is being lost at a rate never seen before. This means one million species are at risk of extinction. With the help of ecologists, biologists, economists and environmental lawyers, this offering examines why biodiversity loss is happening and what it means not just for the natural world but for every one of us.

Strike - Lethal White (BBC1, 9pm)

Robin meets Raphael for a drink, and he explains more about Freddie's bullying of Rhiannon, which gives Geraint a strong motive for Chiswell's murder. They are interrupted by a call from Matthew, which Robin blocks before revealing that they have separated. The police show Robin and Strike CCTV footage of Kinvara at Paddington Station the night before Chiswell died, while Tegan reveals that she previously witnessed Kinvara hit Chiswell over the head with a hammer. Crime thriller based on books by JK Rowling that chronicle cases investigated by private detective Cormoran Strike. Starring Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger. Last in the series.

The Singapore Grip (ITV, 9pm)

An all-star cast, including Luke Treadaway (A Street Cat Named Bob), David Morrissey and Charles Dance, were recruited for this high profile conversion of JG Farrell's acclaimed novel. It centres on rubber baron Walter Blackett and his family. For them, life in 1941 Singapore is full of privilege, where the terrors of war-torn Europe are a distant whisper. However, when their power and stability are rocked by new arrivals and the looming threat of a Japanese invasion, Walter has a plan. The ever reliable Jane Horrocks and Star Trek veteran Colm Meaney also feature in an offering penned by Christopher Hampton, who scripted acclaimed offerings The History Man, Dangerous Liaisons and Atonement.

Radio 2 Live at Home (BBC Two, 10.50pm)

Trevor Nelson and Jo Whiley present an hour of highlights, featuring performances from all artists on the line-up from the event which aims to bring music lovers some late-summer festival magic via a weekend of garden-party performances. Across the last two nights, Radio 2 listeners have been treated to specially recorded performances from and interviews with The Pretenders, Gregory Porter, Sir Tom Jones, Nile Rodgers & CHIC featuring Rebecca Ferguson, Sheryl Crow, McFly, John Legend, The Killers, Erasure and Craig David.

Monday, 14/9/2020

Steph's Packed Lunch (Channel 4, 12.30pm)

Steph McGovern presents a new daily show live from Leeds featuring celebrity guests, fantastic food, real-life features and the best entertainment, lifestyle and consumer stories. Steph is joined by actress and presenter Gemma Atkinson, rapper Lady Leshurr and TV personality Vogue Williams, who reveal what has got the viewers at home talking each day. In the kitchen, chefs Jack Stein and Dr Rupy Aujla rustle up lunchtime treats, and there's a sideways look at the daily headlines in One O'Clock Views, with Chris Kamara and Bill Turnbull. Finally, Strictly star Oti Mabuse takes us behind the scenes of her new tour.

Inside the Bomb Squad (C4, 8pm)

New series. Documentary following the work of the British Army soldiers who defuse bombs in the UK, providing an insight into the training they receive at 'Bomb School' in Bicester. Sergeant Alex 'Swansea' Hughes is called out at night to a woodland near Clitheroe, where a dog walker has found an explosive dating back to the Second World War. Swansea must make it safe by taking it to a large open field and blowing it up. Sergeant Sam Jones - a veteran of Afghanistan - has seen a spike in the number of calls the bomb squad receive in the UK due to the craze of magnet fishing. Treasure hunters hurl large industrial weights into lakes and canals but often get more than they bargained for, pulling out all manner of potentially deadly explosives including mortar bombs and hand grenades, with one man causing a major incident by disposing of a grenade in a dustbin on the industrial estate where he works.

Our Cops in the North (BBC1, regions vary)

One-off edition of the observational documentary following the work of Northumbria Police across Newcastle, Sunderland and beyond, telling stories of the force's officers and victims of crime. The programmes examines how long-serving and newly-qualified Northumbria Police officers respond to the changing world of modern crime, including managing online sex offenders and the threat of firearms. In one of Northumbria's newest departments - the Paedophile Online Investigation Team - Detective Constable Dave Kernaghan is managing a huge rise in new cases, but as he continues to investigate the escalating number of jobs, the work itself takes a toll as he assesses the impact this is having on his own life. Last in the series.

The Yorkshire Jobcentre (C4, 9pm)

This episode of the documentary follows Ray, a 63-year-old piano tuner who has been coming to the Jobcentre for two years, but his struggles with technology are making his job search difficult to keep up with. Suraya used to work in beauty, before leaving to be a full-time mum for 16 years. Now that her children are grown up, the 48-year-old wants to get back into the industry, but it has evolved more than she'd imagined. Elsewhere, 50-year-old Neil was made redundant eight months ago and is using his savings to get by. He does voluntary work in the community, but needs a paid job to cover his mortgage.

Des (ITV, 9pm)

Told from the perspective of the police, killer Dennis Nilsen and his biographer Brian Masters, this three-parter highlights the police investigation and trial, but also the effect of the media coverage on public perceptions of the victims at the time. With a top drawer cast, including David Tennant, Line of Duty veterans Daniel Mays and Jason Watkins, it opens in February 1983. Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay is called to the north London address of 23 Cranley Gardens, where he discovers the drains clogged with rotting human flesh and bones. But the extent of this grisly discovery only becomes apparent when the culprit returns from work. Dennis Nilsen, a meek man, freely admits to the police that it's not just one or two bodies, but as many as 15 or 16.

The Diagnosis Detectives (BBC2, 9pm)

Michael Moseley challenges a dozen of the UK's leading medical experts to diagnose two patients living with debilitating symptoms that have baffled other doctors for years. One is Hayley, 26, whose life has come to a standstill. In the last few years she has gained 20 kilos without changing her diet. She also struggles with muscle weakness and constant fatigue, and her hair has started falling out. An ultrasound in 2016 showed she had an enlarged spleen, but a diagnosis that would explain all of her symptoms is still out of reach. Experts also hope to help Lotte, who developed a severe headache in 2017, and it has never stopped. The pain is often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound, but what they want to know is why?

Tuesday, 15/9/2020

Harbour Cops (ITV, 7.30pm)

New series. Documentary following the daily work of Dyfed-Powys Police officers over the busy summer months. Dyfed-Powys is the smallest police force in the UK, but has to patrol the largest police area, their jurisdiction taking in national parks and a lengthy run of the spectacular South Wales coastline. In this first episode, officers in the seaside town of Tenby on the western side of Carmarthen Bay have to deal with rowdy holidaymakers causing trouble and track down a pensioner who has been reported missing.

Flying for Britain with David Jason (ITV, 8pm)

This one-off film follows the eponymous actor as he meets the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight team, who fly and maintain historic aircraft of the Second World War. David Jason, himself a qualified helicopter pilot and aircraft enthusiast, joined the squad as they came out of lockdown, their big events decimated by Coronavirus. However, the team were still determined to pay tribute in this, the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. They take to the skies in their historic Spitfires and Hurricanes - with a national treasure alongside them. David also sees the pilots honing their formation flying, and there is behind-the-scenes footage in hangars and workshops where these irreplaceable historic machines are carefully maintained.

Cat Tales: In From the Wild (BBC Four, 9pm)

Cats. Where do they come from? Why do we love them? What's going on inside their heads? This programme answers the biggest questions about the world's most popular furry pet. Detailed real-time brain scans reveal a possible explanation for why owners are besotted with their cats. A cat's meow plugs straight into the emotional centres of our brains in exactly the same way as a baby's cry. And adult cats only meow to humans - so they may not intend to manipulate us, but they do. However, domestic cats haven't always had it easy - they suffered sacrifice in Ancient Egypt and were persecuted as agents of Satan in the Middle Ages.

Call the Cops (C4, 9pm)

An inexperienced officer ends up in a dangerous high speed car chase on only his third day on active duty, and then has to deal with an unprovoked attack on an elderly man in a supermarket car park. A former soldier, who lost his leg while serving in Afghanistan, finds policing Exeter a far more relaxing line of work - but a pub brawl tests even his battle-hardened resilience to the limits. Another new recruit has to deal with a gang of marauding football fans who have just knocked out a total stranger.

All Creatures Great and Small (C5, 9pm)

Siegfried applies to become attending vet at Darrowby racecourse - but the position comes with conditions, and he is torn between his ambition and his loyalty to the practice. Tristan collects the debts owed to the surgery, but ends up losing all the money and resorts to placing a risky bet to cover up his mistake. When the favourite to win on the race day is diagnosed with a inoperable condition, James has his first painful experience of having to put an animal down - only to end up being threatened with legal action by the owner.

The Battle of Britain (BBC1, 9pm)

To mark the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the conflict that prevented a Nazi invasion, brothers Colin and Ewan McGregor take us through the timeline of events during the height of the Battle. Colin, an RAF veteran of 20 years' service, and his more famous film star brother have always shared his passion for aviation. They take viewers on a journey to honour the heroes of 1940, bringing the story of the Battle of Britain to a new generation. Taking to the skies over southern England in Spitfires and Hurricanes, they discover the legacy of the Battle and reveal the inspiring personal stories of some of the brave pilots whose part in the conflict helped changed the fate of the world.

Wednesday, 16/9/2020

Mary Berry's Simple Comforts (BBC2, 8pm)

Mary Berry explores the world of simple comfort food, demonstrating how to make heartwarming, fuss-free dishes that can warm the cockles and lift the spirits. In the second episode, Mary takes a journey along the Thames in London to discover culinary hidden gems that inspire her to make some deliciously comforting dishes. Her journey starts with the Henley Rowing Club, where she rustles up mixed bean and butternut squash wraps for the team, before heading to The Waterside Inn, the world famous three Michelin Star restaurant run by the Roux family. Later, Mary discovers an oasis floating on the Thames, when she meets an established river community who have turned their barges into gardens teaming with fruit and vegetables.

Location, Location, Location: 20 Years and Counting (C4, 8pm)

A special programme celebrating the show's 20th anniversary, as Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer look back over two decades of house-hunting together. In this episode, Kirstie and Phil recall times they helped house-hunters who were more focused on the gardens rather than the houses themselves. Architect Sam seeks a renovation project, while wife Becky wants a large garden so she can grow and sell flowers. Elsewhere, keen gardener Liz and John are in rented accommodation, so have limited scope and long for their own sprawling green, outdoor space.

Walking Britain's Roman Roads (C5, 8pm)

As any Monty Python fans will tell you, the Romans have done a lot for us, and not just the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, the fresh-water system, and public health. There's also the roads, and as this, the first in a new(ish) series reveals, they tie much of the UK together. Dan Jones begins his journey by exploring the country's oldest and longest, which runs from the Kent coast to Shropshire and passes through key sites of Emperor Claudius' invasion and Boudicca's rebellion. After watching this compelling six-parter, which some folks may have seen on the under-rated 5Select over the summer, you may never look at some of Blighty's roads in the same way again.

Ambulance (BBC One, 9pm)

The Bafta Award-winning documentary series returns for a new run as cameras follow a whole new cast of characters at the London Ambulance Service. Call handler Abbie takes an emergency 999 call for a patient having a seizure at work, while ambulance crew Kate and Femi are dispatched to a young man who is struggling to breathe. Then, as the shift continues, Advanced Paramedic Rory treats a young footballer with a broken ankle, and Kayleigh and Lauren are called to a patient who has overdosed and is at risk of cardiac arrest.

24 Hours in A&E (C4, 9pm)

An episode following the stories of fathers and sons and the bonds between them. John is rushed into St George's with a life threatening abdominal aortic aneurism. As the doctors work out whether they can save the 77-year-old's life with emergency surgery, his only son discusses the prospect of losing his father. Elsewhere, cameras follow Jamie, whose motorbike collided with a car on a motorway slip road on his way to work, and carpenter Noel arrives in A&E after partially amputating his thumb.

Harlots (BBC2, 9pm)

In the first of this week's delightfully decadent double bill, Margaret sends out her girls to look for Rasselas as she has a use for him in her feud with Quigley. Meanwhile, Lydia, in high spirits thanks to her seduction of Justice Dodds, plans the annual Golden Square audience with the goddess Vesta, and takes Charlotte along in her attempts to secure a suitable sacrifice. And in episode six, which follows, Charlotte is locked up by Lydia, as Margaret and William desperately wait for news from Golden Square. The top drawer cast includes Oscar nominees Lesley Manville and Samatha Morton, along with Mum's Dorothy Atkinson, Josef Altin, Danny Sapani and Downton Abbey veteran Jessica Brown Findlay.

Thursday, 17/9/2020

Diamond Athletics - Naples (BBC Two, 5.45pm)

The seventh meeting of the campaign takes place at Stadio San Paolo for one season only while Rome's Stadio Olimpico is renovated. Middle-distance stars Donavan Brazier and Timothy Cheruiyot, 400m hurdler Karsten Warholm and high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh are among the athletes to have made a major impact in this year's series so far. And hopefully, tonight's meeting will see the another epic battle between the best two pole-vaulters of their generation - Sweden's world record holder Mondo Duplantis and the USA's double world champion Sam Kendricks.

Saving Lives at Sea (BBC2, 8pm)

New series. Every day around the UK, an army of unpaid volunteers put their lives on the line to try to save complete strangers. This documentary tells the story of the ordinary men and women of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) who, across the country, are ready to launch their boats and race to the rescue within minutes of a cry for help, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whatever the weather. Over 150 years the volunteers have saved the lives of more than 140,000 people - and here they set out to rescue others who have got themselves into trouble at sea.

The Martin Lewis Money Show: Live (ITV, 8.30pm)

You don't need to be a financial guru to know that this is an awful time to be a saver. With some companies offering 0.01 per cent gross after a tempting 12-month fixed rate bonus, there's little wonder the eponymous money man is urging folks to move their savings, or switch energy suppliers if they want to get more for their pound. And that's just a fraction of the good advice Martin Lewis has to offer that could save us a fortune. Little wonder his website offering top tips for looking after the pennies is so popular, or that most of us cannot afford to miss his show. In this offering, with help from Angellica Bell, there's the latest deals and all Martin's tips and tricks for making the most of your cash.

Council House Britain (C4, 9pm)

The work of council workers in Southwark, south London, one of the biggest housing associations in the country. The officers tackle fly-tipping, including 40 tons of rubbish dumped on council land that had been cleared for building new homes. An ageing estate is planned for demolition, meaning 10,000 residents are moving - but it's a sad day for many, including a couple leaving their family home of 50 years. And hoarding manager Laurna helps a scholar whose thousands of books have overtaken his home. The whole series is available to stream or download on All 4.

The Real 'Des': The Dennis Nilsen Story (ITV, 9pm)

Following on from the three-part drama about the serial killer Dennis Nilsen, this documentary explores the personality of the man behind the crimes - on the surface a mild-mannered civil servant who admitted to murdering up to 15 young men over a four-year period in the late 1980s and early 1980s, disposing of their bodies in the garden and down the drain. The film includes footage of an interview Nilsen gave to ITV at Albany Prison in 1992, contributions from victims' families and insights from criminologist David Wilson, who corresponded with Nilsen over several decades. Narrated by David Tennant.

How to Add 20k to Your Home (C5, 9pm)

Laurence Llewellyn Bowen and Linda Barker are a couple of the familiar faces offering tips on how and where to spend money on your house to maximise its value. From converting your garage into another bedroom or a dream cinema room, to installing a home office in the garden, there is no shortage of ways to transform your property. Craig Phillips also explores the DIY route option in relation to each tip to help the viewer work out which bits of the work they can do to save money and which bits they should leave to the professionals. Each tip is packed with budget information enabling viewers to decide if the results achieved are for them and how to tackle the project if they want to go ahead.

Friday, 18/9/2020

Secret Scotland with Susan Calman (C5, 8pm)

The ever-engaging presenter returns for a third series, and her latest journey begins on a hunt for secrets in the former industrial powerhouse of Falkirk. She embarks on a canal boat trip, before getting a look inside the Falkirk Wheel, the world's only rotating boat lift. Susan also takes a look at the largest equine statue on Earth - the Kelpies, before meeting the inspiration behind them - one of the largest breeds of horse, the Clydesdale. A few miles from Falkirk, Ms Calman takes a look at a giant Georgian pineapple, and ventures into Midlothian to explore a royal hideaway filled with stories of passion, betrayal and daredevil courage. There she meets some stunning birds of prey and tries her hand at the royal sport of falconry.

Gardeners' World (BBC2, 8pm)

While we wonder what happened to summer, it's anyone's guess what autumn will bring. But there's obviously plenty of work still to do for green-fingered enthusiasts. In this week's offering, the seasonal planting of bulbs begins at Longmeadow, and Monty Don adds in some spring-flowering daffodils. While Frances Tophill chats to a gardener whose allotment is filled with traditional and exotic vegetables, Toby Buckland pays a visit to The Newt in Somerset. There he finds out about its chequered history and explores its emergence as one of Blighty's most exciting gardens. There's also another chance to see Mark Lane's visit to Oxfordshire, and pick up some top tips about ornamental grasses, perennials and annuals.

Atlantic: A Year in the Wild (C5, 9pm)

As winter draws to a close, the Atlantic springs back to life and hope returns. Temperatures rise, days lengthen and food is plentiful again. However, spring in the north is short, the animals only have a few months to find food, a mate and start a family - all the while avoiding predators. Around the British and Irish coast, thousands of gannets that spent winter off southern Europe and north Africa, must find a place to nest before they can raise a family. Meanwhile, killer whales leave Iceland and head to the Shetland Isles, where they hunt harbour seal pups.

The Romantics and Us with Simon Schama (BBC2, 9pm)

The historian recounts the story of how the Romantics - fuelled by the failures of the French Revolution and horrors of the Industrial Revolution - retreated from the tragic uproar of public life to take a journey into their own minds. Here, long before Freud and Jung and the modern psychological revolution, they discovered the subconscious - something that would have a profound effect on the modern world. Contributors include Tobias Menzies, Peter Doherty, Piotr Anderszewski and David Attenborough.

Soul America (BBC Four, 9.30pm)

The final episode looks at how, during the early 1970s, Memphis was the capital of gospel-infused soul music, thanks to two key labels - Stax and Hi Records. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, a new label was born that would also soften soul's hard edges. Fresh from the success of What's Going On, Marvin Gaye went to work on his follow up, Let's Get It On, while bedroom soul was also epitomised by Barry White. In the mid-1970s disco became a lucrative sideline for female singers like Candi Staton, before the tragic death of Marvin Gaye and the paralysis of Teddy Pendergrass seemed like bad omens for soul in the 80s. But one artist would fill the gap - Luther Vandross.

First Dates (C4, 11.05pm)

New series. Essex-based photographer Chris, haulage guy Lou, shopping centre manager Adam, health worker Kris and oven cleaning technician Michael move in with Tara, a 32-year-old business consultant from Halifax in West Yorkshire, each hoping to win her affections. Nearly all of Tara's friends are married, and just about the most serious relationship she had to date has been with Kaiser - her beloved German shepherd. Top of Tara's list of requirements is a man who can make her laugh. Eventually, five become one - will Tara make the right choice?