ACTORS are a selfish lot. In Rise of the Clans (BBC4, Tuesday, 9pm), the historian Neil Oliver, long of hair, thin of scarf, was cheek by jowl with a coachload of thesps playing hairy-bottomed medieval Scots. Though armed with swords, not one of Equity’s finest thought to do the nation a favour and perform a Samson and Delilah on the Oliver barnet. What an opportunity lost. Now we will need to spend the next two weeks staring at those lank locks.

“Centuries ago,” Oliver informed us, “much of Scotland was a law unto itself.” Plus ca change. In this particular period the clan chiefs were like “Mafia godfathers” warring for territory. He’s affy fond of making history pure dead approachable, is oor Neil. At one point, after John Comyn had insulted Robert the Bruce’s father, Oliver commented: “Not cool to diss big Bobby’s dad like that.” Since Oliver was clearly not going to do so, I blushed on his behalf. Ditto when, desperate to get a Game of Thrones vibe going, he told us that “winter is coming”.

Respect due, though. In his trademark, creepy time traveller style of observing dramatic reconstructions from a short distance away, Oliver brought the period alive and the story rattled along. If you were looking for further erudition there was a coachload of historians to provide it; so many, indeed, that I half fancied they had to fight like clan chiefs to get the gig.

A Hotel for the Super Rich and Famous (BBC2, Thursday, 8pm) covered exactly what it said on the caviar tin. The Corinthia, near Trafalgar Square, is a relative new kid on the five star luxury hotel block, but with manager Thomas Kochs having learned his trade at Claridge’s, it is in very safe hands. It was while making her documentary about Claridge’s that filmmaker Jane Treays first met Thomas. Sensing a born star, she has wisely followed his progress.

Thomas went to Malta to see the big boss, Alfred Pisani, who started the international chain in 1962 with one restaurant. Thomas worked there as a waiter, and as he took in his surroundings once more, Treays asked him cheekily if he could still fold a napkin. Of course he could.

Treays’ films have thrown up lots of delicious facts, including how much it costs to stay in the royal suite (£20,000 a night). A few celebs (Cuba Gooding Jr, Will.i.am) crossed her path, too. But as ever it was the staff who were the stars here, nearly all of them hailing from mainland Europe and proud of the job they did. Cas, a young butler from Holland, said it was an “English thing” not to want to work in hospitality.

After a couple of lean, rice and beans years, I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! (STV, nightly) has returned to lip-smacking form. The campers have been a giggle, with John Barrowman disco dancing into the contest on the back of a speedboat a sight that will warm my cockles till Christmas. Ant’s replacement, Holly Willoughby, a woman who could lighten the mood at a public hanging, has taken away some of the laddishness of the show. But I do wish they would give up with the animal exploitation. Bugs have feelings too.

BBC4’s Saturday night drama is usually a subtitled, specs required affair. The Sinner (BBC4, Saturday, 9pm), hailing from the US of A, spared us that. It was a nicely chewy tale of a young mother, Cora (Jessica Biel) who had unaccountably committed a terrible act of violence. Bill Pullman played the detective who sensed there was more to this case than Cora was letting on.

The Sinner played the sneaky but satisfying trick of leading the viewer towards what they thought were obvious answers, only to open up a new path at the last minute. Since Pullman was a maverick detective he had to have a schtick; in his case, knowing the Latin names for plants (anyone else think they are running a bit low at the gimmick factory?). Dirty secrets and lies were everywhere, and I expect there will be a few more spilled tonight in the third of eight episodes. Worth a catch up.

Coronation Street (STV, Monday, Wednesday, Friday) actress Jennie McAlpine, who plays Fizz, finally got to start her maternity leave after the scriptwriters sent her and daughter Hope off to Birmingham. Only Brum had the right school to deal with Hope’s behavioural problems, apparently. Hope’s list of misdemeanours have included setting a trampoline on fire, and putting her granny’s dog on a train and sending him who knows where.

Though they are only titchy, Hope (Isabella Flanagan) and sister Ruby (Macy Alabi) had quite the Bette and Joan double act going on there for a while. Haste ye back, Hope, and don’t forget to bring mum.