BEST OF THE REST

The statistics behind the Second World War are so staggering, it can be hard to get your head around them. Here's a few for starters – it cost over a trillion dollars, 690 million people served in it, and it cost the lives of between 50 and 70 million military personnel and more than 30 million civilians. However, this new series argues that the numbers can be used to help us understand the causes of the war and some of the key strategic decisions made by both the Nazis and the Allies. The first episode begins with the story of Franz Honiok, the 43-year-old farmer who is generally considered the first victim of the war, but is that really the case? It also explores how, when Germany invaded Poland, no one was ready for the global conflict that would ensue.

Egypt's Great Pyramid Uncovered (C4, 8pm)

Is Saturday night becoming ancient Egypt night on British TV? Last week, Channel 5 gave us Egypt's Greatest Treasures with Bettany Hughes and tonight Channel 4 is bringing us a repeat of Secrets of Egypt's Valley of the Kings, followed by this new documentary, which looks at the Great Pyramid of Giza. The six-million-ton construction was clearly built to last - it's the last surviving wonder of the ancient world. But how did the Egyptians manage to engineer it so precisely, and who did the labouring? Drawing on ground-breaking research, this programme reveals details about the lives of the people who worked on this very grand design. Incredibly, the sources include a team leader's log book which was recently found by French archaeologists.

Casualty (BBC1, 8.40pm)

Feature-length episode of the hospital drama with the staff of Holby's accident and emergency department as they deal with more sick and injured patients. The walls start to close in on Connie when the hospital board notices the high rate of benzodiazepine prescriptions in the emergency department, and she is forced to choose between her addiction and her career. Meanwhile, Iain takes a stand as he defends the paramedics in the emergency department, and Duffy learns that she does not need to be a nurse to be able to help others.

Below the Surface (BBC4, 9pm & 9.45pm)

The Danish thriller continues with the privateers hijacking the ferry and taking all passengers and crew hostage. As they try to get June to surrender, the PET Terror Task Force considers the best attack strategy to take the criminals down. Then, with Philip locked in the kitchen freezer, the privateers force June to reveal the location of her mobile phone, which contains compromising material from her time in Syria. The task force prepares to board the ferry, but do the captors have another trick up their sleeves?

Atlanta: Robbin' Season (BBC2, 10.30pm)

If you're a fan of this offbeat comedy saga about a rapper and his manager, there's good and bad news. The bad being that tonight is where the second series draws to a close. But on the plus side, fans get to enjoy a triple bill before the tunesmith and his colleagues bow out. In the first of the final few episodes, Paper Boi is quick to regret his decision to play a show at a college campus that Earn arranged. The much in demand Donald Glover heads the cast, while good support comes from Brian Tyree Henry and Lakeith Stanfield.

Sunday, 11/8/2019

BBC Proms: Mozart's Requiem (BBC4, 7pm)

Love and loss, life and death collide in an emotionally charged concert as Nathalie Stutzmann conducts the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales at the Royal Albert Hall. Turbulent shifts of mood characterise Brahms's Tragic Overture, and their ripples continue through the Prelude and Liebestod from Wagner's powerful operatic exploration of forbidden love, Tristan and Isolde. At the heart of the programme is Mozart's Requiem - the composer's final work, left unfinished at his early death, and his own musical epitaph. Soloists include Fatma Said and Kathryn Rudge.

The Queen's Lost Family (C4, 8pm)

Anyone who's getting impatient waiting for the new season of Netflix's The Crown can get their fix of 20th-century royal history from this new documentary series. Using never-before-seen personal letters, diaries and photograph albums, it charts the story of the royal family during the turbulent time between 1920s to the end of the Second World War. The first episode begins shortly after the First World War, when society is changing fast - monarchies have been toppled throughout Europe and most working men and many women have the vote. To keep pace with this new democratic age, George V uses his children to woo the public. But while Mary and Bertie are towing the line, brothers Edward, Henry and George are enjoying the roaring 1920s.

Dragons' Den (BBC2, 8pm)

New series. Sara Davies, founder of Crafter's Companion, is a new addition to the panel on the business ideas contest, joining returning dragons Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman and Tej Lalvani in putting more would-be entrepreneurs' ideas to the test. Making their pitches this week are the creator of a brand of spiced rum, who gives the studio an exciting new look, a couple who have brought their four-legged friend with them to demonstrate a range of pet food, and the inventor of a special toilet gadget. Evan Davis presents.

The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan (BBC2, 9pm)

Comedian Romesh Ranganathan admits he'd never heard the word Bosnia until the war broke out there, so it's perhaps not surprising that he still associates Bosnia and Herzegovina with images of bombs and bullet holes. However, as part of this travelogue in which he goes to the places many tourists simply wouldn't think of visiting, he sets out to discover a different side the country. His guide is museum curator Skender Hatibovic, who takes Romesh to a world-class ski resort and arranges for him to spend the night at a 'war hostel'. The presenter also gets a chance to try out Sarajevo's abandoned Olympic bobsleigh track, and the country's award-winning wine, but will he take the plunge and dive off the iconic Stari Most Bridge?

Poldark (BBC1, 9pm)

When the banks start issuing paper notes instead of gold, Demelza finds herself thrown into uncharted waters with her workers and the locals, a situation taken advantage of by Tess and Jacka. Morwenna tackles the grief of being parted from her son, while Geoffrey Charles makes plain his intent to marry Cecily, landing both of them in trouble. George conspires once more against Ned and the Poldarks as he and his allies enact a plan to destroy their opposition for good. Drama, starring Aidan Turner.

Monday, 12/8/2019

Animal Rescue Live: Supervet Special (C4, 8pm)

New series. Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, Steve Jones and Kate Quilton return to try to rehome as many animals as possible from rescue shelters across the country and also ask viewers to help raise much-needed funds to help the thousands of homeless animals. To kick off the week of programmes, actor and ex-Spandau Ballet bassist Martin Kemp and his animal-loving wife and former pop star Shirlie Holliman join Noel, Steve and Kate at Raystede Animal Shelter in Lewes, East Sussex, to lend a helping hand.

The Great Train Robbery: The Hidden Tapes (C4, 9pm)

It remains one of Britain's most notorious crimes and continues to fascinate people 56 years on. But what really happened before, during and after the robbery of the Royal Mail train on August 8, 1963? When thieves planned and executed the 'crime of the century', they didn't just rob the establishment of £2.6million (equivalent of around £50m today), they also became household names. With access to tape recordings made by one of the key masterminds behind the heist that have been hidden for over 30 years, this documentary goes behind the legend to uncover the true story. It explores the background to the robbery, and the audacious planning to carry it off, as well as revealing how much of the cash has never been recovered and how one of the men managed to evade the police and live off his share of the loot until he died a few years ago.

The Secret World of Your Rubbish (Channel 5, 9pm)

In the second episode, workers at Crapper and Sons salvage what they can from vast amounts of plastic that is brought in every month while 10,000 tons of compost is sold to local farmers every year. Meanwhile, S Norton is a multi-million pound complex of hydraulic and electrical systems, where hundreds of people shred 1.5 million tons of steel per year, which is then shipped off to Turkey for use in steelworks around the world. Today, a large chunk of metal has become caught in the machine - and it means a huge headache for plant manager Jonathan.

When Bridges Collapse: The Genoa Disaster (BBC2, 9pm)

On August 14, 2018, the Morandi Bridge in the west of Genoa collapsed in heavy rain, sending vehicles plunging 90m to the ground, and killing 43 people. The A10 motorway viaduct was part of the fabric of everyday life in the north Italian port city and used by roughly 25 million vehicles every year. Despite Atlantia, the Italian infrastructure group, denying claims its subsidiary neglected maintenance of the bridge, a report has suggested that it had a series of safety problems in the 10 years before the disaster, and that investigations took place every year bar two between 2009 and 2017, after issues were flagged by the local Autostrade office. This documentary tells the story of some of the people on the bridge that day and asks what caused it to fail so catastrophically.

Who Do You Think You Are? (BBC1, 9pm)

Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet follows a rumour of Scandinavian ancestry on her late mother Sally's side of the family and is delighted when it turns out to be true and that she has Swedish heritage. However, her joy turns to tears and anger when she uncovers the extreme hardships her ancestors endured, from famine to flogging and imprisonment. Switching to her father's side of the family, Kate finds a drummer boy in the Grenadier Guards and, this time, an unusually positive encounter with prison.

Tuesday, 13/8/2019

Save Money: Good Health (STV, 7.30pm)

With pollen season in full force, Dr Ranj gets the lowdown on the latest hayfever treatments. What are the active ingredients we should be checking for to get the best for our money? The team also shops around for treatments for an embarrassing problem that will affect one in four of us over our lifetimes: athlete's foot. Plus, the Good Housekeeping Institute gives allergen-busting tips for around the home to combat dust mites, and the essential weekly guide to vitamin and mineral supplements continues with iron.

Inside the Factory (BBC2, 8pm)

Gregg Wallace visits a croissant factory in France that produces 336,000 pastries a day, and discovers how an 83-year-old strain of yeast is used to create the perfect flavour. Cherry Healey talks to a professor who specialises in exploring human senses about the perfect way to eat a croissant and visits a farm that produces concentrated butter that is 99.8 percent fat. Plus, Ruth Goodman is in Paris investigating the croissant's surprising Austrian origins and the role of bread in the French revolution.

Keeping Faith (BBC1, 9pm)

Evan's release from prison draws ever closer, and the return of her husband brings conflicting emotions for Faith and her family. The lawyer struggles with the demands of her growing feelings for Steve and doing what is best for her children. DI Breeze continues to pile the pressure on Evan as he awaits his freedom, and a phone call from PC Williams delivers an unwelcome new lead in Madlen's case. The Wales-set legal drama continues. Starring Eve Myles, Bradley Freegard, Rhashan Stone and Eiry Thomas.

The Chefs' Brigade (BBC2, 9pm)

Jason Atherton takes the chefs to Cadiz in southern Spain, a city famous for its seafood. The brigade must cook for a restaurant that has been run by the same family for 50 years, and is adored by locals and tourists alike. Jason must encourage the chefs to appreciate local traditions, and arranges for a local fisherman to take them to the salt flats that have provided seafood to residents for thousands of years. Back in the kitchen, several members of the brigade have to win back Jason's trust following recent confrontations.

Kathy Burke's All Woman (C4, 10pm)

Actor, writer and director Kathy Burke doesn't seem like someone who would be easily swayed by societal pressure. She's skipped many of the traditional female rites of passage, including marriage and motherhood. So, who better to host a new series looking at what it means to be a 21st-century woman? She begins by looking at the beauty industry, admitting that although she has been naturally blessed with a Kim Kardashian-style bottom, she knows she's not a considered to be conventionally beautiful. But if she could change her appearance, would she? Kathy meets former Love Island contestant Megan Barton Hanson, who spent more than £20,000 on cosmetic surgery, and meets a plastic surgeon to ask what it would cost to 'freshen up' her own look. See interview on inside back page

Wednesday, 14/8/2019

Eisteddfod 2019 with Jason Mohammad (BBC4, 7.30pm)

The National Eisteddfod of Wales is regarded as the largest music and poetry festival in Europe, with around 160,000 visitors attending the eight-day event which dates back to the 12th century. Here, Jason presents the first of two reports from the small market town of Llanrwst in the Conwy Valley, bringing highlights and stories from last week's cultural competitions and performances. He catches up with Welsh rugby stars Jonathan Davies and Ken Owens, as well as broadcaster and comedian Tudur Owen, all of whom are being honoured this year.

Interior Design Masters (BBC2, 8pm)

Remember The Great Interior Design Challenge, in which Tom Dyckhoff led the search for Britain's most talented amateur interior designer? It lasted four series, and now it's back on our screens. Well, sort of. Clearly somebody at the Beeb thought the idea of such a show was a good one, because it's been dusted down, given a revamp, some new staff members and is returning as Interior Design Masters. This time, teams of budding designers take part, determined to transform a variety of spaces, from hairdressing salons and hotel bedrooms to holiday chalets. Fearne Cotton is on hand to mop any fevered brows, while judge Michelle Ogundehin, editor in chief of ELLE Decoration magazine, is joined by a guest expert each week to offer their opinions.

Deep Water (STV, 9pm)

Paula Daly's acclaimed Windermere series of novels are the inspiration for this new six-part drama. Anna Friel, Sinead Keenan and Rosalind Eleazar head the cast as three complex and vibrant women who are connected by their children, and who are all facing tough decisions. Lisa (Friel) is attempting to run a business while raising three youngsters; her husband Joe is working all hours as a taxi driver. Physiotherapist Roz (Keenan) is struggling to make ends meet thanks to debts run up by her partner Winston, while Kate (Eleazar) seems to have it all - she's wealthy, attractive and has a seemingly perfect home life. But during a disastrous dinner party involving Lisa and Joe, everything begins to unravel...

Sacred Wonders (BBC1, 9pm)

What people do for faith in some of the most stunning sacred places on Earth. In the second episode, a Shinto devotee undertakes a gruelling challenge at the sacred Nachi Falls in Japan, hoping to ensure the wellbeing of his country for another year. Meanwhile in Mali, a young Muslim man helps to re-plaster Djenne's Great Mosque in the hope of a place in paradise, and at the Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York, an Anglican priest manages an astonishing ceremony to bring people - and their animals - closer to God.

Jade: The Reality Star Who Changed Britain (C4, 9pm)

Ten years on from her death, this series explores the rollercoaster life of Jade Goody, one of the most loved - and hated - reality TV stars, to tell a bigger story of class, politics and cultural change in Britain, at a time when reality TV became the biggest and most polarising form of entertainment in the country. Featuring exclusive interviews and never-before-seen footage, the series explores how Jade's life story mirrors a period of astonishing social change in Britain.

Thursday, 15/8/2019

Ross Kemp Living with Online Gambling Addiction (STV, 7.30pm)

The actor meets some of Britain's problem online gamblers, including those who live with the shame of stealing from loved ones to fund their habit, while others cannot afford to buy their children birthday presents because they've gambled their money away. Ross meets some who have to go off-grid to escape their addictions and visits the parents of two young men, Jack Ritchie and Joshua Jones, who took their own lives after racking up serious debts because of their addiction to online gambling.

Fugitives (BBC1, 8pm)

In the last days of 2014, a young woman was found dead in a hotel in Cardiff. Nadine Aburas had been in a stormy, long distance relationship with New Yorker Sammy Almahri for almost two years, and he had flown to the UK to visit her. After an argument over dinner, the pair went back to Almahri's room. It was the last time Nadine was seen alive, and hours later Almahri was driving to Heathrow Airport. The murderer was now a fugitive, but where was he heading? The officers look for answers. Also in tonight's programme is the search for the man behind a conspiracy to import 400kg of cocaine in a container of frozen beef. Plus, in Derbyshire, the team are on the road before dawn looking for a man wanted in Slovakia. Ludvik Banda is convicted of perverting the course of justice and has a four-year prison sentence waiting for him.

The Secret Teacher (C4, 9pm)

After becoming pregnant at 16, Kate Stewart left school without any qualifications. However, she defied expectations by making her first million aged 23 with a string of tanning shops and beauty salons, before owning Liverpool's Heritage Market and recently The Sandon pub in Anfield. In tonight's second programme, the self-made millionaire and mum of four leaves her property empire behind to go work at a school in a deprived area of Sheffield. School head Mrs Simcock says: "If you can work at Parkwood, you can work anywhere". When a fight breaks out, Kate is forced to confront the realities of daily life in the school. Her attention is caught by 15-year-old Zain, whose disregard for the rules has brought him close to expulsion. Will Zain's entrepreneurial efforts at the school fundraiser be enough to impress Kate? Meanwhile, Molly, who has a poor attendance record, also catches Kate's eye, but can she persuade her to engage with school?

24 Hour Baby Hospital (More4, 9pm)

The Rotunda in Dublin is the world's longest-running maternity hospital, where over one million Dubliners have been born, and every day some 24 new babies are added to that number. It's a place of extreme highs and devastating lows. This series goes behind closed doors with parents and staff as they meet in the most intimate of ways, experiencing moments that will change their lives. Accompanied by her mother Kay, Nicola arrives at the labour ward, hoping for the safe arrival of baby number four, Larkin. Young engaged couple Shauna and Daryl are expecting their first child together, and Monaghan couple Aine and Arnaud discover that their unborn child has a life-threatening condition.

Fake or Fortune? (BBC1, 9pm)

Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould investigate the provenance of a painting with a Venetian view, trying to ascertain whether it is the work of Francesco Guardi or Michele Marieschi. Owner Nick Hopkinson inherited the painting from his great grandfather and Guardi and Marieschi are both known for their depictions of Venetian views and were contemporaries in the 18th century of Canaletto. But there's a big difference in value between them - if Nick's painting is a Marieschi it could be worth half a million pounds, if it's a Guardi it could be worth up to £10million. Last in the series.

Friday, 16/8/2019

Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing (BBC2, 8pm)

Bob Mortimer has harboured a childhood dream to catch a salmon, so together with friend Paul Whitehouse, he sets off for the River Tay full of hope and excitement. A ghillie guides them up the intimidating river in a boat and they fish using various methods to catch the elusive fish. Bob cooks Paul a traditional Scottish breakfast and they enjoy a swift round of golf before resuming their fishing. The duo also reflect on luck and fate and the part it has played in their lives and later assess whether the trip has lived up to their expectations.

Hold the Sunset (BBC1, 9pm)

Edith and Phil are determined to fulfill their dream of retiring to the sun together, but find themselves continually hampered by logistical difficulties. Edith is finding her irritating sister Joan very difficult to accommodate, and Roger, impatient to see Phil sell his house, decides to help the process along by checking his roof for dry rot. Wendy drops in on Edith and mentions that she is planning a children's book, and despite not yet knowing what the plotline will be, thinks it may involve a complicated family. Comedy, starring Alison Steadman, Jason Watkins, John Cleese and Sue Johnston.

Fosse/Verdon (BBC2, 9pm)

The year 1973 finds Bob juggling dealing with the success of Cabaret, spearheading production on Liza with a Z and Pippin and grappling with the price of fame. Though he is indulging in the high life, with several girlfriends, pills and poppers, he finds time to attend the opening night of Gwen's Broadway play Children! Children! Gwen tearfully tells him that the play is closing after only one performance, since the producers have had word of bad notices and poor box office. She implies that if Bob had helped with rewrites, the production might have been saved. Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams star.

Woodstock: Three Days that Defined a Generation (BBC4, 10pm)

From August 15-18, 1969, over 400,000 people from all walks of life converged on Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm near White Lake in upstate New York to hear a pop concert. However, something far more profound happened - and Woodstock became pivotal moment in popular music history and came to define a cultural revolution. Through the voices of those who were there, the music and unique imagery, this documentary tells the story of the lead up to those four historic days of sex, drugs, rock 'n roll and mud, and explains how the festival was nearly pulled at the last minute.

Cher: The Greatest Showgirl (C5, 10.15pm)

She was born Cherilyn Sarkisian in May 1946, but she's better known across the world by a far more straightforward moniker - Cher. She became a star in the 1960s as one half of the pop duo Sonny and Cher, alongside her first husband, Sonny Bono. When their marriage broke down, she reinvented herself as an all-round entertainer, turning to acting as well as singing, eventually winning an Oscar for her performance in the movie Moonstruck. Despite all this success, she regards herself as an outsider, one who has been dogged by dissatisfaction and discontentment all her life. This docu-drama digs beneath Cher's public persona in an attempt to figure out why, despite her many accolades and achievements, she continues to strive for more.