Monday

The Scandalous Lady W

BBC Two

9pm

Natalie Dormar (best known for starring in Game of Thrones and The Hunger Games) stars as 18th century aristocrat Lady Seymour Worsley in this one-off period drama.

After leaving her troubled marriage for none other than her husband’s best friend, Captain George Bisset (Aneurin Barnard), her vengeful husband Sir Richard Worsley (Shaun Evans) seeks monetary compensation in a highly publicised trial.

This salacious 90-minute drama based on a true story calls into question a woman’s worth in the 18th century and even draws parallel to the British tabloid obsession with celebrity divorces.  

 

Tuesday

School Swap – The Class Divide  

ITV

9pm

The British obsession with class and education is at the centre of this two-part documentary, exploring whether private schools offer more opportunities for their pupils than comprehensives, and whether a state school education really is second-rate. In smaller version of an exchange programme, three pupils swap between a Derby state school and a Wiltshire private boarding school.

 

Wednesday

Britain’s Spending Secrets  

BBC One

9pm

There’s nothing so quintessentially British as judging other people’s lifestyles. Anne Robinson sets off on a road trip inspecting British spending habits of families across the income spectrum. From those on benefits to billionaires, the TV presenter joins them on spending sprees so she can see how people choose to spend their money.

 

Thursday

Building the Ancient City: Athens and Rome

BBC Two

8pm

Cambridge professor Andrew Wallace-Hadrill takes us on an excursion across Athens in the first of a new series. The historian explores how the Athenians were responsible for everything from defence to waste disposal, setting a benchmark for the present thanks to the citizens’ aspirations for a new system of democracy. Spot Boris Johnson championing the running of the great city.   

 

Friday

The Best of Bad TV

Channel 5

9pm

If you're a connoisseur of classic telly, the heady days of noughties reality TV may not feature in your DVD collection. Luckily, Channel 5 has taken us back on a time loop with the decade’s fixation with talent stars and the rise and rise of the reality TV series such as Big Brother in the final episode of this three-parter.  Memorable highlights include a chicken factory worker’s rendition of Aqua’s Barbie Girl in an early season of X Factor. Reminiscing at its finest… 

Saturday

Athletics World Championships Highlights

BBC Two

5pm

Gabby Logan presents from the frontline at Beijing on the first day of action at the Athletics World Championships. Commentary is provided by Paula Radcliffe with reports from Radzi Chinyanganya. Highlight reels include medals awarded in the men’s 10,000m and marathon, women’s shotput and the heptathlon.

 

Sunday

Time Crashers

Channel 4

8pm

Hosted by history buff Sir Tony Robinson and archaeologist Dr Cassie Newland, this new celebrity game show will throw ten celebrities into six different eras of British history without the aid of modern technology.

The first in a week-long series, tonight’s episode will show Hollywood star Kirstie Alley working as a servant in an Elizabethan manor house from 1588.