Here's a round-up of the best TV this week, including The Queen and Sir David Attenborough talking all things green for The Queen’s Green Planet on ITV, the long awaited Grey's Anatomy spin-off Station 19 on Sky Living and Zoe Ball's triumphant return to Saturday morning television.
The Queen’s Green Planet
Monday: ITV, 9pm
Quite a few programmes have been made about the royals of late, but none so charming as this, which features The Queen, strolling around Buckingham Palace Gardens chatting amicably with fellow national treasure (and RTS Vice President) Sir David Attenborough. The programme examines the impact of The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, a conservation initiative across 53 countries, but undoubtedly the highlight is a rare opportunity to see Her Majesty interacting with someone she has known for many years, in the inner sanctum of her garden.
Travel Man: 48 Hours in Madeira
Monday: Channel 4, 8.30pm
Writer and comedian Robert Webb accompanies Richard Ayoade on the latest leg of this unique travel show. The intrepid travelers seek to dispel the myth that Madeira is just about wine and cake. Both comedians have a penchant for deadpan humour which leads to increasingly funny situations as they try and outdo each other. Expect jokes about the EU, food and Madeiran culture, though whether you’ll actually learn much about the island remains to be seen.
Top of the Shop with Tom Kerridge
Tuesday: BBC2, 8pm
Michelin starred chef Tom takes four fledgling food business owners to the heart of Yorkshire to test how popular their home-made products can be. For two days participants have to promote their prized jellies, jams and pickles in a local shop. No stranger to competitions, Tom chats with local residents trying out the produce, while judges Alison Swan Parente and Nisha Katova visit the competitors’ homes to see their production processes.
Station 19
Wednesday: Sky Living, 10pm
Shonda Rhimes’ hotly anticipated Grey’s Anatomy spin-off is finally hitting screens. The screenwriter’s new drama revolves around a fire station near the beloved Grey Sloan Memorial hospital.
Expect the same level of drama, heartache and excitement but with a new lead, firefighter Andy (Jaina Lee Ortiz). Family drama is the order of the day, with her father and boyfriend both working alongside her at the station. We’re expecting a fresh hit of Rhimes’ addictive narrative with a healthy dose of nostalgia from Grey’s cameos. Watch this space.
Major League Baseball
Thursday: BT Sport 1, 6pm
The Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals, both two time World Series winners, and long-time rivals, go head to head in this Major League Baseball game, so expect some fireworks. In 2015, the Royals became the first team to play in consecutive World Series since the Texas Rangers played in the 2010 World Series and 2011 World Series.
Rivers of Blood: 50 years on
Friday: Channel 5, 10pm
Half a century on, Enoch Powell’s infamous Rivers of Blood speech, in which he addressed the potential for Britain’s “total transformation” at the hands of immigrants, is still considered to be among the most inflammatory made by a sitting MP. Using archive footage as well as interviews with families of immigrants and their descendants, this powerful documentary examines the issues faced by the immigrant population, including racism, loss of cultural identity and the daily threats that they have received in the decades since the speech was given.
Zoe Ball on Saturday
Saturday: ITV1, 8.30am
Zoe Ball has had an illustrious television and radio career since first breaking through with Live and Kicking in the 1990’s. Now, after a long stint presenting radio, she’s back on our screens with an entertainment-packed, hour-long talk show. This week’s guests are Downton’s Dame Penelope Wilton, EastEnders alumni Charlie Brooks and comedian Ed Gamble, plus live music from Lisa Stansfield. Just the thing to ease you into the weekend.
