Ross Kemp Living with Homelessness, STV, 7.30pm
IN this new four-part series, the actor and reporter travels across the UK to meet people living with some of the biggest issues of today. Kemp will immerse himself in situations to gain a taste of the difficulties they face, and highlight what is really going on, often unnoticed, under the nose of mainstream society. To kick things off, he endures the coldest night of the year with some of Cardiff’s rough sleepers. He also meets people from families torn apart by homelessness and uncovers alarming facts about the UK Government’s understanding of the size of the homeless population.
Serengeti, BBC1, 8pm
THE great migration leads to a series of confrontations for the families on the great Savannah. Tragedy strikes for lioness Kali, forcing her to make a difficult decision. Bakari challenges the jealous leader of the baboon troop, leading to a violent battle, and elephant mother Nalla has to decide the future of her badly behaved teenager Tembo. Shani the zebra mother has no choice but to cross the river, fully aware a crocodile is waiting – and if he does not get her, the currents might well sweep her away.
Fake or Fortune? BBC1, 9pm
PHILIP Mould and Fiona Bruce investigate an 18th-century painting which might be a lost landscape by master of the genre Thomas Gainsborough. The piece has been in the family of owner Mark Cropper for generations and until the 1970s it was considered to be a Gainsborough. However, a valuation downgraded it to a Barker of Bath. Philip is intrigued by this piece as it’s a landscape he recognises. Mark’s picture looks like a famous print by Gainsborough, copied from one of his paintings, believed to be lost for many years. Could it be the real deal?
Sewer Men, STV, 9pm
THIS two-part documentary follows the sewer workers at West Midlands water company Severn Trent, as they unblock thousands of toilets and drains, and delve down sewers clogged with all sorts of waste. It’s a dirty job but someone has to do it and, as it turns out, they love their work. Severn Trent’s chief executive goes into emergency mode to keep the taps flowing and sort out water leaks during the driest summer in decades.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here