What’s On TV Tonight? Our Pick Of The Best Shows: Thursday 5th October

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Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight three of the best shows on telly tonight for Thursday 5th October including The Supervet

Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight three of the best shows on telly tonight for Thursday 5th October including The Supervet

The Supervet, 8.00pm, C4

Cats are normally agile creatures, but two-year-old short-haired moggy Charlie has injured his hip jumping off the sofa. Owners Kate and Adam are shocked to learn he needs a hip replacement! Other patients include Buzz the border collie and golden labrador Pebbles, both in surgery with suspicious lumps. As usual, the pets are easy to handle – it’s their worried owners who require vet Noel Fitzpatrick’s calming bedside manner. Rating: ****

Russia with Simon Reeve, 9.00pm,BBC2

Simon’s epic journey continues as he watches a 40,000-strong march remembering the millions who died in World War Two. Known as the march of the immortal regiment, it takes place across Russia as a celebration of its mighty military history. Simon then hops back on the Trans-Siberian Railway to Krasnoyarsk, an industrial Siberian city with a brutal past. In complete contrast his next stop is a religious cult in the mountains where he meets the self-anointed reincarnation of Jesus. His journey ends in Dagestan, a dangerous but beautiful republic where the war against terrorism and a traditional and ancient culture sit side by side. A fascinating insight into this hugely diverse country. Rating: ****

Big Family Cooking Showdown, 8.00pm, BBC2

Make sure you’ve eaten before settling down in front of the eighth episode of Showdown. Because the Boyes family have decided to go Indian for the opening Ten Pound Challenge, with a chicken curry, naans, pilau rice and their own signature ‘Boyesie bhajis’. As for rivals the Rignalls, they’ve gone Indian, too. And with a bit of the sub-continent in their ethnic make-up, surely their chicken tikka masala, dhal, spinach bhaji and raita will clean up? After that we visit the Boyeses and Rignalls at home before the Impress the Neighbours finale, and one of the teams has decided to have a go at making black pudding from scratch. Crazy? Or inspired? Rating: ****

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough.

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!