What’s on telly tonight? Our pick of the best shows on Monday 20th August

Celebs on the Farm 5 Star and Channel 5

TV Times top picks for tonight

What’s on telly tonight? Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight the best shows on Monday 20th August

Celebs on the Farm, 10pm / 5Star, Channel 5

Prepare for two weeks of mud, sweat and tears as eight celebrities swap the glamour of the showbiz circuit for life on the farm in this new 10-part weeknight series. After turning up in an outfit more suitable for a film premiere than looking after livestock, glamour girl Charlotte Dawson is the first to come a cropper in her high heels, but she’s not the only one a country mile out of her comfort zone. This week’s first episode (showing on Channel 5 as well as 5Star) sees the wannabe farmers get to grips with life on Lunsford Farm on the Sussex coast, but how many of them will muck in when the going gets tough? Continues weeknights on 5Star. Ratings: *****

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

The nation took Jonnie Peacock to its heart after his sprinting triumph at the 2012 Paralympics and his Strictly appearance, but this look at his family tree gives an insight into what makes Jonnie tick. The origins of his talent become clear as he learns about his late maternal grandfather, whose football career was cut short. He also discovers his great-great-grandfather was killed by anthrax. But he’s most affected by the story of his paternal four-times great-grandmother, who took two men to court in a bid to provide for her children and stand up for her rights. Rating: ****

Big Week at the Zoo, 8pm, Channel 5

Channel 5 kicks off a week-long celebration of British zoos and the conservation work they carry out.Based at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Countryfile presenter Helen Skelton and Springwatch Unsprung’s Nick Baker meet ‘Carnivore Kim’, the head of carnivores at the park. Other contributors include JLS singer-turned-turkey-farmer JB Gill and Lucy-Jo Hudson, former star of Wild at Heart and currently playing baddie Donna-Marie on Hollyoaks. Throughout the week, the series reveals the reality of caring for creatures great and small – from making ice lollies to keep monkeys cool to cutting a zebra’s toenails. Tonight, Lucy-Jo gives a giraffe a massage! Rating: ***

More previews tomorrow.

David Hollingsworth
Editor

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!