Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back, C4, 8.30pm
BACK in 2015, Joe Lycett provided one of the most famous anecdotes in 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown history when he told a story about how he persuaded a local council to rescind a parking fine. The routine went viral on social media and since then the comedian has become known for his epic escalating battles with officials and talking his way out of almost anything.
Pilgrimage: The Road to Rome, BBC2, 9pm
THE Pilgrims arrive in Sutri, a medieval town with an even older history, where they visit a magnificent Roman amphitheatre, where Lesley Joseph auditions for a “producer”. Stephen K Amos, Mehreen Baig and Les Dennis visit a church, which was originally Etruscan and pagan before becoming Roman, then Christian and finally Roman Catholic. Later, with Rome on the horizon, they get their first view of the Eternal City from Monte Mario park. Then emotions run high as they learn that Pope Francis has agreed to meet them in a private audience. Last in the series.
The Comedy Years, ITV3, 9pm
WITH a new prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, in office following mass strikes in the so-called “winter of discontent”, 1979 was a pivotal year for Britain. And it was also a key period in TV land with political satire at the forefront of comedy. BBC series Not the Nine O’Clock News, which launched the careers of Rowan Atkinson, Mel Smith, Griff Rhys Jones and Pamela Stephenson, made its debut, while the northern club scene was also dominating comedic output with the likes of The Cannon and Ball Show and the stand-up series.
Cruising with Jane McDonald, C5, 9pm
THE singer begins her Portuguese adventure in Porto, where she discovers the roots of a similarly named fortified wine. She then boards the impressive vessel that will take her down the River Douro and visits the architectural wonder of Lamego, Vila Real and the home of Mateus Rose.
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