Springwatch 2020 (BBC2, 8pm)
THE second week of live programmes from across the country begins with a very timely look at how nature can affect our mental health. Meanwhile, Chris Packham will share an extraordinary story of how a love of birds united English POWs and German Officers during the Second World War. For viewers who haven’t been able to experience much of this spring themselves, there will be plenty of glorious footage, as the team follows a pair choughs in West Wales, and cameraman Gordon Buchanan focuses on Scottish ospreys in Loch Lomond National Park.
Bake Off: The Professionals (C4, 8pm)
LIAM Charles and Tom Allen host the second round of the culinary challenge featuring teams of professional pastry chefs from top hotels, restaurants and small businesses. This week, the five remaining pairs are challenged to create mille-feuille that look exactly like eggs and a bird-themed montee which must be adorned with enough Paris-Brest to serve 24. Judges Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden are on hand to assess the results and decide which team will be leaving this week.
The A Word (BBC1, 9pm)
AN unwelcome visitor arrives on the eve of Ralph and Katie’s wedding in the shape of Ralph’s father, whom he has not seen in more than 10 years. Louise is less than keen to have him around, as is Maurice, in part because Doug proves a far more likeable person than he imagined. Paul and Sarah decide to let Mark and Joe go out on their own, but neither is able to resist checking on them.
A House Through Time (BBC2, 9pm)
DAVID Olusoga traces the Bristol house’s story in the 18th and 19th centuries. He begins by investigating the death of owner Joseph Holbrook and discovering why his daughter was written out of the will. A later resident of the home rises to become mayor in the 1830s but had to find a way to prevent riots ravaging the city. David also delves into the life of a servant who worked in the house in the 1870s, only to leave domestic servitude for an abusive marriage, and discovers how a successful teacher who later owned the house ended up committed to an asylum.
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