Great Continental Railway Journeys (BBC2, 8pm)
NEW series. Armed with a 1936 edition of Bradshaw’s Continental Railway Guide, Michael Portillo ventures on to the European rail network, beginning an emotional journey that takes him deep into his family’s past. In Salamanca in north-western Spain, he visits the university to hear of opposition to the fascist takeover of Spain by General Francisco Franco. Travelling on to Madrid, Portillo hears how the bombing of a small town in the Basque Country in 1937 inspired one of the 20th century’s most shocking works of art, before making his way to the town of Huesca.
Celebrity MasterChef (BBC1, 9pm)
THE remaining contestants take part in the first semi-final, travelling to the National Breeding Centre at Leamington Spa’s Guide Dogs For The Blind to face their toughest challenge so far. Cooking in tents and faced with unfamiliar equipment, the celebrities are split into two teams and challenged to cook up a feast to celebrate Guide Dogs For The Blind’s 90th anniversary. Back in the MasterChef kitchen, the competitors are tasked with recreating their favourite takeaway dishes in the Invention Test.
Mrs America (BBC2, 9pm)
YOU might not know the names Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, but the indie filmmakers have done a rather good job of helming four episodes of this star-studded drama examining the Equal Rights Amendment. In the first of this week’s double bill, it’s 1977, Bella Abzug is appointed to head the revived Women’s Commission and has to organise the first-ever National Women’s Convention in Houston. Meanwhile, Phyllis is determined to mobilise her own supporters to attend.
Britain’s Lost Roman Roads (5SELECT, 9pm)
THIS week, Dan Jones travels the historic Roman road of Ermin Way, which links the two Roman towns of Calleva Atrebatum and Glevum, now known as Silchester and Gloucester. Ermin Way is arguably Britain’s most industrial Roman road and in Silchester, Professor Michael Fulford talks Dan through his excavations of this huge, economically important site, which has been described as “the British Pompeii”.
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