Great British Menu: The Finals (BBC2, 8pm)
THE chefs who take part in Great British Menu don’t just have to rustle up some nice dishes – they also have to make sure that the food they are cooking hits a brief. This year, they have been battling it out to get their starters, fish courses, mains and desserts to a banquet celebrating British Innovation. The finals, which have been running across the week, have decided who will be cooking which course, and tonight they finally get to serve them at an outdoor banquet at Jodrell Bank in Cheshire to guests including Professor Sarah Gilbert from Oxford’s successful Covid vaccination programme.
Inside The Balmoral: Scotland’s Finest Hotel (C5, 7pm)
SINCE it was opened in 1902, the Balmoral Hotel has welcomed royalty, heads of state and JK Rowling, who famously finished writing the Harry Potter books there. Now, the prestigious Edinburgh institution is also opening its doors to the cameras for a new series exploring the work of the staff who aim to deliver 24/7 luxury, and finding out how they go about sourcing the best Scottish produce.
The World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys (C5, 9pm)
IN the second episode, we undertake a voyage on Taiwan. Our first stop is the island’s greatest natural attraction, Taroko Gorge. We continue along the coast into Yilan County, Taiwan’s most easterly region. Beyond Yilan, we reach the capital Taipei, and delve beneath the city’s ultra-modern surface to find a new take on the craft-brewing industry. After leaving the high-speed rail line at Chiayi City, we exchange rail’s future for its past, and our final leg is on the stunning narrow gauge Alishan Forest Railway.
Later – with Jools Holland (BBC2, 10pm)
MUSICIAN Annie Clark, who is better known as St Vincent, joins Jools Holland from her home studio in Los Angeles. She’ll be talking about her latest album, Daddy’s Home, and picking some of her favourite clips from the Later archive. The episode also features Johnny Flynn, who is making his Later debut. Plus, Bristol based five-piece Squid perform their single Paddling, and Laura Mvula treats viewers to a track from her forthcoming third LP Pink Noise.
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