Our Zoo (BBC1, 9pm)

IF you go down to the woods today... in this programme you’re sure to see George Mottershead (played with great passion by Lee Ingleby) looking for a lost bear and getting a little more than he bargained for.

The ex-First World War soldier is badly injured by his fur-covered friend and his youngest daughter June (the charming Honor Kneafsey) finally realises what a risky project her father has taken on.

George’s dream of turning a rambling and rundown country house into Chester Zoo is now beset by the bank refusing further loans, a protest petition organised by evil vicar, the Rev Aaron Webb (Stephen Campbell Moore) and a realisation that a bear enclosure is an urgent project.

So far, one of the fledgling zoo's biggest critics has been George's mum Lucy (Anne Reid) and explains: "Suddenly, as George's mother, I look out the window and there's a camel in the backyard, or a monkey in the outside loo and it's a bit bizarre. The whole street thinks he's gone completely bonkers and then eventually he says he wants to start a zoo, which is the maddest idea you can think of, really...

"I mean I'd go a bit bananas if my son brought a camel home and put it in the back garden. I don't even think now that I would be too happy about that. There was a monkey in Upstairs, Downstairs which caused us to have to extend the filming quite a lot. It didn't behave half as well as the monkey on this series.

"The iguana didn't do much apart from open his eyes and eat dandelions. But the camel spat a lot, he kept filling his mouth with spit and throwing it over everyone - and we were all ducking. That was a new experience."

Fortunately, it seems that even being covered with camel saliva was worth it. "I love that this is going to be a family show. My grandson came on to the set and of course he loved the animals, he was thrilled – and he'll actually be able to see his grandma in a television series. I think it's going to appeal to everyone, this series. It's delightful, but it's the kind of thing that you can all watch."

But good news arrives for George in the shape of the eccentric Lady Daphne (Celia Imrie) and a charity fundraiser at Selborne Hall.

The only regret I have about Our Zoo is the BBC's missed opportunity of running this on Sunday evenings when more youngsters would be given the chance to watch alongside parents.

The Great British Bake Off (BBC1, 8pm)

IT’S now the quarter-final stage, and the five amateur bakers take on enriched doughs. Aside from a signature bake, in which they must work with soft dough to create artful works, they must create a showstopper involving doughnuts

As ever, Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins channel the Carry On cast with their saucy intros.

Scott & Bailey (ITV, 9pm)

RACHEL (Suranne Jones) Rachel thought the chaos of her personal life was all behind her, but not a bit of it. She's torn when she discovers her mum's new beau is a violent domestic abuser. Meanwhile, Janet's (Lesley Sharp) pending first date leaves her with cold feet; she's petrified at the idea of talking to a stranger.

Murder of the week is Rich Hutchings. He is found dead in the flat he shares with his husband Adam, mostly naked apart from a towel speckled with what looks like bits of broken TV. Prime suspect is Barry, their outspoken and violent homophobic neighbour.