Give a Pet a Home (ITV, 8pm)

WITHOUT the entertaining Paul O'Grady at the helm – the great man has another live series of The Paul O'Grady Show to present earlier in the day – this latest attempt to rehome abandoned and ill-treated pets has a lot to prove.

The action has moved from London's Battersea Dogs Home to the more comprehensive work of Newbrook Farm Animal Centre in Birmingham.

With the support of the RSPCA , celebrities like comedian Julian Clary, singer and TV presenter Peter Andre, former footballer and sports commentator Chris Kamara, Loose Woman Coleen Nolan, former Pussycat Dolls member Kimberly Wyatt and Olympic Gold Medallist Denise Lewis have gone into intensive training period with the animal charity, before pitching in and helping the staff . Each of the six has a different adoption appeal and tonight we'll get to find out which of them has found new homes with viewers.

Six more potential pets are put up for adoption including Tiger, a Bengal cat who was brought in after falling victim to a shooting, and Wally the horse, who fell into a river but managed to swim seven miles to safety. Chris and Coleen host a speed-dating-style event with a difference - this one's aimed exclusively at rabbits - and Kimberly Wyatt throws a birthday party for a pony.

The series is presented by Amanda Holden, who one of my family has described as boring, but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt as her heart is in the right place.

"I have been involved in a number of animal charities such as Battersea Dogs Home, PETA and Born Free so when it was offered, it was a job I was always going to say yes to," she says. "As Brits we are the land of the underdog and the land of pets, I think we really appreciate the loyalty and the love animals give back. It's only a small minority of people who mistreat animals, whereas the majority I hope will watch it and think they can give something back by giving a pet a home.

"It's not just cats and dogs it's horses, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, anything really - and you'll see how everything within the RSPCA operates, from the ground up. I just hope that every week we'll have a happy ending and we find lots of homes for otherwise unwanted animals."

Thankfully, few will yawn when confronted with an animal in need.

The Restoration Man: George Clarke's Restoration Heroes (C4, 8pm)

THE Wearside-born heartthrob picks a quartet of his most-loved church conversions from the programme. The show features a couple who prayed their old fisherman's church in Devon would unite them, and a young father whose family was almost torn apart by his single-minded dedication to restoring a medieval Welsh chapel. Cameras also focus on the rookie restoration folks who attempted to transform a Cumbrian village church's iconic spire, whatever the cost. And we meet a Newcastle couple who fought against the elements of the Outer Hebrides to create a bohemian artistic retreat 400 miles from home.

Secret Britain (BBC1, 9pm)

ELLIE Harrison and Adam Henson explore some of the secrets of the Scottish Highlands suggested by the public. Adam scales the north face of Ben Nevis, and life on a Wild West-style cattle ranch makes him feel like a kid again.

Of course, if you mention Lochs to many, then Nessie is the default monster that springs to mind.

"I'm on the hunt for another monster," explains Ellie. "But this one I won't find in Loch Ness."

She's off to Loch Morar, situated 30 miles west. It's wonderfully isolated and easily missed if you stick to the tourist trail.

She also visits an ancient shrine to healing on the Black Isle.

Plus, she and Adam to go hunting for Bonnie Prince Charlie's cave hideaway, and take a magical ride on the real Hogwarts Express.

Viv Hardwick