D-Day 70: The Heroes Return
(BBC2, 8pm)

ON June 6, 1944, at the height of the Second World War, the Allied forces embarked upon one of the most ambitious amphibious landings ever undertaken.

Following a campaign of subterfuge and misdirection against German intelligence, over 150,000 troops stormed five sections of beaches in Normandy. It was the turning point of the war, giving the Allies a foothold in mainland Europe from which they were able to expand in the coming months.

Now, 70 years later to the day, a host of events throughout Normandy commemorate the actions of the Allies on that fateful day. Senior members of the royal family joined with other heads of state as well as military veterans from all nations to pay tribute to the thousands of armed forces personnel who lost their lives on June 6, 1944, and in the days and weeks that followed.

Look Out For: The wealth of programming elsewhere on the BBC, including new programmes on Radio 4 and shows from the archive on Radio 4 Extra; BBC One has a day of live events, while later this evening there’s historian James Holland’s documentary Normandy ‘44: The Battle Beyond D-Day, which details the gruelling campaign for control of Normandy that followed the landings.

Danny Cohen, director of BBC Television, says: “We all owe so much to the brave servicemen and women who took part in the D-Day campaign and it is a privilege to commemorate and mark this incredibly important anniversary with a range of programming across BBC TV, radio and online.”

Farewell Tina
(ITV, 8pm)

SHE had the brightest smile and the deepest tan in Weatherfield, but sadly barmaid Tina McIntyre is no longer bringing sunshine to our screens.

The Coronation Street character met a sticky end this week, but while soap fans try to come to terms with her loss, this documentary tells the story of Tina’s alter ego, actress Michelle Keegan.

According to her parents, she was an ordinary if rebellious teenager, which sounds like good training to play the feisty Ms McIntyre, and she also enjoyed performing from an early age, as proved by never-before-broadcast footage of her playing Sporty Spice in a school production.

But we get to see just how perfect she was for the part as Michelle watches her 2007 audition tape for the first time.

There’s also a look back at some of her most dramatic storylines, contributions from fellow cast members, as well as unprecedented access to her final scenes.

Soccer Aid: The Countdown
(ITV, 9pm)

WORLD Cup fever is starting to build, but that’s not the only football-related event we’ve got to look forward to.

There’s also the little matter of Soccer Aid, the charity match which sees a team of English celebrities (including Robbie Williams, Jack Whitehall, Mark Owen, Olly Murs and Paddy McGuinness) and former professionals taking on the Rest of the World – with Gordon Ramsay, James McAvoy, Jeremy Renner and Adam ‘Man v Food’ Richman.

It all kicks off on Sunday, but apparently the players won’t be just turning up to Old Trafford in their limos five minutes before the match.

They’ve been preparing all week for the encounter – and now Cat Deeley is bringing us some highlights from their training sessions, chatting to the players, and finding out whether this is a bit of a grudge match for Rest of the World Captain Michael Sheen, who failed to score a victory in 2012.