Family finders

WHILE the introduction of camera-hogging Davina McCall did this programme few favours, she and Nicky Campbell are back for a new series of the Bafta award-winning series Long Lost Family, with eight episodes taking moving journeys as a family member is told a loved one has been traced, and we view the eventual reunion.

The programme travels as far as South Africa and Australia with tonight’s episode featuring 29-year-old nurse Louise who wants to track down her French father Stephane. The main hang-up here is that Stephane asked Louise’s mum to have an abortion because he wasn’t ready to be a father. Now, Louise wonders if her dad ever thought about her at all.

Another heart-rending case is Ann Munro who was barred from the family home after she became pregnant by an unfaithful boyfriend. She gave birth to Mark, who was adopted at two months, and Ann has worried about what she did for the past 40 years. “I really did think that God is punishing me,” says Ann of the experiences she had following this nightmare decision.

Co-presenter Nicky Campbell was adopted as a child, before searching for and being reunited with his birth mother and father as an adult. He is now a patron of the British Association for Adoption and Fostering.

“The previous series have been compelling and emotional and unmissable but I think in this series we have some of the most extraordinary stories that we’ve ever told, from some of the most amazing people,” he says.

During production of Long Lost Family, producers Wall to Wall worked closely with adoption expert Ariel Bruce, a leading independent social worker who specialises in tracing people. The protocol devised and worked to throughout the making of Long Lost Family complies with current adoption legislation when it comes to searching for, contacting, reuniting and supporting adopted people and birth relatives.

Rio in Rio (BBC1, 10.35pm)

I SUPPOSE the most predictable title for a programme was destined to happen once Rio Ferdinand left Manchester United after 12 years, joined newly-promoted QPR and spent part of the summer in Brazil as a member of the BBC's World Cup team.

While in South America, he also filmed this documentary in which he explores his namesake - the city of Rio de Janeiro - in an attempt to find out what life there is really like, away from the glossy, glamorous areas the local tourist board would prefer viewers to see.

The country itself has suffered major economic and social problems, so how do the locals view the World Cup? His old Red Devils team-mates Rafael and Fabio da Silva give him an idea by inviting him into their family home to meet their relatives. He also chats to other locals, including the very poorest members of Rio society. Ferdinand proves to be an able host - is this an early glimpse at what he'll get up to once he hangs up his boots?

Royal Marines Commando School (Channel 4, 9pm)

AS I’m not sure I want to discuss eyeballs being removed and the return of Utopia at 10pm, I’ll stick with going behind the scenes of the commando training centre in Devon where 56 recruits endure two weeks in the company of no-nonsense drill instructor Corporal “Froggy” Chauffour (who is French, of course).

Fortunately, the makers of the eight-part series were responsible for the excellent Educating Yorkshire leading to a wonderful scene where a recruit called James suddenly decides he doesn't want to take his enrolment oath.