DIY SOS building expert helps homeowners achieve their kitchen and bathroom dreams

ALTHOUGH a lot of people may have spent more time than ever before in their living room or bedroom over the past year, kitchens and bathrooms are arguably still the most important rooms in the house – and they add the most value to a property. However, they can also be the hardest to get right, which is where Mark Millar comes in. He’s helping homeowners achieve their dreams, no matter what their budgets as in the opening episode he helps create luxury kitchen for £50,000 in Glasgow, and a rainforest-themed bathroom for £5,000 in Sutton Coldfield. The design concepts may be different, but both sets of homeowners are working to a very tight timescale. Will Mark be able to make the visions a reality?

Car SOS

Car SOS (More4, 9pm)

The excellently named Fuzz Townshend and Tim Shaw are in Essex in tonight’s edition to pick up a proper 1970s icon – a Lotus Esprit S1. In its day it was considered a true supercar, and even featured in the James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me. Of course Bond only ever got behind the wheel of a really classy motor, and it takes something special to turn his head from his beloved Aston Martins. Granted, Bond’s Esprit did have the bonus of turning into a submarine, but Fuzz and Tim aim to keep theirs high and dry.

Snackmasters: Snickers

Snackmasters: Snickers (C4, 9pm)

A marathon task (excuse the pun, older readers) awaits fine dining chefs Tom Brown and Sabrina Gidda, as they set about recreating the iconic Snickers bar for presenter Fred Sirieix as well as a panel of factory bigwigs. And no, they’re not allowed to just push peanuts into a Mars Bar. Brown, who has his own restaurant in London’s trendy Hackney Wick, and Gidda, who runs the kitchen at the all-female members’ club AllBright in Mayfair, get to work with caramel, nougat, chocolate and nuts but, after two very different approaches, who will come out on top?

Makeup: A Glamorous History

Makeup: A Glamorous History (BBC2, 9pm)

The Victorians prized ‘natural beauty’ above all else, and make-up was frowned upon. But most people still felt compelled to try to improve their looks, and as professional makeup artist Lisa Eldridge discovers, they came up with all sorts of sneaky ways to enhance their appearances without being found out. So much of the make-up that we know today had its origins in the Victorian era, from products like mascara, to brands that have survived into the 21st century. It was also the era of advertising and magazines promoting beauty ideals – many of which feel eerily familiar today.

The Syndicate

The Syndicate (BBC1, 9pm)

Sneaking an enormous Irish wolfhound through a hotel reception isn’t easy. And that’s not the only problem facing the syndicate – their hotel bill is much bigger than they expected and they don’t have enough cash to cover it. After the staff at Toutous Kennels tell Frank that Duke is missing, he receives a surprise phone call from Keeley who promises that they will return the dog, as long as Frank gives them their lottery winnings. Desperate Frank claims he will do anything for his pet, but Cheryl instructs him to hold his nerve, as she comes up with a scheme to get Duke back as well as keeping the money. Finally, Gemma has her own agenda and is desperate to protect herself and her family from a sinister figure in her past.

Our Yorkshire Farm

Our Yorkshire Farm (C5, 9pm)

It’s September, and after months of working together on the farm, the Owen children are getting ready to go back to school. Before Clemmie returns to the classroom, she is determined to show younger sister Nancy how to take care of her beloved Shetland pony Tony in her absence – and she’s a very strict teacher. Nineteen-year-old Raven is also getting ready to head back to university after an extended lockdown break, meaning Clive, Amanda and little Nancy are the only ones left on the farm. However, there’s no time for the family to dwell on things. With a cowshed to muck out before winter, Clive teaches Nancy the importance of preparing for the long months ahead with shovels in hand.