ELAINE C SMITH’S BURDZ EYE VIEW, STV, 8pm
THE third series of this jaunty Scottish travel show starts tonight, and Elaine is visiting Inverness.
She starts at Inverness Castle, a location often forgotten by tourists who are probably too focused on Nessie and the loch. Instead of monsters, we get to hear the thrilling story of Flora MacDonald and Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Later she pops into a studio to meet The Wise Guys, older men who are encouraged to “get out of the house” and have a go at print-making. A group of retired professionals, they now potter around with their aprons on having a fine old time now they’ve discovered they’re artists.
Each of these episodes ends with one of Elaine’s comedy gigs. Tonight she is performing at Inverness’s Eden Court Theatre, but gets a pre-show warm-up by attending “laughter yoga” where participants fake hysterical giggles and find it provokes some genuinely high spirits.
It was refreshing to see a different side of Inverness, one of yoga, castles, comedy and art. Who needs Nessie?
CHILDREN IN NEED, BBC1, 7.30pm
TESS Daly hosts the London segment of the marathon fundraising show, with Jackie Bird presenting from Glasgow.
We get a performance from the West End cast of Annie, plus a medley of hits from the EastEnders lot, then the Scottish Children’s Choir sing live from Pacific Quay.
There will also be a hefty dose of nostalgia when former Blue Peter presenters compete for a special Strictly Come Dancing contest.
And fans of Scottish comedy will be in for a treat when the stars of Scot Squad join the cast of River City for a charity sketch in Shieldinch – although you will need to wait for Sunday’s Scottish highlights show to see it. The Rickshaw Challenge charity event arrives in town but Cameron Miekeleson (Jack Docherty) ruins the fun by rooting out “the bams”.
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