Secret Scotland, C5, 8pm
COMEDIAN Susan Calman takes a light-hearted jaunt around her homeland to uncover the secrets behind some of Scotland’s most famous locations. She begins by visiting Edinburgh and the east coast, where she learns all about the firing of the One O’clock Gun at the city’s castle, as well as the hiding place of Scotland’s crown jewels. The fascinating stories continue below ground, as Susan delves into the ghostly history of Edinburgh’s criminal past. Then, in lighter mode, she heads to St Andrews to try out a charming variation of the game of golf.
Humpback Whales: A Detective Story, BBC2, 9pm
IN September 2015 in Monterey Bay, California, a 30-tonne humpback whale breached and landed on Tom Mustill and a friend as they paddled a sea kayak. Both survived the accident although the near-death experience left documentary-maker Tom wondering if the whale was deliberately trying to hurt them. Here Tom returns to California to investigate that possibility, meeting others who have survived similar encounters and the experts who know the whales best. What Tom discovers raises far bigger questions, not just about what happened that day but also about man’s relationship with whales.
The Defiant Ones, BBC4, 10pm
AS ever, Friday night is music documentaries night on BBC4, and the latest series is a cracker. It focuses on music entrepreneurs Jimmy Iovine and Dr Dre and their influence on contemporary culture. Dre was raised in Compton, California, and crossed paths with the likes of Eazy-E and Ice Cube, who became part of gangsta-rap group NWA. Meanwhile Brooklyn native Iovine worked with the likes of John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith. The second offering examines Iovine’s reputation as a fearless producer, and his time on the west coast working with Tom Petty.
Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast, C4, 8pm
DAVINA McCall visits Jamie Oliver and Jimmy Doherty’s cafe at the end of the pier where she tries slow-cooked rabbit casserole and a deliciously indulgent pomme puree which reminds Davina of her teenage years in Paris. Other dishes on the menu include gunpowder lamb.
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