TV Picks: 30 May – 5 June 2011 (Alexander Armstrong's Big Ask, Case Histories, Coast, Lead Balloon, Meet The Elephant Man, Popstar To Operastar, Talking Funny, etc.)

Pick of the Week: LEAD BALLOON - Tuesday, BBC2, 10PM

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY

Horrible Histories (CBBC, 5.15pm) Return of the BAFTA-winning historical sketch show for kids.
Gory Games (CBBC, 5.45pm) Horrible Histories spin-off gameshow. Hosted by Dave Lamb.
Four In A Bed (Channel 4, 5pm) Series 2 of the show looking into B&B's.
Come Dine With Me (Channel 4, 5.30pm) Return of the culinary gameshow. Continues weekdays.
The Truth About Wildlife (BBC1, 7.30pm) Series looking at wildlife conservationism in the UK. Presented by Chris Packham.
Britain's Got Talent: Semi Finals (ITV1, 7.30pm) Live finals with Simon Cowell returning to the jury to pick this year's winner. Continues weekdays, with results at 9.30pm.
Springwatch 2011 (BBC2, 8pm) Return of the live wildlife series. Presented by Chris Packham & Kate Humble. (1/12)
Egypt's Lost Cities (BBC1, 8.30pm) Documentary using "space archaeology" (satellites with infrared cameras) to investigate the surface of Egypt.
Alexander Armstrong's Big Ask (Dave, 10pm) Comedy quiz show where players have to devise questions that will bamboozle their rivals. Guests include Griff Rhys Jones, Robert Webb, Dave Lamb & Katy Brand.

TUESDAY 31st

Storyville: Amnesty! When They Are All Free (BBC4, 9pm) Documentary on Amnesty International.
Lead Balloon (BBC2, 10pm) Series 4 of the sitcom about a miserable comedian. Starring Jack Dee, Raquel Cassidy, Anna Crilly, Sean Power, Rasmus Hardicker, Ingrid Oliver & Tony Gardner.
True Stories: Google Baby (More4, 10pm) Documentary about a business where people can order babies online.

WEDNESDAY 1st

Springwatch Unsprung 2011 (BBC2, 8.30pm) Sister show to Springwatch in the form of an audience debate.
The Men Who Won't Stop Marching (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary looking at the current state of Belfast's Shankhill Road marching bands.
Cumbria, One Year On (ITV1, 10.35pm) Documentary reflecting on the tragedy last May, when Cumbrian taxi driver Derrick Bird went on a rampage: shooting 12 people dead and seriously injuring 11 before committing suicide.

THURSDAY 2nd

Andrew Marr's Megacities (BBC1, 8pm) Documentary series exploring how cities with more than 10 million citizens cope manage to feed, protect and transport the populace. Presented by Andrew Marr. (1/3)
Welly Telly: The Countryside Of Television (BBC4, 8pm) Homage to rural TV. Featuring Kate Humble, John Craven, Clarissa Dickson Wright, Bill Oddie, Bill Bryson, and more.
Meet The Elephant Man (Channel 4, 9pm) Documentary where scientists study the bones of Joseph Merrick; the disfigured Victorian gentleman best-known as The Elephant Man.
Bums, Boobs & Botox (Channel 4, 10pm) Documentary looking at a market leader in British cosmetic surgery.
Talking Funny (Sky Atlantic, 10.15pm) Special where Ricky Gervais chairs a meeting of top American comedy talent to discuss what's funny: Jerry Seinfeld, Louis CK & Chris Rock.

FRIDAY 3rd

Julia Bradbury's Canal Walks (BBC2, 9pm) Series exploring some of the UK's canals and towpath trails. Hosted by Julia Bradbury. (1/4)

SATURDAY 4th

The Classic Brit Awards 2011 (ITV3, 11.05pm) Annual awards ceremony.

SUNDAY 5th

The Royal (ITV1, 7pm) Series 8 of the hospital drama set in the 1960s. (1/9)
Popstar To Operastar (ITV1, 8pm) Series 2 of the singing contest where pop singers are trained to become opera singers. Hosted by Myleene Klass, with mentors Katherine Jenkins & Rolando Villazon. Celebrity contestants are Joe McElderry, Jocelyn Brown, Cheryl Baker, Midge Ure, Andy Bell, Claire Richards, Joseph Washbourn & Melody Thornton.
Case Histories (BBC1, 9pm) Crime drama about a private investigator who is asked to help find a woman who went missing 30 years ago. Starring Jason Isaacs, Amanda Abbington, Natasha Little, Fenella Woolgar & Kirsty Mitchell. (1/6)
Coast (BBC1, 9pm) Series 6 of the show exploring the unusual and picturesque coastal sights of the British Isles and its neighbours. (1/6)
Annie Nightingale: Bird On The Wireless (BBC4, 9pm) Documentary to commemorate DJ Annie Nightingale's 40th year in the music business.