TV preview: Galapagos (BBC1, Thursday, 9pm) and an iguana that is positively pink – think!

Warty Pink Octopus. A magnificent name, I hope you’ll agree, for a magnificent creature. It looks very much like a Disneyfied version of a real animal, like something out of Finding Nemo, and just too big-eyed, cute and, well, pink, to be actually an integral part of the grubby old real world. Yet, there it was, one of the stars of the BBC’s latest undersea adventure – Galapagos. So no prizes for where this one is set – the archipelago that inspired Charles Darwin and continues to intrigue naturalists and, indeed, the rest of us. The pink octopus is joined by the remarkable pink iguana which, for obvious reasons, reminds one of the opening sequences of the Pink Panther cartoon series from the DePatie-Freleng corporation (circa 1964 to 1970). You remember the theme song, here re-imagined for our reptilian friend:

“Think of all the animals you’ve ever heard about
Like rhinoceroses and tigers, cats and mink
There are lots of funny animals in all this world
But have you ever seen an iguana that is pink?
Think!
An iguana that is positively pink,
Well here he is, the pink iguana,
The rinky-dink iguana,
Isn’t he an iguana ever so pink?”

And so on. Scans OK. The tune and lyrics may also be now burned into your mind same as mine. Sorry. Anyway, even for those of us who think they know plenty about natural history Liz Bonnin and her scientific gang’s research expedition turns up plenty that is new, fascinating and positively pink.

I’m afraid that the sheer strangeness of the Galapagos’ natural history does slightly overshadow that of the coast of the west of Ireland, but, even so, Wild Ireland: The Edge of the World is a lovely atmospheric sort of watch. Ireland boasts some of the finest scenery and natural beauty in the world, as well as inspiring human achievements. Not including, I have to say, Mrs Brown, who is back with All Round to Mrs Brown’s, which, is now reborn as a chat show rather than a sitcom, with guests this week Pamela Anderson, Louis Walsh and Judy Murray. It’s there if you want it. By the way, Mrs Brown follows an episode of Casualty and Let’s Sing and Dance for Comic Relief. Saturday night telly can be better than that, surely?

open image in gallery

I’m much more inclined to recommend The Repair Shop, which is about craftsmanship and antiques but also the raw human emotions wrapped up in inanimate objects, and Brian Pern: A Tribute, the mock-rockumentary that stands as Simon Day’s greatest contribution to civilisation (of many). God bless Brian, and God bless Simon. Also looking promising is Carters Get Rich, Sky’s new comedy about the family of an 11-year old who makes it big with an app. A parable for our times. Catastrophe, meanwhile, continues its exquisite run on Channel 4. Ths week features a sick dad and alcoholism. But yes, despite my misgivings about the Saturday evening offer, the BBC has the best of things next week.