SBS’s weekly programmer picks – 28/5

MONDAY

Sir David Attenborough is a passionate environmentalist and is deeply concerned about overpopulation. In How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth? (SBS TWO 7:30pm) he examines how the earth’s finite resources can cope with a population of seven billion and counting. At 8:30pm Inside Nature’s Giants (SBS TWO) continues this week and takes a look inside the majestic giraffe. I wonder what Attenborough makes of this show?

WEDNESDAY

Predators in Your Backyard (SBS ONE 7:30pm) is a really fascinating look at the reintroduction of wild predators into the natural environment. After being hunted close to extinction, wolves, panthers and bears are being returned to nature reserves in an attempt to re-establish working ecosystems. The problem is that many of these reserves now butt up against suburban sprawl…

In the finale of Extreme Frontiers: Canada (SBS ONE 8:35pm) Charley Boorman goes gold mining in the Yukon and makes his way towards the Pacific Coast. As many viewers have noted, who knew he was such a swearing bear?

And in this week’s East to West (SBS ONE 9:30pm) – the story behind the spread of Islam.

THURSDAY

It’s the final episode of The Family UK this week (SBS ONE 930pm). We’ve had a birth and now it’s time for a big Indian wedding. But will Shay’s estranged mother show up? For those of you on Twitter use the hashtag #TheFamilySBS and join in the conversation!

Also on SBS TWO is the moving film festival favourite My Barefoot Friend (8:30pm) about an Indian rickshaw puller and his struggle to support his family in Kolkata.

FRIDAY

Here’s one for the Welsh descendants amongst us (I’m looking at you PM!). The six-part series The Story of Wales begins this week (SBS ONE 8:30pm) and traces the history of this nation that has often had to play underdog to its British cousins. We begin in Wales' prehistoric past through to the Roman occupation and the spread of Christianity. And The World’s Biggest Bomb (SBS ONE 9:30pm) is a powerful look at the US-Soviet nuclear arms race and the legacy that continues to this day.

SATURDAY

On SBS ONE auditions fire up to find Australia’s Bollywood Star, while over on SBS TWO Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen sets off to reach the North Pole in Voyages of Discovery (7:30pm). And at 8:30pm Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and James Cameron look at the way that science fiction has reflected political paranoia of the day (Between Paranoia and Science Fiction).

SUNDAY

Speaking of George Lucas and sci-fi, Prophets of Science Fiction (SBS ONE 8:30pm) is back this week with Lucas as our prophet – with Star Wars an inspiration to generations of nerds (many of whom have invented very cool things). Prior to that in the Lost Worlds slot (SBS ONE 7:30pm) Dr Phil Currie has a theory that tyrannosaurs hunted in packs and he’s not afraid to prove it in the two-part documentary Dino Gangs.

And if lightsaber battles are too lightweight for you – The Fight (SBS TWO 8:30pm) is a four-part history of boxing.

Next week: Simon Reeve returns in a new series circumnavigating the Indian Ocean.