The story of The Blitz continues on Channel 5

Telly Today: Tuesday May 28th and Michael Buerk is back on the story of The Blitz along with Angellica Bell and Rob Bell.

One to Watch: The Blitz: Britain on Fire, Channel 5, 9pm This three-part stripped history event explores eight critical days in May 1941 when Britain, and Liverpool in particular, was subjected to one of the most intense bombardments of World War II. Presented by Michael Buerk, Angellica Bell and Rob Bell and using eyewitness accounts and recollections from relatives, ‘The Blitz: Britain on Fire’ tells the remarkable story of this period through a group of very different Britons caught up in the week’s terrible events. Among them are a film actress, a merchant navy captain, a volunteer firefighter, a hospital matron and a mother of six. Over the course of three programmes, we follow what happened to each of them. In the first edition last night Channel 5 explored the story of Margaret Johnson, a mother of six. Margaret’s children weren’t evacuated out of the city and when the bombing began, the family were forced to shelter in neighbours back garden. There was also the story of Howard Kinley, a merchant navy captain in charge of a crew of 72 and a ship full of explosives at Liverpool’s docks. Mary Lawson, a promising film star in 40s Britain, was in Liverpool with her husband when the raids began, as were 21-year-old seamstress Flo Richardson and her father, who worked as an auxiliary firefighter. Matron Gertrude Riding and Dr Leonard Findlay were running one of Liverpool’s busiest hospitals with a packed maternity ward. All were caught up in the raids. In the second episode tonight the story of the May Blitz continues as the show discovers how Dr Leonard Findlay and Matron Gertrude Riding are caught in a direct hit. In the maternity ward, young mothers search for their babies. Margaret Johnson and three of her children are less than a mile from the docks when their air raid shelter receives a direct hit, while film star Mary Lawson, staying in the upmarket part of Liverpool, takes a risky decision not to stay in one of the public shelters. At the docks, Captain Howard Kinley and his 72-strong crew endeavour to save their ship, the HMS Malakand and its cargo of high explosives. We also meet Desmond Gong, a young RAF recruit from Liverpool’s China Town. Desmond’s son tells the compelling story of his family’s experience through those eight days of intense raids. Tomorrow night in the final episode the fate of those covered in the programme are revealed; Mary Lawson’s last-minute decision to stay above ground during the bombing had serious consequences, while the staff and patients at the maternity hospital were forced to deal with the terrible impact of the raids. At the end of eight days of some of the worst bombing of the entire Blitz, Liverpool and Britain, emerged from this terrible time, seriously wounded, but not defeated. Michael Buerk hosts The Blitz, on Channel 5, tonight at 9pm.

Master of Photography, Sky Arts, 7pm

The first European TV show dedicated to the world of photography is back for a fourth run of episodes starting tonight on Sky Arts.

Contestants from all over Europe, ranging from award-winning, published professionals to those for whom a career in photography is still just a dream, will have to prove to a jury of world-renowned photographers and experts that they have the creativity, instinct and versatility to win the final prize of € 100,000 and the coveted title of Master of Photography.

In the first episode, contestants prove themselves in an archaeological landscape task by photographing one of the most relevant sites in Italy: Ostia Antica. Serving as the Roman Empire’s seaport for centuries, the contestants will be tasked with capturing the site’s cultural heritage in today’s society.

Beat The Chef, Channel 4, 5.30pm

Restaurateur Andi Oliver hosts the second episode in this new series where skilful amateur cooks compete with house chefs in fast-paced cook-offs to win a cash prize of up to £10,000.

For today’s gastronomic gamble, chef and amateur each make their version of venison burger and chips. Whose dish do the Food Jury prefer in the blind tasting: the double stacked dirty burger or single patty on a brioche bun? Amateur cook Paul just needs one vote but if he loses he’ll walk away empty-handed. It’s clear that Paul means business and will take this challenge as far as possible.

Holby City, BBC One (England, Wales and Northern Ireland), 8pm

As Dominic (David Ames) continues to treat Isaac’s (Marc Elliott) father, Lofty (Lee Mead) is determined to protect him. But when Dominic refuses to let him, it puts their marriage under threat, playing right into Isaac’s hands.

Holby City is shown on BBC One Scotland after the late evening edition of Reporting Scotland.

Chernobyl, Sky Atlantic, 9pm

“This jaw-dropping Sky Original is gripping viewers across the UK and beyond for good reason – the writing and production are second to none, and the story is both fascinating and utterly tragic. This is must-watch TV, and we’re delighted that audiences are enjoying it as much as we are.” – Zai Bennett, Sky’s Director of Programmes

Sky are rightly proud of their latest drama. It has become the top rated TV show on IMDB with 9.7/10, beating Planet Earth, Breaking Bad and Band of Brothers while critics have given the show a 96% Rotten Tomato score and nearly 2 million people tuned in to the first episode.

Sky Original Chernobyl sees the drama series take on the atrocity of the Chernobyl disaster with fitting gravity, but also with deep respect and empathy.

In this penultimate episode, Valery Legasov and Soviet Deputy Prime Minister Boris Shcherbina consider using lunar rovers to remove radioactive debris, while Ulana Khomyuk faces government hurdles in determining the truth about the cause of the explosion.