You’re Killing My Son: The Mum Who Went On The Run  (9pm Channel 4)

Last December, the story of seven-year-old Neon Roberts was all over the news. After surgery to remove a brain tumour, he needed radiotherapy and chemotherapy to stop it growing back. 

But his mother Sally, thought otherwise.

Horrified by the potential side-effects of these treatments she took her son and disappeared, seeking out alternative remedies while police conducted a nationwide search to find them.

Just six days after the pair were found, director Sarah Burkeman who is a family friend, began filming their story for this Cutting Edge documentary. At the time Neon’s cancer was diagnosed, Sally and his father Ben were separating and Ben speaks here for the first time about his experience as the high court awarded him custody.

Sally’s actions will divide viewers, but there is no doubt she wanted to protect her son and do the best for him.  Deafness and impaired IQ were just two of the side effects she was warned about and the film shows Sally’s scepticism about conventional medicine.

“Everyone loves to think that doctors have these almighty powers,” she says.

 “We like to think they’re going to do the best thing by us, but really they’re doing the best thing by the pharmaceutical companies. In years to come will  people look back at the horrific suffering caused to children with cancer and wonder why such a civilised society with so much technology at their disposal couldn’t have prevented it. “

We do meet Linda Scotson, the alternative health practitioner who Sally visited to treat Neon with oxygen therapy.  Unfortunately, this film offers no explanation of Linda’s research or results so it’s impossible for viewers to judge how viable an alternative she was offering.

Denis Lawson as Steve McAndrew, Dennis Waterman as Gerry Standing, Amanda Redman as Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman, and Alun Armstrong as Brian Lane in New Tricks
Denis Lawson as Steve McAndrew, Dennis Waterman as Gerry Standing, Amanda Redman as Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman, and Alun Armstrong as Brian Lane in New Tricks

New Tricks (9pm BBC1)

It’s the beginning of the end for Brian and his UCOS position. After leaking his secretly made recording, it’s only a matter of time before he and his trusty cycling helmet leave for pastures new. Actor Alun Armstrong, pictured, will be missed from this show, not least because ever since James Bolam left, his wonderfully understated performance has helped balanced out the somewhat panto-style acting of a certain Dennis Waterman.

But while Brian ponders a life after UCOS, he and the rest of the team investigate a possible miscarriage of justice.  A former getaway driver has served 16 years for murdering his wife but new evidence throws doubt on the conviction and the case has been reopened – much to Gerry’s annoyance as he was on the original investigation.

Rosie Marcel plays Jac Naylor in Holby City
Rosie Marcel plays Jac Naylor in Holby City

Holby City (8pm BBC1)

Chrissie is back at Holby after whisking her frail, post-op son Daniel off on a long-haul flight to Australia. 

But this time, it’s not Daniel who’s the patient but Chrissie herself. And her marriage is also on the critical list after Sacha finds out she spent her last night in the UK with Michael Spence, or “uncle Michael” as Daniel is now calling him.

When Mo and Sacha are joking about Brangelina style nick-names for the hospital’s couples, it’s apt that Sacha and Chrissie get stuck with something that sounds like Crasher.

Perhaps this is why Jac Naylor, (also back tonight) and Jonny Mac are unlikely to have a future. Can you seriously see our favourite hatchet-faced consultant agreeing to becoming Jac Mac?

SOAP ROUND-UP

Emmerdale (7pm ITV)

Nikhil’s already got a job lined up in Canada and is going in a week, unless his family can force him to stay and take responsibility for baby Molly.  

They think they’ve been too soft on him up till now – you may think the opposite – but as they try and dump Molly on him one more time will their plan work?

Eastenders (7.30pm BBC1)

Just when it looked like they might be getting back together, Lauren is upset when Joey tells her he wants to take things slowly.

And a night out with Whitney and Lucy at R&R causes her more stress after Whitney confesses that she had a one-night stand with Joey. 

Until now, Lauren’s managed to stay off the booze, but Whitney’s revelation leaves her in desperate need of a drink.