Channel hop

My love affair with bikes began when I was only knee-high to a grasshopper. As a child, I would build ramps from which to jump over ditches on my Raleigh Chopper. It didn't always end well. I bashed my balls on that damn machine many times, but it never took away the thrill of messing around on a bike. Then came BMXs, racers and mountain bikes, and now it's motorbikes. Bruised knees, grazed elbows and good times.

All of this two-wheeled tomfoolery can be traced back to a single moment: my eighth birthday. I was given the Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle, a wind-up, plastic toy ridden by a small action figure of the famous American daredevil that could jump just about anything. It was the 1980s equivalent of an Xbox - on crack.

Following in the booted footsteps of Knievel, survivor of the most broken bones in a lifetime, Heirs to the Dare (Discovery Channel, tonight at 8pm) tracks three adrenaline junkies who perform dangerous motorcycle stunts simply for the thrill of it.

Then there's retired Super Joe Reed, who plans to suit up one more time to jump a canyon by strapping rockets to his bum, if only he can convince his wife it's a sane idea. Breaking bones and records may look dumb to some, but I know exactly where these guys are coming from.

Inside Men (BBC Entertainment, Tuesday at 9pm) is a gripping four-part crime drama starring Steven Mackintosh (Luther) as John, a mild-mannered, pencil-pushing manager at a cash-counting warehouse. John's disillusioned life is seemingly turned upside down when a gang of armed robbers breaks in and steals the loot.

Flashback a few months and all is not what it seemed. Honest John apparently decided to grow a pair and surprisingly, even to himself, may not be entirely innocent.

Of course, as with all television bank robberies, things don't go to plan and the security guard and accomplice, Chris, is shot. The getaway begins to spin out of control.

Despite being supported by a fine cast, Mackintosh is the star of the show and while his slow descent into crime may not be on quite the same level as that of meth lord Walter White, it's emotionally engaging and lifts Inside Men well above the usual heist drama.

The planet would no doubt spin off its axis if there wasn't a new cooking show premiering every week, and the latest delectable offering is Meat vs Veg (Nat Geo People, Tuesday at 7.55pm). In this enthusiastic and light-hearted series, two chefs - game-shooting carnivore Mike Robinson and vegetarian Lee Watson - battle it out in the kitchen to each prove that their (meat or veg) dishes are the best.

Hey, it's not rocket science!

This week they take on burgers: will Robinson's super-beefy effort win the day or can Watson tempt the meat-loving diner over to the green side?

Maybe Robinson should lettuce give peas a chance.