The Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm, Orkney. Picture: Robert Plattner/Getty WHEN writing her novel set in Orkney and inspired by wartime events, Caroline Lea found herself captivated by the story of the Italian Chapel that stands on the small uninhabited island of Lamb Holm. The Metal Heart, published later this month, draws on the real-life history behind the building – famously made from two Nissen huts joined end-to-end – with its distinctive whitewashed facade and highly ornate, hand-painted interior. The chapel, created by the Italian prisoners-of-war brought to Orkney during the Second World War to construct the Churchill Barriers in Scapa Flow, has since become a much-beloved symbol of peace and hope.
PAUL WHITELAW: Our TV critic picks his highlights for the upcoming week by Paul Whitelaw
Lucy, the Human Chimp -Channel 4, Monday, 9pm
In 1966, two psychology professors from the University of Oklahoma embarked upon a radical nature vs nurture experiment. They decided to raise Lucy, a female chimpanzee, as if she were human. But by the time she was 11, Lucy had grown too large and unpredictable to continue living with her surrogate parents. So they were forced to make a difficult decision: Lucy was shipped off to an African nature reserve in the company of a young student called Janis Carter. Via archive material, dramatic reconstructions and a revealing interview with Carter herself, the film makes a powerful statement about the relationship between humans and animals.
BBC Scotland/iPlayer WEEK two of the competition to find Scotland’s nicest abode and “they” have arrived on the scene. “They” are the enemy of pristine white walls. “They”, and their pals, like nothing better than to clutter up the place disturbing karate-chopped cushions and perfectly placed throws. “They” care nothing about showroom tidy kitchens. “They”, you’ve guessed it, are weans. Last week’s show, set in the Borders, was a child-free zone. On this trip to the Hebrides there were three small people. Hardly a mob, but this is how ant invasions start. First stop for judges Anna Campbell Jones, Michael Angus, and Kate Spiers, was a renovated croft house on Skye. Bealach Bothy in Staffin was home to Jo, Allan, and their two children, Lexi and Lachlan.
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Couple s quirky Scots house in running to be Home of the Year divides viewers over odd object in kitchen
Spottes Mill, in Castle Douglas, is an urban rebuild of a former grain store with a stunning stone exterior.
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