TV Review: Last Woman Standing & Good Wife

By Sian Brewis

So, Last Woman Standing (BBC 1, 9pm). It's almost like someone in tellyland went into a meeting and said: "You know what's missing from Bruce Parry's programme? Boobs. And fighting."

It's difficult to know what else to describe it as, to be honest.

Five female athletes head off round the world, taking on ladies from tribes in far flung places in huge, hair-pulling brawls.

Fun, yes: but don't expect any thought-provoking analysis of different tribal cultures.

As their plane lands in Western Brazil, the Kamayura tribe turn out to greet them. "I've never seen so many naked people!" gasps one of the Brits.

The Kamayura are fantastic women wrestlers. They are, we're told, so hard that neighbouring tribes won't fight them any more.

The athletes are Lesley, a hard-as-nails boxer who is the most down-to-earth of the bunch; gym bunny Alex, meanwhile, is a competitive pole dancer. This will come as news to those of us unaware it was a sport.

Joni's a strapping rugby player, while Geordie Natalie's an endurance athlete. She's whippet-thin, too, but what's left of her is tough as old boots. When she falls ill days into the challenge, she's still up for fighting: "Ah've gorra win! I'm representing the North!".

Posh Anna is a wakeboarder, which doesn't get properly explained but is a bit like surfing. Or something.

If the wrestling wasn't tough enough, there's the grim preparations. No motivational talks or sparring. They scrape their flesh using a comb of tiny, vicious-looking piranha teeth. Blood runs down their arms. "There's flies everywhere," moans Alex.

Over two weeks, our girls are trained to fight. You win with a leg grab, back grab or plain slam. Only Lesley, Joni and Natalie look like they are enjoying it. Poor Alex finds pole dancing a bit of a disadvantage.

At night, tent living seems to be a bit more personal than they would like. "Listening to a lot of sex, a lot of laughing, a lot of babies crying," says a tired-looking Anna.

You've got to admire Julianna Margulies. First she was George Clooney's girlfriend in ER, now she is married to Chris Noth in the Good Wife (C4, 10pm). Good work.

What sounds glumly formulaic – another mum struggling to balance family with career, with guts, pluck and a truly impressive wardrobe – turns out to be cheerfully watchable.

Julia plays Alicia, forced back to work as a lawyer after her rich hubby is sent to prison for corruption.

There are plenty of fine performances and it has the sophisticated sheen of Law & Order. And there are some nice lines, too. "Sometimes, flipping someone off is good for your soul," advises her new law chum, Kalinda.