The Battle for Black Music: Paid in Full
9.25pm, BBC Two
In 1996, TLC stood up at the Grammys and proclaimed: “We are the biggest-selling female group ever and we are broke.” As this enraging series shows, they weren’t the first (or last) Black artists to hit big and wonder where the money went. We begin with the story of blues icon Bessie Smith, who was paid peanuts for music that made millions. Smith’s money helped save Columbia Records from bankruptcy – enabling them to rip off the vulnerable Billie Holiday. The documentary also reflects on the bitter irony that so much of the best Black music of the 20th century was either tacitly or overtly a response to white oppression. Contributors include Nile Rodgers, Chaka Khan and Smokey Robinson. Phil Harrison
Apples Never Fall
9.25pm, BBC One
This drama – first shown on Peacock – is based on a novel by Liane Moriarty, who was also responsible for the source material of Big Little Lies. The vibe isn’t entirely dissimilar: prosperous, charming and flawed couple Stan and Joy (the Delaneys, played by Sam Neill and Annette Bening) struggle to hide a tension that eventually explodes into genteel family chaos. PH
Strictly Come Dancing
7pm, BBC One
This first live show of the series is usually comparatively relaxing for everyone involved – they dance in the knowledge that no one will be voted off this week. They will, however, be subjected to the withering verdicts of the judges. Will this year’s strugglers, stragglers and potential wildcards begin to emerge? PH
Abandoned Railways from Above
8.25pm, Channel 4
An evocative, atmospheric six-part series investigating disused railway lines and some of the 2,000 “ghost” train stations lying hidden and buried in the woods all over the UK. This week’s opening episode traces a once-beloved lost line through the Somerset and Dorset countryside, starting in Bath. Ali Catterall
Althorp House: A Royal Residence
9.25pm, Channel 5
Northamptonshire’s Althorp House has been the ancestral home of the Spencer family since 1688. Now most famous as the final resting place of Diana, Princess of Wales, Althorp has also played host to other intrigues over the years, as we hear from royal watchers, including ex-butler Paul Burrell. Ellen E Jones
The Killing Kind
11pm, ITV1
In this fraught stalking drama, barrister Ingrid (Emma Appleton) agonises over her mentor’s death, as ex-client/lover John Webster (Colin Morgan) keeps popping up to “help”. A drip-feed of flashbacks fills in more of their ill-fated backstory. Graeme Virtue
Film choice
The Big Sleep, 1.10pm, BBC Two
Howard Hawks’s 1946 adaptation of Raymond Chandler’s notoriously involved crime thriller is a seductive, razor-sharp ride. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall are quick-witted and flirtatious as private eye Philip Marlowe and Vivian, the elder, slightly less disreputable daughter of his wealthy client’s two children. Marlowe’s investigation into a blackmail threat against the younger sister Carmen (Martha Vickers) leads him down a rabbit hole of scandal, violence and murder, driven on by his own battered moral compass. Simon Wardell
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life, 10.35pm, ITV4
For their final film as a troupe, the comedy group returned to their sketch roots for a (very) loosely connected series of musings on humanity. As with their TV shows, it’s a hit-and-miss proposition, but when it works it is brilliantly dark and pointed, even misanthropic. The musical number Every Sperm Is Sacred skewers Catholic attitudes to contraception superbly, while the school sex education class pushes its concept to absurd conclusions. And for pure, gleeful repulsion, not much can top Mr Creosote’s visit to the restaurant. Wafer-thin mint, anyone? SW
Live sport
International One-Day Cricket: England v Australia, 10.30am, Sky Sports Cricket The second in the five-match series from Headingley. The next two games are on Tuesday and Friday at noon.
Premier League Football: West Ham v Chelsea, 11am, TNT Sports 1 Crystal Palace v Man United is on at 5pm on Sky Sports Main Event.
Tennis: Laver Cup, 2pm, Eurosport 2 The singles matches between Team Europe and Team World continue.
Premiership Rugby Union: Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers, 3pm, TNT Sports 1 Followed by Gloucester Rugby v Saracens at 5.15pm. Sale Sharks v Harlequins is on Sunday at 2.30pm.
