Wildlife Rescue
8pm, Channel 4
A “pregnant” pigeon in a bathtub. A fox at a building site with its head stuck in a plastic bottle. Three orphaned seal pups attacked by dogs. Get ready to shed a tear or two as the lovely people at South Essex wildlife hospital work to save the lives of animals and return them to the wild. The opening episode also meets Liz the swan, who is depressed after surgery – until another swan comes in. Hollie Richardson
The Apprentice
9pm, BBC One
It’s the final. They’ve survived everything from cereal-selling to vegan curried cheese (and Lord Sugar’s even cheesier one-liners), plus the ritual breaking-on-the-wheel that is the interview process. The remaining contestants must direct a TV advert for their newly branded company and pitch it to the Sugar Cube at a black tie do. Ali Catterall
Nelson Mandela: A Life in Ten Pictures
9pm, BBC Two
“It’s the first time I’ve seen my grandparents together in the same picture – in the same room!” More unexpected moments in this reflective series, as Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter Tukwini looks at personal photos taken of the anti-apartheid activist and politician throughout his life. HR
The Twelve
9pm, ITV1
The Australian jury drama about the murder of a young girl continues with as much action out of the courtroom as in it. In the suburbs, the behaviour of Georgina’s controlling husband is ringing yet more alarm bells, but back in court the victim’s father attempts to paint the accused as a sexual predator who groomed his daughter. Hannah Verdier
Taskmaster
9pm, Channel 4
One of these days, a Taskmaster series will fall flat. But it won’t be this time: once again, the five comedians vying for the favour of Greg Davies are rising effortlessly to the occasion. This week, Joanne McNally demonstrates a traditional Irish handshake and Sophie Willan and Steve Pemberton have unpleasant encounters with wildlife. Phil Harrison
Bottom: Exposed
9pm, Gold
Three decades after the show first aired, Stephen Fry narrates a lively retrospective of Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall’s sitcom Bottom – which Edmondson calls “something in between art and vulgar”. Cast members and fans including Helen Lederer, Chris McCausland and Maisie Adam join in the reminiscences. HR
Film choice
River (Junta Yamaguchi, 2023), 11.25pm, Film4
A sci-fi comedy with a delightfully Japanese tinge, Junta Yamaguchi’s film traps the staff and guests of a wintry mountain inn in a two-minute time loop – though they remember everything. Waitress Mikoto (Riko Fujitani), professional politeness to the fore, takes it in her stride, trying to keep the customers satisfied. But other reactions vary from giddy relief (an author with writer’s block) to fury (a man stuck naked in a bath), as order breaks down and impulse takes over. It’s fast-paced fun, but there is space left to ponder whether pausing your life briefly is a restorative or mere avoidance of reality. Simon Wardell
