The Great
10pm, Channel 4
Huzzah! This witty, stylish and raucous period drama from the maker of The Favourite returns for a second season – just weeks after racking up two well‑deserved Emmy nominations. It picks up in the Russian palace four months after pregnant Catherine (Elle Fanning) launched a coup against her husband, Peter (Nicholas Hoult). Things are at a standstill, with bored children kicking heads around. What will it take for the dim but dastardly emperor to surrender? Hollie Richardson
The South Bank Show
10pm, Sky Arts
“Stop smiling.” This was the indispensable advice bestowed upon Helen Mirren by Prime Suspect creator Lynda La Plante as she undertook her career-defining role as DCI Jane Tennison. The Oscar-winning actor reflects on a colourful career that has elevated her to national-treasure status. Danielle de Wolfe
Location, Location, Location
8pm, Channel 4
Given TV’s formulaic approach to property-buying – find your perfect home in an hour! – it is refreshing when Kirstie and Phil revisit past hopefuls. Tonight, they reunite with a couple struggling to match astronomical north London prices and a south London duo desperate to stay loyal to Balham. Henry Wong
Heathrow: Britain’s Busiest Airport
9pm, ITV
At the start of this year, people were hooked to Big Jet TV – a livestream of planes landing at Heathrow during Storm Eunice. Tonight’s episode takes us back to that time, showing the total chaos caused for staff and passengers. HR
The Roads to Freedom
10pm, BBC Four
As a result of a petition, David Turner and James Cellan Jones’s groundbreaking 1970 adaptation of Jean-Paul Sartre’s trilogy of novels is being shown again as part of the BBC’s centenary celebrations, starting with four episodes tonight. As an introduction, the former Doctor Who star Colin Baker discusses his role as Claude, plus the taboos the series broke. HR
Breeders
10pm, Sky Comedy
This comedy does a fine job of capturing the joys and irritations of family life. Tonight’s episode is a perfect example: Paul (Martin Freeman) is struggling with his back while Ally (Daisy Haggard) is plagued by the menopause. Cue a fond but gloriously passive-aggressive game of sickness one-upmanship, observed with amusement by their baffled children. Phil Harrison
