tellyaddict

Channel 4’s knotty New Zealand drama winds up this week with an incredible double bill. Plus: Reuben Owen gets his Yorkshire Christmas special in early. Here’s what to watch tonight

10pm, Channel 4Robyn Malcolm puts in the performance of the year in this emotionally knotty New Zealand drama, in which no-nonsense teacher Penny Wilding deals with the return of her husband, Phil (Peter Mullan), who, she says, she caught sexually assaulting a minor at a party five years earlier. In an incredible double-bill finale this week (the story concludes on Thursday), Penny is questioning everything she has believed until now, and has isolated herself from friends and family. Did she get it all wrong? Can there be a satisfying conclusion? Perhaps not, but at least by the end – at another party – we find out what really happened that night. Hollie Richardson

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Former members speak out about the sect that claimed more than 70 lives. Plus: Bill Bailey’s master craftsmen. Here’s watch to watch this evening

10pm, BBC FourThis documentary is like watching a horror movie brought to life. It speaks to people who investigated the Order of the Solar Temple – an apocalyptic cult in which, during the 1990s, 74 of its members died – starting with macabre footage of what they found when they investigated seemingly unrelated fatal house fires in Canada and Switzerland. Former members also give their disturbing accounts. Hollie Richardson

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Three rival artists bring 15th-century Italy to life in the first of a classy three-parter. Plus: true crime in a sleepy market town. Here’s what to watch this evening

9pm, BBC TwoCharles Dance plays Michelangelo in this classy documentary drama series about the great rival artists of the Renaissance movement in Italy. Over three episodes, it uses Michelangelo’s own writings to tell his story, alongside the lives of Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. Hollie Richardson

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Cromwell is haunted by betrayal in Peter Kosminsky’s epic historical drama. Plus, Shaun Ryder joins Bill Bailey for a countryside walk. Here’s what to watch this evening

9pm, BBC One

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Just in time for the World Championships, a new series takes us deep inside the world of arrows. Plus, Lenny Henry goes head to head with Romesh Ranganathan. Here’s what to watch this evening

9pm, Sky Documentaries“The world is a shit place; you can have a night at the darts and forget everything,” says Barry Hearn, chair of the Professional Darts Corporation. “Welcome to our world.” This is the ultimate all-access documentary about the run-up to the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace (also known as “the official start of Christmas”.) It follows Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries and Luke “The Nuke” Littler. Hollie Richardson

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George Coulam, ‘king’ of the Texas Renaissance festival, searches for his heir in this three-part documentary. Plus: an Italian drama about a 90s pop group. Here’s what to watch this evening

9pm, Sky DocumentariesBuckle up for this one: a wild new documentary series from the US that has been described as “Succession meets Game of Thrones”, follows Texas Renaissance festival co-founder George Coulam, who, now in his 80s and ideally wanting to die “by being screwed to death”, is looking for his heir. Some colourful characters enter the ring, as we learn the backstory of this absurd world, in which he has become known as the “king”. Hollie Richardson

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Phil Dunning’s Smoggie Queens is full of laughs and love. Plus: the Jackal continues to elude MI6. Here’s what to watch this evening

10.10pm, BBC Three“Cheers queers!” Phil Dunning’s comedy about an LGBTQ+ group of friends in Middlesbrough is side-splittingly funny. He plays Dickie, a fabulous if foul-mouthed drag queen whose friends are “drag” Mam (Mark Benton), “hun” Lucinda (Alexandra Mardell), lager-guzzling Sal (Patsy Lowe) and newbie Stewart (Elijah Young). In the first episode Dickie is dumped and amid the endless laughter there is also a lot of tenderness. Hollie Richardson

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Three people give their views on the country’s supreme leader. Plus: murder isn’t the only problem for Shetland’s detectives. Here’s what to watch this evening

9pm, BBC Two“I can’t have any opinions on this; it would be dangerous for me.” “I spit on this old man.” “The reason for all our miseries.” These are the reactions of three people living in self-exile from Iran (they could face imprisonment if they return under the current regime) when shown a photo of the country’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Together they explain the mass anti-government protests that have erupted across Iran since 2009. Hollie Richardson

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The 80s legal drama is reborn with a new lead as Matty plots to convince hirers they need an older woman for the job. Plus: The Great British Bake-Off cooks up this year’s final. Here’s what to watch this evening

9pm, Sky WitnessA sparky new legal comedy drama starring Oscar-winner Kathy Bates, who is great as whip-smart, empathetic lawyer Madeline “Matty” Matlock in this spin-off from the 80s classic. Matty left law 30 years ago, but now in her 70s, wants to practise again. When she believes she is passed over for a role because of her age, Matty uses her wits to sneak into the firm, telling the hirers why being an older woman is useful: “Nobody sees us coming.” But can she convince junior partner Olympia (Skye P Marshall)? Hollie Richardson

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Television physician Dr Chris van Tulleken explores the wild world of food engineering. Plus: the Dune galaxy comes to TV. Here’s what to watch this evening

9pm, BBC TwoWhether it’s feeding ice-cream to a person having a brain scan to find the “happiest” flavour, or using sound engineers to perfect the refreshing hiss of a can of fizzy pop being opened (“sonic branding”), there’s a lot of engineering that goes into making food addictive. In this fascinating if alarming documentary, medical doctor and academic Dr Chris van Tulleken speaks to industry insiders who lift the lid on the harmful tricks of manufacturers. Hollie Richardson

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A gossipy documentary about how the royal managed to spin her public persona. Plus: Keanu Reeves’s delightful F1 underdog tale. Here’s what to watch this evening

9pm, Channel 4

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Moonflower Murders is a double-timeline murder mystery. Plus: Sally Phillips has a hoot as she celebrates 30 years of comedy. Here’s everything to watch this evening

9.25pm, BBC One

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