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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Phil Harrison, Sharon O'Connell, Jack Seale, Jonathan Wright, David Stubbs, Hannah Verdier and Paul Howlett

Monday’s best TV: North Korean Kidnap: The Lovers and the Despot; Crimewatch

North Korean Despot: The Lovers and the Despot ... Kim Jong-il (centre) with Choi Eun-hee (right).
North Korean Despot: The Lovers and the Despot ... Kim Jong-il (centre) with Choi Eun-hee (right). Photograph: BBC/Hellflower Films/Shin Films Foundation

North Korean Kidnap: The Lovers and the Despot – Storyville
10pm, BBC4

The only thing worse than being loathed by a despot is being adored by one. This film tells the story of Choi Eun-hee, a South Korean movie star who, in 1978, was effectively stolen by North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il and forced to make films for him. It’s a bizarre-enough tale not to need much embellishment, but the parallels between cinematic artifice and life under dictatorship are well drawn. Phil Harrison

Crimewatch
9pm, BBC1

Long before the era-defining chicanery that may or may not have affected last year’s US election, it was apparent that the virtual realm was the new frontier for law enforcement. Tonight, cybercrime hacks into primetime with a whole Crimewatch special devoted to it. Jeremy Vine and Tina Daheley will be exploring the implications of this new reality. Are the authorities fighting an unwinnable battle against an invisible enemy? Maybe. Don’t have nightmares ... PH

Puerto Rico: Island of Enchantment – Natural World
9pm, BBC2

David Attenborough reveals that the vast biodiversity of this Caribbean island is threatened by development. But, as visits to a breeding centre for parrots and a rehab facility for injured and orphaned manatees show, its people are rallying round. A hugely hopeful tale, albeit one with a warning. Plus, proof that draining the abscess of a panicking, 600lb sea cow is no walk in the eco park. Sharon O’Connell

Broadchurch
9pm, ITV

Tricky, these middle episodes of a crime drama: it’s easy for the clacking of the plot’s gears to become audible as the detectives glean a tiny bit more info from every tense, guilty but never conclusive conversation. The necessary dramatic heft comes from Julie Hesmondhalgh, flawless as rape victim Trish, who this week revisits the scene of the crime, and Jim Howick, cast against type as a new suspect so extravagantly unpleasant he is surely innocent. Jack Seale

Britain in Focus: A Photographic History
9pm, BBC4

Eamonn McCabe’s story of snaps and snappers reaches the latter half of the 20th century and, with the manipulated postcard images of John Hinde, the nation bursts into colour. Via John Bulmer’s images of the north, Martin Parr’s affectionate satire and Fay Godwin’s politically charged landscapes, McCabe makes his way to the digital age. A series that would have benefited from a stronger narrative, but the images are stunning. Jonathan Wright

Shades of Blue
10pm, Sky Living

The second series of the New York City cop drama starring Jennifer Lopez as Harlee Santos and Ray Liotta as Wozniak, a corrupt lieutenant against whom she has been forced to act as an informant. Tonight, however, Wozniak has cut a deal with the FBI, which he realises is a trap. And now the mafia are involved. Anna Gunn also appears as a cop-turned-councillor. Passable, although the show could do with tuning its relentlessly histrionic soundtrack right down. David Stubbs

Made in Chelsea
9pm, E4

A new series of the posher-than-posh reality show kicks off with old faces and new lining up to get their drama on. There’s a twist in store because, as avid readers of gossip magazines will already know, Binky Felstead is pregnant with on-off boyfriend JP’s heir. Cue loads of people saying: “I can’t believe you’re going to have a baby.” Hopefully the news won’t keep the toffs from the important business of quaffing champers and being beastly to each other. Hannah Verdier

Film choice

Waltz With Bashir.
Waltz With Bashir.

Waltz With Bashir (Ari Folman, 2008) 3am, Sky Arts

Folman said this “animated documentary” was a form of therapy, to confront his experiences as a young Israeli soldier during the 1982 invasion of Lebanon, specifically the massacre of Palestinians at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. The result is a compelling depiction of warfare: the graphic horror of combat and affecting moments of introspection. The reminiscences of his former comrades demonstrate that the survivors pay a price, too. Paul Howlett

Live sport

Curling: World Championships Coverage of the round-robin stage of the women’s curling championship in Beijing, China. 11am, Eurosport 1

Cycling: Tour of Catalunya Coverage of stage one: a 178.9km route across Calella. 2.30pm, Eurosport 1

Irish Premiership football: Crusaders v Ballinamallard Coverage of the Danske Bank Premiership clash from Seaview. 7.40pm, Sky Sports 1

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