SAS Rogue Warriors
9pm, BBC2
Opening episode of a series exploring the peculiar origins of the SAS. Lieutenant David Stirling, described by superiors as “irresponsible and unremarkable” was the founder of the regiment which, in 1941, was convened for a series of suicidal missions in the north African desert. Historian and author Ben Macintyre eagerly describes the manoeuvres of this band of eccentrics as their scattershot approach to warfare transmuted into something more measured. Phil Harrison
The Fake News Show
8pm, Channel 4
Once again, Channel 4 steps heroically forward to address the drought of panel shows featuring Stephen Mangan, Katherine Ryan and Richard Osman. This, part of C4’s Fake News Week, promises to be a one-off dissection of current propaganda – but prompts the thought that a regular (and serious) show of this sort would be a valuable service. Followed later by Confessions Of The Paparazzi, a portrait of photographers who pester celebrities. Andrew Mueller
The Halcyon
9pm, ITV
Forbidden love and unacknowledged attraction form the underlying themes tonight as the upstairs-downstairs second world war hotel drama continues. For Toby and Adil, this means the worry of being discovered and outed; for WVS volunteer Emma, there’s annoyance at journo Joe; while simmering tension between musicians Betsey and Sonny boils over. All this plays out against the backdrop of an air raid. Soapy, sure, but impressively realised. Jonathan Wright
The Accused
9pm, Channel 5
This raw documentary purports to be a UK television first, shadowing a defendant and her legal aid team as they await criminal trial and, eventually, a verdict. The case could not be more emotive: 23-year-old Kenzey is charged with child cruelty and failing to protect her baby from a violent assault by her boyfriend. Preparing her defence involves reliving the worst night of her life, and the stark injury reports make for upsetting viewing. Graeme Virtue
The Art of France
9pm, BBC4
In the second instalment of Andrew Graham-Dixon’s series, he considers both pre- and post-Revolutionary art. Jacques-Louis David acted as an artistic chronicler of his age, but initially worked as a reluctant propagandist for the monarchy, after being commissioned by Louis XIV himself. David changed his allegiance following the storming of the Bastille, and his latter work celebrated the winds of political change. An engrossing documentation of the era. Ben Arnold
My Life: Born to Vlog
5pm, CBBC
Twelve-year-old Nikki Lilly has AVM, a rare medical condition that causes headaches, nosebleeds and swelling on one side of her face. She started vlogging to keep herself busy when ill health forced her to take time off school. In this moving and inspiring documentary, she tells her story and gets vlogging tips and talks about how to stay safe online with her hero, beauty blogger Em Ford. As if that’s not enough, Nikki enters Junior Bake Off – and wins. Hannah Verdier
Balls Deep
9pm, Viceland
A double-bill of Vice’s immersive documentary series, presented by journalist Thomas Morton. First, he takes a look at the transgender community, and New York’s Christopher Street scene; then, to a soundtrack of Ode to Joy, shadows some grassroots Trump supporters (“Trump is our last hope”) from Stark County, Ohio. These “true believers” have funded a local campaign from their own pockets, “which is laudable… maybe” says Morton. Ali Catterall
Film choice
It Follows (David Robert Mitchell, 2015) 9pm, Film4
There was a time when it was the virginal kid who survived the serial killer, but in Mitchell’s clever horror pastiche, it’s the other way round. The only way to beat the curse of the implacable, shape-shifting bogeyman is to pass it on to someone else … by having sex with them. This deadly new strain of STI creates heaps of tension, suspense and outrageous shocks for Maika Monroe’s poor Jay and her suburban Detroit friends.
Today’s best live sport
Winter Universiade 7.30am, Eurosport 1 Coverage of the men’s relay classic cross-country skiing event.
La Liga Football: Sporting Gijón v Alavés 7.40pm, Sky Sports 1 Strugglers Gijón take on mid-table Alavés in a top-flight clash from El Molinón.
NBA Basketball: Memphis Grizzlies v San Antonio Spurs 2.30am, BT Sport1 Western Conference Southwest Division clash from FedExForum.
