We’ve already basically seen George Orwell’s 1984 come true: Big Brother is always watching us and we’re in a “Post-Truth” era.
And things seem to have gone further – constant surveillance is an everyday given, personal information can be accessed and weaponised through the internet, used and manipulated to win elections and referendums, and our household devices can apparently listen in and spy on us.
The Capture BBC1, 9pm
And now beyond Fake News, we’ve got Deepfakes, where video footage can be created that looks and sounds so realistic it’s indistinguishable from the real thing – which could genuinely threaten democracy and criminal justice.
So it seems perfect timing for this gripping new drama which takes a frankly rather terrifying look at the modern world.
There’s a cracking cast, led by Holliday Grainger and Callum Turner, with Ron Perlman, Famke Janssen, Nigel Lindsay, Laura Haddock and Ralph Ineson.
Turner plays soldier Shaun Emery whose conviction for a murder in Afghanistan is overturned on appeal when his barrister Hannah Roberts (Laura Haddock) proves the original video evidence was flawed.
Released back to his life as a free man, later that night a CCTV operator witnesses some shocking footage and Shaun finds himself arrested and fighting for freedom once again.
Leading the investigation is DI Rachel Carey (Grainger), newly promoted to homicide, but keen to land a big win so she can get back to her flashy intelligence services’ role. It’s clever, compelling, stylishly shot – and pretty damn scary.
Canny Cops, BBC1, 10.35pm
We’ve seen a fair few documentary series following the workings of a police force – but this one is different. Partly because the cops at Durham Constabulary, who serve the communities of Peterlee and the surrounding coastal areas, are on first- name terms with most of the criminals they’re arresting!
And it shows the dark sense of humour of the people on both sides of the law. Years ago this part of Britain was the centre of the industrial North East and the birthplace of the steam railway. But with the closure of its pits, factories and railway industry – not to mention years of austerity and neglect – it’s now one of the most deprived areas in the country.
Filmed over seven months, we see how police deal with high crime and drug levels and try to keep their townsfolk on the straight and narrow.
The Great British Bake Off, Channel 4, 8pm
It’s Biscuit Week, which of course means plenty of puns about which of our dozen remaining bakers will snap under the pressure or crumble at the first sign of dodgy dough.
Jamie, 20, has already proved he’s a jammy dodger by avoiding last week’s eviction despite a pretty catastrophic first showing in Cake Week.
We’re fine with that though – the adorable lad has got People’s Champ written all over him. The signature challenge is a messy affair, as they must make delicious biccies and completely coat them in chocolate.
Then it’s on to old-fashioned classic (aka rather boring and not very tasty) fig rolls for the technical. One of Paul’s dad’s favourites, apparently.
And for the showstopper, the bakers are tasked with making a large intricate biscuit sculpture, leading to the likes of edible giant spiders, chickens, dragons and an organ (cue hilarious innuendoes).
Emmerdale, ITV, 7pm
It’s a tough call for Kerry to make, knowing Nate is cheating on her daughter Amy, but also realising he could seriously drop the pair of them in it if he revealed what he knows. So does she tell Amy the truth and risk it coming out?
She’s not the only one playing with fire – Moira’s at it too. And she gets a reminder of just how risky this business is when Paddy spots her shopping for saucy lingerie for a rendezvous with Nate.
EastEnders, BBC1, 7.30pm
Ooh, it’s all kicking off this week, isn’t it? We’ve got a load of Walfordites planning to leave the country – angry Phil searching for his daughter, escaped prisoner Hunter out for murderous revenge, wronged man Keanu confronting baddy Ben who set him up and worried bride-to-be Whitney trying to decide whether or not to go through with her wedding.
As everyone gathers in the Vic, technically for the wedding reception, fugitive Hunter is heading that way – with a gun…
