Les Misérables
9pm, BBC One
Andrew Davies’s update of Victor Hugo’s classic has a lot to live up to. It rises to the challenge as an epic affair employing a fine cast (Dominic West, David Oyelowo, Lily Collins), thousands of ragged extras and sumptuous locations to tell the interlinking stories of a Parisian seamstress, a freed convict and a wounded army officer. Mike Bradley
Cities: Nature’s New Wild
9pm, BBC Two
City dwellers are used to foxes scavenging around on bin night, but with the world’s metropolises sprouting more rapidly than any other habitat, there is now plenty of other wildlife surviving and thriving in the concrete jungle. From urban otters in waterway-packed Singapore to Burmese pythons in Bangkok and humpback whales in Hudson Bay, the smarter animals “have followed the food into town”. Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out, Black Panther) narrates this gorgeously shot new series. Ali Catterall
Spy in the Snow
7pm, BBC One
Stunning natural history from icy climes is revealed in a gorgeous programme. It deploys animatronic “spy creatures” to record intimate footage of newborn sea otters, polar bear cubs emerging from the den, displays of affection among wallabies and new behaviours displayed by emperor penguins. MB
Big Ben: Countdown to New Year
9pm, Channel 4
Architectural historian Anna Keay climbs up into the London sky for another look at Big Ben’s refurbishment. As well as a lot of time-lapse footage of people in hard hats, and chat about how many tonnes things weigh, we learn how businesses around the country have got vital work out of the project. Jack Seale
Britain’s Favourite Chocolate Bar
9pm, Channel 5
A staple pub argument is repackaged for primetime TV as celebs including Joe Swash and Louisa Lytton sample the country’s 20 most popular choco bars in an attempt to definitively determine which is the best (Double Decker, obviously). Also, a look back at some golden-age adverts. Gwilym Mumford
Andrew Davies: Rewriting the Classics
10.05pm, BBC Four
As a companion piece to the launch of his latest triumph, Les Misérables, the elder statesman of TV adaptations (War and Peace, House of Cards) talks technique, process and the subtle art of subtext in an absorbing documentary and screenwriting masterclass. MB
Film choice
Happy New Year, Colin Burstead, 10.30pm, BBC Two
With its dysfunctional family meeting for a party in a country house, the shadow of Thomas Vinterberg’s Festen hangs over Ben Wheatley’s drama. Neil Maskell is Colin, whose apparent gloom at the prospect of the party he has organised deepens when his troublesome brother (Sam Riley) turns up. Paul Howlett
Today’s best live sport
Premier League Football: Crystal Palace v Chelsea, 11.30am, Sky Sports Main Event
Southampton v Man City and Man United v Bournemouth follow.
Premiership Rugby Union: Bath v Leicester Tigers, 2.30pm, BT Sport 1
Live action from the Recreation Ground.
World Darts Championship, 7pm, Sky Sports Main Event
The semi-finals commence.
