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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
David Stubbs, Paul Howlett, John Robinson, Hannah Verdier, Graeme Virtue, Ali Catterall and Hannah J Davies

Thursday’s best TV: The Money Pit; Unforgotten; Extreme Railway Journeys; Detectorists

Berhnard Hill as Fr Robert Greaves in Unforgotten
Berhnard Hill as Fr Robert Greaves in Unforgotten

The Money Pit
7.30pm, Dave

Dragons’ Den with a difference, this series is another example of capitalism as bread and circuses. Here, contestants pitch their ideas to a crowdfunding audience of investors, who have chipped in £120,000 to the collective pot. Tonight, among the hopefuls are the creator of a three-in-one hairbrush and the distiller of “east London artisan gin”. Everyone talks in the pumped-up argot of entrepreneurialism – “passionate”, “ready to go” – except presenter Jason Manford, who semi-vomits his patter. David Stubbs


Class of 92: Out of their League
9pm, BBC1

Everyone loves an underdog story. The trouble with this two-part documentary – which has followed five of Fergie’s Manchester United stalwarts as they try to help Salford FC to promotion – is that it doesn’t really feel like one. Sure, Salford FC is skint and shabby. But so, surely, are all of their opponents, who lack such notable backers. Hard to take against anyone involved (particularly the likable Neville brothers) but however it’s spun, it’s difficult to truly get behind these fortunate footballing minnows. Paul Howlett

The Last Kingdom
9pm, BBC2

In tonight’s episode of the Saxon drama, Brida voices the feelings of many a foreign visitor to England when she asks of the population: “Why are they so different, so miserable?” Still, for all her insight, the drama is mainly elsewhere as Uhtred, having been instrumental in Alfred’s success in battle, now tries to convert that into cash and lands. With King Aethelred wounded, it’s not an approach that wins him immediate respect – but the grubby insinuations of Aethelwold towards the throne, as encouraged by young Odda, are more artless still. John Robinson

Unforgotten
9pm, ITV

More skeletons come tumbling out of closets in this superior whodunnit, ruled by Nicola Walker. Father Robert has news for his family and the police, while Ray returns home to an empty house. Sir Phillip Cross is desperate to get back on track but how far will he go to protect his family? No spoilers, but the revelations are big this week. Every member of the cast is famous enough to be a killer, so DCI Stuart and DS Khan have a mystery of Broadchurch proportions on their hands. Hannah Verdier

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys
9pm, Channel 5

Tarrant has proved good company during these rail rides, amiable and giddy in a way that Michael Portillo, TV’s other prominent caboose-hopper, could never match. The series wraps up with the Tiswas ringmaster travelling 2,500 miles west across Canada, including a leg on the famous Rocky Mountaineer. Its carriages look luxurious rather than extreme, so Tarrant goes up in a helicopter loaded with TNT to witness how potentially deadly avalanches are pre-empted by controlled explosions. Graeme Virtue

Detectorists
10pm, BBC4

Another round of excavations in Mackenzie Crook’s wonderfully beguiling comedy drama. While Lance (Toby Jones) practises his conversation starters before an encounter at the Lemon Tree (“Did you know 90% of onions are consumed in their country of origin?”), Sophie and Peter are getting closer – and a worried mayor enlists the Danebury Metal Detecting Club’s help in finding his chain of office, dropped somewhere up the hill in the bushes in Barnfather Woods, near “where all the cars go after dark”. Ali Catterall

Aqua Teen Hunger Force Forever
11pm, FOX

As far as adult cartoons are concerned, this offering from US channel Adult Swim is one of the strangest around. Over the course of its 14-year run, it’s had five different titles and more bizarre fast-food-themed plots than you can shake a possessed sandwich at. As its 11th and final season gets under way, the gang are contractually obliged to promote “Honest Abe Lincoln’s Beef Jerky”, Meatwad loses his mouth and a Christian robot wreaks havoc in a rare live-action twist. Bonkers and boisterous fun. Hannah J Davies

Film Choice

True Romance
(Tony Scott, 1993), 12midnight, Dave
A hot and heavy thriller from a master of the craft. Christian Slater (now a grizzled cyber-saboteur in Mr Robot) is a fresh-faced comic-book shop assistant, Patricia Arquette a hooker. They fall in love and hit the road for Hollywood, with dead pimp Gary Oldman’s coke stash. Christopher Walken is the mobster on their trail, with whom Dennis Hopper, as Slater’s honourable cop dad, shares the film’s best scene. Paul Howlett

The Omen
(Richard Donner, 1976), 1am, Film4
When people call young Damien a little devil, they ain’t kidding: the adopted son of American ambassador Gregory Peck and Lee Remick is the son of Satan. Quality horror, this: scary without overly resorting to gore, the hair-raising Ave Satani screeching away in the background and a cast – including David Warner, Billie Whitelaw and Leo McKern – that takes it seriously. Far better than the pointless 2006 remake. PH

Today’s best live sport

Test Cricket: Pakistan v England The final day of the series from Sharjah. 6am, Sky Sports 2

ATP Tennis: The Paris Masters Coverage of the fourth day at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy. 10.30am, Sky Sports 1

Europa League Football More games from the consolation prize competition, including Celtic v Molde. Liverpool and Tottenham also play. 5.30pm, BT Sport 2

Test Cricket: Australia v New Zealand Action from the Gabba in Brisbane. 12midnight, Sky Sports 1

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