The Super Orgasm
10pm, Channel 4
This one-off explores the science of multiple orgasms with the help of a group of self-diagnosed UK adepts. Researchers believe alpha brainwave activity might give certain women a headstart, but as anyone who has watched Masters of Sex knows, there is often a disconnect when sensuality collides with lab conditions, from volunteers having to literally ring a doorbell each time they climax to vibrators being banned in the MRI. Graeme Virtue
Detectives: Inside the Major Crimes Team
9pm, ITV
With TV awash with fictional detectives, here’s an opportunity to experience a real major investigation team at work, with cameras following Lancashire Police’s investigators. Tonight’s cases include DS Sheralyn Melton investigating a rape case linked to a dating website, and DS Andy Murphy leading an investigation into a fatal stabbing in Blackpool. While Lancashire’s detectives want a little for quirky charm, reality proves gritty enough. Mark Gibbings-Jones
Bucket
10pm, BBC4
New comedy-drama, created by and starring Frog Stone, in which Fran (Stone) helps dying mum Mim (the irrepressible Miriam Margolyes) fulfil her bucket list via a road trip. This one relies heavily on Margolyes doing her sweetly outrageous thing (“Did I tell you about the time I fellated a smurf?” etc), which is fine, but there’s a peculiar sort of roteness and sourness to it also, at least at this stage. Admirably honest, though, and possibly worth sticking with. Ali Catterall
Timeshift: Blazes and Brigades – The Story of the Fire Service
9pm, BBC4
The firefighter looms large in popular imagination as an avatar of selfless heroism, and quite rightly. This documentary examines the evolution of the job and the mythology, from the first forays of pioneer firefighter James Braidwood to the technology of today. En route, it reflects on significant moments for Britain’s fire services – the Great Fire of 1834, the Blitz and King’s Cross station in 1987. Andrew Muller
Baskets
10.30pm, Fox
Co-created by Louis CK, this stars Zach Galifianakis as Chip Baskets, whose desire to learn how to become a professional clown in Paris is only matched by his reluctance to learn French. He returns to the US with a green card wife and takes poorly paid work as a rodeo clown (“Go headbutt me some bulls!”) while having to mooch off his twin brother Dale, whom he also plays. All of this might be a metaphor for the lot of the comedian; it’s certainly very promising. David Stubbs
The World According to Kids
8pm, BBC2
The Secret Life of Five Year Olds meets Educating Yorkshire in this new series looking at children’s views of the world. Philosophers set kids between the ages of six and 11 a series of challenges, while hidden cameras film their reactions to everyday life. First up is the theme of love and hate, so have tissues ready as Daniel awaits the return of his dad, who’s been away for six months with the army, and Abigail gets her head around her parents’ wedding. Hannah Vedier
Guerrilla
9pm, Sky Atlantic
In theory, this drama series about the fictional activities of a London black power cell in the early 70s has much to recommend it: an impressive cast including Freida Pinto, Babou Ceesay and Idris Elba; an intriguing prison break premise; and modern resonance in terms of its musings on the moral limits of activism. But at this stage at least, the reality is something of a misfire due to plausibility issues, a cavalier approach to period detail and a certain flatness in the writing. PH
Film choice
On Dangerous Ground
(Nicholas Ray, 1951) Thursday, 6am, Movies4Men
Ray considered this an “absolute failure”, because of the ending foisted on him by RKO Pictures. He’s too harsh: it’s a sharp noir thriller with a desperate, intense relationship at its core. Robert Ryan is terrific as violent cop Jim Wilson who, after brutally overstepping the mark, is exiled from the city into the country, on the case of a disturbed teenager who has molested and killed a girl. At the end of his tether, Wilson’s encounter with the boy’s blind sister Mary (Ida Lupino) offers a chance of redemption. PH
Ali G Indahouse
(Mark Mylod, 2002)
9pm, Comedy Central
Sacha Baron Cohen’s rapping rude boy from Staines made his big-screen debut with this story that just about sustains its 90 minutes. Ali G is persuaded into politics by a conniving Charles Dance and then has to save PM Michael Gambon from a conspiracy, sort out world peace and ensure the future of his local community centre, where he teaches a Keep it Real class. All with the sort-of-subversive, gross good humour of the TV series. PH
Live sport
Cycling: Track World Championships 12noon, Eurosport 1.
More from Hong Kong.
IPL Cricket: Kolkata Knight Riders v Kings XI Punjab
3pm, Sky Sports 2
All the action from Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Europa League Football: Anderlecht v Manchester United 7.30pm, BT Sport 2
The quarter-final first leg from Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.
