The River: Walter Presents
10.35pm, Channel 4
The latest Scandi-noir off the rank is a chilling Norwegian crime drama set in the Arctic village of Djupelv, close to the Russian border. It begins with a macabre discovery made by a young girl from an isolated community. Soon she disappears without trace and local police begin an investigation hampered by military exercises in the region. Based on real events, this is an icy slowburner, but intriguing all the same. The full series of eight episodes is available to view on All4 after the first instalment finishes. Mike Bradley
The Humpback Whale: Birth of a Giant
7pm, Channel 5
The early years of the humpback whale are a tad more fraught than our own: mere months after its birth, the vast mammal is expected to embark upon a 5,000-mile migration south in search of food. This one-off follows the preparation period for this trek, one that features hunger, fatigue and whale lice. Gwilym Mumford
Ava Gardner: Alegria and Decadence
9pm, Sky Arts
By the time she was 28, this Hollywood siren had the world at her feet. But after saying farewell to husband Frank Sinatra she said hola to Spain, exiling herself in Madrid under General Franco’s repressive regime for the next 14 years, as this fascinating documentary relates. Ali Catterall
The Passage
9pm, Fox
Based on Justin Cronin’s novels, this somewhat thin thriller concerns a secret facility containing a virus that could cure all disease – but which also has the potential to wipe out the human race. Panicked by a global flu pandemic, scientists order the capture of a test subject in the form of 10-year-old girl Amy Bellafonte (Saniyya Sidney). MB
Pothole Wars
9pm, ITV
Seemingly commissioned by pulling a Daily Mail headline out of a tombola, this documentary looks at the blight of potholes, which cause damage to vehicles and injuries to pedestrians and cost taxpayers billions to fix. What can be done? Talking heads include a spokesperson from the Asphalt Industry Alliance. GM
Catastrophe
10pm, Channel 4
Series four of the Sharon Horgan-Rob Delaney comedy got off to a cracking start last week and doesn’t let up here as Rob’s sister Sidney, who has discovered religion, pays a visit from the US. Meanwhile, Fran invites Sharon to see her son in his revealing new play while Chris brings along a guest: his new girlfriend. David Stubbs
Film choice
Our Children 1.25am, Film4
After a shocking opening in a hospital ward, this Franco-Belgian drama recounts in flashback how a newly married couple are slowly, gently suffocated by the apparently generous interest of a wealthy Belgian doctor. It’s a quietly terrifying social parable on good intentions paving the way to hell. Paul Howlett
Today’s best live sport
Test cricket: South Africa v Pakistan From Johannesburg, the fifth and final day of the final Test. 8am, Sky Sports Main Event
FA Cup football A third-round replay. 7.15pm, BT Sport 2
Tennis: Australian Open Day three Grand Slam action from Melbourne Park. 12midnight, Eurosport 1
