Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD
8pm, Channel 4
This fast-paced piece of brand extension remains enjoyable even for those not immersed in the peculiarities of the Marvel universe. As the new series begins, our heroes have been forced underground, accused of being the very kind of people they oppose. Tonight, General Talbot’s obsession with bringing SHIELD to justice inadvertently allows the savage Creel into the very highly secure institution he should be kept away from. John Robinson
Unreported World
7.35pm, Channel 4
Few investigations into the workings of the fashion industry uplift one’s opinion of humanity, and this is no exception. Marcel Theroux follows the path being beaten by thousands of ambitious young Russian women to China, hoping to trade life in Siberia for the opportunities available in the faster-moving economies of south-east Asia. Theroux observes the scouting missions in Russian shopping malls and the casting calls in Chinese agencies. Inevitably, the reality falls rather short of the advertising. Andrew Mueller
Rome: The World’s First Superpower
8pm, Channel 5
It’s easy to sniff at the fact it is actor Larry Lamb fronting this series about the birth of an empire, especially when the academic rigour mainly consists of him expressing vague doubt about the legitimacy of some of the stories featured, so leaving us potentially more ignorant about ancient Rome than when we started. That aside, there is a place for great events – such as the Plebeian revolution – relayed in layman’s terms. Alex Polizzi’s Secret Italy follows, with the Hotel Inspector visiting Venice. Rachel Aroesti
Lewis
9pm, ITV
A promising classics student is found in the canal, a clinical slash across her carotid artery. Hathaway and Lewis (and Maddox) begin unpicking the many threads that might have led to her murder. Is the killer her older, married lover? His wife? The victim’s annoying slacker flatmate? Perhaps the clue to her death lies in her doctoral studies on Euripides (at any rate, it’s a chance for Hathaway – Laurence Fox – to throw around literary quotes in rich theatrical tones). The episode ends with the discovery of another body; part two is next week. Bim Adewunmi
The Feeling Nuts Comedy Night
11.05pm, Channel 4
Jack Whitehall hosts a night of comedy and variety to raise awareness of testicular cancer. It’s a nice mix of old and new faces, with the first Men Behaving Badly reunion in 16 years and the return of Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse. Other appearances to look out for include ridiculously good ventriloquist Nina Conti, the weirdly wonderful sketch duo Cardinal Burns, Angelos Epithemiou’s excellent study in idiocy and The Mimic’s brilliant Terry Mynott. Not a bad lineup. Julia Raeside
Enlightened
10.35pm, Sky Atlantic
Amy is teetering excitedly on the brink of great things this week – “You’re Julian Assange!” declares reporter Jeff, in exultation at her hacked files as their romance begins to blossom – but is romance what Jeff really wants? Dougie is thrilled at the news Abbadon could be in for it. “This company can kiss my black ass,” declares this very white man. Only Tyler feels guilty about the situation; he’s developed feelings for Eileen, who unwittingly helped with the file hacking. Then Amy receives an unexpected visitor… David Stubbs
Pool Master
8pm, Discovery
Anthony Archer-Wills is a plummy and genial Brit abroad, a water-garden designer who makes extraordinary swimming pools for upscale clients in the US. With excavator Ed and his site manager Dave, he travels the land seeking to make pools that look as if they were hewn from the land hundreds of years ago. This week, he’s in Kentucky at the Red River Gorge, making a $40,000 “freeform swimming basin” on the edge of cliff for outdoors enthusiasts Sandy and Ian. Ben Arnold
ATP Tennis: The Swiss Indoors
1pm, Sky Sports 3
Live coverage from the fifth day of action in Basel. While Juan Martín del Potro may have won the last two tournaments here, it seems safe to suggest Roger Federer will also feature in the latter stages. Having participated in the last eight finals – winning a record-notching five of them – Federer is very much on home soil, metaphorically as well as literally. Indeed, Federer has such an affinity with the tournament, he even served time scampering after errant shots as a ball boy here. Mark Jones
