Death and Nightingales
9pm, BBC Two
Writer-director Allan Cubitt’s stark period drama, set in late 19th-century County Fermanagh, has been successful in holding viewers under its spell, largely due to a dramatic tension sustained by the three leads: Matthew Rhys (forlorn landowner Billy Winters), Ann Skelly (Winters’s frustrated stepdaughter Beth) and Jamie Dornan (“mad republican”, and Beth’s beloved, Liam Ward). As the final episode plays out, the couple’s escape plan runs into difficulties and their lives are placed in danger. Excellent. Mike Bradley
World’s Strongest Man 2018
7pm, Channel 5
Some big slabs of British beef are on the menu tonight as a burly squad of UK hopefuls stomp into Sheffield Arena to juggle beer kegs, toss tractor tyres and manhandle atlas balls, all vital steps toward competing in the grand final. James Richardson hosts, with commentary from Colin Bryce and Danny Wallace. Graeme Virtue
The Apprentice
9pm, BBC One
The penultimate round of the competition is usually the most grimly enjoyable: when the final business-plan-clutching blaggers are eaten alive by the sort of external interviewers who make Lord Sugar seem as sweet as his name. “You sound like a prize imbecile to me” is among the gentler comments. “You look vacant”, another. Ali Catterall
Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds: Christmas
9pm, Channel 4
In series two, we saw friendships develop between residents and 10 youngsters during a 12-week experiment at Lark Hill village near Nottingham. In this festive special, the children rejoice at being back with their older pals, but can they persuade every resident to donate one item to the local food bank? MB
Digging for Britain 2018
9pm, BBC Four
Trawling the year’s best archaeological discoveries from the east of the UK, Alice Roberts introduces a newly excavated Roman graveyard that yields evidence of “deviant burials” involving decapitated corpses and other unusual practices. Plus, news of an ancient lost monument as old as Stonehenge. MB
Get Shorty
10.10pm, Sky Atlantic
Any show that combines the talents of Chris O’Dowd and Ray Romano deserves more eyeballs than this adaption of the Elmore Leonard novel has received. In this season finale, Louis and Gladys prepare for parenthood while Miles, despite his appalling circumstances, tries to keep his film project afloat. David Stubbs
Film choice
The Descendants (Alexander Payne, 2011), 1.10am, Film4
Alexander Payne’s bittersweet comedy has the usually serene George Clooney drowning in troubles. He’s the patriarch of a family in Hawaii, and when his wife suffers a speedboat accident, he has to deal with precocious daughters, greedy relations and the news that his wife was cheating on him. Paul Howlett
Live sport
World Cup Hockey 10.45am, BT Sport 1. Quarter-final action from Bhubaneswar, India.
Champions League football: Valencia v Manchester United 8pm, BT Sport 2 or Extra. Manchester City v Hoffenheim also airs on BT Sport.
Basketball: New Orleans Pelicans v Oklahoma City Thunder 1am, Sky Sports Main Event. NBA Western Conference clash.
