StarTalk
6pm, National Geographic
Neil deGrasse Tyson is one cosmic dude. He’s America’s answer to Professor Brian Cox and host of this science-based talkshow, with guests including marine biologist Sylvia Earle and 30 Rock’s Scott Adsit. It’s Neil who asks the best questions, though. Such as: “Is there a point when it’s hard to empathise with creatures that are creepy and weird?” All the fun of Graham Norton’s sofa with none of the mind-numbing celebrity waffle. Ellen E Jones
Peaky Blinders
9pm, BBC Two
The very opening scene of this fine new series was a sure sign of how little it is concerned with gritty naturalism and historical authenticity. It is best enjoyed as a stylised, blood-soaked drama that is beginning to revel in its freewheeling hyperreality. This week, Arthur shows both his immense strength and his frailty as the Black Hand come after him, Polly seems bent on misbehaving and Luca’s men grumble about British food (“Spotted dick?”). David Stubbs
The Channel: The World’s Busiest Waterway
9pm, Channel 4
Far beyond Dover-to-Calais booze cruisers, hundreds of ships use the Dover Strait each day. This ambitious new series promises to probe all points of the waterway – from mighty container ships to swimmers slathered in goose fat – along with the post-Brexit challenges looming on both sides. Tonight’s opening episode follows the Channel’s “rush hour”, the two-week summer spell when seagoing life is anything but sunny. Mark Gibbings-Jones
Digging for Britain
9pm, BBC Four
It is testament indeed to the extraordinary richness of British history that even in its sixth series, Digging for Britain is still able to find plenty of treasures and trinkets being exhumed from the countryside and/or seabeds. In this episode, Alice Roberts heads east to join searches for relics left by various invaders, emissaries and traders – including a huge cache of Roman writing tablets, and the wreck of an East India Company ship, laden with silver. Andrew Mueller
Bounty Hunters
10pm, Sky1
This Jack Whitehall vehicle has been a curious beast. There are shades of The Three Amigos as his art expert finds himself hopelessly floundering in the world of ruthless gangsterism into which he is cast. However, there are also moments of quite shocking violence, including the shooting of his own father, with which the comedy sits awkwardly. Tonight sees him summoned to Mexico to explain the value of the Syrian loot to its purchasers in a final showdown. David Stubbs
How to Build a Robot
10.35pm, Channel 4
Robot-maker and puppeteer David McGoran assembles a team of boffins with the aim of overcoming our distrust of robots: he wants to make a huggable one that can offer emotionally satisfying conversation. It builds to a set-piece where the end product is left on the street to chat to Bristolians, but it’s not clear why this fake-jeopardy task – they only have two months to complete their robot! – is better than examining existing AI technology. Jack Seale
Mobo Awards 2017
11pm, Channel 5
As the Mobos roll into the First Direct Arena in Leeds for the annual celebration, it looks as if it could be Stormzy’s year. He is nominated for five awards including best male act, best album and best grime act. The best international act category sees a mix of big names, including Drake, Jay-Z and Solange Knowles. Performing on the night are Krept & Konan along with Yxng Bane and Yungen duetting on their mega-hit Bestie. Hannah Verdier
Film choice
Northwest (Michael Noer, 2013) 2.25am, Channel 4
What’s the opposite of hygge? Well, this punky, hard-edged, Copenhagen-set crime drama for one thing. It stars brothers Gustav and Oscar Dyekjær Giese as low-level burglars Caspar and Andy, who get involved with local gang boss Bjorn (Roland Møller) – and find their lucrative business giving way to violent confrontations with blokes with shooters. Paul Howlett
Live sport
Biathlon: The World Cup 4pm, Eurosport 1. From Ostersund, Sweden; today, the women’s individual race.
Premier League Football: Everton v West Ham United 7.15pm, BT Sport 1. Battle of the underachieving strugglers at Goodison Park as David Moyes visits his old club.
Scottish Premiership Football: Rangers v Aberdeen 7.30pm, Sky Sports Main Event. Coverage of the game from Ibrox.
