How To Die: Simon’s Choice
9pm, BBC2
Last year, Simon Binner, a British man suffering from motor neurone disease, ended his own life at a clinic in Switzerland. This film follows his last months and moments, and is bracing viewing, as is clearly intended. In the background, as Binner narrates his final journey, is a parliamentary debate on assisted suicide, which reflects a conflict within Binner’s family; his wife, Debbie, has generally opposed assisted dying. How to Die depicts as exacting a test of the principle as might be imagined, or dreaded. Andrew Mueller
The £100k House: Tricks of the Trade
8pm, BBC2
Trying to muscle in on the real estate occupied by George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces is this home-improvement show, now in its second series. It sees Piers Taylor and a team of architects bash out creative solutions to housing problems, all on a budget that would scarcely stretch to building a garden shed on, say, Grand Designs. Tonight, Taylor and co come to the rescue of Chris and Claire, whose converted post office home lacks privacy, and Mark and Linda, who want to brighten up their sunlight-starved abode. Gwilym Mumford
Midsomer Murders
8pm, ITV
The best of Midsomer is here: cultish religion, blackmail and people being punctured by artefacts. Midsomer Cicely is named after a Protestant martyr whose remains are in the local church. Glassy-eyed villagers enjoy an annual beanfeast in the bones’ honour, so it’s a problem when a nearby archaeological dig uncovers the real skeleton. Soon, adultery and greed are unearthed, and someone goes on a bulldozer rampage. Ralf Little, Ruth Sheen and Julia Sawalha are among the star guests who suspiciously refuse to die. Jack Seale
Violent Child, Desperate Parents
9pm, Channel 5
Therapist Mandy Saligari thinks the problems of some of our most violent children are rooted in family dynamics. In the first of four parts, Saligari heads for south Wales, where Jack has been expelled from school for attacking another pupil and terrorises his single dad, Damien. As Jack is approaching 10, the age of criminal responsibility, he risks being locked up. Saligari’s methods include getting father and son to run together into a freezing sea. Jonathan Wright
Elizabeth I: A Timewatch Guide
9pm, BBC4
You could argue that this is essentially an excuse to cobble together a programme on the cheap from the BBC archives. But, for all its budgetary restraints, this is a watchable rehash of the story of Elizabeth Tudor as depicted on the Beeb. It draws on 60 years of footage and features the likes of Simon Schama and Michael Portillo, with a few contemporary talking heads thrown in. Her fraught relationship with the Marys in her life and her strident armada speech are among the aspects touched upon. David Stubbs
Occupied
9pm, Sky Arts
This Norwegian series is gathering kudos, not least for a premise in which the EU encourages Russia to invade Norway after it makes the political decision to cease all oil production. It probably reflects the independent country’s real-life wariness of its neighbours in both west and east Europe. It’s action-packed stuff, too, and relatively low on rumination. Tonight, the prime minister, Berg, looks forward to the Russians’ departure. However, a major incident at an oil facility transforms the landscape. DS
Discovering Britain
9pm, More4
Maureen Lipman and Larry Lamb’s British B-road trip continues among the misty green hills of Lancashire’s Ribble Valley. Larry meets a married couple building dry stone walls, while Maureen lifts the lid on the locale’s celebrated hotpot. Don Warrington visits Harewood House, a stately home constructed in a manner that suggests Ikea has been around for centuries, and Michael Buerk unleashes his inner JR Hartley to celebrate fly fishing. Mark Gibbings-Jones
Film choiceThe East
(Zal Batmanglij, 2013) 9pm, Film4
Batmanglij’s intelligent eco-thriller stars Brit Marling as ex-FBI agent Sarah, employed by a shady private security firm to infiltrate the eponymous activist group sworn to acts of sabotage; for instance, giving nasty big pharma a taste of their own medicine. It’s an indie product with a message, but incorporates mainstream espionage thrills.
Batmanglij’s intelligent eco-thriller stars Brit Marling as ex-FBI agent Sarah, employed by a shady private security firm to infiltrate the eponymous activist group sworn to acts of sabotage; for instance, giving nasty big pharma a taste of their own medicine. It’s an indie product with a message, but incorporates mainstream espionage thrills.
Michael Clayton(Tony Gilroy, 2007) 11.45pm, BBC1
George Clooney plays Michael Clayton, a corporate fixer who patches up his law firm’s awkward little problems. But an Erin Brockovich-type case involving the misuse of poisonous pesticides, and the breakdown of his top-lawyer friend (Tom Wilkinson), induce an attack of conscience. It all plays out a little too neatly, but with its sophisticated script, polished production, the immaculate Clooney and ice-queen Tilda Swinton, it oozes class. Paul Howlett
George Clooney plays Michael Clayton, a corporate fixer who patches up his law firm’s awkward little problems. But an Erin Brockovich-type case involving the misuse of poisonous pesticides, and the breakdown of his top-lawyer friend (Tom Wilkinson), induce an attack of conscience. It all plays out a little too neatly, but with its sophisticated script, polished production, the immaculate Clooney and ice-queen Tilda Swinton, it oozes class. Paul Howlett
Today’s best live sport
ATP tennis: The Rotterdam Open Coverage of day three of the tournament at the Ahoy Rotterdam in the Netherlands. 10am, Sky Sports 1
Ski jumping: The World Cup More action from the World Cup event in Trondheim, Norway, featuring the men’s jump. 3.45pm, Eurosport 1
FA Cup football Coverage of one of the fourth round replays. 7pm, BT Sport 2
Under-19s World Cup cricket The second semi-final of the juniors’ competition from Fatullah. 2.30am, Sky Sports 2
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