PICK OF THE DAY

Civilisations

9PM, BBC2

‘I’ve always felt at home in the past,’ says Simon Schama. And with these words, the historian launches this major new series exploring art and civilisation across the centuries, inspired by Kenneth Clark’s landmark series Civilisation, which aired nearly 50 years ago. Schama begins with a 77,000-year-old piece of red ochre, found in a South African cave, and etched with a pattern – the oldest deliberately decorative marks ever found, signalling the beginning of culture. Other episodes will be presented by David Olusoga and Mary Beard (right, with Schama).

The Cruise: Voyage To Alaska

8.30PM, ITV Three-part series following the crew of cruise ship the Star Princess as she charts a course through unpredictable seas, from Vancouver in Canada to Anchorage in Alaska. This first episode sees the five-star luxury liner loaded with 3,500 passengers and crew, and enough provisions for the two-week round trip.

Serial Killer With Piers Morgan

9PM, ITV

In 2007, Lorenzo Gilyard was convicted of six counts of murder; it’s believed he raped and strangled 13 women, between 1977 and 1993. Here, Piers Morgan goes behind the bars of Missouri’s Crossroads Correctional Center to try to persuade the so-called Kansas City Strangler to talk about his horrific crimes for the first time.

Panic At 30,000 Feet: Airline Emergency

9PM, CH5

Featuring footage captured by passengers, first-hand accounts and expert analysis, this rather nerve-jangling new three-part series features stories of flights that have lost control. Best avoided if you have a fear of flying – and if you don’t, you probably will by the end of the programme.