PICK OF THE DAY

A Very English Scandal

9PM, BBC1

In 1979, the former leader of the Liberal Party, Jeremy Thorpe, stood trial, charged with conspiracy to murder his ex-lover, Norman Scott, in a bid to keep his homosexuality under wraps and his reputation untarnished. Not for the easily offended, this three-part adaptation (by Russell T. Davies) of John Preston’s book chronicles one of the biggest scandals in British politics; it begins in the 1960s, with the affair that sparked it all. Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw head the cast, which also features Patricia Hodge and Alex Jennings (far right, with Grant).

RHS Chelsea Flower Show

6PM, BBC1

Before the start of arguably the world’s most famous and prestigious flower show, Sophie Raworth and Joe Swift are in the grounds of Royal Hospital Chelsea in London to provide a guide to what to expect from the show gardens and special guests in the week ahead. Continues tomorrow at 3.45pm and 7.30pm.

Midsomer Murders

8PM, ITV

Simon Callow and James Fleet are among the big names joining the cast list for the second new episode of the popular crime drama. Barnaby and Winter are called to the Thassingham Classical Music Festival, where a musician has been strangled with a violin string, not long after winning a highly coveted bursary award.

The Handmaid’s Tale

9PM, CH4

Set in a dystopian society that treats women as property of the state and forces many into sexual servitude, the multi-Emmy-winning US drama returns for an eagerly awaited second series, starring Elisabeth Moss and Joseph Fiennes. In the first of 13 episodes, Offred is haunted by the ghosts of the past. SH