PICK OF THE DAY

PUTIN: A RUSSIAN SPY STORY

9PM, CH4 ★★★★ Vladimir Putin (right) has led Russia since Boris Yeltsin resigned in 1999, and that’s unlikely to change any time soon. The 67-year-old fourterm President has such an unflinching image, it’s hard to imagine him ever being shaped by anything, but this new series places his rise in an intriguing context, following him from ‘very small’ ‘schoolyard thug’ to judo enthusiast and KGB agent, suggesting that this early-20s career choice was inspired by the release of the Russian equivalent of 007. What comes after is all brutal history, but it’s a fascinating starting point.

ESCAPE TO THE CHATEAU: DIY

4PM, CH4 ★★★

A new series of jolliness with Dick Strawbridge and his wife, Angel, who – now secure in their own French chateau – look in on people who are further back on that path. These include Fiona, who has spent six years single-handedly renovating her own castle, and must now fashion a room to satisfy her visiting daughter.

TOXIC TOWN: THE CORBY POISONINGS

9PM, BBC2 ★★★★

In 2009, Corby Borough Council was judged to have illegally disposed of toxic waste, leading to birth defects among local children. This documentary tells the story of a long and emotional road to justice in a case often compared to that fought by Erin Brockovich in the US.

INSIDE THE FORCE: 24/7

9PM, CH5 ★★★

The officers at Lincoln’s West Parade police station, we are told, have less money than any other force in the country – some days, there will only be six officers to cover the whole city centre. This new series follows their unenviable work, opening with a focus on custody, the ‘liveliest’ part of the operation. ROBIN WIGGS