Documentary
Space Men PBS AMERICA, 7.55PM
Their achievements now eclipsed in the States by Neil Armstrong, John Glenn et al, the team behind Project Manhigh laid the foundations for Nasa’s trailblazing work in the Fifties and Sixties. Thanks to the perseverance of a few who tested the limits of human exposure to high speeds, altitudes and pressures through their experiments with hot-air balloons. While PBS documentaries are rarely glamorous, they are carefully researched, thoughtfully treated and quietly revelatory. This is a fine example. GT
Dispatches: Secrets of Your Cruise
CHANNEL 4, 8.00PM
Reporter Tazeen Ahmad explores the impact on the environment and public health of cruise ships – a holiday transport taken by almost two million British people last year. Her findings are predictably bleak. GT
50 Shades of Gay CHANNEL 4, 10.00PM
Rupert Everett investigates how life has changed for the LGBT community since the decriminalisation of homosexuality 50 years ago. This moving, inspiring, challenging and richly enjoyable documentary speaks to some of those affected, and asks whether achieving mainstream acceptance has entailed the sacrifice of a certain outsider spirit in gay culture. GT