Film choice

Gladiator (2000) FILM4, 9.00PM ★★★★★

 This take on the traditional swordsand-sandals epic proved that Russell Crowe deserved to be recognised as a mainstream star, and reaffirmed Ridley Scott’s reputation as a first-rate director. Crowe is Maximus, a former Roman general who rebuilds his career as a gladiator. His bid for vengeance against a vile emperor (Joaquin Phoenix) is compelling. Plus there’s a last hurrah from Oliver Reed.

Blades of Glory (2007)

BBC ONE, 11.05PM; WALES, 11.35PM; N IRELAND, 12.05AM ★★★

You might think that the sequinned world of figure skating is beyond parody, but here Will Ferrell and Jon Heder serve up a zestfully preposterous comedy. Both play rival Olympic ice skaters, Ferrell a loose-living maverick, Heder a prissy perfectionist, who are slung out of the sport but use a loophole to return as an erotic all-male pairing. Amy Poehler co-stars.

A Hijacking (2012) BBC TWO, 11.55PM ★★★★

Tobias Lindholm’s vigorously intelligent hostage thriller, set on board a besieged ship in the Indian Ocean, deftly moves his story between the boat and the shipping company’s offices, where Søren Malling’s frazzled CEO attempts to thrash out a bargain. On the other end of the line is the Somalis’ translator. Flies buzz, sweat trickles, negotiations continue, and you feel your breath dry up.