FRIDAY Thames at Night with Tony Robinson (C5, 8pm)

Secrets of the Imperial War Museum (C5, 7pm)

For the first time, the Imperial War Museum has allowed cameras behind the scenes at a critical moment in their history as they unveil ambitious new £30 million galleries. In London, we’re aboard the 83-year-old warship, HMS Belfast as the Imperial War Museum expert team races to get her ready for reopening. We follow conservation manager, Andy Curran, as he struggles to crane a historic fast motor launch over the side of the ship onto a floating crane to be transported away for restoration. Then, at IWM’s Duxford Museum in Cambridgeshire, restoration work is also underway to preserve the spectacular Victor bomber, designed to carry nuclear weapons in the Cold War. At the IWM’s world-class film store, the Head of Film, Matt Lee, is trying to identify a heroic soldier in a famous scene from the 1916 film The Battle of the Somme.

Tony Robinson is back on Britain’s busiest river, only this time, he’s exploring it by night. In the first edition, at the Thames Barrier, he’s given a unique invitation to its control room to see how it keeps London safe throughout the night. Next, he heads to Canvey Island, where he discovers one of the Thames’s great secrets – a 70-acre fuel terminal that has to keep supplying airports and garages throughout the night. For his next nightshift, Tony heads out to sea, joining a fisherman trawling for Dover sole. Tony’s back on the industrial section of the Thames for his next night, on a ship transporting rapeseed to a factory on the riverbank that operates 24/7 making vegetable oil. Finally, he takes a personal pilgrimage to Tilbury Docks, where his grandfather used to work.

The Wild Gardener (BBC2, 8pm)

Episode two takes us through his second year when Colin Stafford-Johnson begins to reap the rewards of his labours. Working through the winter, he reflects on his journey so far and plans the busy spring and summer months ahead. With most of the heavy lifting done, Colin will now use a gentle hand to maintain the garden as he tries to lure back as many wild creatures as possible. Early on he is treated to a great surprise as a creature he hasn’t spotted here for over 40 years makes a remarkable return – the elusive red squirrel. He takes this as a good omen for the year ahead – he must be doing something right.

Womanhood (BBC2, 9pm)

It’s more than 50 years since the landmark Equal Pay Act and the Women’s Liberation movement promised change. But is life really better for women today? The fact the median gender pay gap stands at around 17 per cent suggests not. Here, six well-known women from different age ranges and backgrounds – Broadcaster Kirsty Wark is joined by Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas, blogger and influencer Chidera Eggerue, business woman Jacqueline Gold, 1980s popstar Sinitta Malone and stand-up comedian Suzi Ruffell – come together in Leeds to investigate the role of women in society.

The Graham Norton Show (BBC1, 10.35pm)

Will Smith talks about his new autobiography, which chronicles his West Philadelphia upbringing, his success in Hollywood, and his family life with wife and fellow actor, Jada Pinkett, and their children. Plus, House of Games host and writer Richard Osman discusses his latest novel, The Man Who Died Twice, and Lin-Manuel Miranda talks about directing new musical drama Tick, Tick, Boom!