PICKS OF THE DAY
Transport: Great Coastal Railway Journeys, BBC2, 6.30pm
Michael Portillo (left) is back with another series of his railway adventure programme where he travels around the British Isles by train, immersing himself in the magnificent scenery of the nation’s coastal regions. Meeting locals, Portillo discovers passion and pride in their history, culture and identity, and seeks to understand the challenges each region faces today. In tonight’s opening episode, his journey begins at Berwickshire’s Siccar Point, which was the site of an extraordinary 18th-century discovery and is a place of pilgrimage for scientists from across the globe. Plus, he takes a boat trip to a volcanic island known as Bass Rock.
Crime: I, Sniper: The Washington Killers, C4, 10pm
Documentary exploring the 2002 Washington, DC sniper attacks that killed 10 people. Featuring contributions from shooter Lee Malvo (left), recorded from phone interviews to Red Onion State prison in Virginia, where he remains in solitary confinement, as well as survivors, families and investigators. The first of this six-parter discovers how Malvo fell under the influence of a disaffected army veteran, setting him on the path to becoming a mass murderer at 17.
Lifestyle: Kelvin’s Big Farming Adventure, BBC1, 8.30pm
Former Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher and his wife Liz (both above with their children) buy their first livestock – a flock of rare breed sheep. They try to shear them so they can make a quick return on the investment, but nothing goes to plan. The freshly shorn fleeces are contaminated with farmyard muck and, with a wool buyer visiting imminently, they face an uphill struggle to get them ready for sale.
Film: Star Trek Into Darkness, FIlm4, 9pm
This 2013 sci-fi adventure stars Zachary Quinto (above, left), Chris Pine (above, right) and Benedict Cumberbatch. Captain Kirk’s disdain for protocol sees him stripped of the command of the Enterprise, but he is given one last chance to prove himself after volunteering to track down a mysterious operative out to destroy Starfleet. Directed by J.J. Abrams, who also worked his magic on the recent Star Wars movies.
Crime: The Nilsen Files, BBC2, 9pm
Director Michael Ogden re-examines the case of Dennis Nilsen (right), who was convicted in 1983 for the murders of six young men and boys. The Scottish serial killer would invite his targets back to two London addresses before killing them. Focusing on the lives of the victims, Ogden asks why they remain just a footnote 40 years later, exploring not just who they were, but also how homophobic attitudes at the time allowed their disappearance and murders to be overlooked.