WORLD ON FIRE

BBC One, 9.00pm

Watching Peter Bowker’s sumptuous Second World War drama is something like curling up with the very best sort of novel, the kind that you get instantly sucked into despite yourself. That’s certainly the case with this emotional second episode, which sees Kasia (Zofia Wichlacz, almost unbearably moving throughout) struggling to stay alive after the fall of Warsaw and occupation of Poland.

Meanwhile, in England, Douglas (Sean Bean) struggles with both his children’s latest choices and Harry (Jonah Hauer-King) heads home to the poisonous politeness of mother Robina (Lesley Manville having an absolute ball). Over in Paris, Albert (Parker Sawyers) discovers he must be wary of everyone, while Helen Hunt’s journalist Nancy finds broadcasting from Germany increasingly problematic.

Things get darker and more dangerous from here, but so far all the plotlines are being expertly juggled with Bowker’s script toggling well between humour and tragedy. It does occasionally lurch into cliché, but in a story told on a grand scale such lapses are forgivable, not least because it’s impossible to watch without wondering how things will pan out for all involved. Sarah Hughes

Destruction: Kasia and mother Maria try to survive in Warsaw