PICK OF THE DAY Pose

BBC2, 10pm & 10.50pm

As the show telling the history of the New York gay ballroom scene returns for a third season – and what producers insist will be its farewell – two central characters have very different story arcs.

This is the early 1990s and the loose-knit family of gay and transgender people – among them Angel (Indya Moore, right) – that has gathered in the city is still under threat from Aids. For House of Evangelista ‘mother’ Blanca (Mj Rodriguez), it’s a catalyst for change, as she considers becoming a nurse, though she had never before considered that a ‘woman like me’ could do so.

But though always ebullient as a ball emcee, Pray Tell (Billy Porter) has begun to descend into alcoholism as his way of dealing with grim reality. Outstanding performances and a nuanced script make this a televisual treat.