There's a cracking new espionage thriller called The Sympathizer, a Dispatches special looks at the situation in Gaza, Ardal O'Hanlon hosts The Emerald Isles, while Ruby Wax gets Cast Away on an uninhabited tropical island . . .
Pick of the Day
The Sympathizer, 9.00pm, Sky Atlantic
Streaming on NOW
Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Sympathizer is an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire. By all accounts, it's the business.
It’s about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles, where he learns that his spying days aren't over.
Starring Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le, Alan Trong, Vy Le, and Ky Duyen, with Sandra Oh and Robert Downey Jr playing no fewer than four different roles.
In the opening episode, with the fall of Saigon imminent, the Captain juggles the communist party, the South Vietnamese army, his CIA handler and his conscience.
New or Returning Shows
Dispatches, 9.00pm, Channel 4
In an episode subtitled Kill Zone: Inside Gaza, Dispatches offers a raw and unflinching look at how the lives of millions have been uprooted and destroyed since the events of October 7 2023.
It's seen and told through the eyes of children, journalists and doctors as they experience and witness breathtaking horrors.
Filmed over 200 days by a team of Palestinian journalists and filmmakers across Gaza, this documentary hears a series of heart-breaking testimonies.
From children, as they recount inconceivable horrors; from doctors at work in overcrowded hospitals that are barely able to cope with the huge number of injured people; and from civilians as they are forcibly displaced from north to south Gaza.
As vital services break down in Gaza and food is scarce, this film examines the toll of Israel's military campaign.
The Emerald Isles, 10.30pm, BBC One
Ardal O'Hanlon (below) explores the islands off the coast of Ireland, learning about their history, observing the wildlife and meeting islanders trying to live in harmony with the environment.
His journey begins on Rathlin Island in the far north, famous for its countless seabirds and almost mythical golden hare.
Here, the comedy actor learns how an astonishing archaeological find has rewritten Irish history and tries kelp noodles sustainably farmed on the island.
Ardal then travels to Tory Island, where he learns of its musical tradition and observes how farming practices are encouraging the endangered corncrake.
D-Day 80: We Were There, 9.00pm, BBC Two
Eighty years on, the BBC has been gathering first-hand accounts from the UK's D-Day veterans - some of whom are now more than 100 years old.
Rachel Burden traces their stories in Normandy and hears memories of the massive beach invasion and the battles that led to the defeat of Germany and the end of the Second World War in Europe.
Back for a monthly look at crime in Ireland, Carla O'Brien (below) presents appeals for help from the public in solving cases, featuring reconstructions, CCTV footage, news features and a panel of police advisers taking calls.
Comedian Ruby Wax has been coping with depression for over 25 years and in this two-part series she puts her mind through the ultimate test.
She is marooned on an uninhabited tropical island off the coast of Madagascar for 10 days, pitting her wits against the uncompromising force of Mother Nature on a true desert island with only herself and her cameras for company.
Clive Myrie's Caribbean Adventure, 6.30pm, BBC Two
In this brand-new series, Clive Myrie goes on a trip to reconnect with family, explore his heritage and experience the rich mix of cultures that makes island life so special.
Clive begins by meeting up with his sister and exploring the wild beauty of eastern Jamaica, encountering descendants of rebel mountain communities, visiting a high-altitude coffee farm, learning the secrets of jerk pork and bedding down 100ft above the Caribbean Sea.
Don’t Miss
Britain's Got Talent, 8.00pm, Virgin Media One
Ant and Dec host the first live semi-final of the long-running talent contest, welcoming back acts that impressed judges Bruno Tonioli, Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon during the auditions and who now attempt to land a spot in the grand final.
Maggie's Plan, 9.30pm, TG4
Here’s a movie that could be labeled Woody Allen for women.
The 2015 comedy, starring Greta Gerwig, Ethan Hawke and Bill Hader, was written and directed by Rebecca Miller.
Gerwig plays a young, single New Yorker who yearns to have a baby, planning to raise the youngster on her own.
Naturally, things get a little complicated when she becomes romantically involved with a married man.
Ending Today
The Jinx, 9.00pm, Sky Documentaries
Streaming on NOW
As the series ends, Robert Durst is found guilty of Susan's murder and sentenced to life imprisonment - but dies in jail a few months later.
Seeking closure for the murder of Kathie, her family files a suit against his estate, now controlled by his second wife Debrah.
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