TV choice
PLANESPOTTING
ITV1, 9pm
Lesley Sharpe and Mark Benton star in this impeccably cast comedy drama about the British plane spotters who, in 2001, were arrested in Greece on charges of spying. “People seem to think it’s a joke,” says the mother of one of the spotters in the film. “But it’s not. It’s a very serious situation.” It captures to perfection the combination of gravity and absurdity that marked the affair from start to finish. It doesn’t vilify the Greeks — this is no Midnight Express — but nor does it denigrate the plane spotters. In fact, it almost manages to communicate the fascination of a hobby in which grown men pass time writing down the numbers of aircraft. DC
TWO AND A HALF MEN
Five, 8.30pm
This new US sitcom won’t win any awards for originality — it is about as formulaic as they come — but it passes the time pleasantly enough in a vacuous, joke-and-canned-laughter kind of way. Charlie Sheen plays the stereotype of the cool dude in a fancy pad being pursued by beautiful women. This bachelor heaven is rudely interrupted by the arrival of his geeky chiropractor of a brother (Jon Cryer) and his unprepossessing nephew, with whom he develops a strong bond. Borrowing from The Odd Couple and About a Boy, it relies heavily on Charlie Sheen’s charm. Fortunately, the Sheen family have charm in abundance.
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PANORAMA
BBC One, 10.15pm
The Government has increased spending on the NHS by 7.5 per cent a year in real terms. By examining the small print and crunching the numbers, Panorama shows what we’ve got for our money. Those long-term waiting lists are down, but the majority of patients still end up waiting for the same amount of time. Take away funds already earmarked to cover working practices (pay, pensions, clinical negligence etc) and much less is left over for direct patient care. The NHS is a great deal healthier — but not to the extent the politicians would have us believe.
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THE SOUTH BANK SHOW
ITV1, 11.05pm
Melvyn Bragg interviews Ian McEwan to mark the publication of his latest novel, Saturday. The book covers a day in the life of a neurosurgeon in February 2003 during the big protest march against the war in Iraq. McEwan explains that he has always been fascinated by the interaction of large-scale events and private lives, and the way people are able to compartmentalise their lives — enabling them to buy fish and play squash while also caring deeply about what is happening in Baghdad. Anita Brookner has called it “an exemplary novel, engrossing and sustained. It is undoubtedly his best.” DC
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Multichannel choice
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CASTRO
National Geographic, 9pm/midnight
This compelling documentary is an exhaustive account of the life of the Cuban revolutionary who stormed to power in 1959 after overthrowing the Batista dictatorship. More than four decades later Fidel Castro remains in charge, having survived an American-backed invasion, countless assassination attempts, a crippling economic embargo and the collapse of his benefactor, the Soviet Union. Here, loyalists, enemies and relatives, including his son Fidel and his daughter Alina, discuss Castro’s life and work to reveal the truth about a man who has become one of the 20th-century’s great icons. Unmissable. Mike Mulvihill
LIVE FA CUP FOOTBALL: NEWCASTLE v CHELSEA
Sky Sports 1, 3.30pm
The first of three matches in eight days that will make or break Chelsea’s season. This fifth-round tie at St James’ Park is followed by Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday and the Carling Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday. Will Jose Mourinho still be on course for the quadruple at the end of the week?
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THE REDGRAVE FAMILY
The Biography Channel, 8pm
The Redgraves are believed to be cinemas’s longest uninterrupted dynasty of actors with the same surname. The acting tradition was started by Roy Redgrave at the beginning of the 20th century and continues today through his children and grandchildren, who include mother and daughter Vanessa Redgrave and Joely Richardson, currently appearing together in Nip/Tuck (tonight, Sky One, 10pm).
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STORYVILLE: BARCA
BBC Four, 9.05pm
A fascinating documentary that goes behind the scenes at FC Barcelona, one of the biggest football clubs in the world. In England you can’t even be sure which manager is tapping up which player next, but here the cameras gain extraordinary access to the new Barca board and the incoming president, Joan Laporta, as they try to turn the club’s fortunes around during the 2003-04 season. An eye-opening insight into the way a modern football club is run.
TWISTED TALES
BBC Three, 10.30pm
Another marvellously dark tale starring We Are History’s Marcus Brigstocke as a man who lives to regret getting the builders in. MM
kids’choice
WHAT’S NEW SCOOBY- DOO
Boomerang, 6am-9pm
Television’s longest running cartoon series returns for a new outing, showing as part of Scooby Week, with back-to-back episodes all week from 6am-9pm. If it hadn’t been for those pesky kids . . . MM