TV choice
STORYVILLE: THE FIGHT
BBC Two, 10pm
On rare occasions, sporting events stand for more than just a competition between athletes. The heavyweight boxing rematch between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling in 1938 came to be seen as a clash between democracy and Aryan supremacy. Of course, it was never that simple. Schmeling was an opportunist rather than a committed Nazi, and Louis came into the ring carrying all the baggage of a black American struggling to make good in a segregated society. Nevertheless, it was perceived as a battle of ideologies, and this superb documentary tells the engrossing story of the bout that brought America to a standstill. David Chater
OLYMPIC GRANDSTAND
BBC One, 7.30am/BBC Two, 9pm
The penultimate day of competition in Athens and there are plenty of golds to be decided. Hopefully Kelly Holmes will be going for gold in the 1,500m at 6.30pm but, given her recent injury problems, you never know. Also tonight, Steve Backley makes his final appearance in the Olympics in the javelin and what a story it would be if he could go out with a gold. And as always, the final events on the track are the relays, where the British men have a realistic chance of a medal in both the 100m and 400m. Mike Mulvihill
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ATLANTIC BRITAIN
Channel 4, 7pm
When Adam Nicolson has his midlife crisis, remortgages the family home and sets sail up the Atlantic coast of Britain, the viewer soon gets a reasonable idea of what to expect from the television series. Here is an engaging adventurer, pleasantly odd, battling through rough seas and taking time out to provide an informed commentary on geological formations and wildlife — the sort of unassuming, intelligent and pleasant television that civilises and informs. But in the middle of all this, it is a shock to be confronted suddenly by five minutes of television to make your blood run cold.
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WORST JOB IN HISTORY
Channel 4, 8pm
Comic actors such as Griff Rhys Jones and Tony Robinson make wonderful presenters: they have a natural manner in front of the camera, an infectious enthusiasm and a refusal to take themselves too seriously. In this new series, Robinson tries his hand at some of the worst jobs down the ages, beginning in the thousand-odd years leading up to 1066. Working in the gold mines of southwest Wales during the Roman occupation, he reckons, would have been no fun at all; nor would living the life of a Saxon monk or a Viking oarsman. But the worst he saves for last — a job so unpleasant that he almost fails to see the funny side. DC
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Multichannel choice
CHARLES II: THE POWER AND THE PASSION
UKTV Drama, 9pm
Rufus Sewell gives it his all as the “merry monarch” in this excellent Bafta Award- winning chronicle of a turbulent time in English history, when the conflict between the State and the monarchy came to a head. First shown on the BBC, this £5 million extravaganza being rescreened in full over the next two nights examines Charles II’s triumphant return to the throne after a decade in exile from Oliver Cromwell’s republic. It is a production as decadent as its subject: the adulterous, indulgent King made the Restoration racy, so expect more passion than power here. Anna Frame
CARRY ON WEEKEND
UKTV Gold, from 7.10am
A Bank Holiday weekend full of double entendres and daft jokes with Sid James, Kenneth Williams and co. Highlights include Carry On Doctor (12.25pm; Sunday, 10.05am), Carry On Colombus (5.15pm) and Carry On Cleo (Sunday, 2.55pm).
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DI’S GUYS
The Biography Channel, 8pm
Despite a title as downmarket as the tabloids she graced, this look at Diana, Princess of Wales’s love affairs is relatively unsalacious. But it tells us nothing new and just reinforces the view that the Princess was lonely after her marriage break-up, and far better at attracting men than keeping them. Among the “rent-a-quotes” are Michael Barrymore, Margaret Jay and her “mind and body therapist” Stephen Twigg. More profiles to mark Tuesday’s anniversary of the Princess’s death are being shown over the next few days.
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TIME SHIFT: THE CARNIVAL YEARS
BBC Four, 9pm and 11.45pm
Europe’s biggest street festival takes to the streets of Notting Hill tomorrow to celebrate its 40th birthday. DJ Trevor Nelson and the actor Colin Salmon are among those tracing the history of the carnival, which just gets bigger and bigger every year.
FRASIER
Paramount Comedy, 10pm
Eleven years and several Emmies later, Kelsey Grammer bows out as the pompous shrink. The final two episodes, shown tonight and tomorrow (10pm), guest star Richard E. Grant, Robbie Coltrane and Anthony LaPaglia. AF
kids’choice
OSMOSIS JONES (2001)
Disney Channel, 11am
The Farrelly brothers’ comedy is set inside Bill Murray’s virus-ridden body. Can Chris Rock’s white blood cell cure him? Kids will love the toilet humour but their parents, like Murray, will be reaching for the sick bags. AF