What to watch on TV tonight from Human Universe to The Children in Need Sewing Bee

While U2 plug their new album on Jools Holland

Gerard Gilbert
Tuesday 21 October 2014 17:51 BST
Comments
Brian Cox visits The Bahamas in Human Universe
Brian Cox visits The Bahamas in Human Universe (BBC)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Human Universe

9pm, BBC2

“If the universe has thrown up one intelligent civilisation, why not another?”, muses Brian Cox as this week he asks: are we alone? In 1977, listeners at Ohio’s Big Ear project, which activelyscours the heavens for signals of alien life, thought not when, in 1977, they detected the “Wow! signal” – a 72-second radio signal from outer space.

The BBC Children In Need Sewing Bee

8pm, BBC2

A dozen “celebrities” (starting with the television presenter Dawn Harper, Hairy Biker Dave Myers, the DJ/presenter Edith Bowman and the actor Wendi Peters) take to their sewing machines in aid of charity.

You Can’t Get The Staff

9pm, Channel 4

“I’m looking for someone who can basically be me, but not sleep with my husband,” says one of the prospective new employers in this new series whose modus operandi is to follow those applying for domestic service jobs through adverts placed in The Lady magazine. Of course, the fun here is the aristocrats submitting themselves to the camera, including a splendidly blunt Russian princess seeking a gardener for her Kent home and a Northumberland-based baronet looking for someone to polish his armoury.

Dan Cruickshank And The Family That Built Gothic Britain

9pm & 2.55am, BBC4

Dan Cruickshank follows the rise and fall of Sir George Gilbert Scott, his son George Junior, and grandson Giles – the dynasty responsible for (among much else) the Midland Hotel at London’s St Pancras station., the Albert Memorial, Liverpool Cathedral and Battersea Power Station.

Later Live – With Jools Holland

10pm, BBC2

U2 make their debut on the show with material from their new album Songs of Innocence. Also on the bill are the singer Sam Smith and New York rockers rockers Interpol.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in