TV Tonight: Massive new Doctor Who spin-off from Russell T Davies | TV and radio

The war between land and sea

8.30pm on BBC One

There’s huge action for the Doctor’s spin-off recruitment unit in this ambitious sci-fi thriller from Russell T Davies. A fearsome species (sea demons – last seen during Jodie Whittaker’s incarnation of the Time Lord) have emerged from the ocean. Humanity has spoiled their home with their thirst for oil. And now they are here and they are not happy. Is there a way to avoid global conflict? If so, it will involve Barclay, writer Russell Tovey, who finds himself on a mission to interview the creatures through an administrative error. Expect Easter eggs relating to the next phase of Doctor Who, but this stands alone as equal parts Earth-invasion saga and environmental controversy. Phil Harrison

Apollo 1: Destination Moon

9.30pm on Channel 4

This documentary tells the tragic story of a trio of American astronauts who may have made history as the first humans to walk on the moon, but instead lost their lives during an ill-fated launch exercise in 1967. How did the accident happen, and what impact did these events have on subsequent generations of space explorers? pH

Christmas at Warwick Castle

At 5.45pm on ITV1

Feel good about the chaotic Christmas preparations by watching the staff of Warwick Castle do the same on a much larger scale. As the good-natured, self-deprecating professionals try to build an ice rink, Mel Giedroyc is allowed to graciously take the mickey in voiceover. Jack Seale

Kingdom

6.55pm, BBC One

The realistic animal series reaches its penultimate episode, with the lion pride stronger than ever while the hyenas diminish and a new leader emerges from the pack. Meanwhile, in sad news, the elderly tiger Olimba has been injured and faces one last difficult challenge. youth

The Great Fugitives

7pm on ITV1

How do the most intimidating contestants on TV relax? There are surprising insights here as The Chase’s trivia giants Mark Labbett, Jenny Ryan and Shaun Wallace try to organize the best holiday in sunny Rhodes. Despite their innate competitive instincts, it ends up being a heart-warming exercise. Graeme Virtue

Wool Game: Britain’s best knitters

8.30pm on Channel 4

We’re now in the quarter-finals of this delightful knitting competition, so standards and expectations are rising. The team faces a particularly difficult challenge this time, as the competitors must create lace lampshades. Cue tense moments as the flick of a switch highlights any errors. pH

Movie choices

Alto Knights, 2.30pm, 9.45pm, premiere at Sky Cinema

Barry Levinson has a history with the American Mafia, having told the story of Bugsy Siegel in 1991. Here’s another chapter in the bloody saga, written by Goodfellas writer Nicholas Pileggi. It traces the feud between the “Prime Minister of the Underworld”, Frank Costello, and his childhood friend – and former figures. Capo di capi – Vito Genovese in New York in the 1950s. Mob life is endlessly fascinating, with its twisted codes of honour, rules and power games, while Robert De Niro does fine work in dual roles as the calculating Frank and the hair-raising Vito – whose protest over his loss of power threatens to bring down their national crime network. Simon Wardle

Under the Stars, available now, Prime Video

Travel writer/romance author/general Milksop Ian (Alex Pettyfer) finds out that his girlfriend has cheated on him, so he flies to a farm in idyllic Puglia, Italy to clear his head. There he finds Ariana Eva de Dominici, the owner’s would-be daughter. This picture-postcard romance could have been a dazzling display of beauty if it weren’t for Toni Collette as Ian’s more successful novelist aunt. She brings wisdom, verve and humor to the proceedings, and she also has a more interesting potential match: Ariana’s father – the slyly flirtatious Andy Garcia. Southwest

My Fair Lady, 4pm, Sky Arts

It should have been Julie Andrews — who originated the role of Eliza Doolittle on Broadway — but Audrey Hepburn nailed it as the colorful, theatrical-conscious George Cukor in the Lerner and Loy musical. Dubbed Marnie Nixon for her tunes, she plays a London flower seller embraced by sexist phonetics professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison), who bets that he can introduce her as a duchess into upper-class society. An interesting mix of Greek mythology, Cinderella and Frankenstein, plus a collection of uplifting songs. Loverly. Southwest

Live sports

Cricket Test, Australia vs England, 3:30am, on TNT Sports 1 Day 5 of the second Test from Brisbane.