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Queen Victoria and the Groomsman: The Scandal That Almost Downed the Empire

9.15pm, Channel 5
“Even Queen Victoria’s children began to call him their mother’s lover.” A thrilling historical documentary examining the Queen’s much-rumoured romance with her servant John Brown. Experts, including archaeologist Raksha Dev and Dr Amy Boyington, share everything they know about the scandal that could have spelled the end of the monarchy. Holly Richardson

Gladiators

7.15pm, BBC One
Foam fingers are ready, as the reboot makes it to this year’s semi-finals. In addition to classics like Hang Tough — a more painful version of the playground’s monkey bars — newer challenges like Everest, a battle to push your opponent off a 21-foot tilted platform, add a touch of danger. Hannah J. Davis

The race to ancient Egypt in color

7.15pm, Channel 4

In the period between the two world wars, Egypt witnessed political turmoil when British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb and sparked global concern. Rare footage contextualizes the discoveries amid rising Egyptian nationalism and Western influence. Human resources

The Walsh sisters

9.10pm, BBC One

“I shaved my legs for you…both of them!” The Irish family saga continues, as Maggie does her best to get her apathetic husband Garv excited about trying for a baby. Meanwhile, Luke visits the clinic to share his thoughts about Rachel in a group session, and Anna makes a friend who understands her grief. Human resources

Vietnam Bill Billy

9.15pm, Channel 4

The comedian’s exploration of Vietnam now takes him to the mountain resort of Da Lat, a honeymoon hotspot. As he meditates with monks at Truc Lam Monastery and picks tea at Cao Dat Plantation – both popular tourist destinations – he offers us his usual blend of wry travelogue and surprising, offbeat depth. Jack Seale

11.30pm on BBC One
Part sports chat, part personal dive, broadcaster Kelly Somers’ interview series spends the first half talking about matters on the field and the second tackling the more intimate questions players of the beautiful game are rarely asked. She begins her latest series by speaking with Brentford and Republic of Ireland defender Nathan Collins. Alexey Duggins

Choose a movie

Sketch (Seth Worley, 2025), 9am, 6.20pm, premieres on Sky Cinema

Sadness is an orange-skinned, eyeless thing with a huge mouth. In Seth Worley’s kid-friendly horror fantasy, crayon images of creepy monsters – compulsively drawn by Amber (Bianca Belle) as she comes to terms with her mother’s death – come to life in a magical and menacing way. Father Taylor (Tony Hale) and Brother Jack (Q Lawrence) have their own, less lethal, avoidance strategies, but they must also confront their loss. In great Goonies fashion, it’s the kids who have the answer to the comedic threats that often emanate from Amber’s obsessive mind. Simon Wardle

“A Fistful of Dollars” (Sergio Leone, 1964), 9 p.m., Sky Arts
An unauthorized adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s samurai classic Yojimbo (which the Japanese studio sued), Sergio Leone’s 1964 film popularized the “spaghetti Western” and thus revitalized the hitherto all-American genre. It also made a star of the tough young Clint Eastwood, who rides the taciturn, cloak-wearing gunslinger into a frontier town and slyly pits the two warring crime families against each other. It’s a deliberately stylish film, with sweaty close-ups, gunshots that sound like cannon fire, and tension so intense you could cut them with a bow knife. Southwest

Lisa: A Truly Great True Story (Bruce David Klein, 2024), 9.15pm, BBC Two
With her candid memoir out now, here’s a free evening in the company of showbiz star Liza Minnelli. Ahead of a double bill of her films – the incomparable Cabaret and the flawed but ambitious New York – Bruce David Klein’s documentary provides the lowdown on her career and the mentors who helped her emerge from the shadow of her famous mother, Judy Garland. From performers Kay Thompson and Charles Aznavour to theater giants Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb, plus costume designer Halston, it’s a remarkable story of the birth of a star. Southwest

Live sports

Winter Paralympics, 7.50am, Channel 4 Day 8, with visually impaired women in alpine skiing.

Six Nations Rugby Union: Ireland v Scotland, 1pm, on ITV1 Sione Tuipulotu takes his pursuers to Dublin. Wales v Italy at 4pm on BBC One; France vs England at 7.20pm on ITV1.

Premier League: Arsenal vs Everton, 5pm, main event on Sky Sports The Chelsea-Newcastle match will be broadcast on Sky Sports Premier League, also at five o’clock in the evening.