CRITIC'S CHOICE: Great Houses with Julian Fellowes Who better to take us on a tour of Britain's grandest homes than Julian Fellowes, Oscar-winning writer of Gosford Park and creator of Downton Abbey? As he casually reminds us, Fellowes is something of an aristocrat himself - he's Baron Fellowes of West Stafford and claims to be a descendant of Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth I's private secretary, which provides a link to the stately Elizabethan pile featured in tonight's episode, Burghley House in Lincolnshire. Fellowes adopts the same upstairs downstairs approach that he applies to Downton - preferring juicy stories from the lives of the great house's inhabitants to anything so dry as architectural history - but makes for a clubbable guide. We learn about the 10th Earl of Exeter, who, on discovering his wife's infidelity, took the alias John Jones, re-entered the local village and married a farmer's daughter. Fellowes tells the bittersweet tale of Harriet Clark, a young milkmaid whose scandalous pregnancy led to her trial. And then there's the reprobate Earl of Oxford whose murder of Burghley undercook Thomas Brinknell was fudged as suicide with terrible consequences. "I'm not much of a revolutionary," says Fellowes, "but every now and then you do see their point." Locomotion: Dan Snow's History of Railways BBC Two, 9.00pm Dan Snow's investigation into how trains have changed British lives and landscape continues. Tonight's excellent second episode plunges us into Victorian London as frenzied track construction linked the capital to the country's industrial north. Snow charts the rise and fall of railway tycoons, including Christian businessman Samuel Morton Peto who put his burgeoning bank balance down to the flush of divine favour. He also reports how canny retailer W H Smith revolutionised the price of books at their station news stands. Tales of Winter: the Art of Snow and Ice A look at how winter has influenced art and culture throughout the world. As is clear from this film, the impact of the coldest season on artists has been enormous, as has the sheer range of the responses. The documentary looks back to the Dutch Golden Age, French Impressionists, German Romantics and to the works of Scottish artist Peter Doig and the German painter Anselm Kiefer to illustrate its point. The Undateables One of the more affecting reality shows from the current crop, this series follows the hardships faced by those whose differences make the dating world a minefield. Tonight we meet an amateur poet with Down's syndrome, a man confined indoors with albinism whose ideal date is a moonlit picnic in the park, and an autistic artist who tries to turn his romantic dreams into reality. Louie Fox, 9.00pm Low-key and sardonic humour from the American comic Louie C K, whose new show blends a stage monologue with a couple of scenes set in New York. Singledom and being a dad are the themes in the opening episode, in which Louis delves into some awkward life experiences which feature a school trip and date, both of which go very wrong. The Sarah Millican Television Programme BBC Two, 10.00pm; Northern Ireland, 11.50pm Mumsy comedian Sarah Millican brings her surprisingly filthy brand of humour to bear on this mix of chat and stand-up. Tonight Millican is joined by Noel Edmonds, who discusses the intricacies of long-running game show Deal or No Deal. Magician Pete Firman completes the line-up, and teaches Millican some tricks of the trade. Pramface BBC Three, 10.00pm The second series of this fine sitcom about teen parenthood continues with young Laura (Scarlett Alice Johnson) receiving a work placement. As a result she insists on father Jamie (Sean Michael Verey) babysitting for their child, Emily. But Jamie has an exam. Chaos ensues when Jamie decides to leave Emily with inexperienced childminders Mike (Dylan Edwards) and Beth (Yasmin Paige). Utopia There's a blackly comic edge to Dennis Kelly's writing, which makes the far-fetched elements of this drama about five strangers drawn together by a cult graphic novel more palatable. Tonight, steely Jessica Hyde (Fiona O'Shaughnessy) takes control of the group. Civil servant Michael Dugdale (Paul Higgins) finds himself drawn into the Russian flu vaccine scandal. The Following Sky Atlantic/SAHD, 10.00pm American TV producers love having a Brit as the bad guy and James Purefoy as manipulative college professor turned serial killer Joe Carroll is the latest to step up to the role. The Following's creator, Scream writer Kevin Williamson, has described the series as "part procedural, part soap and part horror show." It's the story of flawed FBI agent Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon), who is brought out of early retirement when Carroll breaks out of prison and continues his murderous spree helped by an army of followers he has contacted and corrupted via the internet; Hardy was the agent who originally captured Carroll. Put aside the implausible scenario and revel in a grisly drama that draws two exciting performances from Purefoy and Bacon. Allotment Wars BBC One, 10.35pm; NI/Scotland, 11.35pm; Wales, 11.05pm Far from the peace you might expect an allotment to provide, it turns out these precious parcels of land can be battle zones. This engaging documentary charts soil-based skirmishes. In Kent, sisters Michelle and Sharon try to work out who has been breaking into Michelle's shed. Over in Torquay, it's a war from within - members of the allotment committee are being deliberately targeted. Much-loved Bill and Ben puppets have been stuffed behind pipes, windows removed from huts and weed killer mixed into the water tanks. "It's got to be somebody here," says chairman Tony. CRITIC'S CHOICE: National Television Awards 2013 Live from the O2 in London, Dermot O'Leary hosts the UK's only annual TV awards ceremony that puts popularity above critical acclaim. As such, soaps and entertainment shows occupy most of the awards categories, while the only dramas to get a look in are usually the major weekend blockbusters such as Sherlock and Doctor Who (joined this year by Merlin, as well as last year's victor Downton Abbey). The non-soap acting categories tend to go the same way, although Mrs Biggs stars Daniel Mays and Sheridan Smith have managed to snatch surprise nominations in the Male and Female Performer shortlists. Elsewhere The Great British Bake Off makes its debut among the Factual Entertainment nominees. Sole newcomer The Voice is up against the resurgent Strictly Come Dancing for the Talent Show prize, alongside former winners The X Factor, Dancing on Ice and Britain's Got Talent. Host Dermot O'Leary is himself up against Alan Carr, Ant & Dec and Keith Lemon for the Entertainment Presenter gong; and the last prize of the evening is the Landmark Award, this year recognising those involved in televising last year's Olympic Games. X Factor finalist Ella Henderson performs at the event. Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965) More4, 10.55am Terry-Thomas is as splendid as ever in this cheery award-winning comedy set in the early days of air travel. A big reward is on offer to the winner of an air race from London to Paris; Terry-Thomas's dastardly Sir Percival Ware-Armitage is among the pilots trying to prove they are "number one in the air." Live European Tour Golf: The Qatar Masters Sky Sports 1/SSHD1, 11.00am Action from day one of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters from the Doha Golf Club. Scot Paul Lawrie (above), who triumphed here last year, will be aiming to win this tournament for a record third time. He lines up against a field that includes his fellow Scot Scott Jamieson, currently leading the European Tour's Race to Dubai, and England's Justin Rose. Made in America (1993) Film4, 6.45pm Whoopi Goldberg is furious when she discovers that the sperm donor who fathered her daughter Zora (played by Nia Long) is not the "tall, intelligent black man" she requested, but sleazy car salesman Ted Danson. A comedy about racial issues could feel clumsy, but the likeable cast (including a young Will Smith) make it genuinely funny. Live Capital One Cup: Swansea City v Chelsea Sky Sports 1/SSHD1, 7.30pm At least with a match 200 miles from Stamford Bridge, Rafa Benítez might not get booed by the home fans. But the Chelsea interim manager's side have an uphill battle to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit. He'll need £50 m Fernando Torres to perform but his £2 m-a-goal compares badly to Swansea's free-scoring £2 m Spaniard Michu. Charley Boorman's South African Adventure Channel 5, 8.00pm Covering similar territory to BBC One's Africa this week (see BBC One, 9.00pm), Boorman's take on South Africa could hardly be more different. Taking to the skies in a powered paraglider he finds no shortage of natural wonders before heading to one of the country's oldest gold mines for a bit of dynamiting practice. From there it's off to the Kruger National Park for three days and nights" wildlife safari on the Lebombo eco-trail. Fame (2009) E4, 8.00pm A remake so watered down for the High School Musical generation it makes Alan Parker's original seem like a triumph of gritty realism. First-time director Kevin Tancharoen seems more at ease filming the dancing than the acting and singing, but we never get time to know the students. Kelsey Grammer stars as one of the teachers. Hidden Lives of Works of Art: Da Vinci Sky Arts 2/SA2HD, 8.00pm Leading art experts examine some of the world's most famous paintings telling their stories and how they have survived through everything from vandalism, theft and war to woodworm and changing tastes. In the opening episode, curators from the Louvre and the National Gallery scrutinise works by Leonardo da Vinci, including the Mona Lisa, which, having previously been vandalised, now hangs behind a bullet-proof screen. Another eye-popping episode looks at the influence on the climate and wildlife of southern Africa of the two great oceanic systems that flow down either side of the continent: the Agulhas and Benguela currents. Beginning in the shadow of Table Mountain with a terrific sequence about green turtle hatchlings" efforts to survive a 100-metre dash to the sea, we travel up the east coast and down the west, via the teeming Bazaruto archipelago and mountains of Mozambique, before seeing how the two currents meet spectacularly at the Cape. Life after War: Haunted by Helmand In July 2009 the British Army suffered one of its worst ever days in Afghanistan when five men from the same platoon were killed and several more injured in an IED attack. Haunted by Helmand sensitively illustrates the trauma of recovering from war by following the lives of four members of the platoon as they recall that fateful day and explain how they have struggled to cope since being back on civvy street. The stories of the four men, including the platoon leader, who lost a leg and a hand in the attack, are very powerful and very different as they talk about how they deal with the constant memories, the anger, a sense of loss and paranoia. The Culture Show BBC Two, 10.00pm A cracking edition sees Mark Kermode quiz American director Kathryn Bigelow about her Oscar-nominated film Zero Dark Thirty. Also Andrew Graham-Dixon tours the blockbuster Edouard Manet exhibition opening at the Royal Academy in London and John Mullan marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of Pride and Prejudice. Bob Servant Independent BBC Four, 10.00pm First encountered on BBC Radio Scotland and then Radio 4, Neil Forsyth's creation, the deluded Bob Servant, graduates to television in a new comedy series. Servant made his name in Broughton Ferry's "cheeseburger wars," and here puts his hat into the ring as the independent candidate in the Scottish town's by-election; his poster campaign being: "You know him, he's OK." Veteran actor Brian Cox takes on the role of Servant - as he did on the radio - but despite his best efforts, the script does him few favours. The New Normal Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy's politically incorrect sitcom about Goldie Clemmons (Georgia King), a newly single mother who becomes a surrogate for a perky gay couple, continues. Tonight, having moved from Ohio to LA, Goldie's opinionated daughter Shania (Bebe Wood) tries to adapt to her new surroundings. Meanwhile, the fathers, David and Bryan (Andrew Rannells and Justin Bartha), reflect on how a baby will change their lives. Cabaret (1972) BBC One, 12.25am; not Northern Ireland She may be Judy Garland's daughter but Bob Fosse's socially conscious and stunningly seedy take on interwar Germany made Liza Minnelli a star in her own right. It's set in the Kit Kat Club in Thirties Berlin, where singer Sally Bowles (Minnelli) falls in love with a German toff and a bisexual teacher brilliantly played by Michael York.