PICK OF THE DAY

THE LONG CALL

9PM, ITV ★★★★

Devon is the setting for a nightly four-part mystery based on a book by Ann Cleeves (Vera), and so lovingly is it filmed that it’s easy to forget that people are involved in her story, too. But there are characters, and there is a plot – it opens with the return of DI Venn (Ben Aldridge, right, with Pearl Mackie as DS Rafferty) to the evangelical home he left long ago after being shunned for his homosexuality. His mum (Juliet Stevenson) is still frosty, the preacher (Martin Shaw) is still charismatic, and it’s clear that Venn has issues to tackle – and a murder to solve.

GROWING UP POOR 8PM, CH4

★★★

For this alarming report, the Dispatches team spent a term filming at a Luton school after lockdown. They followed the progress of three boys in one class, and charted the impact of lockdown on education, particularly for those whose homes are overcrowded. The report also takes an ominous look ahead to the winter.

THE GOES WRONG SHOW 8.30PM, BBC1

★★★★ Another coup is brewing in the Cornley Drama Society, so Chris lets the players stage their own two-part festival to close out the series. Highlights include Robert’s acting class and Vanessa’s excruciating improv show – the latter is particularly knowing, as the real-life group behind this show started out as an improv troupe.

THE OUTLAWS 9PM, BBC1

★★★

Stephen Merchant’s six-part comic thriller explores the lives of different characters who have been thrown together for community service. Some of their stories are cliched, but it’s a good cast, especially Eleanor Tomlinson as empty influencer Gabby and, wildly, Christopher Walken as the shifty ex-con Frank ROBIN WIGGS