Square Eyes, 1-4 December

The Sarah Jane Adventures, BBC1, Monday 4.35pm
The second part of The Temptation of Sarah Jane shows the fallout following Sarah Jane’s decision to sabotage her father’s car and therefore prevent the death of her parents. Has she never seen Father’s Day? Messing with fixed points in the past is never a good idea. Luckily, Luke, Clyde and Rani are on hand to try and sort out the resulting mess.

The Story of the Costume Drama ITV3, Monday 8.00pm
Keeley Hawes narrates this new series charting the history of period dramas on screen. From quaint tales of rural life, to red-blooded bodice-rippers, costume dramas have provided some of television’s most glorious and memorable moments, many of which will be repeated here. I suspect that the odd reference to ITV’s recent Austen season might just be thrown in too.

Spooks BBC1, Monday 9.00pm
Evidence is stacking up against our hero Harry in MI5’s quest to find the mole, and despite the best efforts of Lucas (who takes matters into his own hands and heads off to Moscow) and the rest of the team, it’s hard to see how he’s going to get out of this one. Meanwhile, there are hints at the series finale, as it becomes clear that the Russians are becoming a little anxious about the planned US missile defence base, and are willing to take drastic actions to prevent it going ahead.

Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll: the 60s Revealed Five, Monday 9.00pm
You’d think that there is hardly anything left to ‘reveal’ about the great culture shift that took place in the 1960s, but this three-part series actually offers something new. Bernard Braden recorded interviews with young celebrities at the time, and intended to repeat the exercise every three years. In reality, the chats remained unbroadcasted, and this is the first time that the likes of Lulu and Davy Jones from The Monkees have seen any of the footage. Their reactions, of course, have been filmed for our enjoyment.

Survivors BBC1, Tuesday 9.00pm
This eerie update of the 1970s sci-fi classic reaches its half-way point with this episode, and Abby (Julie Graham), Greg (Paterson Joseph) and Tom (Max Beesley) are still discovering people who managed to beat the plague. There’s a family who seem utterly unaffected by the otherwise devastating virus, and we see the return of the last government member standing, Samantha Willis (Nikki Amuka-Bird), who starts to take a rather ruthless approach to her self-imposed responsibilities.

The Culture Show BBC2, Tuesday 10.00pm
You may have seen on the news last week Sir Tom Jones - still snake of hips and orange of complexion - busking on the South Bank in front of around 1000 bemused spectators. He was doing it for a regular Culture Show item in which musicians busk in order to raise money for charity, but this one, understandably, got a little more attention than usual. You can watch the performance footage on this week’s programme, along with a Nick Park interview, no doubt intended to get us even more excited about the Wallace and Gromit Christmas Special (not that that is possible, in my case…)

Little Dorrit BBC1, Wednesday 8.00pm
The many plotlines which run through this story are now finally drawing together, and the pace is ratcheting up nicely. In this episode, the dozy dandy Sparkler is still fawning over Fanny’s every move in Venice, and Amy and Arthur are still fawning over each other.

The Devil’s Whore Channel 4, 9.00pm
Like a veritable Moll Flanders, Angelica (Andrea Riseborough) is now awaiting execution after giving birth in Newgate Prison. Clearly, in this time of betrayal and divided loyalties, there is no time for sympathy and understanding. Elsewhere, Sexby (John Simm) watches with a fixed expression of disgust as Cromwell (Dominic West) turns from glorious anti-hero to brutal leader.

Lead Balloon BBC2, Thursday 10.00pm
More from the low-key sitcom that has me ignoring the jokes and simply trying to work out which character I hate the most. It’s a tough call (even Rick’s wife is annoyingly smug), but it has to be the odious co-writer Marty, who I get the feeling we’re actually meant to side with. This episode could be something a little out of the ordinary, however, as Rick decides to change his ways, and attempt to see the good in those around him - rather him than me.

Star Stories: Elton John Channel 4, Thursday 10.00pm
The so-so comedy series starring Kevin Bishop returns for a third outing, which will later lampoon the lives of Heather Mills and Peter and Jordan, (the phrase “shooting fish in a barrel” does come to mind). Tonight, though, it’s the turn of Elton John so expect plenty of references to hissy-fits, Donald Duck outfits and dubious hairpieces.