Here are the picks of tonight's TV...
WW2: The True Cost of War (C5, 8pm)
THE statistics behind the Second World War are so staggering, it can be hard to get your head around them. Here are a few for starters – it cost more than a trillion dollars, 690 million people served in it and it cost the lives of between 50 and 70 million military personnel and more than 30 million civilians. However, this series argues that the numbers can be used to help us understand the causes of the war and some of the key strategic decisions made by both the Nazis and the Allies. The first episode begins with the story of Franz Honiok, the 43-year-old farmer who is generally considered the first victim of the war, but is that really the case?
Egypt’s Great Pyramid Uncovered (C4, 8pm)
IS Saturday night becoming ancient Egypt night on British TV? Last week Channel 5 gave us Egypt’s Greatest Treasures and tonight Channel 4 is bringing us a repeat of Secrets of Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, followed by this new documentary, which looks at the Great Pyramid of Giza. The six-million-ton construction was clearly built to last – it’s the last surviving wonder of the ancient world. But how did the Egyptians manage to engineer it so precisely, and who did the labouring? Drawing on ground-breaking research, this programme reveals the lives of the workers of this very grand design. Incredibly the sources include a team leader’s log book which was recently found by French archaeologists.
Casualty (BBC1, 8.40pm)
FEATURE-LENGTH episode of the hospital drama with the staff of Holby’s accident and emergency department as they deal with more sick and injured patients. The walls start to close in on Connie when the hospital board notices the high rate of benzodiazepine prescriptions in the emergency department, and she is forced to choose between her addiction and her career. Meanwhile Iain takes a stand as he defends the paramedics in the emergency department.
Below the Surface (BBC4, 9pm and 9.45pm)
THE Danish thriller continues with the privateers hijacking the ferry and taking all passengers and crew hostage. As they try to get June to surrender, the PET Terror Task Force considers the best attack strategy to take the criminals down. Then, with Philip locked in the kitchen freezer, the privateers force June to reveal the location of her mobile phone, which contains compromising material from her time in Syria.
Atlanta: Robbin’ Season (BBC2, 10.30pm)
IF you’re a fan of this offbeat comedy about a rapper and his manager, there’s good and bad news. The bad is that tonight, the second series draws to a close. But on the plus side, fans get to enjoy a triple bill before the tunesmith and his colleagues bow out.
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