What’s On TV Tonight? Our Pick Of The Best Shows: Sunday 3rd December

Howards End Henry and Margaret reach breaking point in the dramatic finale Sunday 3rd December

(Image credit: BBC/Playground Television UK Lim)

TV Times picks of the day

What’s on telly tonight? Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight three of the best shows on telly tonight for Sunday 3^rd December

Howards End, 9.00pm, BBC1

After a fairly leisurely pace for the first three episodes of this stylish period adaptation, the action ramps up a gear in the finale. Following Jacky’s revelation that she used to be Henry’s mistress, Margaret has a decision to make when the embarrassed businessman says he will free her from their engagement. Helen then puts fresh pressures on the couple as she inexplicably rushes off to Europe and refuses to see Margaret on her return. As a shattered Margaret finally gets to the bottom of what’s going on, there’s an epic showdown at Howards End that has dire consequences for the Schlegels, Wilcoxes and Basts. Will it bring Margaret and Henry closer together or drive them further apart? Rating: ****

Blue Planet 2, 8.00pm, BBC1

Blue Planet 2 Episode 6 Coasts — (Image credit: Photograph Rachel Butler copyright BBC NHU 2017)

The marine life of our oceans has been to the fore in this stunning series, but this week the cameras focus on the creatures that live on both land and at sea, and make their homes on our coastlines. One of our favourite sequences sees king penguins in Antarctica hilariously tiptoeing past sleeping elephant seals to reach their chicks and a safe place to moult, and there’s also footage of wily sea lions working as an efficient tag team to corner tuna. Meanwhile determined puffin parents try to evade greedy skuas and bring home food for their pufflings. Keep an eye out for the tiny Pacific leaping blenny – a fish that doesn’t like water! – who pulls out all the stops to seduce a mate. Rating: *****

Coastal Railways with Julie Walter, 8.00pm, C4

Episode two of Julie Walters’ enjoyable travelogue takes her along the beautiful East Coast line, from Newcastle to Edinburgh. The scenery is spectacular, but it’s Julie’s interaction with folk she meets along the way – from couples on a caravan site perilously perched on a cliff edge to a pair of beachcombers – that makes this an engaging series. This week’s itinerary includes the market town of Alnwick, where the former station has been turned into a beautiful bookshop. Rating: ****

More previews tomorrow

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David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough.

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!