Beethoven’s Fidelio by Christoph Waltz (Sky Arts, 3pm)

WHEN performing arts came to a shuddering halt in March 2020, the Theater an der Wien in Vienna was transformed into a film studio to document Oscar-winning actor Christoph Waltz’s new production of Fidelio six days before it was to take the stage as part of celebrations for the composer’s 250th anniversary.

The opera about unjust imprisonment during the French Revolution premiered at this very theatre in 1805, and Waltz, who starred in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained, creates a realist but understated dramatic tone. Meanwhile, the imposing set of twisted, concrete stairwells was designed by the German-American architects Barkow Leibinger.

Arctic Drift: A Year in the Ice (C4, 6.30pm) THERE really is no escaping climate change, and this powerful documentary could put the fear of something really dreadful into us – as well as possibly offering a ray of hope. It follows the MOSAiC expedition, 10 years in the planning, as 300 scientists spend a year braving the brutal Arctic winter in a search for answers locked within the sea ice, ocean and atmosphere.

Hopefully, their findings will allow us to understand for the first time how this dynamic and enigmatic landscape regulates temperatures and climate across the globe.

The Madame Blanc Mysteries (C5, 9pm)

CHANNEL 5 is not noted for its original dramas but we’re thrilled to see this six-parter, created, written by and starring Sally Lindsay. She plays antiques dealer Jean, whose life is turned upside down after her husband Rory dies on his way back from the south of France.

Things get worse after Jean finds the bank account empty, their Cheshire shop mortgaged to the hilt and a ring missing from Rory’s effects.

A sole bright spot is their cottage in French antiques hub Sainte Victoire, where our heroine promptly hot-foots it to, looking for answers. She gets a warm welcome from many of the locals, but things take an ominous turn when she learns Rory was unfaithful, and someone sends her a poisoned bouquet.

Later – with Jools Holland (BBC2, 9.30pm)

WE’RE in the presence of musical royalty in this visit to Helicon Mountain, as Jools chats to none other than Sir Elton John.

He’ll be plugging his latest album The Lockdown Sessions, which features luminaries such as Dua Lipa, Charlie Puth and Stevie Wonder, and offering up a few juicy stories, before choosing some of his favourite Later... performances from the likes of Glen Campbell and Christine and the Queens.

Sam Fender returns to the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade Watch House Museum where he played his first ever headline show as a teenager, while Birmingham raised, Zimbabwe-born Sipho makes his Later... debut, performing a track from his debut EP And God Said ... showcasing his “industrial soul” sound.