HD Highlights: August 24

SoHo Highlight: The Promise (Sky 10, 8.30, 5.1) In part two of four, Len meets Abu-Hassan Mohammed, an Arab charwallah working for the British Army in 1940s Palestine, while in the present day Erin delves deeper into her grandfather’s story. Writer Peter Kosminksy (The Government Inspector) calls The Promise “undoubtedly my most ambitious undertaking in 30 years in television” and says this episode ends with a “disturbing incident” that was described in a report written in December 1947. Concluded The Times in its review of episode two: “The Promise requires post-programme thought, but watching it is immersive and emotional: immersive because it has been filmed precisely on location, emotional because what we are also seeing is an erosion of a young woman’s slightly wince-making innocence.” ✭✭✭✭✭

The Big Bang Theory (TV2, 7.30, 5.1, R) A Christmas visit from Leonard’s mother delights Sheldon and horrifies Leonard. The Good Wife’s Christine Baranski guest stars. US critic Alan Sepinwall warns her return “wasn’t quite as strong as her original appearance … Inherently funny as Christine Baranski is, and as good as she is with Jim Parsons, it felt a bit one-note – or, at least, like it was repeating the same note we heard last year. Funny in spots … but not one of the season’s best.” ✭✭✭✩

❑ Supernatural (TV2, 10.30, 5.1) Sam, Dean, and Bobby go on a hunting trip for the Jersey Devil, and get involved in a restaurant with tainted birdburgers. ✭✭✭

❑ An Idiot Abroad (TV3, 12.00) Karl Pilkington visits Peru to see his final wonder of the world, Machu Picchu. ✭✭✭✭