The Afternoon Play: The Starving Girl of Llanfihangel (2.15 R4). An actual event from 19th-century Welsh history dramatised by Mary Cooper.
Russia: Gold Domes, Black Earth (8.30 World Service, repeated Sat 2.30 am). Tim Whewell continues his series on Russia and its history.
This Meaningless Life (8.55 R3). Second of Susan Blackmore's (University of the West of England) science-meets-religion discussions, with Sam Berry, professor of Genetics at UCL and a former member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. (The final programme in the series is at 7.15 the following day.)
Conquistadors (9.00 BBC2; 9.30 in Wales). Michael Wood, "action historian" (in Radio Times 's apt phrase), follows the route taken by Francisco de Orellano in his ill-fated quest for El Dorado. (Still in South American history, an hour later at 10.00, the Inca site at Machu Picchu is the subject of a National Geographic documentary, while on Wednesday, the History Channel has an hour on The Gold of El Dorado at 6.00). » Conquistadors
David Copperfield (9.00 UK Drama). The cable/satellite channel starts a season of Dickens adaptations with this two-parter first shown on BBC1 last Christmas.
Meetings with Remarkable Trees (9.50 BBC2). The Monkey Puzzle at Bicton in Devon.