Truman (9.25 am BBC2, also Thurs 9.15 am, Friday 9.00 am ). Three-part profile of former US president.
The Civil War: Traitors and Patriots (10.00 am History Channel) and » The West : Speck of the Future (11.00 am). Ken Burns from 1990 and 1996, on the American Civil War (part two) and the frontier (part three) respectively.
The Demon Drink (11.00 am R4). Amanda Foreman explores the history of the temperance movement (repeat).
Fantastic Tales (3.30 R4). The Holes in the Mask by Jean Lorrain, read by Simon Russell Beale.
Thinking Allowed (4.00 R4). Laurie Taylor talking about stalking with fellow sociologists (names not revealed).
» Tomorrow’s World (7.00 BBC1). A "space special", including a look at the International Space Station project.
Land of Penguins (7.30 C5). Wildlife documentary from the Falklands.
Driving Mum Crazy (8.30 C5). "Karl’s Story" – an 11-year-old with ADHD and daily doses of Ritalin.
Poisoned (8.30 C4). "Deadly Medicine". Last in series.
A Christmas Carol (9.00 ITV). A long way from the Dickens original, this stars Ross Kemp as "Eddie Scrooge, a loan shark" in a present-day version by Peter Bowker. For more fidelity to the Dickens spirit, wait for the version starring Patrick Stewart that’s on C4 next week.
Connect (9.00 R4). Can technology offer a solution to the shortage of clean drinking water in the developing world?
» Night Waves (9.30 R3). The meaning of community in modern culture.
Kirsty MacColl’s Cuba (10.00 R2). Start of eight part series on Cuban music.