TV tonight: bittersweet drama starring Paapa Essiedu about a couple trying for a baby

First of a six-part series from the creator of Mum and Him & Her dealing with pregnancy loss. Plus: the final part of Norma Percy’s gripping Clash of the Superpowers. Here’s what to watch this evening

Babies

9pm, BBC One
In Stefan Golaszewski’s new six-part drama, Siobhán Cullen (The Dry) and Paapa Essiedu (The Capture) are achingly convincing as Lisa and Stephen, an ordinary London couple in their 30s trying to have a baby. The pair navigate the rollercoaster of pregnancy, loss and grief more than once, as they continue to get through life’s mundanities and special little moments. Meanwhile, Charlotte Riley and Jack Bannon play Amanda and Dave, a seemingly oddball new couple who Lisa and Stephen catch up with over dinner. But as the series plays out, and there are more surprise pregnancies and revelations, these friendships are tested. Hollie Richardson

The Teacher

9pm, Channel 5
Victoria Hamilton leads the latest story in this intense school anthology series, taking on culture wars. Drama teacher Helen clashes with her students over Shakespeare, which escalates: “I will not be bullied into changing my views by a few entitled teenagers. You push me and I push back.” But then a tragedy happens and Helen might be to blame. HR

Clash of the Superpowers: America vs China

9pm, BBC Two
The concluding part of Norma Percy’s meticulous documentary about the world’s primary diplomatic minefield reaches the Covid era. Cue Donald Trump, with characteristic subtlety, fulminating about the “China Plague” and China digging its heels in about the rollout of Huawei 5G technology. The well-connected contributors include John Bolton and Nancy Pelosi. Phil Harrison

Hunting the Silver Killer

9pm, ITV1
In 1996 and 1999, two couples were found dead in their beds in Wilmslow, Cheshire. Ruled as murder-suicides, the cases bore striking similarities. Could a serial killer have been responsible, rather than the husbands? Two former senior coroner’s officers, with decades-long doubts about the murders, make the case that there was a miscarriage of justice. Micha Frazer-Carroll

DTF St Louis

9pm, Sky Atlantic

Is an ever-evasive Carol “capable of murdering her husband for money?” Plumb and Homer certainly seem to be uncovering a growing body of evidence, in a storyline as increasingly twisted as Floyd’s penis. Meanwhile, Clark agrees to obtain a risky drug for Floyd, who hopes it will help him get it on with his wife. Ali Catterall

Rooster

10pm, Sky One
Steve Carell plays his usual awkwardly likeable character in this Bill Lawrence dramedy, which sees a famous writer working at the same college as his grownup daughter. It’s trademark Lawrence – deeply human insights meets cringe-inducing comedy – with an excellent cast (including Danielle Deadwyler), beautiful cinematography and a great 80s soundtrack. Priya Elan