A heavily disguised man claiming to be a drugs smuggler, out at sea — The smuggling life … Unreported World. Photograph: ITN

TV tonight: the homemade narco-subs transporting drugs across the Atlantic

Investigating the war on drugs being waged at sea. Plus: Vernon Kay and co are doing it for the kids. Here’s what to watch this evening

Unreported World

7.30pm, Channel 4

“Narco-submarines” are homemade vessels that carry tonnes of drugs across the Atlantic from Latin America. According to this report from the journalist Guillermo Galdos, the number of seizures of such vessels is on the rise in Spain – more than 90m tonnes were confiscated by the authorities last year. Galdos follows customs officials as they try to track the narco-subs, discovers a network of seasoned smugglers in Galicia and speaks to a fisher who is also a cocaine courier. Hollie Richardson

Children in Need 2024

7pm, BBC One

The hosts Mel Giedroyc, Lenny Rush, Vernon Kay, Rochelle Humes, Ade Adepitan and Chris Ramsey — All for a good cause … *(from left)* Mel Giedroyc, Lenny Rush, Vernon Kay, Rochelle Humes, Ade Adepitan and Chris Ramsey are your hosts. Photograph: BBC

An exclusive preview of the Doctor Who Christmas special introduced by Ncuti Gatwa, the Gladiators as we have never seen them before and a very special CBeebies Bedtime Story are some of the highlights promised in this year’s fundraiser bonanza. HR

Gardeners’ World Winter Specials

8pm, BBC Two

If you are wishing you had given your lawn one last mow, be prepared to be put to shame by the year-round devotion shown by Monty Don and the team. Carol Klein looks at shrubs for the chilly months, while Nick Bailey visits a wild garden that promotes biodiversity. There is also a pruning masterclass and some allotment love. Hannah Verdier

Junior Taskmaster

8pm, Channel 4

Another gang of spirited youngsters report to the Taskmaster (Rose Matafeo) and her assistant (Mike Wozniak) in the second heat of this junior version. There are some mind-blowing inventive – if completely useless – solutions as the kids try to serve a mocha to a dummy, make a paper plane and cram biscuits through a sieve. HR

RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under

9pm, BBC Three

Michelle Visage has taken over from RuPaul as the host for season four, but otherwise it is very much business as usual in the festival of catty fabulousness. After last week’s tribute to Olivia Newton‑John, the remaining queens are tasked with delivering some rather less respectful celebrity impressions. Graeme Virtue

The Last Leg

10pm, Channel 4

Another acerbic look at the week’s news. After the US presidential election, Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker are aided in their quest to determine whether or not it is OK (#isitok) by the insights and opinions of the Irish panel-show veteran Dara Ó Briain and the Lebanese-American standup Janine Harouni. Ellen E Jones

Film choice

Spice up your life … Timothée Chalamet in Dune: Part Two. Photograph: Warner Bros Pictures

Dune: Part Two (Denis Villeneuve, 2024), 11.05am, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
It was a smart move to spin out the latest adaptation of Frank Herbert’s fantasy saga. Having emerged triumphant from the first instalment, where he took the time to establish its complex universe, Denis Villeneuve can now concentrate on the changing nature of Timothée Chalamet’s desert-planet messiah, Paul Atreides, and his relationship with Zendaya’s native warrior, Chani. It’s equally spectacular, but has an air of foreboding about the prophesied victory that adds depth to the clash of cultures. Roll on part three! Simon Wardell

Live sport

International rugby union: Ireland v Argentina 7.30pm, TNT Sports 1. From the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

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