The rise and fall of Fox News’ Roger Ailes comes to Sky Atlantic in new drama

One to Watch: The Loudest Voice, Sky Atlantic, double-bill from 9pm

Tonight Sky Atlantic air episodes one and two back to back of The Loudest Voice. Russell Crowe is almost unrecognisable in this seven-part miniseries following the rise and fall of Roger Ailes, the founding father of Fox News.

A cast including Naomi Watts, Sienna Miller and Seth MacFarlane star alongside Crowe in a fascinating insight into how Ailes, with the weight of his media empire behind him, helped form the modern Republican party. Focussing primarily on the past ten years, the series examines how at one point Ailes became the de facto leader of the American right, while touching on the experiences that defined his life and career, and the indiscretions that eventually led to his downfall.

Beginning in 1995, we see Ailes fired from his position in CNBC, before forming an alliance with Fox magnate Rupert Murdoch to form the conservative new outlet Fox News.

In the second chapter, we jump forward to 2001, where 9/11 changes everything, and encourages Ailes to push forward the news with an agenda.

The Dog House, Channel 4 at 8pm

A new series set inside Wood Green, The Animals Charity, where staff are committed to matching their homeless dogs with hopeful dog owners.

This series captures the highs and lows of the human/dog dating experience.In the first episode, a terrified terrier known as Tiny, arrives after his owner of five years has been taken into care, and now he’s got to be brave enough to win over some new owners. Could this be thirtysomething couple Heather and Elliot?

They hope that Tiny wants to wear a dog-sized leather jacket, and that he will be the bundle of joy that brightens Heather’s life when she’s feeling low. Child-friendly Daisy, a Cairn terrier, is the only one of Wood Green’s charges deemed gentle enough for the Kerry family from Peterborough.

New to dog ownership, sisters Georgia (8) and Phoebe (6), are both excited and nervous about the idea of taking Daisy home. First, however, there’s one small challenge: can they can pluck up the courage to stroke her? And Mozart, a Jack Russell, and Zeus, a recently abandoned Staffordshire bull terrier in turn try to charm couple Paul and Elf.

Due to a recent operation Paul is unable to work. He’s looking for a companion to spend his days with. Could Mozart or Zeus be the four-legged friend he’s looking for?

Billy Connolly’s Great American Trail, ITV, STV and UTV at 9pm

Billy Connolly’s Great American Trail is an epic 3-part travelogue that sees Billy going far off the beaten track into the places you’ve heard of but have rarely seen, as he follows the migratory trail of the Scots through America.

Starting in New York and finishing in the heart of America, Nashville, Tennessee. This is a series bursting at the seams with music, football, gangsters, whales, real life moonshiners and not one but two, mad, bad and terrible presidents who both had Scottish parents! And they’re all tied up together in this incredible story of the land of the free, as seen through the eyes of our nation’s favourite comedian.

Tonight the big yin opens the New York tartan day parade to a 30,000 strong crowd. He heads to Plymouth, Massachusetts where the pilgrims first landed on American soil, followed by a meeting with the Native American tribe who almost had their people and language wiped out, until it was revived in a pre-school class of children.

Then to Boston, and home to possibly the naughtiest group of nuns on the planet. From there Billy heads to Gloucester, the oldest sea port in America, home to Humpback whales, the most bizarre fisherman’s tradition and the scene of the Perfect Storm.

After which he heads to the graveside of the most famous man you never knew was a Scot – Uncle Sam! before wrapping things up at the haunting Ellis Island, through which millions of immigrants passed, although some never made it past its hospital’s walls.

Inside British Airways, Channel 5 at 9pm

In the first of this four-part series Channel 5 take to the skies with this ‘docuseries’ offering unprecedented access to one of the world’s best-known airlines.

Filming had taken place across the globe as the programme charts the highs and lows of running a major airline and follows the men and women at the heart of the action who keep the planes flying and the customers, where possible, happy.

All aspects of the BA operation have been filmed for the production from building and buying new planes to revamping onboard food offerings to the teams in the airports responsible for getting the aircraft into the air.

In the first episode cameras follow the team in Seattle, Washington, as they take delivery of the airline’s 30th Boeing 787 Dreamliner. However, a last-minute hitch with the paperwork may see the plane stuck on the ground.

Also tonight Channel 5 follow menu design manager Mark Tazziolli who is responsible for revamping the on-board food offerings. A visit to a catering company in Vienna sees new dishes designed, before passengers get to try out the latest offerings.

Finally its over to Japan as the BA team there plan a brand new flight route.