Human Universe (BBC2, 9pm)

THE life of Brian (Cox) moves on to consider alien life in the third of this science series. If the universe has thrown up one intelligent civilization, why not another? He tackles the question head on - and by the end of the episode, he’s convinced that he has the answer.

He begins by exploring our own urge to reach out and talk to the “others”. Our most famous attempt was sending two golden disks out with the Voyager spacecraft in the 1970s. They are now the most distant manmade objects from Earth, on the brink of heading out into interstellar space and they take with them a message of greeting from Earth.

If we want to reach out, then perhaps ET does too… Brian joins the Search For Extra-Terrestrial intelligence, who are now more than 50 years into their search for just such a message in the form of a radio signal. To date, no confirmed message has arrived. This is puzzling, because the universe is full of star systems, 200 Billion of them. Even if only a tiny percentage has life, then surely we’d have heard? Instead, we continue to endure what has become known as the Great Silence.

Cox meets Dr Frank Drake who in the 1960s formulated an equation that considers all the ingredients needed to make an intelligent civilization: a benign star, a habitable planet, for life to spontaneously arise and evolve, and for civilization itself to get organised. Our presenter decides to follow the equation and update it, arriving at his own answer to what has become known as the Drake Equation.

His search ends on Easter Island amid the giant stone heads of a lost civilization where he reveals his own provocative answer to the question of our solitude.

The BBC Children In Need Sewing Bee (BBC2, 8pm)

INSTEAD of a full series of members of the public competing over the course of a few weeks to be crowned the UK's best amateur stitcher, it's an all-too-familiar number of celebrities who will be picking up their needles in the name of Children in Need.

Comedian Jenny Eclair replaces Claudia Winkleman as host (well she can’t do everything), but judges, Savile Row's Patrick Grant and sewing tutor May Martin, are back to cast an expert eye on the stars' hemming techniques.

DJ Edith Bowman transforms a gaudy Hawaiian shirt, Embarrassing Bodies medic Dr Dawn Harper proves she can stitch up more than just cuts, and Coronation Street actress Wendi Peters tries to beat the clock to make a 1950s-style dress. Hairy Biker Dave Myers seems to have the toughest task of making an A-line skirt. On Thursday, Call the Midwife's Pam Ferris dusts off her 40-year-old sewing box to make a Peter Pan-inspired skirt, while TV presenter Gaby Roslin whips up some sparkly pyjamas, choreographer Louie Spence goes back to his dance roots with a stretchy little number, and comedian and novice needle-man Mark Watson realises he may be out of his depth.

On Friday, Radio DJ Gemma Cairney tries to get to grips with the overlocker, and comedian Helen Lederer finds a way to incorporate a coffee stain into her design. Journalist and author Kathryn Flett looks to her days as a 1980s fashion editor for inspiration, while knitting fan and Overtones lead singer Timmy Matley turns to his auntie's advice as he makes a garment paying tribute to Michael Jackson.

You Can't Get the Staff (Channel 4, 9pm)

Each week, viewers are introduced to wealthy folk who are seeking butlers, gardeners, housekeepers, nannies and grooms.

Among them is Sir Humphry Wakefield, who needs someone to polish his armour, Princess Olga Romanoff, who wants a “garden boy”, and entrepreneur Sara Vestin Rahmani, whose dogs require a butler, apparently.