Artsnight (BBC2, 11pm)

ART for art's sake, may want us up a little bit too late at night, but Jonty Claypole, director of BBC Arts, sees it as British culture as experienced by the movers and shakers behind it.

"From Enniskillen to the Edinburgh Festivals, we're putting artists, writers and decision-makers centre-stage to see the latest trends, ideas and events through their eyes. Artsnight is cultural access with a strong point of view," says Claypole.

Tonight heavily-pregnant model and actress Lily Cole assumes editorial control, analysing the claim of critic Cyril Connolly that "there is no more sombre enemy of good art than the pram in the hall".

Cole graduated from Cambridge University with a double first in the subject in 2011), makes her the ideal person to examine Connelly's infamous few words.

Does having children stunt the creative process, either by eating up time that could be spent devising something, or leaving people too tired to feel inspired?

The writer Lionel Shriver, whose most famous book is, ironically, We Need to Talk About Kevin, a tale of a mother and son, discusses the joys of childlessness.

Cole does, however, find examples of those who have flourished after having children, including sculptress Barbara Hepworth, and there's also an insight into YBA member Gavin Turk and his partner Deborah Curtis' charity project, The House of Fairy Tales, which has been delighting youngsters for almost a decade.

The BBC has a strong and enduring fascination with art and culture, and alongside Sky's newly-revamped Arts channel, is arguably the biggest and best broadcaster of programmes on the subject.

Claypole's division is currently behind the Genius of British Cinema season, as well as this series.

Maxine Peake, Armando Iannucci, Lynn Barker and Chris Dercon curated editions of March's first run, and if anything, the Beeb has enticed an even more impressive collection of hosts for its return.

"This topical, weekly show is part of an ambitious new generation of arts programmes across BBC2 and BBC4 which will appeal not only to those that are passionate about the arts but will also engage new viewers," says Cassian Harrison, who usually works as channel editor for BBC4, but is making the leap to Two for this series.

The eclectic and authoritative list of presenters has already included Andrew Marr with Martha Lane Fox, Samira Ahmed, Lynn Barber and Richard Wilson to come.

Conspiracy: The Lord Lucan Dossier (C5, 8pm)

THE case of John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan, who vanished in November 1974, has baffled experts. His disappearance coincided with the murder of his children's nanny Sandra Rivett, as well as an attack on his wife, Veronica. Lucan was never caught or tried for the crime, but in the four decades since he fled numerous sightings have been reported of him from around the world. Some people believe he escaped justice, while others think he too was later murdered. Other cases featured in this gossip-mongering documentary involve the kidnapping and murder of aviator Charles Lindbergh's baby son in 1927 and that of US union leader Jimmy Hoffa, who went missing in 1975.

Rock 'n' Roll America (BBC4, 9pm)

THIS new series chartS the birth of rock 'n' roll. The opening episode takes us back to 1950s America, where blues, boogie woogie and vocal harmonies were coming together to create a new sound, nurtured by small independent labels. As well as profiling such early pioneers as Fats Domino and Little Richard, the programme also looks at the emergence of the man who would later be dubbed the King of Rock 'n' Roll – Elvis Presley.

The Graham Norton Show (BBC1, 10.35pm)

NORTON introduces a selection of highlights from the latest series of his award-winning chat show. George Clooney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kylie Minogue, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Rebel Wilson and Chris Pratt are among those whose conversations are selected for a repeat airing. Last in the series.

Viv Hardwick