The Kennedys (BBC1, 9.30pm)

THE Kennedys is a multi-generation 1970s family comedy loosely based on actress Emma Kennedy’s memoirs The Tent, The Bucket And Me. Each episode is introduced by Emma played by Lucy Hutchinson, a ten-year-old Star Wars obsessed tomboy who is happy to tag along with her much-loved parents, Brenda and Tony Kennedy, played by Katherine Parkinson and Dan Skinner, who talks about his role:

Can you tell us anymore about your character, Tony Kennedy?

Tony is a very proud, working-class Welshman who teaches art at secondary school. He adores both Brenda and Emma and he is what you might describe as the strong reliable type. He can build things, fix things and does it all with a willing smile on his face. Although Brenda is a strong woman Tony isn't under the thumb, it's not a traditional 1970s sitcom relationship. He gives as good as he gets and does the things she asks because he loves her.

What was it like having to grow your hair and beard for that authentic 1970s style? Or is it a wig?

It is not a wig, it's all my own. There was an awful lot of hair about in the 1970s it's true, the popular belief at the time being that lots of hair equals lots of manliness. I think you can always tell when an actor is wearing a wig or fake beard, we decided to grow our own. I started growing mine in November and we began filming in March. When we came to filming it was deemed that I had too much hair, so they chopped a bit off, did a bit of sculpting and created the final result you see on screen. We are all very proud of the hair.

What do you think of Tony’s 1970s style?

Well, Tony has a fairly practical approach to clothing. He's got quite a few pairs of wide corduroys, plain shirts and lovely jumpers. In terms of looking like a 1970s dude, I think Tony's friend Tim (played by Harry Peacock) wins in the fashion department; he gets to wear all the stuff you might have seen Barry Sheen wearing in a Brut advert from about that time: double denim, ankle boots, gold chains. Whereas Tony looks every inch the responsible art teacher he is.

How was it working with your other male co-star Harry? Are there any funny stories from being on set?

Harry and I bonded very quickly. We are both massive rugby fans so we spent most of the time talking about who we would pick to play for England for the upcoming Rugby World Cup. Not everyone's cup of tea of course and I'm sure on occasion we bored everyone on the makeup bus to death, including Harry's real-life wife Katherine, who weirdly is playing my wife in the show. Confused? I was...

Have I Got News for You (BBC1, 9pm)

TEAM captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton bound back for the 50th run of the series, which has been appearing regularly on BBC screens now since 1990. They will find a domestic political climate much changed since the spring, now that the Conservatives have settled into majority government and the Labour opposition has undergone a transformation. But it may prove quite a feat for them and their guest participants to find a humorous edge to many of the current world affairs stories.

Patagonia: Earth's Secret Paradise (BBC2, times vary)

THE documentary offering a glimpse into the rarely seen South American wilderness continues, this time following the path of the relentless wind sweeping east through Patagonia's dry desert. The programme reveals a weird world of maras – a large relative of the guinea pig – and penguins, and witnesses the first faltering steps of baby guanacos – Patagonia's very own camels. Cameras also observe the people who have taken on this inhospitable environment and carved out a home for themselves.