The Young Pope (Sky Atlantic, 9pm)

FROM the opening shot of a baby crawling over a pile of other sleeping babies, Paolo Sorrentino's multi-million drama goes for impact with Jude Law eventually moving out from under the mountain of babies dressed in the papal regalia of his starring role.

Law is the newly-elected Pius XIII and he's soon showing his scheming side by inviting Diane Keaton's Sister Mary, the nun who cared for him as an orphan, to become an ally as he uses arrogance, charm and the occasional cloud of cigarette smoke to take charge of the Vatican.

We join the action as this unorthodox Pope prepares to make his first speech in St Peter's Square having risen to the top of the Roman Catholic Church. Law is young Cherry Coke Zero-drinking Lenny Belardo, who is supposed to be the puppet of a group of scheming cardinals. At first Belardo is seen as a cool American Pope but adopting the name Pius reveals he's got conservative leanings, with an anti-gay, anti-divorce and anti-abortion agenda.

"I've never been a great believer. I'm a great believer in parameters, I'm not a great believer in rules and I would say that I am a believer in the natural order as opposed to imagined order. But is an evolving thing for me, not something that has a lid on it," Law tells Radio Times.

"I have no faith in all sorts of things. I wasn't brought up in a particularly religious house, but I reached out to all sorts of literature when I was a kid and continue to, whether it's Buddhist, Catholic or Islamic. I would say I was more polytheist than monotheist. I went back to the Bible, which I had only ever read as a schoolboy, but it didn't really feel I was learning anything that was going to help me play the part.

"I suppose, in a way, my relationship with the Bible reflects my relationship with Catholicism. There are moments of incredible clarity and inspiration and other moments of incredible frustration and fury."

On becoming Pope, even a fictional one, Law says of causing offence: "I'm sure someone somewhere is going to be offended by I, but that's what storytelling is about, opening discussion, openly freely and diplomatically. I'm all for that."

James Cromwell also stars as Cardinal Michael Spencer, Belardo's former mentor who had planned to take the top job himself.

Paranoid (ITV, 9pm)

CONTINENTAL dramas are all the rage these days. It seems that, as we prepare to leave the European Union, we're becoming slightly obsessed with our neighbours across the English Channel. In an attempt to marry good old British crime drama with those made in the likes of France, Germany and Scandinavia, this series has seen its UK-based detectives work with their counterparts abroad in an attempt to find a female GP's killer. This week, the stress of being a target of Waingrow's taunts takes its toll on Bobby, and he's further distressed by a secret from Lucy's past. Meanwhile, Alec thinks he's found evidence that links Dr Crowley with Rustin Wade – something that could have a massive impact on the case.

The Apprentice (BBC1, 9pm)

FOR their latest task, Alan Sugar summons the candidates to the Draper's Hall, where he informs them they are entering the luxury retail business, with each team taking over an area of world-famous department store Liberty of London. Over the course of two days, they must provide a personal shopping service for some of the capital's most discerning customers, and also launch a new product line. While one team chooses luxury luggage, the others opt for feline fabrics. But who will turn the most profit from their premium stock?

"It's all about high-end retail. It's no rocket science," announces one to the project managers as the competing teams take on a window display and try their hands at becoming personal shoppers.

Viv Hardwick