Cilla (ITV, 9pm)

THERE seems something definitely eerie about agreeing to play a big celebrity in a biopic while they are still in the land of the living. I’m not doubting Sheridan Smith in the slightest, but she’s admitted herself to lacking the courage to take Cilla Black up on an invitation to contact her at any time.

“She gave me me her number actually, and said I could call her. I was too shy. You can’t ring Cilla Black every day. I left her in peace and got on with filming,” says Smith, who is a Northern lass (from near Doncaster) who has come from the same tough streets of entertainment as Cilla – who is probably Liverpool Cavern Club’s most famous cloakroom attendant.

And the trouble with your subject still being able to warble Step Inside Love (and get a warning about shooting unsuitable sex scenes) is that Smith found the shadow of one of Britain’s most famous women of entertainment rather intimidating. "The drama is slightly more daunting because Cilla is so well-known. And it's daunting thinking what Cilla will make of your performance.

Tonight’s three-part drama opens in the early 1960s, the artist formerly known as Priscilla White is still a secretary with a sideline in performing on Liverpool's club scene alongside such local sensations as the Big Three, Kingsize Taylor and a certain bunch of hopefuls called the Beatles.

"One of the great things about telling this story is that some of the younger generation have no idea about Cilla's singing career. They know Blind Date and Surprise Surprise onwards. This is the time of Merseybeat."

Writer Jeff Pope focuses on the singer's relationships with two of the most important men in her life – her future husband Bobby, and her manager, Brian Epstein, who the real Cilla never realised was gay.

Sheridan says: "Cilla wrote something in her autobiography which I thought was such a lovely thing... Bobby said, 'Every successful woman needs a good man behind her'. When Cilla said she thought it was the other way around, Bobby replied, 'So? Why shouldn't we break the mould?'"

However, in a bid to impress Cilla, Bobby (Aneurin Barnard) tells her he's in the music business, so she's understandably put out to discover he's lied about his job and age, and that even his flash car is hired. Fortunately, he gets a second chance to prove his worth as she tries to win over impresario Epstein (Ed Stoppard).

Cilla gave Smith her backing when the two had a meal together. But it’s fascinating what ITV will do when Cilla does pop her clogs.

The Undriveables (ITV, 8pm)

MOTHER-OF-TWO Keeley is now 40 and has been having driving lessons for 21 years. She's failed her test nine times, and puts it down to a lack of confidence behind the wheel.

She's about to be taken under the wing of super-instructor Simon, while his colleague Ursula tackles retired teacher Malcolm. "Malcolm's driving I would score about two out of ten," says Ursula.

Jon Richardson Grows Up (Channel 4, 10pm)

STAND-UP Jon Richardson is about to explore the subjects that send shivers down the spine of reluctant thirtysomethings everywhere – things like mortgages, marriage and parenthood.

All three can be pretty scary, but where would the world be if we all shied away from them, and stayed at home with mummy and daddy forever? Richardson will be accompanied along the way by his friend and fellow comedian Matt Forde, and they begin with an investigation into relationships, during which they meet a couple who have been married for 54 years as well as one of the UK's leading matchmakers.