Television: Today's pick

Parkinson (10.20pm BBC1) The chat show comes full cycle (although Des O'Connor might argue that he, and it, never went away) as Michael Parkinson returns to bring old-style, unself-conscious interviewing techniques to the ironic, post-Mrs Merton landscape. (Interestingly, Parkinson, in recent interviews, doesn't include Clive Anderson as a real chat show host at all.) Can the bluff Yorkshireman still cut the mustard, or will he suffer from comparison with all those Ali, Best and Sellers interviews from the 1970s? Two of his first three guests - I think we can ignore Barry Manilow - should test his mettle. Can he steer Anthony Hopkins away from Richard Burton anecdotes? And can he get Paul Merton to talk about Caroline Quentin? Actually, the Merton interview will be an interesting clash of styles and eras.

The Friday Night Armistice (9.30pm BBC2) The only topical satire (pace Rory Bremner) to really smuggle a landmine among the cant and spin-doctoring of New Labour's New Britain returns for a new series. Not that the Conservatives are entirely let off the hook, and Armando Iannucci and Peter Baynham launch the 200-day count-down to when William Hague will be replaced as Tory leader.