Pick of the Day: Digital, Cable and Satellite Television

RICHARD CURTIS may be one of the funniest writers around, but there is nothing humorous about the two films he has chosen tonight. His double-bill opens with Raining Stones (8pm FilmFour, right), Ken Loach's characteristically tough picture about living on the breadline. An impoverished catholic couple (Bruce Jones and Julie Brown) fall foul of a loan shark as they try to raise the cash for their daughter's first Communion.

This is followed by Close My Eyes (10pm), another cheerless tale. A memorably atmospheric Stephen Poliakoff film, it deals with the forbidden love that develops between a brother, Richard (Clive Owen), and sister, Natalie (Saskia Reeves), who have been separated since childhood. Alan Rickman gives a strong performance as Natalie's eccentric, cuckolded husband.

James Rampton