Naked Planet: Grand Canyon Pearl, 8.30pm The celebration of American icons continues with this profile of the Grand Canyon, its geology, archaeology and history. Find out how the canyon was born in the geological uplift of the Colorado Plateau and the down-cutting of the Colorado River. The documentary goes on to tell of the Native American cultures that thrived there, and how the canyon was opened up by American white explorers. Today the legacy is, of course, its irresistible attraction to tourists.

Elizabeth Taylor: An Intimate Portrait TCM, 9pm Another icon is showcased on Ted Turner's TCM channel. Taylor (above), born in London of American parents, personifies the effect that showbiz has on a precocious fresh face picked for stardom at the age of 10. More than 50 films and eight stormy marriages later she is still wi