The birds are singing, the sky is unbroken blue, it’s not a great time to be stuck indoors watching TV.

And, by and large, the broadcasters seem to know it. Unless you’re a huge Eurovision fan it’s a thin old schedule this weekend.

It seems particularly infelicitous scheduling to run a bleak, postapocalyptic drama set in an alternative 1984. But that’s what Sky Arts are doing, bless them.

In The Snipist, [Sky Arts, Saturday 26th May 10pm] the latest in Sky’s excellent Playhouse season, Douglas Henshall plays a sniper charged with protecting an isolated farmhouse - supposedly from packs of rabid dogs.

It’s not an action caper though, it’s a glacially slow mood piece that evokes 1984, Doomwatch and a million Public Information films about impending disaster.

The play, written and directed by Matthew Holnes has few words, but every one counts. The mood is enhanced by John Hurt’s mysterious controller, who barks enigmatic orders from an always-on radio set.

If you have fond memories of spine-chilling British television auguries such as Survivors, Quatermass,Day of the Triffids, Threads or The War Game this one’s for you. 

And if you’re too hot, The Snipist will definitely send a chill down your spine.

Watch a clip here.

Also worth a look this weekend, is BBC4's documentary about Pink Floyd's 1975 album Wish You Were Here. In the wake of the unprecedented success of Dark Side Of The Moon the band were faced with the daunting task of recording a followup to the biggest album ever.

Not only did they succeed, they made a bleak, chilly record about the nature of fame that to my mind is even better than its legendary forbear. Find out how they did it at 9pm tonight