TV tonight: our highlights for Sunday 13th September

TV tonight The Singapore Grip

The Singapore Grip is just one of the gems on today...

Star-studded new period drama The Singapore Grip begins on ITV, Sir David Attenborough brings us Extinction: The Facts, and Piers Morgan talks to Sir Captain Tom Moore on Life Stories. Here’s what you shouldn’t be missing on TV tonight. 

  • Our hand-selected recommendations for what's on TV tonight include three TV shows, a film, live sport and the latest trending need-to-binge-on-now box set 
  • For more information about what’s on TV tonight see our TV Guide 

What's on TV tonight 

Our expert TV journalists have picked the best things on TV tonight... 

Best TV shows on TV tonight

Extinction: The Facts, 8pm, BBC1

TV tonight Extinction: The Facts

We’re on the brink, says Sir David

More than one million species face extinction, we humans are the cause and the loss of biodiversity could threaten our own survival. These are the most chilling facts of this frankly frightening documentary, presented by Sir David Attenborough. We meet the last two northern rhinos on the planet, learn how the rare pangolin has become the world’s most trafficked animal, and discover that one in four plants is on the brink of extinction. As Sir David points out, it’s not just about losing wonders of nature, but also the consequences for humans. Some scientists think our relationship with the natural world led to the emergence of COVID-19 and could lead to other pandemics. There is still hope – but time is running out… 

★★★ HD

The Singapore Grip, 9pm, ITV

TV tonight The Singapore Grip

David Morrissey plays rubber baron Walter Blackett

Brits are behaving badly in 1940s Singapore in this slick, satirical period drama. Walter Blackett (David Morrissey) runs a rubber company with business partner Mr Webb (Charles Dance), but fears what might happen when Webb’s idealistic son Matthew (Luke Treadaway) inherits the business. So he enlists daughter Joan (Georgia Blizzard) to seduce Matthew to make him more pliable. Meanwhile, Joan receives a request for help from brief acquaintance Vera Chiang (Elizabeth Tan) – and unspotted by all – an invasion looms on the horizon… 

★★★★ SP

Piers Morgan's Life Stories, 8pm, ITV

TV tonight Piers Morgan's Life Stories

Piers talks to Sir Captain Tom Moore this week

It’s been quite a year for Sir Captain Tom Moore. After deciding to walk 100 laps of his garden to raise £1,000 for NHS charities, the army veteran ended up raising a staggering £30million, featured on a chart-topping single and became a knight of the realm! He’s appeared several times on Good Morning Britain and is now subjecting himself to a grilling about his remarkable life from grand inquisitor Piers. The 100-year-old previously refused to answer one of Piers’ questions about meeting the Queen, so this interview could prove more challenging than expected! 

★★★★ IM

Best box set to watch on TV tonight

Friday Night Dinner, seasons 1-6, All 4

TV tonight Friday Night Dinner

Meet the Goodmans

This quirky comedy has a great ensemble cast and gets better the more you watch. Tamsin Greig is the wacky mother preparing the traditional Jewish Friday night dinner for her equally idiosyncratic family – her hubby (Paul Ritter) and sons (Simon Bird and Tom Rosenthal).

Best film to watch on TV tonight

Casablanca, 4.20pm (Wales, 3.50pm), BBC2

TV tonight Casablanca

Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman

In Casablanca during World War Two, Ingrid Bergman, wife of heroic Resistance leader Paul Henreid, walks into ex-lover Humphrey Bogart’s bar and straight into emotional turbulence. The fundamental things apply – a word-perfect script, star power and lots of humour – to make this a movie classic.

Live sport

  • Tuscan Grand Prix from 12.30pm (start-time 2.10pm), Sky Sports F1 (highlights, 6.30pm, C4)
  • Challenge Cup Rugby League: Castleford Tigers v Hull FC 2.30pm, BBC1
  • Tennis: US Open Finals Amazon Prime Video

If you watch just one thing on TV tonight… 

Don't miss The Singapore Grip on TV tonight – perfect Sunday-night period drama

Not found anything you want to watch on TV tonight? Check out our TV Guide.   

Happy viewing!