On TV tonight, beautiful period drama Sanditon comes to a close on ITV, BBC Four celebrates musical legend Aretha Franklin with a night dedicated to the star including A Tribute to the Queen of Soul at the Proms, Dan Walker and Michaela Strachan present archaeology show Digging for Treasure: Tonight on Channel 5, new Swedish drama Agatha Christie's Hjerson is on More4 and it's the final visit to Carol's beautiful Devon garden in Carol Klein's Summer Gardening on Channel 5. Here's what you shouldn't miss on TV tonight.
- Our hand selected recommendations for what's on TV tonight include five TV shows, a film, live sport and the latest trending need-to-binge-on-now box set
- Keep up to date with the latest soap spoiler storylines on TV tonight with our daily soap synopsis
- 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
Sanditon, season 2, 9 pm, ITV
Elation and heartbreak abound in equal measure as this second series comes to a bittersweet close. Charlotte has finally allowed herself to consider the possibility of a romantic future with her dashing, emotionally distant employer – but all talk of their relationship takes a back seat when they discover his daughter is missing, having eavesdropped on the truth about her parentage. Will malevolent Colonel Lennox take this opportunity to drive them apart one last time? Meanwhile, the truth about Sidney’s demise in Antigua is finally revealed – and it brings shocking news for Georgiana and the Parkers…
★★★★ SP
Aretha Franklin Night, from 8 pm, BBC Four
BBC Four devotes much of its schedule tonight to the legendary singer Aretha Franklin, who would have turned 80 this year. It kicks off with A Tribute to the Queen of Soul at the Proms, in which the Jules Buckley Orchestra and singer Sheléa pay tribute. That’s followed by Duets (10pm), a 1993 concert which sees Aretha joined on stage by the likes of Elton John, Rod Stewart and Gloria Estefan, and then a chance to see the film Amazing Grace (11pm), which follows the recording of the singer’s classic 1972 gospel album of the same name. The evening ends with Aretha Franklin: Respect, a documentary first shown in 2018.
★★★★ JP
Digging for Treasure: Tonight, 9 pm, Channel 5
Fans of Time Team and The Great British Dig will love this fascinating four-part series, in which Dan Walker, Michaela Strachan and Raksha Dave travel the country to try to discover historical artefacts with the help of archaeologists and local metal-detectorists. Their mission starts at an intriguing site in Northallerton in North Yorkshire, which is close to castle ruins and former Viking and Roman settlements, so hopes are high that coins or even weapons might be unearthed. But will luck be on their side?
★★★★ CC
Agatha Christie's Hjerson, 9 pm, More4
A minor character in the Poirot books gets a series of his own in this good-looking Swedish eight-parter. As the action kicks off on board a swish cruise ship, TV producer Klara Sandberg is trying to track down Sven Hjerson, Europe’s most pernickety detective – now living in disgrace – in the hope of luring him into making a whodunnit reality TV show with her. Of course he’ll never sign up for something that lightweight, unless the famous cop is missing the spotlight more than he’s letting on.
★★★★ SM
Carol Klein's Summer Gardening, 7 pm, Channel 5
Who doesn’t love a daisy? This hardy perennial comes in a variety of colours and sizes and thrives in the most surprising of places. Carol takes us on a dusty walk in North Devon to find a particular type of wild daisy and reveal its native roots. After the summer we’ve had, thank goodness for this pretty but tough little plant.
★★★ MC
Best box set to watch on TV tonight
Marriage, BBC iPlayer
Fans of Stefan Golaszewski (Him & Her, Mum) are in for a treat, as the writer-director debuts his new series. TV heavyweights Sean Bean and Nicola Walker star as couple Ian and Emma, who are far from wedded bliss as they approach their 27th anniversary. Ian is in freefall after being made redundant, while Emma is quietly thrilled by the attentions of her boss, Jamie (an excellently obnoxious Henry Lloyd-Hughes). An intense look at the minutiae of married life, which for singles may feel like a blink-and-you-miss it backwater; for couples, it’s an eye-opening drive through the intricate landscape of long-term relationships. All four episodes are now available on BBC iPlayer.
Best film to watch on TV tonight
Sing 2, 10.25 am & 6 pm, Sky Cinema Premiere/NOW
This bright and boisterous sequel to the incredibly popular Sing delivers more of the same song and slapstick carried out by various animals, expanding its already star-studded voice cast and improving the quality of CGI considerably. Koala Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey) sets out to stage a spectacular show in the Vegas-like Redshore City but needs to persuade reclusive star Clay Calloway (Bono) back into the limelight for it to happen. Voices including that of Reese Witherspoon and Taron Egerton make a return, with welcome additions including Pharrell Williams, Letitia Wright and Jennifer Saunders.
Live Sport
- Test Cricket, England vs South Africa, 10.15 am, Sky Sports Main Event/NOW
- EFL, Luton Town vs Sheffield Town, 7.30 pm (k-o 8 pm), Sky Sports Main Event/NOW
Soaps on TV tonight
- Emmerdale, 7.30 pm, ITV
- Coronation Street, 8 pm, ITV
- Hollyoaks, 6.30 pm, C4
- Home & Away, 6 pm & 6.30 pm, 5Star
If you watch just one thing on TV tonight…
Don't miss Sanditon on TV tonight — this gorgeous series comes to a close as Charlotte makes a big decision about her future and there's shocking news for the Parkers.
Not found anything you want to watch on TV tonight? Check out our TV Guide.
Happy viewing!
