TV Tonight: our highlights for Friday, July 30

TV Tonight Crabbie (Mark Monero) and Gary King (Tom Davis).
(Image credit: BBC)

On TV tonight, an exciting new spin-off series begins on Sky Witness/NOW, Law & Order: Organized Crime, there's a fascinating documentary on Disney+ called Summer of Soul and comedy King Gary returns for a second series on BBC1. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss 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
  • 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

King Gary, 9.30pm, BBC1

Wedding bells are in the air as we return for a second series of this good-natured comedy about a family man with a big heart. Tom Davis is on top form as lovable everyman Gary King, yet while his fiancée Terri (Laura Checkley) is busy planning their wedding, he’s more concerned with finding out who’s dumping rubbish in his skip. Gary recruits neighbour Stuart to help him get to the truth, but soon discovers his pal is going through a rough patch, with comedian Romesh Ranganathan delivering a moving performance as the bereft dad. 

★★★★ SMA

Law & Order: Organized Crime, 10pm, Sky Witness/NOW

TV Tonight Detective Elliot Stabler works on a complicated case.

Detective Elliot Stabler investigates an international drugs cartel. (Image credit: Sky)

Fans of Law & Order are in for a real treat as the new spin-off series begins, following on from the dramatic events of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit that aired at 9pm. The brilliant Christopher Meloni is back as Detective Elliot Stabler and this time it’s personal. ‘I want answers, closure, I need that for my children,’ he quietly rages. Back from Rome and dealing with a devastating personal loss, Stabler throws himself into investigating an international drugs cartel, run by known crime boss Manfredi Sinatra (Chazz Palminteri). It’s clever and slick with great performances all round. 

★★★★ JL

Summer of Soul, Disney+

TV Tonight BB King performs.

BB King performs. (Image credit: Disney+)

We’ve all heard of the iconic 1969 Woodstock music festival, which spawned a best-selling soundtrack and a critically acclaimed film. However, the Harlem Cultural Festival, which took place just 100 miles away, during the same summer, and featured a stellar line-up of black artists, has remained unsung – until now. This feature-length documentary about the festival features rip-roaring performances from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and the Pips, BB King and Nina Simone, as well as a host of artists you may be less familiar with across a range of genres, who are well worth seeing. With contributions from attendees and artists, the film also places the event in the context of American race relations at a pivotal point in black consciousness and culture. 

★★★★★ IM

Best box set to watch tonight

Ted Lasso, seasons one & two, Apple TV+

TV tonight Apple has renewed "Ted Lasso" for a third season.

Jason Sudeikis as football coach Ted Lasso. (Image credit: Apple TV+)

A surprise hit that won a Golden Globe for star and co-creator Jason Sudeikis, this warm-hearted comedy follows the titular American football coach, who is brought in to manage a Premier League club. In series one, Ted’s lack of experience, together with his optimistic outlook and homespun philosophy, did not win over players, fans or media, and AFC Richmond were relegated. As we rejoin, an on-pitch incident denies ‘the Greyhounds’ their first win of the season, and club owner Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) has a new love interest, played by Patrick Baladi. 

★★★★ IM

Best film to watch on TV tonight

Knives Out, 9.50am & 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere/NOW

TV tonight Daniel Craig in Knives Out

Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc in Knives Out. (Image credit: Lionsgate)

A rollicking homage to all-star Agatha Christie adaptations from writer-director Rian Johnson. Daniel Craig plays a private sleuth investigating the death of a wealthy crime novelist (Christopher Plummer) in his Massachusetts mansion. Eccentric family members include Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans and Don Johnson, with home help Ana de Armas seeming to be the only one grieving. It's a wild ride with plenty of red herrings, but the director keeps a steady grip on proceedings throughout. A sequel is in the works and due for release next year. 

Live Sport

  • Olympics 2020, from 6am, BBC1/BBC2/iPlayer/Red Button
  • ITV Racing: Glorious Goodwood, 1.30pm, ITV

Soaps on TV tonight

If you watch just one thing on TV tonight…

Don't miss Law & Order: Organized Crime on TV tonight – slick American crime drama.

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

Happy viewing!

Joanne Lowles
Freelance writer and editor

Joanne Lowles has been writing about TV since 2002. After graduating from Cardiff University with a Postgraduate Diploma in Magazine Journalism, she worked for All About Soap magazine covering the ups and downs of life on the cobbles, the square and the Dales. 


Next came nearly 10 years at TV Times magazine as a writer and then deputy features editor. Here she spent many happy days interviewing the biggest names in entertainment and visiting the sets of some of our most popular shows including Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife and Strictly Come Dancing


With a love of nature and wildlife she’s also interviewed the leading experts in this area including David Attenborough, Chris Packham and Steve Backshall. She’s also travelled the world visiting Mongolia, Canada and South Africa to see how the best in the business make the most brilliant natural history documentaries. 


Freelance since 2013, she is now is a digital writer and editor for What to Watch, previews the best on the box for TV Times mag each week and loves being constantly surprised, entertained and informed by the amazing TV that she is lucky enough to watch.