On TV tonight, Claire Danes stars in new drama The Essex Serpent on Apple TV Plus, new legal drama The Lincoln Lawyer arrives on Netflix and Channel 5 looks back at Eurovision: Secrets and Scandals. As comedian Ellie Taylor hosts steamy new reality show, Let's Make a Love Scene on C4, comedy The Other One continues on BBC One. 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
The Essex Serpent, Apple TV Plus
Sarah Perry’s novel about the battle between science and superstition in the 1890s was a sensation upon its release in 2016, and now this gripping adaptation brings the powerful story to life. Claire Danes plays widowed Cora Seaborne, whose interest in palaeontology takes her to an Essex village, where sightings of a curious sea creature have apparently been made. But Cora and under-pressure local vicar Will Ransome (Tom Hiddleston) soon face challenges as fear of the serpent-like beast grips the community. Apple TV Plus has asked us not to add a star rating to this preview within a certain period of its release.
★★★★ CC
The Lincoln Lawyer, season 1, Netflix
The Undoing and Big Little Lies’ creator David E Kelley is behind this drama series starring Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as attorney Mickey Haller, who runs his Los Angeles law practice out of the back seat of his Lincoln Town Car. It’s based on the novel The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly (slightly confusingly, the 2011 movie The Lincoln Lawyer starring Matthew McConaughey as Haller was adapted from Connelly’s novel of the same name). The series also stars Scream’s Neve Campbell as Mickey’s first ex-wife, Maggie, who’s the Deputy District Attorney, and Ugly Betty’s Becki Newton as Lorna, Mickey’s second ex-wife, who works as his office manager.
★★★★ RMC
Eurovision: Secrets and Scandals, 8pm, Channel 5
The Eurovision Song Contest has provided plenty of memorable moments over the years – but not necessarily for the right reasons! This delightfully muck-raking one-off chats with experts as well as former contestants, hosts and backstage crew to reveal the infamous incidents that viewers at home may not have noticed – such as Agnetha and Björn showing secret support for a UK musical act (of sorts) during ABBA’s 1974 performance of Waterloo. Cheryl Baker also reveals how Bucks Fizz perfected their skirt-removing stunt, and former producer Roger Ordish talks about the uninvited Albanian delegation in 1968.
★★★★ SP
Let's Make a Love Scene, 10pm, C4
Actors who do love scenes together often find real life following suit. But would the same thing work for the rest of us? In Blind Date-style, comedian Ellie Taylor invites singletons to shoot (often steamy) scenes from movies such as The Notebook, Ghost and Fifty Shades of Grey with three different ‘co-stars’ they’ve just met. Will there be screen chemistry? And will it translate? A two-part series with plenty of feel-good potential.
★★★★ SM
The Other One, season 2, 9.30pm, BBC One
As the second series of Holly Walsh’s brilliant comedy continues, we’re seeing the fallout from revelations made last week. Marilyn (Siobhan Finneran) isn’t happy that Angela (Michele Austin) – who, after all, ‘stole another woman’s woman’s man’ – is staying in her house, while Cathy is exasperated that her ex and her mum are still in contact. If the number of laugh-out-loud moments is any indicator of the quality of a sitcom, then this is first-rate.
★★★★★ JP
Best box set to watch on TV tonight
The Pentaverate, season 1, Netflix
Austin Powers’ Mike Myers is rarely content with playing just one character, and in this quirky comedy, the chameleon-like star has a whale of a time tackling no less than eight different roles! Among them is veteran Canadian reporter Ken Scarborough, who is investigating a secret society known as The Pentaverate, which has been saving the world from disaster since the Middle Ages, but is suddenly under threat… He also portrays their oldest member, Lord Lordington. Look out, too, for Jennifer Saunders.
Best film to watch on TV tonight
Senior Year, Netflix
In this comedy, Rebel Wilson stars as Ruby, the most popular girl in her high school until she goes into a coma after falling from the top of a cheerleading pyramid. Fast-forward 20 years, and Ruby finally wakes up as a 37-year-old woman who is unsure how she fits in to the modern world. Determined to get back what was rightfully hers, Ruby decides to head back to class in a bid to finish her final year, reclaim her popularity and make sure she is crowned prom queen. Alicia Silverstone and Justin Hartley also star.
Live Sport
- EFL, Luton Town vs Huddersfield Town, 7pm (k-o 7.45pm) Sky Sports Main Event/NOW
Soaps on TV tonight
- Emmerdale, 7.30pm, ITV
- Coronation Street, 8pm, ITV
- Hollyoaks, 6.30pm, C4
- Neighbours, 6pm, Channel 5
- Home and Away, 6pm & 6.30pm, 5Star
If you watch just one thing on TV tonight…
Don't miss The Essex Serpent on TV tonight — a thrilling new series with a brilliant cast.
Not found anything you want to watch on TV tonight? Check out our TV Guide.
Happy viewing!
