On TV tonight, Steve Coogan stars in ITV's true-life drama Stephen, romantic reality hit Married at First Sight UK returns to E4 and Ghosts serves up more hilariously spooky goings-on 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
Stephen, 9pm, ITV
The fight by Doreen and Neville Lawrence to bring the killers of their son to book was documented in ITV’s 1999 drama The Murder of Stephen Lawrence. As this three-part drama begins, it’s 2006 – 13 years on from Stephen’s murder – and his killers have still not been successfully prosecuted. Doreen (Sharlene Whyte) and Neville (Hugh Quarshie) have little faith left in the police, but DCI Clive Driscoll (Steve Coogan) is determined to put right what previously went very, very wrong. An illuminating series, with superb performances all round.
★★★★★ SP
Married at First Sight UK, 9pm, E4
This summer there’s been a flurry of weddings previously postponed because of COVID restrictions, meaning prospective brides and grooms will have known each other for an extra year. At MAFS, it’s business as usual, with the eight couples only setting eyes on each other at the actual wedding! The show runs from Mondays to Thursdays, with Married at First Sight: Afters on Thursday hosted by AJ Odudu.
★★★ JP
Ghosts, 8.30pm, BBC1
There’s something very unsettling in the air at Button House - permanently grouchy Lady Fanny is waltzing around being uncharacteristically pleasant to everyone! Mary suspects Fanny could be possessed, but the real reason for the battleaxe’s personality change is even more surprising... Elsewhere, poor Mike is being stressed out by Robin and Julian, who are causing mischief with his emails, and the Coopers’ solicitor is concerned that Alison’s long-lost half-sister Lucy might want to get her hands on Alison’s inheritance. Can Alison find out the truth with the help of The Captain’s ‘talent’ for surveillance?!
★★★★ CC
Best box set to watch on TV tonight
Britannia, season 3, Sky Atlantic/NOW
In the brilliantly bonkers Roman-Britain period drama's long-awaited third series, which was delayed from last year due to the pandemic, General Aulus Plautius (David Morrissey) receives an unexpected visitor – his formidable wife Hemple (Sophie Okonedo), who has strange acolytes, a menagerie of pets and some rather unusual appetites, to say the least! Elsewhere, reluctant ‘chosen one’ Cait makes a bid to reclaim her identity and a flashback to before the Roman invasion reveals a dark secret about Aulus’s past.
★★★★ IM
Best film to watch on TV tonight
On the Basis of Sex, 10.30pm, BBC2
Not many US Supreme Court justices have films made about them, but Ruth Bader Ginsburg wasn’t your average judge. There’d already been a documentary, RBG, but in this movie premiere it’s Felicity Jones as the plucky and diminutive Ruth, fighting against prejudice as a woman, a mother and a Jew to make her way in 1950s USA. It’s written by her nephew, and there is a touch of soft soap here and there, but the performances are mighty (Armie Hammer as her husband, Kathy Bates as a fellow attorney) and the story is a winning-against-the-odds classic.
Live Sport
- Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, from 6am, C4
- Betfred Super League: Castleford Tigers V Wigan Warriors, 4.30pm k-o 5pm), Sky Sports Main Event/NOW
Soaps on TV tonight
- EastEnders, 8.10pm, BBC1
- Emmerdale, 7pm, ITV
- Coronation Street, 7.30pm & 8.30pm, ITV
- Hollyoaks, 6.30pm, C4
If you watch just one thing on TV tonight…
Don't miss Stephen on TV tonight – a moving, important drama that goes behind the headlines of one of the UK's most high-profile murder cases and the family's fight for justice.
Not found anything you want to watch on TV tonight? Check out our TV Guide.
Happy viewing!
