On TV tonight, Casualty breaks the mold with a fully improvised episode, there's a Talking Pictures Christmas special to help put you in the festive mood, a selection of performances from the Radio 2 Piano Room kicks off an evening of music on BBC Two and England takes on France for a place in the World Cup semi-finals. Here's what you shouldn't miss on TV Tonight.
- Our hand-selected recommendations for what's on TV tonight include 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
Casualty, 8.10 pm, BBC One
Casualty is known for its epic stunts and set pieces, but the long-running medical drama is going against the norm this week with this format-breaking, fully improvised episode dedicated to Holby City Hospital paramedics Jan (Di Botcher), Iain (Michael Stevenson), Teddy and Sah as they feel the strain of an NHS at breaking point. Over four days, our first responders are stretched to the limit dealing with all manner of emergencies. Of course, there’s a few time-wasters, too, and this episode explores how lies cost lives. Filmed in a style that wouldn’t look out of place in real-life series 24 Hours in A&E, this is Casualty at its best. ★★★★ VW
Talking Pictures: Christmas Classics, 4.05 pm, BBC Two (except NI)
A Talking Pictures special to get you in a festive mood, as it looks at some of the most popular Christmas films. There are clips from old classics including White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life, plus archive interviews with their stars Bing Crosby and James Stewart. There are also modern-day favourites such as Love Actually and the Nativity! films, with Nativity 2 following at 4.50pm (times vary). ★★★ JP
The Radio 2 Piano Room, from 8.35 pm, BBC Two
In an evening dedicated to all things keyboard, a new compilation of performances at the BBC Maida Vale Studios in London takes centre stage. Artists including Michael Bublé, Sam Smith, Paolo Nutini and Craig David are among those who have recorded new piano versions of their hits, backed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, as well as some special cover versions. That’s followed by a compilation of archive performances in Piano Greats at the BBC at 9.15pm, including Nina Simone and Elton John, while at 10.45pm there’s a treat for fans of ‘Piano Man’ Billy Joel with a 1978 concert on The Old Grey Whistle Test, featuring songs from his multimillion-selling album The Stranger. ★★★★ JP
Best box set on TV tonight
With Slow Horses season 2 airing on Apple TV, now is the perfect time to try (or reacquaint yourself) with the first installment so you can catch up with the new episodes.
Season 1 of the celebrated crime drama follows a group of washed-up MI5 agents who have all made excruciating, career-ending mistakes. They end up in a grotty office block called Slough House, assigned to boring admin tasks instead.
With an all-star cast like Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden and Kristin Scott Thomas, the adaptation of Mick Herron's novel series is well worth a watch.
★★★★ LB
Best film on TV tonight
Murder on the Orient Express, 9.15 pm, Channel 4
This was the first of Kenneth Branagh’s Agatha Christie films with him directing and starring as Hercule Poirot – Death on the Nile was released earlier this year and A Haunting in Venice, based on the Christie novel Hallowe’en Party, is currently in production. While Branagh’s Belgian private detective in this take on Murder on the Orient Express sports incredibly elaborate facial hair, he can’t quite generate the same intrigue from the bones of the film itself, and it’s a serviceable, rather than an exciting affair. That said, it’s a lavish adaptation and good to look at, stuffed with big-name actors as murder suspects on the train, including Judi Dench, Penélope Cruz and Willem Dafoe. ★★★ NP
Live Sport
- World Cup 2022: Morocco vs Portugal, 2 pm (k-o 3 pm), ITV 1
- World Cup 2022: England vs France, 6 pm (k-o 7 pm), ITV 1
If you watch just one thing on TV tonight…
Don't miss England take on France for a spot in the World Cup semi-finals on TV tonight.
Not found anything you want to watch on TV tonight? Check out our TV Guide.
Happy viewing!
