On TV tonight, get ready to shout "higher, higher" as Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow: Celebrity Special returns to ITV with the classic game Play Your Cards Right. BBC Two dedicates its evening schedule to an iconic singer, starting with Paul McCartney at the BBC, Channel 5 looks back in Heatwave: Summer of '76 and goes behind the scenes of Hampton Court Palace: Behind Closed Doors. Finally, it's the last Later… with Jools Holland on BBC Two. 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
Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow: Celebrity Special, 7pm, ITV
There’s something about Alan Carr’s hosting style that adds to the nostalgia of this series which revives some of the UK’s all-time favourite game shows because it harks back to the glory days of game show greats such as Bruce Forsyth, Larry Grayson and Les Dawson. And in short, it means it’s full of fun and laughter. Each episode sees Alan host a TV classic, which this time includes Bullseye, Strike It Lucky and Child’s Play. Kicking off this new series is a celebrity version of Play Your Cards Right with Mo Farah and Clare Balding among the stars hoping to win money for charity.
★★★★ MD
Paul McCartney at the BBC, 7.10pm, BBC Two
Eighty years ago today, arguably the greatest living songwriter was born in Liverpool. The rest, as they say, is history – except it’s not just history as next Saturday Paul McCartney will headline Glastonbury festival. Tonight on BBC Two you can see a compilation of Sir Paul’s TV appearances in the years after The Beatles and later, at 11.25pm, a TOTP2 special. On NOW, there’s the Ron Howard 2016 Beatles documentary Eight Days a Week, while on Disney Plus you can see the acclaimed series Get Back and McCartney 3,2,1.
★★★★ JP
Heatwave: Summer of '76, 9pm, Channel 5
For three hours tonight it’s 1976 again. First is this documentary looking at the heatwave that scorched the streets of the UK, with temperatures reaching 36C and barely a drop of rain falling for 45 days. The feature-length film uses oodles of evocative archive footage of Brits trying to cool down, plus memories from well-known faces including Sir Trevor McDonald, Toyah Wilcox and Tony Blackburn. Finally, weatherman John Kettley talks us through the science and whether such an event is likely to happen again? Then, at 10.30pm it's, 1976: Britain's Biggest 70s Hits followed by 70s Greatest Disco Hits at 11.50pm.
★★★ JL
Later… with Jools Holland, 10.40pm, BBC Two
The final episode of the series sees Jools bring together five more incredible artists to Alexandra Palace Theatre. First up is Florence + The Machine, who have just released their fifth studio album, plus singer and rapper Jamie T. Then there are three first time performances on the iconic music show from R'n'B musician Kamal, Liverpool four-piece The Mysterines and multi-instrumentalist Deyaz. Plus, more performances from the Later… archives.
★★★ JL
Hampton Court Palace: Behind Closed Doors, 8pm, Channel 5
It was one of Henry VIII's favourite palaces and is still a huge hit with the one million visitors who explore some its 1300 rooms, original Tudor kitchen and over 500 priceless works of art today. In this first episode, chief curator Tracy Borman receives an exciting email about a possible Tudor treasure that's been found by an antiques dealer in Devon. Linked to Henry VIII's second wife Anne Boleyn, he believes a small wooden falcon, bought for £75 at auction, is actually from The Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace. Proving that it is would be the highlight of his and Tracy's career. Also, the cameras capture the gardeners busy taking care of over 60 acres of formal gardens, pruning the largest and oldest grape vine in the world and preparing for the Halloween celebrations.
★★★ JL
Best box set to watch on TV tonight
The Lazarus Project, Sky Box Sets/NOW
Giri/Haji creator Joe Barton offers up a fast-paced new entry into the sci-fi canon with this eight-part series, as George (I May Destroy You’s Paapa Essiedu) gets recruited into a top-secret organisation with the power to reset time if humanity is threatened with extinction. At first, he’s delighted with his new superhero-esque gig, but then he’s struck by a personal tragedy – which he isn’t allowed to undo. This excellent thriller deploys moral dilemmas and high-octane chase scenes, and it boasts a cracking ensemble cast which includes Caroline Quentin.
Best film to watch on TV today
Jumanji: The Next Level, 8pm, C4
Fans of the previous film won’t be disappointed as Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan return for this sequel to 2017’s fantasy adventure reboot of the 1995 Robin Williams movie. Danny DeVito and Danny Glover play a baffled geriatric duo who also find themselves sucked into the video game of the title.
Live Sport
- Royal Ascot, 1.25pm, ITV
- US Open Golf, 4pm, Sky Sports Main Event/NOW
If you watch just one thing on TV tonight…
Don't miss Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow: Celebrity Special on TV tonight – great nostalgic fun.
Not found anything you want to watch on TV tonight? Check out our TV Guide.
Happy viewing!
