On TV tonight, paramedic Sah confronts a face from their past in Casualty on BBC One, a new series of the brilliant Swedish crime drama Beck arrives on BBC Four, Celebrity Mastermind continues on BBC One and travel back in time for TOTP: The Story of 1997 on BBC Two. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss on TV tonight.
- Our hand selected recommendations for what's on TV tonight include four 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, 8.50pm, BBC One
Being the boss isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and tonight, Dylan (William Beck) finds himself dealing with yet another staff disciplinary issue. The clinical lead is horrified when he asks patient Scott (Frankie Wade) about his history of broken bones. Scott reveals he was violently assaulted by paramedic Sah (Arin Smethurst) when they were at school together. Later, Dylan catches Sah squaring up to Scott with a clenched fist and demands answers. Is there more to the story? Of course there is, this is Casualty! And, speaking of the happiest days of one’s life, Ollie takes revenge on his bullies and ends up in the ED under arrest…
★★★★ ER
Beck, season 8, 9pm, BBC4
The stylish Swedish crime drama returns for an eighth season, beginning with an intriguing case involving a body found in a canal. It’s soon identified as a Danish criminal with links to a large narcotics network, but this is not just a drug deal gone wrong. The momentum gathers pace as the threads of a complicated case come together, resulting in a thrilling conclusion. Lead detective Martin Beck (Peter Haber) is as clever and grumpy as ever, and another familiar face makes a welcome return to the team.
★★★★ JL
TOTP: The Story of 1997, 8.30pm, BBC Two
This week’s look at 12 months in Top of the Pops years goes back to 1997 (a quarter of a century ago!), with acts as diverse as Texas, Eternal, Placebo, Chumbawamba and the Teletubbies. That year saw the publication of the first Harry Potter book, a landslide win in the election for New Labour and an outpouring of public grief after Princess Diana died, with Elton John’s new version of Candle in the Wind becoming the best-selling record of the decade. And earworm of the year went to Aqua’s mega hit Barbie Girl. TOTP: Biggest Hits 1997 follows (9.30pm).
★★★ JP
Celebrity Mastermind, 7.30pm, BBC One
Clive Myrie has turned out to be a wonderful Mastermind host, with just enough gravitas but always a twinkle in his eye. Tonight’s contestants are comedian James Acaster, singer and actor Michelle Gayle, presenter Jean Johansson and Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Worthington. But whose chosen subject is Kylie…?
★★★ 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 today
The Personal History of David Copperfield, 9.20pm, C4
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci followed up the superb The Death of Stalin with this exuberant feel-good take on Charles Dickens’ semi-autobiographical story, using a gorgeous palette and pitch-perfect colour-blind casting. Dev Patel makes for a terrific driving force as Copperfield himself, aided by Tilda Swinton, Hugh Laurie, Benedict Wong and a supremely slippery Ben Whishaw as Uriah Heep. If ever there were an adaptation that compelled you to pick up Dickens, this is the one, fizzing as it does with wit and wondrous characters, anchored by Patel’s seesaw journey through the highs and lows of Victorian life. It’s a cracker. Also available on All 4.
Live Sport
- Premier League, Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur, 7pm (k-o 7.45pm), BT Sport 1
If you watch just one thing on TV tonight…
Don't miss Casualty on TV tonight – it's a difficult night for a few Casualty favourites…
Not found anything you want to watch on TV tonight? Check out our TV Guide.
Happy viewing!
