TV Tonight: our highlights for Tuesday, July 20

By Joanne Lowles
published

Uprising is just one of the gems on TV tonight.

Protesters take to the streets after the New Cross house fire.
Protesters take to the streets after the New Cross house fire. (Image credit: BBC)

On TV tonight, there's a powerful new documentary series Uprising on BBC1, Adam Henson helps other farmers in Our Family Farm Rescue on Channel 5 and on BBC2 more Secrets of the Museum are revealed. 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

Uprising, 9pm, BBC1

TV tonight: The devastation caused by the New Cross fire where 14 black teenagers died.

Steve McQueen's powerful documentary remembers the New Cross house fire in 1981. (Image credit: BBC)

It's been a turbulent period for race relations recently, but it’s by no means the first time Britain has seen such upheaval and Steve McQueen’s visceral new documentary series takes us back forty years to the unrest of 1981. Tonight’s opening episode tells the story of the New Cross house fire, in which 14 black teenagers died, and the Oscar-winner covers the fall-out of that terrible night in two more haunting episodes tomorrow and Thursday. They are powerful tales and the memories of those who witnessed watershed moments such as Black People’s Day of Action and the Brixton riots are vivid. 

★★★★★ SMA

Our Family Farm Rescue, 9pm, Channel 5

TV tonight: Adam Henson helps struggling farmers diversify.

Adam Henson helps a cattle farm diversify in this new series. (Image credit: Channel 5)

As a nation we love a farming show! But this is an agricultural series with a difference, as Countryfile’s Adam Henson helps struggling farmers diversify in a bid to save their family farms. Each week he’s advising farmers across the UK on various plans, from alpaca treks to glamping pods and even building a smokery. But first up he’s in Greater Manchester with traditional cattle farmers Ian and Karen Taylor, exploring the idea of converting an old hay barn into a wellness centre. Of course there’s a lot of financial risk involved, as well as the pressures of COVID and a new baby in the family. Can the Taylors make their new venture work?

★★★★ HD

Secrets of the Museum, 8pm, BBC2

TV tonight: Museum director Geoff Marsh with Jim Lea's suit.

The cameras return to London's V&A Museum.  (Image credit: BBC)

Museums aren’t always stuffed full of ancient artefacts and dusty old relics. Tonight cameras are back behind the scenes of London’s V&A to reveal the secrets of its treasures, including a red lurex and velvet suit recently donated by Slade’s bass guitarist Jim Lea, which he wore back in the band’s 1970s glam rock heyday! But the outrageous outfit takes a lot of painstaking repair before it can go on display alongside costumes worn by other pop legends. As conservator Jo gets to work using a thread almost invisible to the naked eye, Jim shares his memories of the iconic suit and reveals some Slade secrets…

★★★★ HD

Best box set to watch on TV tonight

Young Royals, season one, Netflix

TV tonight Edvin Ryding in Young Royals

Edvin Ryding stars as Prince Wilhelm. (Image credit: Netflix)

In this involving Swedish drama, the fictional Prince Wilhelm (Edvin Ryding) is enrolled into a prestigious boarding school following a scandal. But the teen's wish to lead a normal life is soon derailed and he faces having to choose between love and duty.

Best film to watch on TV tonight

Snowpiercer, 11.40pm, Film4

South Korean director Bong Joon-ho tackled class warfare head on in his English-language debut, a ferociously exciting sci-fi action thriller that takes place in a frozen future in which humanity's last survivors live on a high-speed train. The haves live in luxury at the front, while the have-nots languish at the back – but revolt is stirring… With Chris Evans as the rebel leader, and also starring Jamie Bell, John Hurt and Tilda Swinton, this is a veritable thrill ride. 

Live sport

  • International T20 Cricket England v Pakistan, 6pm, Sky Sports Main Event/NOW

Soaps on TV tonight

If you watch just one thing on TV tonight…

Don't miss Uprising on TV tonight – a powerful and moving documentary series from an Oscar-winning film-maker.

Not found anything you want to watch on TV tonight? Check out our TV Guide. 

Happy viewing!

Joanne Lowles
Joanne Lowles
Freelance writer and editor

Joanne Lowles has been writing about TV since 2002. After graduating from Cardiff University with a Postgraduate Diploma in Magazine Journalism, she worked for All About Soap magazine covering the ups and downs of life on the cobbles, the square and the Dales. 


Next came nearly 10 years at TV Times magazine as a writer and then deputy features editor. Here she spent many happy days interviewing the biggest names in entertainment and visiting the sets of some of our most popular shows including Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife and Strictly Come Dancing. 


With a love of nature and wildlife she’s also interviewed the leading experts in this area including David Attenborough, Chris Packham and Steve Backshall. She’s also travelled the world visiting Mongolia, Canada and South Africa to see how the best in the business make the most brilliant natural history documentaries. 


Freelance since 2013, she is now is a digital writer and editor for What to Watch, previews the best on the box for TV Times mag each week and loves being constantly surprised, entertained and informed by the amazing TV that she is lucky enough to watch.