TV Tonight: our highlights for Tuesday, September 21

Judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood.
Judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood. (Image credit: C4)

On TV tonight, the totally delicious Great British Bake Off begins on C4, while crime drama Annika starring the brilliant Nicola Walker concludes on Alibi and Ben Fogle is in the Scottish Hebrides in New Lives in the Wild on Channel 5. 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

The Great British Bake Off, 8pm, C4

TV tonight Host Matt Lucas with judges Prue and Paul.

Host Matt Lucas with judges Prue and Paul. (Image credit: C4)

Stand by your ovens, it’s back to the tent for our favourite baking extravaganza. With 12 nervous bakers stepping up for the traditional Cake Week opener, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith will be looking for perfect crumb structure in mini rolls for the signature challenge and a teatime favourite for the technical. Then, for the showstopper, they want cakes that defy the laws of physics! It’s week one guys, what are you going to have the bakers doing by week six, flying to the moon in a rocket made out of Italian meringue?! 

★★★★★ CC

Annika, 9pm, Alibi

TV tonight Nicola Walker as Annika.

Nicola Walker as Annika. (Image credit: UKTV)

Although one of the appealing things about this show is that it’s quite low-key for a crime drama, there’s a lot going on in the series finale. DS Michael McAndrew’s brother is a suspect in a murder case, and Annika (Nicola Walker) repeatedly warns him to keep his distance. ‘Go on, then, catch the killer with The Complete Works of Chaucer,’ is Michael’s withering parting shot. Regular viewers will know Annika’s love of literature runs through the show, along with her habit of talking to-camera. And one of those comments tonight will definitely leave you wanting a second series.

★★★★★ JP

Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild, 9pm, Channel 5

TV tonight Ben Fogle in the Scottish Hebrides.

Ben Fogle in the Scottish Hebrides. (Image credit: Channel 5)

Ben Fogle travels to a tiny island in the Scottish Hebrides to spend the week with Philip, an ex-social care worker, who now calls this unique little island home. Cut off from the outside world, Ben resides at an old lighthouse keeper’s cottage, and immerses himself in the daily routines of the small community, including kelp harvesting, bell-ringing, a druid ceremony and plenty of wild and wonderful swimming. The presenter discovers why Philip gave up his job to become the custodian of the island and how he’s adjusted to a very different pace of life. 

★★★ JL

Best box set to watch on TV tonight

Sex Education, season 3, Netflix

TV tonight Asa Butterfield as Otis and Emma Mackey as Maeve.

Asa Butterfield as Otis and Emma Mackey as Maeve. (Image credit: Netflix)

Few shows have captured the pleasure, pain and passionate intensity of teenage life as exquisitely as Netflix’s comedy drama Sex Education. And as the third run begins from Moordale Secondary School, there are twists and turns aplenty as the fallout from last series’ shocking STD outbreak continues. Moordale’s nerdy but loveable resident sex guru Otis, played by Asa Butterfield, would usually be eager to steer his fellow students through any sexual crises, but he has vowed to stop doling out advice, and is involved in a surprising romance of his own. Joining the cast are Jason Isaacs as ex-headteacher Mr Groff’s brother and Girls’ Jemima Kirke, who plays Moordale’s cool new head Hope Haddon.

Best film to watch on TV tonight

Sicario, 9pm, Film4

TV tonight Emily Blunt as Kate Macer

Emily Blunt as Kate Macer. (Image credit: Film4)

This superb thriller gives a stunning peek into the grisly war on drugs between Mexico and the USA. Director Denis Villeneuve throws FBI agent Emily Blunt into the morass, and follows her as she learns up is down and right is wrong through the political machinations of fellow agent Josh Brolin and shady ‘fixer’ Benicio del Toro. Breathlessly gripping, it culminates in a terrifying raid in the tunnels beneath the border. Sicario 2: Soldado premieres on Film4 tomorrow night at 9pm.

Live Sport

  • Women's International One-Day Cricket, England v New Zealand, 12.30pm, Sky Sports Main Event/NOW
  • EFL Cup, Norwich City v Liverpool, 7pm (k-o 7.45pm), Sky Sports Main Event/NOW

Soaps on TV tonight

If you watch just one thing on TV tonight…

Don't miss The Great British Bake Off on TV tonight – the tent is back and it's Cake Week – ready, steady, bake!

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

Happy viewing!

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.