TV Tonight: our highlights for Wednesday, Feb. 2

TV tonight - Lily James and Sebastian Stan as the celebrity couple.
Lily James and Sebastian Stan as the celebrity couple. (Image credit: Disney+)

On TV tonight, Pam & Tommy is released on Star on Disney+, the eight-part miniseries about the chaotic lives of Pamela Anderson and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee. The Bay continues on ITV as does Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs. 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

Pam & Tommy, Star on Disney+

TV tonight Lily James as Pam.

Lily James as Pam. (Image credit: Disney+)

The Pam and Tommy in question here are Baywatch star Pamela Anderson and her ex, Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, in a dramatised account of the scandal surrounding the theft and distribution of the couple’s home-made sex tape. Sporting a magnificent mullet, a clean-shaven Seth Rogen plays disgruntled electrician Rand, who gets more than he bargained for when he breaks into their mansion and steals the safe, to compensate him for money he’s owed. Lily James plays Pam and Sebastian Stan is a hoot as the tattooed Tommy. 

★★★★ IM

The Bay, season 3, 9pm, ITV

TV tonight Mariam and Molly mourn Saif

Mariam and Molly mourn Saif. (Image credit: ITV)

It’s Saif’s funeral, but following the shocking conclusion of last week’s episode, will Mariam’s family have to cope with yet more tragedy? DI Manning’s team look into who was placing bets on the boxer’s upcoming fight, and discover that the largest wager came from an unexpected source. Erin makes a shocking discovery at the home of Saif’s girlfriend Molly (Isabel Caswell), and there are fresh developments relating to his uncle Kareem. The storyline is unfolding nicely, with Marsha Thomason proving an excellent addition as the new FLO. 

★★★★ IM

Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs, 8pm, ITV

TV tonight Paul with laid-back mastiff Lottie

Paul with laid-back mastiff Lottie. (Image credit: ITV)

‘It’s one of those dogs that you’d cross the road to avoid,’ says Paul about Lottie, a type of mastiff that’s sadly had her ears and tail illegally and brutally docked. She looks like she could take your arm off, but Paul soon discovers that laid-back Lottie has a lotta love to give. Paul also helps stressed Staffie Stella recover from an op and meets two nervous chihuahuas. They may look cute, but Paul knows from experience not to get too close too quickly to these feisty pocket-rockets. 

★★★ JL

Best box set to watch on TV tonight

Hotel Portofino, season 1, BritBox

TV tonight Natascha McElhone stars.

Natascha McElhone stars. (Image credit: ITV)

There are glorious Italian seascapes, plenty of 1920s glamour, as well as an English family embarking on a brave overseas adventure in BritBox’s new series, which bears some similarities to the sunny escapism of ITV’s The Durrells. The six-episode story centres around Bella Ainsworth (Natascha McElhone), who has moved from dreary post-war Britain to set up a hotel in the stunning town of Portofino with her dashing but dangerous aristocratic husband, Cecil, and their grown-up children, Alice and Lucian. But as well as family secrets, troublesome hotel guests, run-ins with the mafia and the rise of Mussolini’s fascists, at the heart of the story is a classic whodunit mystery. Anna Chancellor, Vigil’s Adam James and Oliver Dench (Dame Judi’s nephew) are also among the top-name cast.

Best film to watch on TV tonight

The Railway Man, 10.35pm, BBC1

TV tonight Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman star

Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman star. (Image credit: BBC)

Colin Firth is the epitome of British reserve as Eric Lomax, who was a former World War Two PoW under the Japanese in Thailand decades before. What happened to him during that time is slowly revealed, extracted by his wife Nicole Kidman, as we begin to see the horrific treatment inflicted upon him by his captors during that time. Jeremy Irvine plays the young Lomax and matches up with Firth perfectly, while Kidman supplies the warmth and humanity. Based on a true story, this can be a difficult film to watch at times, but is ultimately a hugely rewarding experience. 

Live Sport

  • SPFL, Celtic v Rangers, 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 Pam & Tommy on TV tonight – an outrageous story of fame, sex and money with a great cast. 

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.