On TV tonight, Surgeons: At the Edge of Life returns to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, Nicky and her family take center stage in Waterloo Road, Blackbeard finally makes his appearance in Our Flag Means Death, Fern Britton brings her Cornish travelogue to an end on Channel 5, and Next Level Chef turns up the heat. Here's what you shouldn't miss on TV Tonight.
- Our hand-selected recommendations for what's on TV tonight include 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
Surgeons: At The Edge of Life, 9 pm, BBC Two
A new run of this excellent series returns to Addenbrooke’s Hospital’s major trauma centre in Cambridge, where we get an unflinching look at the treatment given to patients. These include a motorcyclist who crashed into a metal gate and who is being brought in by air ambulance, and a woman who has serious spinal injuries following a car accident. As the many specialists work together, they are constantly having to make decisions and prioritise injuries, with the outcome either potentially saving a life or affecting the patient for the rest of their life. As one doctor says, ‘We’re not robots, we’re human beings. But you never know when unexpected things can happen.’ ★★★★ JP
Waterloo Road, 8 pm, BBC One, BBC iPlayer (box set)
As soon as this much-loved school drama returned, it was like it had never been away. Fans are loving the new characters, too, and tonight’s episode shines a light on put-upon dinner lady Nicky (Kym Marsh). Mum to WR’s ‘heart-throb’ Preston (The Bay’s Noah Valentine) and his bold younger sister Tonya (newcomer Summer Violet Bird), Nicky’s been worrying about how she’ll afford new school uniforms, but it seems her money worries run much deeper as the bailiffs come knocking… Waterloo Road 2.0 is proving once again it’s top of the class! (bumped from the usual Tuesday night slot due to the FA Cup).
★★★★ VW
My Cornwall with Fern Britton, 8 pm, Channel 5
Fern concludes her historical and cultural journey around her home county at the ancient hundreds of Kerrier and Penwith. She visits Bronze Age villages, meets men whose forebears worked in the tin mines and joins the Pendeen Silver Band to discover how music still connects the community today. On the stunning Lizard Peninsula, she finds out about Cornish sea salt, hevva (heavy) cake and huer’s huts, and takes a choppy ride with the RNLI to hear about their greatest-ever rescue. ★★★★ MC
Our Flag Means Death, 10 pm, BBC Two, iPlayer (box set)
If you enjoy comedy that embraces silly while still being smart, this sitcom about a crew of ‘mediocre pirates’ should hit the spot. Flight of the Conchords’ Rhys Darby plays wealthy landowner-turned-gentleman pirate Stede Bonnet, who is infinitely more cut-glass than cut-throat, with an MO of ‘polite menace’ and a keen interest in the well-being of his crew. Taika Waititi plays Blackbeard, whom we finally get to see in this third episode, with the rest of the cast including Rory Kinnear, Ewen Bremner, Fred Armisen and Con O’Neill. All episodes are available on BBC iPlayer, but we’re eking out the series to have a weekly dose of goofiness to brighten up a wintry Wednesday night. ★★★★ JP
Next Level Chef, 9 pm, ITV1
After the tense first elimination, reality is hitting home for the 11 remaining contestants, as they now know that any mistake could be very costly. The teams are each placed in one of the three very different kitchens again, based on how much they impressed mentors Gordon Ramsay, Paul Ainsworth and Nyesha Arrington in last week’s opening round, but they haven’t got long to settle in, as they must grab all the ingredients they need to make a perfect Italian-themed dish. Whose offering will be good enough to protect them from having to say ‘arrivederci’ and who will end up in the dreaded cook-off? ★★★★ CC
Best box set on TV tonight
If you're looking for a very unique series this week, Kaleidoscope could be the perfect choice for you. This is a Netflix heist series with a twist, and you can watch the series in any order you like until the thrilling conclusion.
The Mandalorian star Giancarlo Esposito leads the cast as Leo Pap, and we follow a crew of masterful thieves and their attempt to crack a seemingly unbreakable vault for the biggest payday in history. It's certainly an interesting watch especially if you're discussing it with others who may have watched in a different order to you!
LB
Best film on TV tonight
Beautiful Boy, 9.15 pm, BBC Three
Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet are heartbreakingly good, cast against type playing father and son in this harrowing true-story drama about the impact of drug addiction on a family. Carell is successful US journalist David Sheff and Chalamet is his golden-boy son Nic. But Nic has become addicted to crystal meth, and for all his love and care David is powerless to keep him on the straight and narrow. As Nic goes round and round the cycle of rehab and relapse, we experience the emotional turmoil with them. ★★★★ JB
Soaps
- EastEnders, 7.30 pm, BBC One
- Emmerdale, 7.30 pm, ITV1
- Coronation Street, 8 pm, ITV1
- Hollyoaks, 6.30 pm, Channel 4
- Home and Away, 6 pm, 5Star
Live Sport
- Premier League: Crystal Palace vs Manchester United, 7.30 pm (k-o 8 pm), Sky Sports Main Event
- Australian Open Tennis (live), from 12 am, Eurosport 1
If you watch just one thing on TV tonight…
Don't miss Surgeons: At The Edge of Life on TV tonight.
Not found anything you want to watch on TV tonight? Check out our TV Guide.
Happy viewing!
