TV Tonight: Our highlights for Wednesday, January 4, 2023

The Light In The Hall, aka Y Golau, stars Joanna Scanlan, Iwan Rheon and Alexandra Roach.

(Image credit: BBC/S4C)

On TV tonight, US pirate comedy Our Flag Means Death finally debuts in the UK, historical conservator Sven Habermann brings explore Ernest Shackleton's story to life in Shackleton's Cabin, Welsh drama The Light in the Hall gets underway on Channel 4 and Ambulance returns for a new series. 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

The Light in the Hall, 9 pm, Channel 4, All4 (box set)

Alexandra Roach as journalist Cat in The Light In The Hall, aka Y Golau. — (Image credit: BBC/S4C)

Joanna Scanlan takes on a very different challenge from her role as Ma Larkin to star as a deeply traumatised mum, whose teenage daughter, Ela, was murdered in mysterious circumstances by a local man, Pritchard (Iwan Rheon). Now, 18 years on, Pritchard is about to be released on parole, claiming he has no memory of the murder or where Ela’s body is buried. The compelling dual-language Welsh drama (shown in Welsh on S4C and BBC iPlayer last year) also stars Alexandra Roach as Ela’s childhood friend, Cat, a journalist seeking answers who uncovers serious doubts over Pritchard’s guilt. Continues tomorrow. ★★★★ HD

Ambulance, 9 pm, BBC One

Becca, Chris from Ambulance — (Image credit: BBC/Dragonfly Film and Television Ltd/Ryan McNamara)

We’re back on board with the North East Ambulance Service, and for crews already struggling post-Covid, staff shortages at Darlington hospital mean ambulances have had waits of up to two hours to get back on the road – and dispatch is getting calls every 22 seconds. But the crews are as cheery and patient as ever, helping a 64-year-old woman with back pain and nausea who is frightened to go into hospital, a young woman with a head injury who is a frequent caller, and a suicidal call – via text – that mentions a bomb. It’s all in a night’s work and staff cope however they can, whether it’s swapping their ‘death row’ menus or pretending to fight over who ate the last sweet. ★★★★ JP

Our Flag Means Death, 10 pm, BBC Two (times vary), BBC iPlayer (box set)

The cast of Our Flag Means Death — (Image credit: BBC/Warner Bros/Aaron Epstein)

There really was a member of the landed gentry in Barbados called Stede Bonnet, and he really did give it all up to become a pirate, even though he didn’t have any clue about ships, sailing or piracy. It’s a great story and the basis for this swashbuckling 10-part comic series full of great talent. Rhys Darby plays Captain Bonnet, while Taika Waititi is his great rival on the Spanish Main, Blackbeard. Since these are two of the names behind the vampire spoof What We Do in the Shadows, this bodes very well indeed. ★★★ SM

Shackleton's Cabin, 9 pm, BBC Four

Sven Habermann sitting on the cabin. — (Image credit: BBC/Moondance Productions)

Just a nudge over 100 years ago, Ernest Shackleton died in his cabin on the ship Quest, en route for his latest adventure, a mapping and prospecting expedition to the Antarctic. Now, armed with only one photograph of the cabin, historical conservator Sven Habermann is setting out to restore the cabin to its former glory, and bring Shackleton’s story back to life. This fascinating documentary also tracks down descendants of the people involved, including Jan Chojecki, whose grandfather financed the original expedition, Alexandra Shackleton, the explorer’s granddaughter, and the intrepid Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who has some interesting insights into the mind of an explorer. ★★★★ SM

Best box set on TV tonight

The Bear, Disney Plus

Jeremy Allen White as Carmy sitting in the kitchen on The Bear — Get watching one of the best shows of 2022. (Image credit: Hulu)

Even if you haven’t seen this drama, chances are you’ve read about it or had someone tell you how good it is – there was certainly a buzz surrounding the show which some have called the best (and possibly most stressful) on TV. Jeremy Allen White plays young chef Carmy, who applies skills honed working in New York’s hottest spot to running a Chicago sandwich shop after his brother dies and leaves it to him. If you’re not shouting ‘Behind!’ every time you squeeze between the fridge and a bemused family member, you soon will be. A second series has already been commissioned – are we a little excited to see what’s next for the staff at The Original Beef of Chicagoland? Yes, chef! ★★★★★ JP

Best film on TV tonight

Emma, BBC iPlayer

A vision of pastel hues with eloquent quips, this Jane Austen adaptation from 2020 is a sheer delight. Rather than messing about with the classic source material, director Autumn de Wilde leaves it, for the most part, intact, but

keeps the narrative pacy and the visuals sumptuous. Anya Taylor-Joy is simply wonderful as the title character, a young woman determined to meddle in everyone’s love lives before being brought down to Earth by family friend Johnny Flynn (also spot on). The rich, starry supporting cast includes Bill Nighy, Mia Goth, Miranda Hart and Callum Turner. A real treat. ★★★★ NP