On TV tonight, Melvyn Bragg chats to Frank Skinner about his comedy career as The South Bank Show returns to Sky Arts/NOW. George Clarke's Remarkable Renovations continues on C4, Professor Hannah Fry presents documentary Unvaccinated on BBC Two and season 4 of Virgin River drops on Netflix. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss on TV tonight.
- Our hand selected recommendations for what's on TV tonight include four 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 South Bank Show, 10pm Sky Arts/NOW
A short run of three programmes for Melvyn Bragg’s show. Helen Mirren and dancer Carlos Acosta are lined up for future weeks, but the series gets going with Frank Skinner, a comedian whose lugubrious style of Black Country humour has been making people laugh for more than 30 years. Frank talks about his decision to enter the comedy world at the (relatively ancient) age of 30, and of his success with shows such as Fantasy Football League. Longer-form versions of Frank, Helen and Carlos’ episodes will all air in late August.
★★★★ SM
George Clarke's Remarkable Renovations, 9pm, C4
Buildings can do funny things to people. In this episode of the property series, James first saw an old glassworks in Brighton more than 20 years ago and fell head over heels in love with the dilapidated old place. He tried to buy it – twice – then, when he eventually did, it took five years to get planning and a pot of money big enough (half a million) to restore it exactly how he wanted. George first met James when he started work four years ago, and it’s certainly been a labour of love, but the restoration is smashing and definitely worth the wait.
★★★ JL
Unvaccinated, 9pm, BBC Two
With Covid rates on the rise again, the ever-informative Professor Hannah Fry asks why eight per cent of the UK population remain unprotected in this timely survey. She brings together seven people who have not received the vaccine with scientists, to dissect the role of social media and analyse medical statistics (mathematician Hannah herself worked on the data to help bring us out of the first lockdown). Will this social experiment convince any of the sceptics to change their minds?
★★★ NT
Virgin River, season 4, Netflix
We return to the small town of Virgin River for a fourth season of this gentle and comforting American melodrama. Although saying that, season 3 ended with a lot of fairly dramatic questions to answer. What's happened to Brady, who was last seen being arrested after the police found a gun in his car? Has anyone found Preacher, who was left in a heap in the woods after being drugged by a friend of Paige? And, most importantly, have Mel and Jack been able to work though the fact that Mel is pregnant and isn't sure if Jack is the father? Tune in to find out!
★★★ JL
Best box set to watch on TV tonight
Superman & Lois, season 2, BBC iPlayer
The first series of this action-packed drama ended with the Kent family trying to get their heads around John’s daughter Natalie (Tayler Buck) arriving from another dimension and thinking Lois (Elizabeth Tulloch) is her mum. She isn't, sadly, in this dimension anyway, but it adds an interesting dynamic between the two characters as season 2 drops in full on iPlayer. As always, what we love best about this series is how it combines real-life family drama with huge action sequences and end of the world jeopardy – and there’s plenty of both in this new season. As teenage twins Jonathan and Jordan have girl trouble, Lois is struggling to reconcile some dark feelings from her past and Superman (Tyler Hoechlin) is flying around the globe stopping disasters in their tracks, whilst also trying to be a good dad and husband. There’s also a new threat introduced in the shape of Lieutenant Anderson (Ian Bohen), who reveals his not-so-cunning plan to make more Supermen, which is just never going to end well!
Best film to watch on TV tonight
Rumble, Paramount Plus
It was originally earmarked for a cinema release, but pandemic-hit Rumble never made it to the big screen, and now the fun-filled family animation has arrived on streaming service Paramount Plus (accessed via paramountplus.com). Set in a world where humans and monsters co-exist, the tale follows Steve the Stupendous, a fluffy but fierce wrestler who embarks on a journey of redemption to take on the mighty Tentacular. Despite its ‘straight-to-video’ tag, it’s a solid, warm-hearted tale that will entertain the very youngest and features the voices of stars Will Arnett, Terry Crews and former British boxing champion Chris Eubank.
Live Sport
- Women's Euro 2022, the opening quarter final, England vs Spain, 7.30pm (k-o 8pm), BBC One
Soaps on TV tonight
- EastEnders, 7.30pm, BBC Two
- Emmerdale, 7.30pm, ITV
- Coronation Street, 8pm, ITV
- Hollyoaks, 6.30pm, C4
- Neighbours, 6pm, Channel 5
- Home and Away, 6pm & 6.30pm, 5Star
If you watch just one thing on TV tonight…
Don't miss The South Bank Show on TV tonight — an interesting insight into the career and life of Frank Skinner.
Not found anything you want to watch on TV tonight? Check out our TV Guide.
Happy viewing!
