On TV tonight, follow the emotional stories in Long Lost Family Special: Shipped to Australia on ITV, documentary Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist reveals how celeb homes were robbed on C4, Piers Morgan kicks off his new current affairs show Piers Morgan Uncensored on TalkTV, Alan Yentob chats to a national treasure in Imagine… Miriam Margolyes on BBC One, The Split continues also on BBC One, new comedy Peacock begins on BBC Three and Stacey has an emotional time in Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over on W. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss on TV tonight.
- Our hand selected recommendations for what's on TV tonight include seven 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
Long Lost Family Special: Shipped to Australia, 9pm, ITV
A child migrant scheme that operated in Britain between the 1920s and 1970s offered children in care the chance of new lives and brighter prospects in Australia. The reality, however, wasn’t as rosy as the promise, with the kids in question banned from contacting relatives back home. This Long Lost Family special edition follows the stories of Dorian Reece, who was sent to Australia at the age of eight, and Bruce Wilton, who stayed in the UK while his brothers Rex and Kevin were dispatched Down Under. As you’d expect from this popular series, the emotional reunions are beautiful but bittersweet.
★★★★ SP
Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist, 10pm, C4
From 2008-9 a group of teens robbed the LA homes of high-profile celebs including Paris Hilton and Orlando Bloom. They used celebrity gossip websites to determine when the stars would be out and pocketed £2.3 million of stolen goods. Their crimes inspired a movie starring Emma Watson, but this three-part documentary details what really took place, from the point of view of gang members Nick Prugo and Alexis Neiers. "Paris Hilton was our personal ATM," says Nick, explaining how the robberies funded their own lifestyles. Continues tomorrow and Wednesday.
★★★★ NH
Piers Morgan Uncensored, 8pm, TalkTV
In this brand-new flagship show on the equally new free-to-air channel, TalkTV, (available on Sky, Virgin TV, Freeview, Freesat, connected TVs and online), Piers Morgan promises to "annoy all the right people" through lively debate and discussion. The daily 60 minute show sees Piers return to our screens after his dramatic departure from Good Morning Britain earlier this year and we are sure he'll have plenty to say about the hot topics of the day.
★★★ JL
Imagine… Miriam Margolyes, 10.40pm (times vary), BBC One
"I think her volume button fell off at birth," remarks Richard E Grant of Miriam Margolyes in this profile of the actor known as much for her startling candour
as for her TV, film and stage roles. Now aged 80, she says she’s never been busier but looking back over her life she’s certainly packed in a lot. We’re taken from her school days in Oxford, through Cambridge Footlights, to TV and film roles and voiceover work. As Miriam says in her recent autobiography, "there will be smut, inevitably" and interviewer Alan Yentob noticeably flinches more than once, but then she had promised "warts and all, Alan, warts and all".
★★★★ JP
The Split, season 3, 9pm, BBC One
The thing we love most about this drama is the way in which divorce lawyer Hannah Stern’s love life is even more complicated than that of her clients! This week, Hannah (Nicola Walker) wakes up next to old flame Christie (Barry Atsma) after spending the night together. As Christie asks Hannah to start a new life with him in New York, Hannah’s soon-to-be ex-husband Nathan (Stephen Mangan) is having doubts about his own new relationship. Elsewhere, Ruth has some shock news for Zander – and it’s a twist that no one will see coming!
★★★★ VW
Peacock, 10pm, BBC Three
After playing MC Grinder in the BAFTA-winning People Just Do Nothing, Allan ‘Seapa’ Mustafa knows all about lampooning fragile male egos and hits the mark again in this comedy as personal trainer Andy Peacock. A scene where he springs a surprise dinner with his parents on an unsuspecting date is particularly memorable. With rising stars Mandeep Dhillon and Susan Wokoma also featuring, this is an enjoyable ride.
★★★★ SMA
Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, 10pm, W
In this episode, Stacey spends a weekend in Northern Ireland with Jemma, 28, who has incurable ovarian cancer. The mum of three is determined to live life to the full in whatever time she has left, so Stacey joins her for coffee with her girlfriends, dinner out with her husband Clive and a fundraising event in aid of two cancer charities. But it’s when Jemma shows her the letters she’s been writing to her children that both Jemma and Stacey struggle to contain their emotion. A tough watch.
★★★★ HD
Best box set to watch on TV tonight
Idris Elba's Fight School, season 1, BBC iPlayer
When Idris Elba was a young man growing up in London, he could easily have fallen into a life of crime, but says boxing helped to keep him on the straight and narrow. Now, the Luther star is setting up a fight school to give eight British youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to transform their lives in a similar way, while he watches from ringside. It’s an opportunity that most of the recruits are determined to grab with both hands, and it’s clear Idris sees something of his younger self in each of them. All five episodes are now available on BBC iPlayer.
Best film to watch on TV tonight
Transporter 3, 11pm, Channel 5
For the third time, Jason Statham is back as muscled-up hero, professional driver Frank Martin. His stylish turn and the expertly done fight sequences are the making of this exciting action thriller. Here, he sets out on a bumpy ride from Marseilles to Odessa to deliver the kidnapped daughter (Natalya Rudakova) of a Ukrainian official.
Live Sport
- Snooker: The World Championship, 7pm, BBC Two
- Premier League, Crystal Palace vs Leeds United, 7pm (k-o 8pm), Sky Sports Main Event/NOW
Soaps on TV tonight
- EastEnders, 7.30pm, BBC One
- 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 Long Lost Family Special: Shipped to Australia on TV tonight – an emotional episode.
Not found anything you want to watch on TV tonight? Check out our TV Guide.
Happy viewing!
