TV tonight: Our highlights for Saturday, July 22
Champion is just one of the gems on TV tonight.
On TV tonight, Champion continues, it's the second part of Becoming Elizabeth, there's more drama in Casualty and Ian Wright returns with Moneyball. 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
Champion, 9:15 pm, BBC One
‘I don’t know who to trust any more – everyone seems to want a piece of me,’ says Vita (Déja J Bowens) to her mum Aria (Nadine Marshall), as she finds herself in the spotlight when her singing career takes off. Aria, it turns out, has her own reasons for giving some particular advice, but does dad Beres (Ray Fearon) have his daughter’s best interests at heart? Brother Bosco (Malcolm Kamulete), meanwhile, is on tour and off the rails…
Some other dramas centring on music have lacked consistently good original songs – but not this one. The music written for the characters is great and is just one of the many things to like about Candice Carty-Williams’ hit show.
★★★★ JP
Casualty, 8:25 pm, BBC One
Get the What to Watch Newsletter
The latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more!
Since taking on the role of ED Nurse Manager at Holby City Hospital, there have been intriguing glimpses into Donna’s (Jaye Jacobs) demanding work-home balancing act. In tonight’s episode, her struggles are in full glare when the dead-tired nurse falls asleep at the wheel after back-to-back shifts. Jacobs shines as the emotionally and physically exhausted single mum torn between duties, who pushes herself too far and ends up causing a catastrophic crash.
Finally, Casualty fans get to see why the role was such a Holby City favourite. And for Holby fans, while this may not be Donna of old, it is an older Donna, with more depth to her character.
★★★★ ER
Becoming Elizabeth, 9:15 pm, Channel 4
As the second episode of the historical drama gets under way, it’s Christmas at the Court, and Thomas Seymour (Tom Cullen) is growing closer to the young Elizabeth (Alicia von Rittberg). A controversial masque celebration, where guests arrive in flamboyant disguise, sees Protestant Edward VI (Oliver Zetterström) and his Catholic half-sister Mary (Romola Garai) at odds and Elizabeth finds herself caught in the middle.
Meanwhile, Thomas’ brother, the Lord Protector and Duke of Somerset (John Heffernan), does his best to keep the peace, but he finds himself struggling.
★★★★ TL
Moneyball, 8 pm, ITV1
Former footballer and pundit Ian Wright returns to host the second series of his quiz show, which has a top prize of £250k. Competing in pairs, the contestants must answer the questions correctly and use their skills to roll the moneyball in their favour to have a chance of walking away with a life-changing sum of money. ‘I think I get more nervous than the contestants – I want them to win so badly,’ says Ian.
★★★ JE
Best box set on TV tonight
The Replacement, Channel 4
Originally shown on BBC1 in 2017, here’s another chance to see this three-part psychological thriller on demand starring Vicky McClure and Morven Christie. Ellen (Christie) is preparing for her maternity leave from her architectural practice when she finds the perfect replacement in mum-of-one Paula (McClure). But when Paula comes in to job-shadow, Ellen begins to see her as a friend-stealing manipulator.
Are her own insecurities to blame or is Paula trying to take over Ellen’s life, not just her job? With an air of Single White Female about it, this is a spine-tingling take on office politics, with a good amount of ambiguity as you’re never quite sure whose side you’re on.
★★★★★ RM
Best film on TV tonight
Drive, 9 pm, GREAT! movies
Currently to be seen in full pink Ken-mode in the summer blockbuster Barbie, here an almost monosyllabic Ryan Gosling plays a Hollywood stuntman and occasional getaway driver, forced into a ‘one last job’ scenario.
A 1980s-inspired electronic soundtrack is complemented with director Nicolas Winding Refn’s lovely camerawork, while performances from Albert Brooks and Bryan Cranston make for a film full of quality as well as pedal-to-the-metal action. A truly gripping ride. Only God Forgives, again starring Gosling and written and directed by Refn, follows (11.05pm).
★★★★ NP
Live Sport
- The Ashes - Live, from 10 am, Sky Sports Main Event
If you watch just one thing on TV tonight…
Don't miss Champion on TV tonight.
Not found anything you want to watch on TV tonight? Check out our TV Guide.
Happy viewing!
Lucy joined the WhatToWatch.com team in 2021, where she writes series guides for must-watch programmes, reviews and the latest TV news. Now she works for our sister site TechRadar in the same role. Originally from Northumberland, she graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a degree in Film Studies and moved to London to begin a career writing about entertainment.
She is a Rotten Tomatoes approved film critic and has a huge passion for cinema. She especially loves horror, thriller and anything crime-related. Her favourite TV programmes include Inside No 9, American Horror Story, Stranger Things and Black Mirror but she is also partial to a quiz show or a bit of Say Yes to the Dress!