On TV tonight, let's get ready to party as both BBC and ITV celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. On BBC One the Platinum Party at the Palace is a live event from Buckingham Palace, while on ITV The National Lottery's Big Jubilee Street Party is in Manchester for a knees up to remember. But if you're already partied-out then catch documentary Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In on C4 or binge on the brilliant drama Julia as a full boxset on NOW. 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
Platinum Party at the Palace, 7.30pm, BBC One
Queen Elizabeth II is the UK’s longest-reigning monarch – and the nation is celebrating! This evenings entertainment comes live from Buckingham Palace as Queen + Adam Lambert open events, while Motown royalty Diana Ross closes. Also on the bill are Sam Ryder, fresh from his triumphant Eurovision performance, Craig David, Andrea Bocelli, Elton John and Diversity. As day turns to night the palace will also be the backdrop to a stunning lighting display, plus Kirsty Young will be in St James's Park chatting to special guests and Roman Kemp will be backstage getting all the gossip from the performers.
★★★★ ER
The National Lottery's Big Jubilee Street Party, 5pm, ITV
Manchester’s AO Arena is decked out with bunting and trestle tables, plus a 10,000-strong audience to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Jason Manford and Fleur East host the celebration that will feature a mixture of special guests, stories from the Queen's 70-year reign and a whole host of musical performances, including from Becky Hill, Mark Owen, Lady Blackbird, Kaiser Chiefs and Steps.
★★★★ ER
Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In, 7.30pm, C4
In this feature-length documentary (first available on Prime Video), directed by his son Jason, Britain’s most successful football manager is in a reflective mood following a life-threatening brain haemorrhage in 2018. It skirts controversy and criticism, but it’s a poignant look back, from Sir Alex’s playing days to Manchester United’s last-gasp 1999 Champions League win.
★★★ JM
Julia, season 1, NOW
Filming for the long-awaited third series of Happy Valley began earlier this year, but before that Sarah Lancashire had filmed this engaging drama about Julia Child, the woman who introduced Americans to French cooking. She’s excellent in the lead role, with Frasier’s David Hyde Pierce as her husband Paul, as they navigate the early days of her cookery TV show in the 1960s. All eight episodes are available to watch.
★★★★ JP
Best box set to watch on TV tonight
The Midwich Cuckoos, season 1, Sky Box Sets/NOW
The man behind BBC One’s espionage hit The Night Manager turns his hand to sci-fi as he brings John Wyndham’s iconic 1957 sci-fi novel to the small screen. Writer David Farr has brought the tale, which sees all the women of childbearing age in a small town fall pregnant by aliens, into the modern age. The setting is now an affluent commuter town just outside of London, rather than a rural village as in the original novel and Keeley Hawes drives the story forward as Dr Susannah Zellaby, a character reimagined as a woman, which is an excellent way to tell this sinister and uniquely female horror story. Also watch out for Max Beesley as DCI Paul Kirby and Aisling Loftus as expectant mum Zoe Moran.
Best film to watch on TV today
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, 8pm, ITV
With Jurassic World Dominion in cinemas from Friday, June 10, here’s a chance to revisit the second film in the dinosaurs-run-amok series. It follows a slightly different path, thanks to director JA Bayona, who takes the classic creature feature and ends up allowing it to ferment in a giant jug of Gothic. The dino islands are about to go full volcanic, so an operation is set up to save the beasts – that means Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, the heroes from the first film, are there to help. But through various convoluted ways everyone ends up in a dark, deadly mansion. Yes, Bayona gives us a haunted house with dinosaurs! It’s great fun, especially if you toss aside the gigantic plot holes.
Live Sport
- The Derby: Platinum Jubilee Special, 12.40pm, ITV
- Nations League, Hungary vs England, 4.15pm (k-o 5pm), C4
If you watch just one thing on TV tonight…
Don't miss Platinum Party at the Palace on TV tonight – a fantastic celebration to mark this very special occasion.
Not found anything you want to watch on TV tonight? Check out our TV Guide.
Happy viewing!
