TV Tonights: our highlights for Thursday, April 21, 2022

Steve Coogan stars in new comedy Chivalry on C4. (Image credit: C4)

On TV tonight, Steve Coogan stars in new comedy Chivalry on C4, it's time to dig out the gardening gloves as Spring Gardening with Carol Klein begins on Channel 5, Gordon sets a fast food challenge in Gordon Ramsay's Future Food Stars on BBC One, there's an intriguing show on Channel 5, Ben Fogle & the Lost City and on ITV is documentary, The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe: The Real Story. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss on TV tonight.

Our hand selected recommendations for what's on TV tonight include five 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
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What's on TV tonight

Our expert TV journalists have picked the best things on TV tonight...

Best TV shows on TV tonight

Chivalry, 10pm, C4

TV tonight Steve Coogan and Sarah Solemani. — Steve Coogan and Sarah Solemani star. (Image credit: C4)

Sexual politics and romance make for interesting bedfellows in this flinty six-part satire, sparked by the #MeToo movement and written by and starring Steve Coogan and Sarah Solemani. In the first of a double bill, feminist director Bobby (Solemani) is hired to reshoot and detoxify a controversial film produced by Cameron (Coogan). She challenges his behaviour, but her beliefs are tested when she gets an exhilarating taste of power and becomes attracted to him! With Sienna Miller, Lolly Adefope, Aisling Bea, John C Reilly and Paul Rudd.

★★★★ ER

Spring Gardening with Carol Klein, 7pm, Channel 5

TV tonight Carol shares more gardening advice — Carol shares more gardening advice. (Image credit: Channel 5)

From her home garden at Glebe Cottage in Devon, Carol celebrates the first signs of spring. The warmer days mean that planting, potting on and propagating can really begin in earnest. This is a practical series for gardeners of all abilities, and Carol shares her knowledge from the off by dividing grasses, cutting back hellebore leaves and demonstrating how to take root cuttings from a pretty plant called Anchusa. She'll also be sowing sweet peas and making a start on a packed veggie patch. With trademark enthusiasm, plus the help of cat Sylvie and dog Fifi, Carol and her series are a joy for anyone with even slightly green fingers.

★★★★ JL

Gordon Ramsay's Future Food Stars, 9pm, BBC One

TV tonight Gordon is no pushover — Gordon is no pushover. (Image credit: BBC)

"I wonder if there are easier ways to win £150,000," muses contestant Asher after a challenge becomes… challenging. The theme is fast food, with contestants taking over a diner, but meltdowns mount up as quickly as orders and there’s an hour wait for the drive-through. Next, the teams create a delivery-only restaurant, but after sorting out their menus and cooking up a storm (or a bit of a breeze in some cases), who will be told to get on their bike?

★★★★ JL

Ben Fogle & the Lost City, 9pm, Channel 5

TV tonight Ben goes off the grid in the Sonoran Desert — Ben goes off the grid in the Sonoran Desert. (Image credit: Channel 5)

In this extended documentary, Ben visits Slab City in the Sonoran Desert, California. Home to a diverse community of people who feel disconnected from mainstream society, it’s an extraordinary place. It’s part-artist colony, part-homeless city, but is definitely full of complex characters with stories to share. As Ben gets to know them, he discovers a darker side to the place and asks if this ‘lost city’ represents freedom or is a disturbing sign of the state of modern America.

★★★★ JL

The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe: The Real Story, 9pm, ITV

If you’ve been watching the drama starring Eddie Marsan and Monica Dolan, this documentary adds more jaw-dropping detail to the story of John Darwin – aka Canoe Man – whose headline-grabbing disappearance was all part of an elaborate insurance scam. Get ready to tut, sympathise and raise an eyebrow.

★★★★ SM

Best box set to watch on TV tonight

Anatomy of a Scandal, season 1, Netflix

TV tonight Rupert Friend and Sienna Miller star. — Rupert Friend and Sienna Miller star. (Image credit: Netflix)

Big Little Lies creator David E. Kelley swaps the sunshine of California for the shadowy corners of Westminster in this captivating new six-part thriller adapted from Sarah Vaughan’s bestselling novel. The drama is seen through the eyes of Sophie Whitehouse (Sienna Miller) whose perfect world is turned upside down when her politician husband (Rupert Friend) is accused of sexual assault, in a tale examining power, privilege and consent. It’s a captivating story with plenty of twists – some more believable than others – which sees Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery on fine form as prosecution barrister Kate Woodcroft.

Best film to watch on TV tonight

The Intruder, 9pm, Film4

Wealthy San Franciscan couple Michael Ealy and Meagan Good buy a Napa Valley house from overly enthusiastic seller Dennis Quaid, who keeps popping up in their lives in increasingly bizarre and threatening ways. A standard loony-stalker plot is elevated by a few narrative zigs and zags, while Quaid’s performance could well be the start of a career rebrand.