On TV tonight, Jeremy Paxman sets out to learn more about the disease he was diagnosed with 18 months ago in Paxman: Putting Up With Parkinson's, The Great British Bake Off puts the bakers through their paces with three Mexican dishes on Channel 4, the remaining 11 Make Me Prime Minister contestants are tasked with dreaming up a new health policy and Michael Palin: Into Iraq comes to an end. 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
Paxman: Putting Up With Parkinson's, 9 pm, ITV
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 18 months ago, Jeremy Paxman sets out to learn more about it, talking to fellow sufferer and Chaser, Paul Sinha, Sharon Osbourne, whose husband Ozzy has the condition, and current President of the charity Parkinson’s UK, Jane Asher. Instructed to keep active, Jeremy gamely tries lawn bowls and a ballet class, and although the ‘miserable old git’, as Sharon calls him, can’t help grumbling, it’s clear he’s enjoying himself. There’s also a good-humoured reunion with former politician Michael Howard, who was famously asked the same question 2 times by Jeremy on Newsnight. An informative, entertaining and moving piece of television.
★★★★ IM
The Great British Bake Off, Channel 4, 8 pm
Paul Hollywood’s recent jaunt to Mexico for C4’s Paul Hollywood Eats... has obviously given him ideas, as this week, he and Dame Prue are sending the bakers ‘Down Mexico Way’ to whip up three delicious traditional Mexican dishes. First, they have to add their own spin to popular sweet bread pan dulce for the Signature, before they tackle classic Mexican street food for the Technical and then the Showstopper finds them ‘milking it’ for all they are worth as they make a yummy tres leches cake. But who will be crowned Star Baker and who will end up doing a Mexican wave when they head home?
★★★★CC
Make Me Prime Minister, 9.30 pm, Channel 4
Following last week’s first departure, this week’s challenge sees the remaining 11 candidates tasked with creating a health policy to tackle obesity. Ex-footballer Holly and former beauty queen Kelly take the lead on the two opposing teams, but Holly’s proposed policy slogan doesn’t get the reaction she was hoping for. Labour MP Jess Phillips steps in to give her verdict on one team’s cringe-inducing launch efforts involving a giant strawberry! Expect emotions to run high as the public cast their all-important votes.
★★★★ TL
Michael Palin: Into Iraq, 9 pm, Channel 5
On the final leg of his journey through Iraq, Michael is heading south from Baghdad towards the Persian Gulf. First, he visits Babylon – ‘I never thought I’d say, “This is Michael Palin in Babylon!”’ – and discovers that the magnificent walls were built in the 1980s on top of the old city. Saddam Hussein also had a palace built there, now abandoned – and termed by Michael as ‘the apogee of vanity’ because of its vast size and extravagance. He also visits Karbala, a hugely important pilgrimage site for Shia Muslims, where the shrine to Imam Husayn is dazzling. But one of the things that most impresses Michael isn’t architecture but the engaging pupils in a Baghdad school – the future of Iraq.
★★★★JP
Best box set to watch on TV tonight
The reboot of the iconic soap opera charting the ups and downs of the Carrington family has returned for its final season. The drama begins where season 4 ended as we discover whether Fallon, who was shot by her evil, husband-stealing assistant Eva, survived the attack. A host of familiar faces return for the final series including Grant Shaw as Blake Carrington, Elizabeth Gillies as Fallon Carrington, Sam Underwood as Adam Carrington, Elaine Hendrix as Alexis Carrington and Daniella Alonso as Cristal Jennings Carrington. Also watch out for a new member of the family as British actress Eliza Bennet joins the show as a regular character called Amanda, a long-lost relative who was born and raised Europe who brings some serious baggage with her!
Best film to watch on TV tonight
Eat Pray Love, 6.25 pm, Great! Movies
As Julia Roberts lights up cinema screens in Ticket to Paradise, here she is in an earlier travel romance. Glee creator Ryan Murphy adapts Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling memoir about her year-long spiritual quest. It begins with Roberts’ writer Liz setting off on a journey of self-discovery following the failure of her marriage. In Italy, she discovers the joys of living life to the full; in India, she learns the power of prayer; and in Bali, she finally finds true love. It’s overlong, but as comforting as a box of chocs on a rainy night. ★★★JB
Live Sport
- UEFA Champions League: Liverpool vs Rangers, 8 pm k-o, BT Sport 2 and Ultimate
Soaps on TV tonight
- EastEnders, 7.30 pm, BBC One
- Emmerdale, 7.30 pm, ITV
- Hollyoaks, 6.30 pm, C4
- Home & Away, 6pm & 6.30 pm, 5Star
If you watch just one thing on TV tonight…
Don't miss Paxman: Putting Up With Parkinson's on TV tonight — a moving and informative documentary featuring one of the UK's most recognizable presenters.
Not found anything you want to watch on TV tonight? Check out our TV Guide.
Happy viewing!
