What to watch on TV tonight – from Call the Midwife to The Masked Dancer
We've selected our top picks of tonight's TV and on-demand offerings.
As the Bank Holiday weekend continues, there's another day of brilliant choices to watch on the telly – be it drama, reality, or a film that you fancy.
After getting off to its start last night, The Masked Dancer continues with its second episode tonight on ITV– with the panel of Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan and Oti Mabuse this time hoping to work out the real identities of Squirrel, Carwash, Flamingo, Rubber Chicken, Frog and Beagle.
There's also the final episode of season 10 of Call the Midwife, which sees Trixie attempt to tackle Poplar’s growing housing crisis, while a very special baby is born.
And if it's a film you're after, then we have a couple of great animated recommendations for you – including Pixar classic Finding Nemo which turns 18 today, and recent hit Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which airs on Channel 4 this afternoon.
Check out our picks for the whole week below or visit our TV Guide to plan even further ahead.
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Sunday 30th May
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – 5:20pm, Channel 4
Ground-breaking visuals, a first-rate soundtrack and enough Spider-People to assemble an arachnid-only Avengers team are just some of the elements that make this animated flick so great – and probably why Marvel is rumoured to be introducing a multiverse to the MCU with Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Call the Midwife – 8pm, BBC One
Poplar’s hardest working nurses will be closing the doors of Nonnatus House, at least until Call the Midwife season 11, which has thankfully already been confirmed. The staff will no doubt have a few last-minute crises on their hands, with steely nurse Trixie ready to tackle Poplar’s growing housing crisis and a very special baby being born.
The Masked Dancer – 7:30pm, ITV
The Masked Singer’s sister show The Masked Dancer continues tonight, with panellists Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan and Oti Mabuse trying to identify Squirrel, Carwash, Flamingo, Rubber Chicken, Frog and Beagle based on their dancing abilities alone. Joel Dommett hosts.
The Museum – S4C and BBC iPlayer
Set in the National Museum of Wales, this Cardiff-based drama introduces viewers to the dark and dangerous world of art crime. Nia Roberts, Steffan Rhodri and Samuel Morgan-Davies lead the cast, with BAFTA winner Fflur Dafydd on script duty. Could this be the Welsh Lupin?
Finding Nemo – Disney Plus
It seems impossible to believe it’s been 18 years since we first saw clownfish Marlin traverse the ocean in search for his missing son, yet we’re all still singing “just keep swimming” in Dory’s cheery voice every time we feel like giving up. Revisit the classic on Disney Plus, and follow it with Finding Dory if you’re feeling a double bill.
What else is on? SAS: Who Dares Wins also continues tonight, or you can tune into Brian Cox's Adventures in Space and Time instead. Annabelle, Galaxy Quest and Inception are all leaving Netflix tomorrow so you might want to watch them while you still can. Chicken Run airs on ITV or, if sports are more your thing, there’s also the start of the French Open tennis, MotoGP Italian GP, Indy 500 and the League One play-off final.
Monday 31st May
Starstruck – 10:30pm, BBC One
The final episode of Starstruck airs tonight, though all six episodes are available on BBC iPlayer if you fancy a bingeing them in one go. The Hackney-set romcom has earned quite the cult following and stars Rose Matafeo as Jessie, a millennial working two dead-end jobs who has a one night stand with film star Tom (Nikesh Patel).
Doctor Who's Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead – BBC iPlayer
Today marks 13 years since River Song's first appearance in Doctor Who, which makes it the perfect time to revisit her introductory double episode, Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead. Whether we'll see River Song onscreen again remains to be seen, but actress Alex Kingston told RadioTimes.com it would be a shame if her character never met Jodie Whittaker's Doctor.
Mare of Easttown – Sky Atlantic, NOW
The final episode of Sky's star-studded series arrives tonight but will Kate Winslet's troubled small-town detective crack her big-time case? The tense crime drama has featured plenty of twists and turns, but whether the Mare of Easttown finale will all answer all of our questions – and we have many – remains to be seen.
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – Amazon Prime Video
Clint Eastwood turns 91 today, so why not mark the occasion by revisiting the Spaghetti Western that launched his film career? The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is available to buy in HD on Amazon Prime Video for £7.99, or you can watch it for free with an MGM subscription.
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol – Netflix
It's your last chance to catch the fourth entry in the Mission: Impossible franchise before it sky-dives off Netflix for good. The action-packed ride features the heart-racing stunts Tom Cruise has become known for, including a dizzying climb up Dubai's Burj Khalifa, AKA the tallest building in the world.
What else is on? The Masked Dancer's third episode also airs tonight on ITV, while Motherland continues on BBC Two, alongside Inside No. 9. You can also catch the penultimate episode of The Pact on BBC One or, for something more sporty, the League Two play-off final is also on tonight.
Tuesday 1st June
Spider-Man Homecoming – NOW
It’s Tom Holland’s birthday! The youngest Avenger turns a quarter of a century today, which makes it perfect timing for a Spider-Man Homecoming rewatch. Holland’s first solo entry to the MCU pitted him against Michel Keaton’s Vulture, who – like pretty much every single character in Marvel’s sprawling slate – is rumoured to be making an appearance in Spider Man: No Way Home.
Anne Boleyn – 9pm, Channel 5
This much-anticipated three-part series stars Jodie Turner-Smith (Queen and Slim) as Henry VIII’s ill-fated wife Anne Boleyn, who is pregnant and convinced she will bear the king a male heir. He already has his eye on one of her ladies-in-waiting, Jane Seymour (Lola Petticrew), but apparently so does Anne Boleyn herself, as the pair are set to share a “talking point” kiss.
The Pact – 9pm, BBC One
Pete McTighe’s crime thriller The Pact comes to an end tonight, with the truth about Jack’s murder finally catching up with brewery workers Anna (Laura Fraser), Cat (Heledd Gwynn), Louise (Eiry Thomas) and Nancy (Julie Hesmondhalgh).
Bake Off: The Professionals – 8pm, Channel 4
The Bake Off competition continues, with presenters Tom Allen and Liam Charles offering comedic relief while the pro pastry chefs attempt to make a cube-shaped dessert that must have sharp edges on every angle. As if that wasn’t hard enough, Judges Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden also ask them to make a heroes and villains-themed showpiece – adorned with 160 macarons.
An American Werewolf in London – Amazon Prime Video
This horror cult classic from the ‘80s lands on Amazon Prime Video today. Directed by John Landis and starring David Naughton and Griffin Dunne as two Americans backpacking across Yorkshire, it remains as iconic as it did when it first hit the big screen. Don’t have a subscription? Sign up for Amazon Prime for £7.99 a month with a 30-day free trial.
What else is on? Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star is on at BBC One. In honour of Marilyn Monroe’s birthday, you can rent Some Like It Hot on Amazon Prime Video. Morgan Freeman also turns 84 today, so you could catch Shawshank Redemption on NOW or Sky Cinema. Thomas and Friends is on Netflix, as is Joe Wicks: The Body Coach season one if you’re in the mood for a work out. Or if you'd rather watch other people being energetic, The Masked Dancer continues on ITV.
Wednesday 2nd June
The Wire – NOW TV
The very first episode of The Wire premiered on this day in 2002, and almost two decades later the Baltimore-set drama stands up as one of the best television series of the 21st century. Across five seasons, writer David Simon lured viewers in with his impeccably realised characters, offering a gritty but never salacious view of urban life – it’s never a bad time to revisit.
Live International Football: England v Austria – 7:30pm, ITV
The countdown to the postponed Euro 2020 tournament is now well and truly on, and England take on Austria in the first of their warm-up friendlies. Gareth Southgate will be hoping his players are in the mood as they prepare for the tournament, with places in the starting line-up for the opening group game against Croatia still very much up for grabs. Mark Poutagh presents, with kick-off at 8pm.
Anne Boleyn – 9pm, Channel 5
After debuting last night, the period drama continues with its second episode, this time following Anne as she is haunted by nightmares of her stillborn son and is forced to embark on a mission to secure her daughter's right to the throne.
Star Trek – Amazon Prime Video
Today mark’s Zachary Quinto’s 43rd birthday – and so it’s a good chance to revisit his excellent performance as Spock in JJ Abrams’ 2009 Star Trek reboot, which is currently available on Amazon Prime Video. Alternatively, you can catch him doing a voice performance on Invincible with all episodes of the animation superhero show streaming now.
Live Test Cricket: England v New Zealand – 10am, Sky Sports Cricket
It’s a busy day for English sport, and the cricket team begin their two-match series with New Zealand today at Lord’s. It’s the first time since 2015 that England have had a home tie against the Black Caps in this format – and they’ll be hoping to go one better than last time out, when the series finished in a tie. You can also watch highlights from the day’s action on BBC Two at 7pm.
What else is on? If none of the above take your fancy, there’s plenty of other options including the fifth season of Canadian sitcom Kim's Convenience on Netflix and the second episode of crime thriller Before We Die on Channel 4. Meanwhile, Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad ramp up their preparations for Euro 2020 with an away friendly against the Netherlands and Wales face a trip to world champions and pre-tournament favourites France in their first warm-up game. There’s also a broadcast of the iconic 1993 film Jurassic Park on Channel 5, and new episodes of The Repair Shop, Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back, Springwatch and The Great British Sewing Bee.
Thursday 3rd June
Succession – NOW (formerly NOW TV)
It’s been three years since Peep Show co-creator Jesse Armstrong unleashed his satirical drama Succession on the world, following a dysfunctional family who own a powerful media empire. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, season three is taking a while to get to our screens, but the silver lining is that it gives you plenty of time to catch up on the first two instalments (or do a marathon rewatch if you’re a superfan). Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook and Matthew Macfadyen lead the cast.
Anne Boleyn – 9pm, Channel 5
Channel 5’s period drama Anne Boleyn airs its third and final episode tonight, with Jodie Turner-Smith’s ill-fated queen held prisoner in the Tower of London. There she awaits her trial for adultery, treason and incest, with former ally Lady Shelton watching from afar.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – 5:40pm, Film4
Peter Jackson’s second middle-earth trilogy kicks off with An Unexpected Journey, which is a highlight of Film4’s schedule tonight. Martin Freeman stars as hobbit Bilbo Baggins, who reluctantly accompanies wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and a group of dwarves on their quest to confront the fearsome dragon Smaug.
Professor T – BritBox
Ben Miller and Frances de la Tour lead the cast of this new crime drama Professor T, launching exclusively on BritBox today. He plays Jasper Tempest, Professor of Criminology at Cambridge University, who uses his genius intellect to help the police unravel their toughest cases. De la Tour plays overbearing mother Adelaide in this six-part series, which is available to binge on BritBox from today and will air on ITV later this year.
Joey Essex: Grief and Me – 9pm, BBC One
The reality television star shows his vulnerable side in this documentary as he explores the psychological scars left by the death of his mother, who took her own life when he was just 10 years old. With help from clinical psychologist Dr Stephen Blumenthal, he hopes to face the feelings that his immediate family believe he has never truly processed before.
What else is on? ITV’s zany entertainment series The Masked Dancer continues, with the eight remaining contestants battling for their spot in the competition. Comedy fans have the second episode of both Channel 4’s We Are Lady Parts and Sky One’s Breeders to look forward to. Meanwhile, long-running favourites Dragons' Den and The Supervet continue, while BBC Two documentary The Road to Partition concludes. Over on streaming, Netflix has anime fans sorted with the UK release of Sailor Moon Eternal: The Movie.
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Friday 4th May
Sweet Tooth – Netflix
Netflix premieres this high-concept fantasy series based on the independent comic book by Jeff Lemire. The show follows a young boy named Gus, who is one of many human/animal hybrids that started appearing around the same time a deadly virus ravaged the planet. When his father dies, he is forced to venture into the post-apocalyptic world around him under the watchful eye of a mysterious stranger named Jepperd. Christian Convery, Nonso Anozie and Will Forte star.
Celebrity Gogglebox – 9pm, Channel 4
The celebrity edition of Channel 4’s popular entertainment programme returns for its third series, with Denise Van Outen, Nick Grimshaw, Mo Gilligan, Rylan Clark-Neal, Gyles Brandreth, Shaun Ryder, and Martin and Roman Kemp among the participants. They’ll be giving their thoughts on the week’s biggest television shows and news stories, with some amusing insights guaranteed.
Feel Good season 2 – Netflix
Netflix debuts the second (and final) season of its BAFTA-nominated comedy drama, which follows the intense romantic relationship between comedian Mae Martin and girlfriend George (played by Charlotte Ritchie). These new episodes pick up as Mae heads to rehab after the traumatic events of series one, which ended with the stand-up relapsing in their cocaine addiction.
This Time with Alan Partridge – 9:30pm, BBC One
The latest starring vehicle for Steve Coogan’s beloved comedy character comes to an end tonight, with Alan’s future at the BBC again hanging in the balance. He’ll need to stay calm and composed in this week’s episode as he prepares to welcome a member of the royal family to the This Time studio.
Mr & Mrs Smith – Amazon Prime Video
It’s the birthday of Hollywood star Angelina Jolie, who turns 46 years old today. Later this year, she’ll formally join the Marvel Cinematic Universe as part of the ensemble cast of Marvel’s Eternals. In the meantime, you can settle in with one of her most popular films to date: action comedy Mr & Mrs Smith, which is streaming free for Amazon Prime Video members. Jolie and then-partner Brad Pitt star as a married couple who discover they are paid assassins for rival organisations.
What else is on? If you’re looking for some fun entertainment, The Masked Dancer continues on ITV tonight while wacky game show Tom Allen’s Quizness can be found on Channel 4. Get a taste of adventure with Bear Grylls’ Wild Adventure and Gregg Wallace’s Big Weekend Away, or be whisked to a distant galaxy with a new episode of Star Wars: The Bad Batch on Disney Plus.
Saturday 5th June
The Masked Dancer final – 7:30pm, ITV
The Masked Dancer – a brand new spin-off show to The Masked Singer – concludes tonight, with a slate of mystery celebrity contestants whose identities panellists Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan, and Oti Mabuse will attempt to guess.
The Truman Show – Netflix
It's the anniversary of The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey as an unwitting lead star in a reality TV series, so why not celebrate with a rewatch? You can stream on both Netflix and on Amazon Prime Video.
A Quiet Place Part 2 – Cinemas nationwide
The sequel to John Krasinski's horror film A Quiet Place – set in a post-apocalyptic world invaded by monsters with exceptional hearing – gets a long-awaited sequel, A Quiet Place 2, which was delayed for roughly a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The film came out yesterday, but this will be the big day to go and watch it.
Football: Wales v Albania – Sky Sports Football
Hosted at Cardiff City Stadium, it's Wales's final Euro 2020 warm-up against rivals Albania, with an increased stadium capacity of 6,500 for the friendly.
The Scottish Island that Won the Lottery – 8pm, Channel 4
The engrossing tale of North Uist, a remote island in the Outer Hebrides with a population of just 1,500, all of whom collectively win £3 million, and must decide how to spend it.
What else is on? New animated film Raya and the Last Dragon is finally now available for all subscribers on Disney Plus as of Friday. Meanwhile rugby fans can tune in to Rugby Union: Hull v St Helens and Castleford Tigers v Warrington Wolves (watch the Challenge Cup semi-finals on BBC One and Two). There's also Brian Cox's Adventures in Space; Casualty; and a retrospective on Tina Turner over on BBC One.
Sunday 6th June
Time – 9pm, BBC One
This prison-based three-parter from Jimmy McGovern brings together two of Britain’s finest screen actors in Sean Bean and Stephen Graham. The latter plays a troubled prison officer who faces a threat against a son, while the latter takes on the role of a newly arrived prisoner who finds himself struggling to adapt to his new life behind bars. With great talent both in front of and behind the camera, this promises to be an unmissable piece of drama.
Sex and the City – NOW
Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the first-ever episode of Sex and the City, and with a much-talked about revival on the way, now’s a great time to catch up with the original series. All six seasons and 94 episodes are available on NOW, so whether you want to start a binge-watch or just dip your toes back into your favourite episode, you’re spoilt for choice.
Live International Football: England v Romania – 4:15pm, ITV
There’s only days to go until the start of the delayed Euro 2020 tournament, and England play their final warm-up match this evening. Gareth Southgate’s men will be hoping for a confident boosting performance and win ahead of their first group game against Croatia – and the players will have their last chance to impress the manager before he picks his starting line-up for the opening match.
- For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 guides.
Star Trek: Discovery – Netflix
Hello to Jason Isaacs, who celebrates his birthday today – to celebrate why not watch his performance of Captain Gabriel Lorca on the first season of Star Trek: Discovery, which is available to watch in its entirety on Netflix. Or if you’re after something different, watch him in The OA – the cancelled-far-too-soon supernatural mystery drama The OA.
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again – 8pm, ITV
This sequel movie was far better than it had any right to be – with Lily James in superb form as a younger version of Donna, and another brilliant selection of toe-tapping Abba hits on the soundtrack. There’s never a bad time to watch a feel-good film like this, and luckily it gets an airing on ITV tonight, so make sure to tune in.
What else is on? There are plenty of other options as well, including the next episode of SAS: Who Dares Win on channel 4 and the next installment of Batwoman season 2 on E4. There’s also plenty more sport on offer: including the Catalan Grand Prix in MotoGP, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Formula 1 and the much previewed boxing match between legend Floyd Mayweather and YouTuber Logan Paul. And finally, Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad finish their preparations for their first major tournament finals since 1998 with a trip to Luxembourg.
For more to watch, visit our handy guides to the best series on Netflix, best movies on Netflix or see what's on other streaming sites by finding out the best movies on Amazon Prime and best Amazon Prime series or the best movies on Disney Plus and best shows on Disney Plus. Looking for the full set of TV listings? Check out our TV Guide.