Tonight’s TV lineup is packed with thought-provoking shows that will leave you questioning history, society, and even your own beliefs. But here’s where it gets controversial…
Empire with David Olusoga (9pm, BBC Two) boldly confronts the dark legacy of the British Empire. By the 1770s, Britain was forcibly transporting 45,000 Africans into slavery annually—a staggering number that’s easy to forget. Historian David Olusoga travels to Bunce Island, a haunting site where enslaved Africans were sold, to explore the empire’s lasting impact. From there, he shifts focus to Australia, a land inhabited by Indigenous peoples for over 40,000 years, long before colonization. And this is the part most people miss: the story of Truganini, one of Tasmania’s last Indigenous survivors, serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of empire. This series isn’t just history—it’s a mirror to our present.
Switching gears, Children in Need 2025 (7pm, BBC One) brings a heartwarming break from heavy topics. Sara Cox, fresh from her 135-mile endurance challenge, joins forces with presenters like Big Zuu and Paddy McGuinness to raise funds for a great cause. Highlight? A children’s choir performing a poignant cover of Coldplay’s Yellow—guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings.
Unreported World (7.30pm, Channel 4) dives into a chilling reality: hundreds of Arab citizens are murdered in Israel each year, with most cases left unsolved. Krishnan Guru-Murthy uncovers a web of organized crime, alleged weapons trafficking involving security forces, and a community deeply distrustful of Israeli police. Here’s the controversial question: Are authorities turning a blind eye? The show doesn’t hold back, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.
For a calmer evening, Gardeners’ World (8pm, BBC Two) offers a soothing escape. Monty Don proves November’s chill won’t stop him—he’s crafting a woodland garden from scratch, planting grasses, hellebores, and potting hyacinth bulbs. Meanwhile, meet an acer superfan whose Buckinghamshire garden boasts 70 varieties of the tree. It’s a reminder that beauty can thrive even in the coldest months.
Zombie fans, rejoice! The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (9pm, Sky Max) finally delivers the action you’ve been waiting for. After a slow burn, Daryl and Carol’s peaceful Spanish retreat is shattered when a horde besieges Solaz del Mar. Think medieval warfare meets zombie apocalypse—it’s as epic as it sounds.
All Her Fault (9pm, Sky Atlantic) twists school-gate gossip into a gripping thriller. When Jenny (Dakota Fanning) helps Marissa (Sarah Snook) search for her missing son Milo, rumors swirl. But here’s the kicker: the nanny, who allegedly kidnapped Milo, claims they’re friends. As media and authorities dig deeper, the line between truth and speculation blurs. Who’s really at fault?
Film choice:
Mickey 17 (Bong Joon-ho, 2025), airing at 12.35pm and 8pm on Sky Cinema Premiere, is a sharp space-set satire on class and capitalism. Robert Pattinson stars as Mickey, an “expendable” whose identity is downloaded, allowing him to die repeatedly while his crew reprints his body. But version 17 encounters alien life that challenges everything. It’s over-the-top, but Pattinson’s performance alongside Naomi Ackie and Toni Collette makes it a wild ride.
Come See Me in the Good Light (Ryan White, 2025), streaming on Apple TV, is an emotional documentary following poet Andrea Gibson’s battle with incurable ovarian cancer. Supported by their wife, Megan Falley, Gibson’s journey is both heartbreaking and life-affirming. Their poetry and humor in the face of mortality will leave you in tears—and inspired.
Finally, Belén (Dolores Fonzi, 2025), on Prime Video, tells the true story of a young Argentine woman jailed for homicide after a miscarriage. Dolores Fonzi plays her lawyer, Soledad Deza, who fights a rigged system to overturn the verdict. This isn’t just history—it’s a call to action against reproductive injustice. Controversial question: How far have we really come since 2014?
Tonight’s lineup isn’t just entertainment—it’s a conversation starter. What’s your take on the legacy of empire, unsolved crimes, or reproductive rights? Let’s hear it in the comments!
