Best TV on Tonight – Thursday 14 August 2025
If you’re planning an evening on the sofa, tonight’s UK TV lineup has a rich mix of travel, drama, competition and a blockbuster film. Whether you’re in the mood for high-stakes missions, gentle documentaries or lively panel shows, here’s what’s worth watching across the main channels.
BBC One
8:00pm – MasterChef The pressure’s on as the amateur cooks face a precision skills challenge before heading into a tense cook-off for a place in the competition. Expect triumphs, disasters and plenty of Gordon Ramsay-free tension.
9:00pm – Destination X A travel competition like no other: contestants have no idea where they are, only cryptic clues and their own wits to guide them. As the mysterious “X-Bus” rolls into another location, alliances and suspicions grow.
BBC Two
8:00pm – Saving Lives at Sea The RNLI crews return with gripping real-life rescues. From stormy seas to tense night missions, the bravery and skill on display are truly humbling.
9:00pm – The Gone The slow-burn Irish–New Zealand crime thriller heads towards its conclusion. Fresh evidence and fractured loyalties push the investigation into dangerous territory.
ITV1
8:30pm – Tom Kerridge Cooks Spain Chef Tom Kerridge explores the flavours of Cuenca and Murcia, meeting local producers and whipping up rustic Spanish dishes that make you want to book a one-way ticket.
9:00pm – The Fortune Hotel Sunshine, luxury… and a game of high-stakes bluffing. Guests must swap and steal their way to the suitcase containing the big cash prize, while keeping their cool under Stephen Mangan’s watchful eye.
Channel 4
8:00pm – Supercruising: Life at Sea Life on the ocean waves aboard a luxury cruise ship. Tonight: the crew prepare for a beach day at Half Moon Cay, while the kitchens work overtime to keep the holidaymakers happy.
9:00pm – In Flight The drama intensifies as Katherine Kelly’s Jo gets caught deeper in a dangerous web following a violent incident. Secrets, threats and turbulence — both emotional and physical — make for a tense hour.
Channel 5
8:00pm – The Hotel Inspector Alex Polizzi heads to Plymouth to help turn around a struggling coastal guesthouse. Expect frank conversations, bold design interventions and a satisfying before-and-after transformation.
9:00pm – Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild Fogle travels to Botswana to meet a former fashion model who swapped city life for the challenges of off-grid living in the wild. Heart-warming, visually stunning, and a welcome escape from the everyday.
Sky Max
8:00pm – Red Dwarf The cult sci-fi comedy blasts back with a repeat episode full of interstellar silliness and sharp gags.
9:00pm – QI Sandi Toksvig hosts the brainy panel show where obscure facts and quick wit collide. Tonight’s line-up brings trivia, tangents and plenty of laughs.
Film of the Night
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One — Film4, 9:00pm Tom Cruise returns for another round of jaw-dropping stunts, globe-trotting espionage and that famous sprint. From a high-speed chase in Rome to an epic train finale, this is blockbuster action at its finest.
Football Tonight
7:45pm – Dundee United v Rapid Vienna (Europa Conference League) A European night under the lights as Dundee United aim to progress in the competition. Perfect for those who prefer their Thursday nights with a bit of sporting drama.
Top Streaming Picks
If broadcast TV isn’t your mood tonight, here are three streaming standouts:
The Gentlemen (Netflix) – Guy Ritchie’s slick London crime world, reimagined as a sharp, pacey series.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Prime Video) – A fresh, episodic take on the spy-couple premise, full of chemistry and creative missions.
Shōgun (Disney+) – A sweeping historical epic with stunning visuals and complex characters, best savoured with full attention.
Verdict: For live TV, Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild is the cosy choice, Mission: Impossible is the thrill ride, and The Fortune Hotel offers strategic fun. And if you’d rather binge, the streaming line-up is particularly strong this week.