Travel, business pitches and a sobering documentary about social media lead Thursday night television.
Thursday evening television moves between light travelogue and heavier reflection. Alexander Armstrong begins a journey across India, Alan Sugar’s candidates reach the halfway stage of The Apprentice, and a powerful documentary examines the online forces linked to the death of teenager Molly Russell.
Alexander Armstrong in India, 8pm, Channel 5
Alexander Armstrong begins a new travel series exploring India, starting in Mumbai. The actor and comedian takes in the contrasts of the city through guided tours with locals who reveal both its luxury and its crowded neighbourhoods.
An estate agent introduces Armstrong to a multimillion pound apartment overlooking the city, while another guide shares memories of growing up in a nearby slum. Food inevitably plays a part in the introduction to Mumbai, including a visit to sample a locally celebrated street food favourite known as the Mumbai burger.
Armstrong’s style is curious rather than showy, allowing the places and people he meets to set the pace of the programme.
Molly vs the Machines, 9pm, Channel 4
Marc Silver’s documentary revisits the story of Molly Russell, the 14 year old who died in 2017 after viewing harmful online content. Her father, Ian Russell, continues his campaign to hold technology companies accountable for their role in exposing young users to dangerous material.
The film follows the wider questions raised by the case. It explores the influence of recommendation algorithms, the responsibilities of social media companies and the regulatory failures that allowed such content to circulate widely.
Alongside the personal story sits a broader examination of how online platforms operate and why safeguards for younger users have proved so difficult to enforce.
The Apprentice, 9pm, BBC One
The remaining candidates reach the midpoint of the competition and are dispatched to Egypt. Their task is to design corporate awaydays that are appealing enough for paying clients.
The format remains familiar, part travel challenge, part boardroom drama, with Alan Sugar waiting to decide who leaves the process next.
Dragons’ Den, 8pm, BBC One
Entrepreneurs return to pitch their ideas to the Dragons. Among them is a GP who has developed a modern interpretation of the traditional doctor’s bag, with a vegan design focus. The episode also includes a drinks infusion concept seeking investment.
Tonight: Cars, What’s Driving Up Costs?, 7.30pm, ITV1
Paul Brand investigates the rising cost of car ownership in Britain. With estimates suggesting that running a car now costs around £3,500 per year, the programme asks whether transport is becoming inaccessible for lower income households.
The investigation also explores the broader question of whether Britain’s infrastructure is prepared for reduced car ownership.
Murder Case: The Hunt for Arlene Fraser’s Killer, 9pm, BBC Two
The final part of the documentary series examines the disappearance of Arlene Fraser in Moray in 1998. Despite trials and appeals, the case continues to raise questions for her family nearly three decades later.
Hunting Outback Gold, 10pm, U&Yesterday
The Australian prospecting series continues as the team search for clues linked to the legendary Harold Lasseter expedition. Diaries and landscape hints provide the only leads in the search for what may be a mythical gold discovery.
Live sport tonight
Tottenham Hotspur host Crystal Palace in the Premier League at 8pm on TNT Sports 1. Spurs will be looking to keep momentum in the race for European places, while Palace arrive hoping to frustrate one of the league’s more attacking sides.
Darts fans can watch Premier League Darts from Cardiff on Sky Sports, with the latest night of the competition bringing the world’s top players back to the oche.
Earlier in the day, England face India in the Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final at 1.30pm on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event. With a place in the final at stake, the match promises to be one of the biggest cricket fixtures of the tournament.
Watching UK TV from abroad
Services such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4 are licensed primarily for UK audiences. Travellers outside the country may find that access to programmes is restricted by regional broadcasting rights.
A UK based VPN can allow viewers to connect through domestic servers and use the streaming services they already subscribe to. Reliability and privacy standards vary between providers, so it is worth choosing carefully.
LibertyShield operates UK-based servers and offers a 48-hour free trial, allowing readers to test compatibility across devices before committing.