ITV’s true crime drama edges towards crisis, while BBC One’s Lord of the Flies adaptation closes with confrontation.
Sunday night television leans heavily into conflict. Whether drawn from real life or classic fiction, tonight’s key dramas circle around escalation, control and consequences.
The Lady, 9pm, ITV1
The penultimate episode of The Lady pushes Mia McKenna-Bruce’s portrayal of Jane Andrews closer to collapse. The series has tracked Andrews’ trajectory from royal circles into notoriety, and this instalment centres on a holiday that begins with expectation and ends in rupture.
Jane travels with Tommy Cressman, hoping for a proposal. When it becomes clear that commitment is not forthcoming, the mood shifts. Back in London, a private conversation becomes something far more combustible.
The drama’s strength lies in its refusal to flatten events into simple villainy. Instead, it leans into emotional volatility and flawed decision making. The tension feels domestic before it feels criminal, which is arguably what makes it unsettling.
Lord of the Flies, 9pm, BBC One
Jack Thorne’s adaptation of William Golding’s novel concludes with Ralph stepping forward as authority fractures entirely. The theft of Piggy’s glasses becomes the spark for a final confrontation.
Visually, the production has been striking throughout. Tonight’s episode hinges less on spectacle and more on the psychological divide between order and impulse. The question is not what the boys are capable of, but whether anything remains to restrain them.
A companion documentary, Making of Lord of the Flies, airs at 10pm on BBC Four, exploring the challenges of filming in Malaysia.
Call the Midwife, 8pm, BBC One
With the series finale approaching, Nonnatus House faces change. The introduction of junior doctors adds generational friction, while Violet finds herself unexpectedly drawn into midwifery duties. The tone remains tender, even as larger shifts loom.
Romance Scams: Don’t Get Caught Out, 7pm, Channel 5
Alexis Conran examines how romance scams operate and why they remain effective. The advice may appear straightforward, protect personal financial details, question urgency, verify identity, yet the emotional mechanics behind these crimes are complex. The programme focuses as much on vulnerability as on technique.
Watson, 9pm, Sky Witness
A medical mystery provides a change of pace, with Dr John Watson confronted by a patient whose appearance and behaviour do not align. The show continues to blend procedural familiarity with light Sherlockian intrigue.
Film of the night
Fire Will Come, 2.10am on Film4, offers something quieter. Óliver Laxe’s Galician drama unfolds with minimal dialogue, following a man returning home after an arson conviction. Its rural stillness slowly darkens, raising doubt without spectacle.
Live sport
Premier League action dominates the afternoon. Manchester United host Crystal Palace at 2pm on Sky Sports Main Event, followed by Arsenal v Chelsea at 4.25pm. The latter carries clear implications in the wider title race.
Watching UK TV from abroad
Programmes on BBC and ITV platforms are licensed for UK audiences. Viewers travelling overseas may find that services such as BBC iPlayer or ITVX are region restricted. A UK based VPN allows subscribers to connect through domestic servers and access the services they already pay for while abroad.
LibertyShield provides UK server access and offers a 48 hour free trial for those who wish to test performance across devices before making a longer commitment.