A remarkable primetime interview, prestige drama and survival thriller returns shape Sunday’s TV landscape.
Sunday night television moves between gravity and escapism with unusual ease this week. At one end sits a deeply serious current affairs interview that has already drawn international attention. At the other, the return of a cult survival thriller and the steady comfort of period drama. It makes for a schedule that feels varied without being disjointed.
Gisèle Pelicot: Newsnight Interview, 10pm, BBC Two
The evening’s most significant broadcast arrives late, but it is likely to dominate discussion. In a special extended edition of Newsnight, Gisèle Pelicot gives a rare and deeply personal interview following the trial that saw her husband and multiple accomplices convicted of prolonged sexual abuse. Her decision to waive anonymity during proceedings became a defining act of defiance and public testimony.
This interview reflects on the aftermath, both personal and societal, including the recognition she received from the French state. It is difficult subject matter, handled in a journalistic setting that allows Pelicot to speak in her own words. Expect a sober, reflective tone rather than sensational framing.
Call the Midwife, 8pm, BBC One
Earlier in the evening, familiar ground returns. Harvest festival arrives in Poplar, though celebrations are overshadowed by health anxieties when a routine concern turns into something more serious. The series continues to balance social history with domestic storytelling, maintaining its place as one of the BBC’s most reliable Sunday anchors.
Lord of the Flies, 9pm, BBC One
Jack Thorne’s adaptation shifts perspective this week, focusing on Jack’s descent into obsession and power. The psychological tension builds steadily as survival gives way to dominance. Visually, the series continues to impress, using landscape as both beauty and threat.
Secret Genius, 9pm, Channel 4
Channel 4 offers a very different exploration of human behaviour. The final heat of this intelligence competition blends puzzle solving with personal narrative, as contestants reflect on the social cost of being intellectually exceptional. Alan Carr and Susie Dent maintain a careful balance between warmth and competition.
Watson, 9pm, Sky Witness
Sherlock Holmes spin offs remain a television constant. This medical procedural centred on Dr Watson returns for a new run, again blending crime structure with hospital drama. It is familiar, but polished.
Yellowjackets, 10.15pm, ITV1
The night’s most accessible thriller makes its terrestrial debut. Yellowjackets moves between timelines, following a girls’ football team stranded in the wilderness and the fractured adult lives that follow. Its cult success rests on psychological tension rather than spectacle, and ITV’s double bill launch should draw new audiences.
Live sport highlights
Sport threads through the day rather than the evening.
FA Cup coverage dominates the football schedule, with Birmingham v Leeds in the morning, followed by Grimsby v Wolves and Arsenal v Wigan later in the afternoon.
Women’s Super League action includes Chelsea v Liverpool, while Six Nations rugby sees Wales host France mid afternoon on BBC One.
Winter Olympics coverage continues throughout the day on BBC channels, offering a steady backdrop of alpine and ice events.
Watching from anywhere
Major sporting weekends and high profile TV premieres often expose the limits of regional streaming rights. Viewers travelling outside the UK frequently find domestic platforms inaccessible or heavily restricted.
A UK based connection through services such as LibertyShield allows subscribers to access their usual streaming libraries securely across devices. For short trips or event led viewing, the 48 hour free trial can be a practical way to retain access without long commitments.