Tommy Shelby is back in a new film set against the backdrop of wartime Britain, while Comic Relief takes over BBC One for the evening.
Friday night television is led by the return of one of the BBC’s most recognisable dramas, albeit in film form. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man arrives on Netflix, bringing Tommy Shelby back into a darker, more uncertain world shaped by the approach of the second world war.
Elsewhere, BBC One hosts its annual Comic Relief fundraiser, while Claudia Winkleman returns for another attempt to make her chat show stick. There is also comedy on Sky and a true crime drama continuing on ITV.
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Streaming now, Netflix
Tommy Shelby returns for what is billed as a final chapter in the Peaky Blinders story.
Set in 1940, the film places its familiar characters into a shifting political landscape, where the threat of fascism is no longer distant. Cillian Murphy’s Shelby is older, more withdrawn and surrounded by the consequences of earlier decisions.
The tone remains consistent with the series, stylised violence, bleak introspection and a soundtrack that resists period accuracy. The addition of Barry Keoghan as Tommy’s son introduces a generational tension, while Tim Roth appears as a British fascist attempting to exploit the chaos of the time.
Whether the story needed another instalment is open to debate, but the film offers a sense of closure that long running series rarely achieve.
Comic Relief: Funny for Money
7pm, BBC One
The annual fundraising event returns with a mix of comedy sketches, live challenges and celebrity appearances.
This year’s programme includes contributions from Davina McCall, Nick Mohammed, Katherine Ryan and Catherine Tate, returning as Nan. There are also pre-recorded segments and ongoing challenges, including Greg James completing a long distance cycling effort.
As ever, the tone moves between humour and more reflective segments, with the aim of maintaining momentum across the evening.
Gardeners’ World
9pm, BBC Two
Monty Don continues his seasonal guide to gardening, focusing on preparing plants for the months ahead.
The programme maintains its steady pace, offering practical advice alongside quieter moments that reflect the rhythms of the garden.
Ted
9pm, Sky One
The comedy continues its second season with another pair of episodes.
The premise remains unchanged, a foul mouthed animated bear navigating adolescence alongside his human companion, but the writing leans into character dynamics more than novelty.
Comic Relief Does The Weakest Link
10pm, BBC Two
The fundraising continues with a special edition of The Weakest Link.
Romesh Ranganathan hosts a group of comedians competing to raise money, combining the format’s familiar structure with a more relaxed tone.
The Claudia Winkleman Show
10.40pm, BBC One
Claudia Winkleman returns for another episode following a mixed debut.
The format remains close to traditional chat shows, with a focus on informal conversation and audience interaction. This week’s guests include Joanne McNally, Guz Khan and Niall Horan.
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
10.55pm, ITV1
The true crime drama approaches its conclusion as the trial begins.
The series continues to explore both the investigation and the uncertainty surrounding the full extent of Gacy’s crimes, with a focus on the gaps in knowledge that remained even as the case progressed.
Film choice
In Camera
11.10pm, BBC Two
A satirical drama that follows an actor navigating a series of increasingly uncomfortable auditions.
Nabhaan Rizwan plays a performer struggling to maintain a sense of identity as the line between performance and reality begins to blur.
Watching UK TV while travelling
Streaming platforms such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4 typically restrict access outside the UK because of licensing agreements.
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A UK based VPN can allow access by routing connections through domestic servers. Reliability varies depending on the provider and network conditions.
LibertyShield operates UK servers designed to support stable access to major streaming platforms. Readers can try the service using the 48-hour free trial, allowing time to test it across devices. If you decide to continue, the code VIDEO20 provides a discount.