A powerful documentary marks 30 years since the Sea Empress oil spill, while The Apprentice continues and supermarket loyalty schemes come under scrutiny.
Thursday night television balances serious reflection with consumer insight and entertainment. BBC Two leads with a documentary revisiting the Sea Empress oil spill, one of the UK’s most significant environmental disasters.
Elsewhere, ITV examines supermarket loyalty schemes at a time of rising food prices, while BBC One’s The Apprentice continues its latest task.
Black Waters: The Sea Empress Disaster
9pm, BBC Two
Thirty years on from the Sea Empress oil spill, this documentary returns to one of the UK’s most damaging marine pollution events.
When the tanker ran aground in Milford Haven in 1996, tens of thousands of tonnes of oil leaked into the sea, contaminating large stretches of the Pembrokeshire coastline. The programme is built around first-hand accounts from those who witnessed the aftermath.
Rather than focusing solely on the event itself, it reflects on the long-term environmental consequences and the lasting impression it left on local communities.
The Apprentice
9pm, BBC One
The competition continues with a task that sends candidates out of London.
This week’s challenge involves sourcing items linked to the Isle of Wight, with teams judged on their ability to negotiate and secure the best prices. As usual, confusion and misplaced confidence are never far away.
Murderer Unmasked: True Crime Presents
9pm, ITV1
This episode examines the case of an 18-year-old whose life ended following an online encounter.
Contributors include investigators and experts who reconstruct the events leading up to the crime, alongside reflections on how digital communication can obscure risk.
Tonight: Supermarket Prices – Does Loyalty Pay?
7.30pm, ITV1
With food prices significantly higher than they were just a few years ago, this programme looks at whether supermarket loyalty schemes genuinely offer savings.
Kate Quilton investigates how pricing structures work and whether discounts are as meaningful as they appear. The programme also considers how consumer behaviour has shifted in response to rising costs.
Alexander Armstrong in India
8pm, Channel 5
The final episode of Armstrong’s travel series continues his journey through India.
From Mumbai’s Aarey Forest to Bangalore’s historic clubs, the programme blends cultural exploration with lighter observations, closing the series on a reflective note.
Queens of Mystery
8pm, U&Drama
A theatrical production becomes the centre of a murder investigation in this episode of the cosy crime drama.
When an actor is killed during rehearsals, the case quickly turns into a classic puzzle, with professional rivalries and backstage tensions adding to the intrigue.
Watching UK TV while travelling
Streaming services such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4 typically restrict access outside the UK due to licensing agreements.
For viewers travelling abroad, this can mean losing access to programmes they would normally watch at home.
A UK based VPN can allow access by routing connections through domestic servers. Performance varies depending on the provider and how platforms manage connections.
LibertyShield runs UK based servers designed to support stable access to major streaming services. Readers can try the service using the 48 hour free trial, which allows time to test it across devices. If you decide to continue, the code VIDEO20 provides a discount on subscription.