BBC Two examines the campaign that followed the Dunblane school massacre, while Dragons’ Den returns and Alexander Armstrong continues his journey through India.
Thursday night television leans toward documentary and investigation. BBC Two marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Dunblane school massacre with a programme that explores how a group of grieving parents transformed national debate around firearms.
Elsewhere, BBC One delivers another episode of Dragons’ Den, ITV examines the psychology of clutter, and Alexander Armstrong continues his travel series across India.
Dunblane: How Britain Banned Handguns
9pm, BBC Two
Few events in modern British history have led to such swift legislative change as the Dunblane school shooting of March 1996.
This documentary revisits the tragedy and focuses on the campaign that followed. Survivors, parents and political figures reflect on the determined effort to remove handguns from private ownership in the UK.
The programme makes clear that the legislative outcome was far from inevitable. The parents of the victims organised petitions, public meetings and a sustained lobbying campaign that eventually persuaded Parliament to introduce sweeping restrictions.
Former prime minister Tony Blair and broadcaster Lorraine Kelly are among those reflecting on how public pressure shaped the debate around firearms legislation in Britain.
Dragons’ Den
8pm, BBC One
Even after years on television, Dragons’ Den continues to produce unexpected pitches.
This episode includes an entrepreneur dressed in a chicken costume attempting to persuade the investors that his unusual business idea can encourage people to spend more time outdoors.
Beauty entrepreneur Jenna Meek returns as a guest Dragon, adding a different perspective to the panel’s investment discussions.
Tonight: Spring Clean – Keep, Chuck Or Cash In?
7.30pm, ITV1
With spring approaching, ITV looks at Britain’s complicated relationship with clutter.
The programme examines whether decluttering can genuinely improve mental wellbeing, while offering practical advice on how to decide what to keep, sell or discard.
For many households the annual clear out is a daunting task. This programme suggests that a more structured approach may make it easier.
Britain’s Countryside Killer: True Crime Presents
9pm, ITV1
This episode examines the murder of Emma Caldwell, a case that puzzled investigators for years.
The eventual conviction of Ian Packer came after renewed attention brought by a documentary investigation. The programme explores how the case unfolded and why it remained unsolved for so long.
Alexander Armstrong in India
9pm, Channel 5
Alexander Armstrong continues his journey through India, arriving in Jaipur.
The episode mixes humour with history as Armstrong explores the Pink City, samples local food and visits a jeweller with an international clientele that has included members of royalty and Hollywood stars.
Hunting Outback Gold
9pm, U&Yesterday
Jeff Harris and Brendan Elliot continue their search for Harold Lasseter’s legendary lost gold.
The programme remains as much about landscape and history as treasure hunting. Australia’s vast interior becomes the true subject of the episode, with the search itself taking on a reflective tone.
Live sport today
There is limited major sport on free to air television tonight, but the Cheltenham Festival continues earlier in the day with coverage from 1pm on ITV1.
The meeting remains one of the highlights of the National Hunt racing calendar, drawing attention from casual viewers as well as racing enthusiasts.
Watching UK TV while travelling
Streaming platforms such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4 usually restrict access outside the UK because of programme licensing agreements.
Travellers sometimes discover that programmes they normally watch at home are unavailable while abroad.
A UK based VPN can allow access to the services people already subscribe to by connecting through domestic servers. The reliability of these connections can vary between providers.
LibertyShield operates UK servers designed to maintain stable connections to common streaming platforms. Readers can test compatibility using the 48-hour free trial, which allows the service to be tried across devices before committing.