Period drama rarely disappears from British television for long. It shifts shape, adjusts tone, finds a new setting. Tonight, Channel 5’s The Hardacres returns for a second series, continuing its steady exploration of class, money and social unease.
Elsewhere, there is a rediscovered slice of comedy history, dependable panel show chaos and a cluster of darker dramas that push into stranger territory.
Pick of the day
The Hardacres, 9pm, Channel 5
There is something familiar about The Hardacres, and that is partly the point. Its world of shifting fortunes and uneasy neighbours clearly draws from a well worn tradition of British period storytelling, yet it keeps its feet on the ground.
As the new series opens, the Hardacre family are beginning to feel the strain. A recession is tightening its grip on their business, raising uncomfortable questions about how long their newly acquired country lifestyle can be sustained. Across the divide, the established elite are facing their own pressures, not least with the arrival of a formidable matriarch who views the newcomers with thinly veiled scepticism.
It is not especially bold television, but it is quietly engaging. The tension comes less from grand twists and more from small shifts in status, confidence and perception.
Morecambe and Wise 1968: The Lost Tape
8pm, BBC Four
A newly recovered episode of Morecambe and Wise arrives as a reminder of how much of television history once felt disposable. This recording, dating from 1968, captures the duo before their peak years, before the polish fully set in.
There is a looser feel to it. The rhythm is not quite there yet, but the chemistry is unmistakable. For viewers used to the later, more refined specials, it offers a glimpse of how that success was built.
Taskmaster
9pm, Channel 4
By this point in the series, the roles are well established. The appeal lies in watching those roles unravel under pressure.
Armando Iannucci leans into irritation, Joel Dommett throws himself into the absurd, and Amy Gledhill continues to find inventive ways to approach the tasks. It remains one of the few formats that can sustain unpredictability without feeling forced.
From
9pm, Sky One
The fourth season of From continues to expand its unsettling mythology. What began as a contained horror premise has grown into something denser, occasionally to its own detriment.
Harold Perrineau’s central performance still provides an anchor, even as the narrative becomes more fragmented. The series thrives on unease, though it now asks viewers to keep track of an increasingly complex web of ideas.
Prisoner
9pm, Sky Atlantic
This thriller continues to move at pace, balancing procedural elements with moments of dark humour. The writing occasionally stretches plausibility, but it maintains momentum.
There is a sense that the series is more interested in energy than precision. For many viewers, that will be enough.
The Miniature Wife
10pm, Sky Atlantic
A concept that could easily collapse under its own weight continues to hold together through sharp writing and a willingness to lean into its strangeness.
The domestic setting remains key. Beneath the absurdity, it is still a story about relationships, control and resentment, played out in increasingly unusual ways.
Film choice
Track 29, 1.20am, Film4
Nicolas Roeg’s collaboration with Dennis Potter is an uneasy watch. It deals in ambiguity, psychological tension and unresolved questions.
Gary Oldman’s performance is deliberately unsettling, while Theresa Russell carries much of the emotional weight. It does not fully cohere, but it lingers.
Watching from abroad
For viewers outside the UK, access to platforms such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4 can be inconsistent. Rights restrictions mean content libraries often change depending on location, particularly for live broadcasts and recent episodes.
Many travellers use a VPN to maintain access to their usual services while abroad. By routing a connection through the UK, it becomes possible to log in as normal and continue watching. Services such as Liberty Shield are commonly used for this, particularly for live TV and sport, although performance will depend on connection quality and local network conditions.
Final thoughts
Tonight’s schedule reflects a familiar pattern. Reliable formats, established genres, and a mix of light entertainment and darker drama.
There is little here that reinvents television. But there is a steady confidence in what works, and a recognition that not every evening needs to surprise.
Sometimes consistency is enough.