Tonight's television lineup offers a rich selection of entertainment, from scheming royals to dazzling dance floors. Here is your curated guide to the evening's unmissable viewing.
Drama and Deception on Channel 4
Leading the evening's drama is The Serpent Queen on Channel 4 at 10.05pm. This series presents a very modern take on the period drama, echoing the raucous and irreverent style of shows like The Great and Mary & George. Originally airing on StarzPlay in 2022, the story transports viewers to 16th-century France.
It chronicles the ambitious rise of Italian Catherine de Medici, portrayed in her youth by Liv Hill and in her later years by the acclaimed Samantha Morton. The narrative begins with her marriage to Henry II at the tender age of 14, following her cunning and often ruthless journey to secure power, which ultimately earned her the formidable reptilian nickname.
Strictly's Glittering Blackpool Extravaganza
Over on BBC One at 6.35pm, the ballroom magic of Strictly Come Dancing reaches one of its most anticipated milestones: the Blackpool bonanza. The iconic dancefloor plays host to the remaining six couples, though the event is tinged with disappointment as the wonderful La Voix will be absent due to injury.
Highlights promised for the special include Lewis and Katya performing a charleston to a hit by the Arctic Monkeys, and George and Alexis dancing a salsa to a 90s club classic. Furthermore, fans can look forward to a performance by Lewis Capaldi on Sunday's results show.
More Highlights Across the Channels
The evening also features the final episode of Bettany Hughes’ Treasures of the World on Channel 4 at 7pm. The historian's armchair travel adventure concludes its series in Estonia, where she examines a 10,000-year-old piece of chewed tar that provides a glimpse into a prehistoric teenager's life. Her journey continues with the discovery of a 16th-century shipwreck in the Baltic Sea and culminates in sampling an unusual viper-infused alcohol.
For music lovers, BBC Two at 8.05pm offers Kim Wilde at the BBC. The 80s icon, famous for her smash hit Kids in America, presents a retrospective of her performances for the broadcaster. The programme includes many of her greatest hits and features a rarely seen duet with Tony Ferrino, the alter ego of Steve Coogan.
Drama continues on BBC One at 9.05pm with Wild Cherry. The mystery deepens as teenager Iris remains missing. While most of the Richford Lake mothers appear to be in denial about their daughters' potential involvement, Lorna is determined to hack the secret app on her daughter Grace's phone. The detectives on the case find their investigation persistently hampered by the formidable obstacle of class privilege.
Meanwhile, Channel 4 airs the concluding part of Hitler’s DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator at 9.05pm. This speculative series delves into the genetic background of the German dictator, presenting further evidence of his unsuitability for leadership. The documentary hypothesises significant indicators of conditions like bipolarity and schizophrenia, and also posits theories about low testosterone levels.
