TV Tonight: Cancer Surgeons Reveal Realities in New Channel 5 Series
A groundbreaking new television series offers an unprecedented look into the lives of cancer surgeons, premiering tonight on Channel 5. The Surgeon provides viewers with intimate access to the operating rooms and personal lives of medical professionals who confront life-and-death situations daily.
Inside the Operating Room with Bowel Cancer Specialist Daren Francis
The series opens with consultant colorectal surgeon Daren Francis at London's Royal Free Hospital, where cameras capture him performing complex and risky operations. His first patient featured is retired nurse Doris, who dedicated fifty years to the NHS and has been suffering from excruciating abdominal pain for two weeks. The documentary doesn't shy away from the graphic realities of surgical procedures, making it essential viewing for those with strong stomachs.
Beyond the operating theater, Francis invites viewers into his home, where he candidly discusses the emotional weight of his profession. He opens up about the challenging experience of delivering cancer diagnoses to patients, providing rare insight into the human side of surgical medicine that often remains hidden from public view.
Additional Programming Highlights for Tonight's Viewing
Channel 4 presents Kirstie and Phil's Love It or List It at 8pm, revisiting Mark and Suze in Cullercoats, Tyne and Wear. The couple originally appeared in 2020 at a crossroads regarding their Victorian townhouse, and tonight's episode reveals whether they've committed to renovations or decided to move on to their forever home.
Also on Channel 5 at 8pm, Alice Roberts: Our Hospital Through Time profiles St Barts hospital in London. The busy professor explores the institution's archives, highlighting a precious scroll from 1137 among its historical treasures.
Sky Arts features the final preliminary heat of Landscape Artist of the Year 2026 at 8pm, where eight artists have just four hours to paint Dover Castle. Henry II's medieval fortress, described as "12th-century bling," inspires diverse artistic approaches ranging from neon-bright mixed media to pyrography and watercolor techniques.
Drama and News Programming Roundup
Sky Witness airs Matlock at 9pm, following Matty (Kathy Bates) and Olympia (Skye P Marshall) as they navigate power struggles at their New York law firm while Olympia confronts buried family issues through a challenging case.
BBC Two presents Unspun World With John Simpson at 11pm, featuring the veteran world affairs editor reflecting on global tensions. Simpson recently described 2025 as particularly troubling, and his reports from Iran and Greenland suggest 2026 continues to present serious international challenges.
Film and Sports Selections
Film4 offers Alfred Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt at 11am, a film the director himself frequently cited as his personal favorite. The suspenseful story follows teenage Charlie Newton (Teresa Wright) whose life transforms when her charismatic Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) visits, bringing dark secrets to her seemingly idyllic California town.
Sports enthusiasts can watch Champions League football as Qarabağ faces Newcastle at 5pm on TNT Sports 1, followed by Premier League action with Wolves versus Arsenal at 7:30pm on Sky Sports Main Event.
