It’s a historic night for rugby as the Six Nations kicks off with France hosting Ireland on a Thursday for the first time ever. Meanwhile, Dragons’ Den welcomes back Gary Neville, The Apprentice candidates make a complete hash of children’s books, and BBC Four dedicates the evening to Sean Connery.
Quick Picks: Tonight’s Best
- France v Ireland – ITV1, 7:20pm (kick-off 8:10pm) – Six Nations opener at Stade de France
- Dragons’ Den – BBC One, 8pm – Gary Neville returns as guest Dragon
- The Man Who Would Be King – BBC Four, 8pm – Sean Connery night begins
- The Apprentice – BBC One, 9pm – The children’s book task goes spectacularly wrong
Early Evening (7pm – 8pm)
EastEnders – BBC One, 7:30pm
Yes, EastEnders is on tonight. The Walford drama continues with residents dealing with the aftermath of last year’s explosive 40th anniversary week, which saw the Queen Vic go up in flames and claimed the lives of Martin Fowler and Reiss Colwell. Tensions continue to simmer as Albert Square rebuilds. Catch up on iPlayer if you’d rather watch the rugby.
The Real Strictly Come Dancing – BBC Two, 7:30pm
Nothing to do with celebrity scandals or professional partnerships – this documentary goes inside the British National Dance Championships in Blackpool. First shown over Christmas, it follows several competing couples including one pair who are just 11 years old. There’s sequins, spray tans, and proper competitive ballroom dancing. The judge reminded me more of Len Goodman than Craig Revel Horwood, though Shirley Ballas was spotted in the audience. Behind the glamour, there are dance-floor clashes, disappointments and – as you might expect – several dancers who’ve fallen for their partners.
Prime Time (8pm onwards)
France v Ireland – ITV1, 7:20pm (kick-off 8:10pm) ⭐
Your pick of the evening if you’ve any interest in rugby. This is genuinely historic – the first time a Six Nations match has ever kicked off on a Thursday. They’ve moved it to avoid clashing with the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan.
Defending champions France welcome back Antoine Dupont for his first international since rupturing his ACL against Ireland in Dublin last March. That injury saw him stretchered off at the Aviva Stadium, but France still went on to win that game 42-27 and eventually lift the title. Now Dupont’s back and looking sharp after his November return for Toulouse.
Ireland’s Andy Farrell returns to the hot seat after leading the British & Irish Lions to a 2-1 series victory in Australia last summer. His absence in 2025 saw Ireland finish third under Simon Easterby, so there’s a point to prove. He’s dealing with an injury crisis though – multiple front-row options and several backs are unavailable.
These two sides have dominated the Six Nations recently, sharing the last four titles between them. France are favourites. England, interestingly, arrive as the in-form side with 11 straight wins, but tonight’s result will tell us more about the championship’s likely direction.
Dragons’ Den – BBC One, 8pm
Gary Neville’s back in the Den, having appeared as a guest Dragon previously in series 21. The former footballer turned property developer joins regulars Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman and Steven Bartlett.
Tonight’s standout pitch comes from an entrepreneur with a sustainable skincare range. The twist? It’s made from manufacturing by-products of olive oil, orange juice, breakfast cereal and tomato ketchup. Deborah Meaden – the obvious target given her environmental focus – will presumably be intrigued. Also on offer: a portable device for cleaning golf balls (which provokes some sniggering), an app promising to help clear mortgages faster, and some “flavour bombs” for cooking.
Digging for Britain – BBC Two, 8pm
Series finale for Alice Roberts’ archaeological round-up. Tonight starts on St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall, which some historians believe is Ictis – the legendary Bronze Age tin trading hub mentioned by ancient writers. The programme also covers human bones discovered at a friary in Haverfordwest, an amateur metal detectorist’s remarkable find of two Roman swords in Gloucestershire, and an ancient wishing well unearthed in Pembrokeshire. Modern technology features heavily, showing how archaeologists can now extract information from fragments too delicate to handle.
The Man Who Would Be King – BBC Four, 8pm
Sean Connery night begins with John Huston’s 1975 adventure romp. Connery and Michael Caine play two Victorian British Army soldiers who head to Afghanistan and somehow convince a local tribe that Connery is a divine king. The two stars had been friends since the 1950s and both jumped at the chance to make this – a film Huston had originally planned for Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable back in 1956 (Bogart died in 1957). Both Connery and Caine have called it their favourite film.
BBC Four follows with a Talking Pictures profile of Connery at 10:05pm and Richard Attenborough’s war epic A Bridge Too Far at 10:50pm – a proper Connery evening if you’re not watching the rugby.
George Clarke’s Building Home – Channel 4, 8pm
Property renovation with emotional weight tonight. Lauren and Lee have bought her grandparents’ Victorian home in Matlock Bath, Derbyshire. The house is outdated but full of precious memories – even the sound of a light switch brings Lauren to tears. Gutting the place while preserving that connection isn’t easy, but the couple manage it remarkably well. The finished result keeps thoughtful nods to the past, including that light switch. More personal than most renovation shows.
Spain with Michael Portillo – Channel 5, 8pm
Michael hops across the Mediterranean to Mallorca this week. Beyond the beaches and tourist spots, he finds an island with genuine depth and history. His travels usually deliver the unexpected, and Mallorca proves there’s plenty beyond sun and sangria.
Bangers and Cash – U&Yesterday, 8pm
Series 13 for the Mathewsons auction house series. They’re not fixing what isn’t broken – it’s still quirky vehicles, family banter and Derek’s enthusiasm for the chase. Tonight features a 26-tonne fire engine with a dodgy support leg but potential half-million-pound value, a 1986 Toyota Celica Supra (one of seven remaining in Britain, same owner for three decades), and a pristine MK2 Aston Martin DB6 being sold for charity. Despite these gems, one vehicle fails to attract a single bid.
The Apprentice – BBC One, 9pm
The candidates tackle children’s publishing, tasked with writing, illustrating and adding audio elements to a book before pitching to retailers. One team produces something apparently so poor it gets nicknamed ‘Close Encounters of the Turd Kind’. The other creates a story about a zebra born without stripes – better in concept, but key errors undermine the execution.
The buyers from Foyles look thoroughly unimpressed. So do the four-year-olds it’s aimed at. Lord Sugar has every right to be furious with both teams. Analysis follows on BBC Two at 10pm with Angela Scanlon’s The Apprentice: Unfinished Business.
Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild – Channel 5, 9pm
Ben visits Dave, who lives on a beautifully restored narrowboat called Inspired by Nature on a Cheshire canal. The opening scenes have that distinctly grey British light that somehow looks like a Constable painting. But things turn emotional quickly when Ben discovers a tragedy from Dave’s past. Grief and burnout are the two main reasons people adopt the alternative lifestyles this series features – tonight it’s grief. Nature, as usual, offers some healing, even through the clouds and rain.
I Am Not Okay – BBC Two, 9pm
A Spotlight documentary originally shown in Northern Ireland that should make difficult viewing for certain health trusts. Four mothers – Claire, Julie, Laura and Carly – share their experiences raising sons with autism and profound learning disabilities amid broken promises from support services. Their resilience is remarkable, and reporter Tara Mills gives them the platform they’ve long been denied. Their sons, it should be said, are clearly loved – but their anxieties sometimes manifest in violent outbursts that these families navigate largely alone.
Sport
Six Nations Rugby: France v Ireland on ITV1 from 7:20pm, kick-off 8:10pm at Stade de France. Darts: Premier League round one from Newcastle on Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm. Golf: Qatar Masters day one from Doha on Sky Sports from 9am. LIV Golf from Riyadh on TNT Sports 1 from 2pm. Cricket: Women’s Premier League final from Vadodara on Sky Sports Cricket from 1:50pm.
The Viewing Schedule
| Time | Channel | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 7:20pm | ITV1 | France v Ireland (k/o 8:10pm) |
| 7:30pm | BBC One | EastEnders |
| 7:30pm | BBC Two | The Real Strictly Come Dancing |
| 8:00pm | BBC One | Dragons’ Den |
| 8:00pm | BBC Two | Digging for Britain |
| 8:00pm | BBC Four | The Man Who Would Be King |
| 8:00pm | Channel 4 | George Clarke’s Building Home |
| 8:00pm | Channel 5 | Spain with Michael Portillo |
| 8:00pm | U&Yesterday | Bangers and Cash |
| 9:00pm | BBC One | The Apprentice |
| 9:00pm | BBC Two | I Am Not Okay |
| 9:00pm | Channel 4 | Michael Jackson: the Trial |
| 9:00pm | Channel 5 | Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild |
| 10:00pm | BBC Two | The Apprentice: Unfinished Business |
| 10:05pm | BBC Four | Sean Connery: A Talking Pictures Special |
| 10:50pm | BBC Four | A Bridge Too Far |
What’s On Streaming
ITVX: France v Ireland Six Nations (after broadcast)
BBC iPlayer: Dragons’ Den, The Apprentice, EastEnders, Digging for Britain, I Am Not Okay
Channel 4 streaming: George Clarke’s Building Home, Michael Jackson: the Trial
Channel 5 streaming: Spain with Michael Portillo, Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild
U: Bangers and Cash (full series)
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is France v Ireland on TV tonight?
France v Ireland in the Six Nations is on ITV1 with coverage from 7:20pm and kick-off at 8:10pm tonight (Thursday 5th February 2026). It’s the first Six Nations match ever played on a Thursday.
What’s the best thing to watch on TV tonight?
Our top pick is France v Ireland in the Six Nations on ITV1, kicking off at 8:10pm – a historic opener featuring Antoine Dupont’s return from injury and Andy Farrell back in the Ireland hot seat.
Is EastEnders on TV tonight?
Yes, EastEnders is on BBC One at 7:30pm tonight (Thursday 5th February 2026). The soap continues its ongoing storylines following last year’s dramatic 40th anniversary week.
What time is Dragons’ Den on tonight?
Dragons’ Den is on BBC One at 8pm tonight, featuring Gary Neville as guest Dragon alongside the regular panel.
What time is The Apprentice on TV tonight?
The Apprentice is on BBC One at 9pm tonight with the children’s book task, followed by The Apprentice: Unfinished Business on BBC Two at 10pm.
Final Verdict
France v Ireland is the unmissable event tonight – a historic Six Nations Thursday opener with genuine title implications. If rugby’s not your thing, The Man Who Would Be King kicks off a Sean Connery evening on BBC Four that’s worth your time. The Apprentice delivers its usual mix of overconfidence and disaster, and Dragons’ Den has Gary Neville back in the chair.
