A Friday with more wildlife than a David Attenborough dream. Big Cats 24/7 returns on BBC Two at 9pm for a second series, and if the first run was anything to go by, Botswana’s leopards, lions and cheetahs are about to steal your evening. Over on BBC One at 9pm, Death in Paradise serves up a murder mid-Shakespeare, with Don Gilet’s DI Mervin Wilson investigating a killing during a production of The Tempest. Sky Atlantic delivers the storm-lashed series finale of Under Salt Marsh at 9pm — Kelly Reilly and Rafe Spall bring it home. Earlier, Steve Backshall takes on the deadliest animal in Africa in Hippo Watch on Channel 5 at 8pm, and Would I Lie to You? on BBC One at 8:30pm welcomes Gladiator Fire herself. No EastEnders tonight — it doesn’t air on Fridays. A proper Friday night.
Quick Picks: Tonight’s Best
- Big Cats 24/7 — BBC Two, 9pm — Leopard cubs, the world’s biggest lion pride and the harsh reality of the Okavango Delta
- Death in Paradise — BBC One, 9pm — A theatrical murder for DI Mervin Wilson and a revealing childhood memory
- Under Salt Marsh — Sky Atlantic, 9pm — SERIES FINALE: Kelly Reilly and Rafe Spall’s storm-battered conclusion
- Hippo Watch with Steve Backshall — Channel 5, 8pm — Why the most dangerous animal in Africa is also the most protective parent
- Would I Lie to You? — BBC One, 8:30pm — Holly Willoughby, Gladiator Fire and David Morrissey try to fool the panel
- Football: Wolves v Aston Villa — Sky Sports, 8pm k/o — Friday night Premier League from Molineux
Early Evening
Golf: South African Open — Sky Sports ME/Golf, 10:30am
Day two from Stellenbosch Golf Club in the Western Cape, where the Investec South African Open continues. The field includes defending champion Dylan Naidoo alongside Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel. Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Golf.
Snooker: Welsh Open — TNT Sports 1, 11:45am & 6:45pm; BBC Two Wales/BBC Red Button, 12 noon & 7pm
The BetVictor Welsh Open continues from Venue Cymru in Llandudno, with Mark Selby defending his title. Afternoon and evening sessions available across TNT Sports and BBC platforms.
Bargain Hunt — BBC One, 12:15pm
A special edition to mark the 50th anniversary of the Olivier Awards. Actors Gary Wilmot, Henry Goodman, Lesley Joseph and Peter Polycarpou — all previous nominees or winners — swap the stage for the antiques fair, competing to find the best bargains. Given the level of theatrical talent involved, expect the haggling to be particularly dramatic.
Cricket: T20 World Cup — Sky Sports ME/Cricket, 1pm (play starts 1:30pm)
The Men’s T20 World Cup Super 8 stage continues. Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket.
Father Brown — BBC One, 2pm
Mark Williams returns as the gently persistent Cotswold priest with a talent for stumbling across corpses. Mrs Sullivan (Claudie Blakley) is fizzing with nervous anticipation about a drinks evening at the superintendent’s house. “This evening has to go well,” she declares — a statement that, in the world of Father Brown, is as ominous as a soap character announcing they’re going to have the best Christmas ever. Something will inevitably go spectacularly wrong. The full series is on iPlayer for those who’ve somehow missed it.
Prime Time: 8pm
MasterChef The Professionals — BBC One, 7:30pm
The competition heats up as the chefs face perhaps the most daunting challenge any kitchen can present — cooking for people who eat professionally for a living. Food critics Leyla Kazim, Jay Rayner and Xanthe Clay are the judges tonight, a trio whose combined restaurant experience could fill a Michelin guide. The new judging panel, with Matt Tebbutt replacing Gregg Wallace, continues to find its rhythm.
Hippo Watch with Steve Backshall — Channel 5, 8pm
Steve Backshall has spent decades in close proximity to the world’s most dangerous creatures. Crocodiles, sharks, venomous snakes — none of them particularly bother him. Hippos, on the other hand, are a different matter entirely. The three-ton herbivore accounts for roughly 500 human deaths per year, more than any other large African animal, and can charge at speeds that would trouble a sprinter. In this first of two parts, Backshall heads to South Africa’s Ndumo game reserve to understand what makes these animals so ferocious. The answer, it turns out, lies in their parenting instincts — hippos are fiercely protective of their young, and woe betide anything that gets between a mother and her calf. Backshall discovers this the hard way when he gets uncomfortably close to an agitated pod, and the tension is palpable. “You have a better chance of surviving a shark attack than a hippo,” he notes, which is exactly the kind of statistic you don’t want to hear when one is staring at you from thirty feet away. Catch up via Channel 5 streaming.
How to Sleep Better — Channel 4, 8pm
A nation of bad sleepers gets its wake-up call. A recent study found that Britons average just 6.7 hours of sleep per night, well under the recommended eight, and 68% of us regularly wake up feeling tired. Denise Van Outen investigates the causes — from diet and stress to the menopause and our collective inability to put our phones down before midnight — and road-tests the latest anti-snore technology. If you’ve ever been kept awake by a partner who sounds like a faulty dishwasher, this may be the most useful hour of television you watch all week. Catch up via Channel 4 streaming.
Would I Lie to You? — BBC One, 8:30pm
A strong panel tonight. Montell Douglas — better known as Gladiator Fire, a rare athlete who has competed at both the Summer and Winter Olympics and now performs extraordinary physical feats on Saturday night television — makes her WILTY debut alongside comedian John Kearns, whose appearance on Taskmaster crawling through a pipe eating chocolates remains one of the more surreal things broadcast in recent years. They’re joined by returning guest David Morrissey and the ever-present Holly Willoughby. The genius of Would I Lie to You? has always been that it doesn’t matter how famous or accomplished you are — if Rob Brydon, Lee Mack and David Mitchell decide to probe your story, you’re on your own. All it takes is nerve and a few convincingly unlikely details, and anyone can win. Catch up via BBC iPlayer.
Football: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Aston Villa — Sky Sports ME/Premier League, 7:30pm (k/o 8pm)
Friday night Premier League from Molineux. Wolves, rooted to the bottom of the table, host an Aston Villa side sitting in third place and with genuine European ambitions. The West Midlands derby usually produces sparks regardless of league position, and Villa will be expected to take all three points, but Wolves at home under the floodlights have been known to produce upsets. Coverage from 7:30pm on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
Prime Time: 9pm
Big Cats 24/7 — BBC Two, 9pm ⭐
The one to watch tonight. The second series of this Botswana-set wildlife documentary opens with footage that will make you want to pack everything in and move to the Okavango Delta, followed immediately by footage that will make you very glad you haven’t. Gordon Buchanan’s camera team has captured remarkable sequences of leopard cubs playing in dappled sunlight — the kind of footage that could melt granite — but this being nature programming, there’s always a shadow. The last time the show followed leopard cubs, a passing male killed them, and the spectre of that hangs over every adorable frame.
Meanwhile, the local lion pride has grown into the largest in the world, which sounds impressive until you realise that a bigger pride means more mouths to feed and more complicated politics. The lionesses make a kill and begin feeding their cubs, only for the alpha male to muscle in and commandeer the entire carcass while his family watches with visible resentment. It’s the animal kingdom’s equivalent of ordering a takeaway for the household and eating the lot yourself. The show follows lions, cheetahs and leopards as they scratch out a living on the savannah, and the storytelling balances charm with brutality in a way that very few wildlife series manage. The full series is available on iPlayer.
Death in Paradise — BBC One, 9pm
There’s a line in The Tempest about how our lives are “rounded with a sleep” — a poetic way of saying death comes to us all. The problem for the actor playing Caliban in tonight’s production is that his particular sleep arrives considerably ahead of schedule. DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) is called in when the performer is found dead, and the case takes him backstage into the world of am-dram rivalries, wounded egos and theatrical grudges.
More interestingly, the investigation reveals something previously unknown about Wilson himself — as a boy, he used to wait by the stage doors of West End theatres, hoping to catch a glimpse of the stars. It’s a genuinely touching detail that gives Gilet something warmer to play, though the moment is somewhat punctured by Sebastian (Shaquille Ali-Yebuah) asking whether Wilson ever met Vin Diesel. That’s Death in Paradise all over, really — a show that gives you just enough sentiment before pulling the rug. Catch up via BBC iPlayer.
Astrid: Murder in Paris — More4, 9pm
Series five of the French crime drama continues. A serial killer with the charming nickname “the Werewolf” — so called because of the gruesome mutilations inflicted on their victims — has struck for the fifth time, and criminal profiler Delphine Simon (Charlotte Gaccio) is drafted in to assist. Raphaelle (Lola Dewaere) is not exactly thrilled by this development, but Astrid (Sara Mortensen) forms a natural working relationship with the newcomer, their combined eye for patterns and connections proving formidable. Whether Delphine could become a permanent addition to the team is the episode’s underlying question. Catch up via Channel 4 streaming.
Under Salt Marsh — Sky Atlantic, 9pm (SERIES FINALE)
The conclusion. If you’ve been following this Welsh-set crime thriller from the start, you’ll know that every episode has been progressively more rain-soaked, and the finale takes that to its logical extreme. Jackie Ellis (Kelly Reilly) looks as though the weight of every revelation she has witnessed is physically dragging her under, and Reilly plays it with the kind of barely-held-together composure that keeps you watching through your fingers. Meanwhile, Eric Bull (Rafe Spall) is trapped in a confined space, desperately hammering at a locked door with a spirit level. Spall’s increasingly frantic cries carry more than a hint of his father Timothy’s vocal range, which is either touching or distracting depending on your feelings about Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. Either way, this has been one of the better Sky original dramas, and the finale has a lot of threads to pull together. Catch up via Now.
Late Night
The Graham Norton Show — BBC One, 10:40pm (11pm Northern Ireland)
A compilation of the best moments from the latest series, featuring guests including Robbie Williams. If you’ve missed any episodes, this is your catch-up in condensed form.
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy — ITV1, 10:45pm
The critically acclaimed dramatisation continues with an episode that focuses on two of Gacy’s victims — Billy Carroll and Dale Landingin — and depicts them as far more than the dehumanising labels that were once attached to them. Both young men are shown as individuals with ambitions and drive, whose involvement in sex work in Chicago left them marginalised and tragically vulnerable. The series deliberately refuses to sensationalise, allowing the horror to build through careful accumulation rather than shock tactics. The full series is available on ITVX.
Scrapper — BBC Two, 11pm (not Wales)
Charlotte Regan’s 2023 debut feature won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, and it’s not hard to see why. Lola Campbell — who later played Britney Wainwright in EastEnders — is superb as Georgie, a resourceful 12-year-old living alone in her London flat after her mother’s death, who forms a wary bond with her estranged father (Harris Dickinson) when he turns up out of nowhere. Regan wanted to make a working-class British film that was joyful rather than dour, and she achieves it through vivid colour, fantasy flourishes and quick-cut editing that give the whole thing a fizzing energy. She even had the houses on the Limes Farm estate in Chigwell painted in pastel shades to brighten the palette. It’s a proper little gem. Catch up via BBC iPlayer.
Sport
Golf: South African Open — Day two from Stellenbosch on Sky Sports Main Event/Golf from 10:30am.
Snooker: Welsh Open — From Venue Cymru, Llandudno on TNT Sports 1 at 11:45am and 6:45pm; BBC Two Wales/BBC Red Button at 12 noon and 7pm.
Cricket: T20 World Cup — Super 8 match on Sky Sports Main Event/Cricket from 1pm (play starts 1:30pm).
Football: Premier League — Wolverhampton Wanderers v Aston Villa on Sky Sports Main Event/Premier League from 7:30pm (kick-off 8pm).
The Viewing Schedule
| Time | Channel | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 10:30am | Sky Sports ME/Golf | Golf: South African Open (Day 2) |
| 11:45am | TNT Sports 1 | Snooker: Welsh Open |
| 12:15pm | BBC One | Bargain Hunt (Olivier Awards Special) |
| 1:00pm | Sky Sports ME/Cricket | Cricket: T20 World Cup (Super 8) |
| 2:00pm | BBC One | Father Brown |
| 6:45pm | TNT Sports 1 | Snooker: Welsh Open (Evening Session) |
| 7:30pm | BBC One | MasterChef The Professionals |
| 7:30pm | Sky Sports ME/PL | Football: Wolves v Aston Villa (k/o 8pm) |
| 8:00pm | Channel 5 | Hippo Watch with Steve Backshall |
| 8:00pm | Channel 4 | How to Sleep Better |
| 8:30pm | BBC One | Would I Lie to You? |
| 9:00pm | BBC Two | Big Cats 24/7 |
| 9:00pm | BBC One | Death in Paradise |
| 9:00pm | More4 | Astrid: Murder in Paris |
| 9:00pm | Sky Atlantic | Under Salt Marsh (SERIES FINALE) |
| 10:40pm | BBC One | The Graham Norton Show (Highlights) |
| 10:45pm | ITV1 | Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy |
| 11:00pm | BBC Two | Scrapper (Film, 2023) |
What’s On Streaming
BBC iPlayer: Big Cats 24/7 (full series), Death in Paradise, Would I Lie to You?, MasterChef The Professionals, Father Brown (full series), Bargain Hunt, The Graham Norton Show, Scrapper
ITVX: Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (full series)
Channel 4 streaming: How to Sleep Better, Astrid: Murder in Paris
Channel 5 streaming/My5: Hippo Watch with Steve Backshall
Now: Under Salt Marsh (full series)
Sky Sports: Wolves v Aston Villa, South African Open, T20 World Cup
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is Big Cats 24/7 on BBC Two tonight?
Big Cats 24/7 returns to BBC Two at 9pm tonight (Friday 27th February 2026) for its second series. Gordon Buchanan and the camera team are back in Botswana’s Okavango Delta filming leopard cubs, the world’s biggest lion pride, and cheetahs. The full series is available on BBC iPlayer.
What time is Death in Paradise on TV tonight?
Death in Paradise is on BBC One at 9pm tonight (Friday 27th February 2026). Series 15 continues as DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) investigates the murder of an actor in a production of The Tempest. The case also reveals Wilson’s childhood habit of waiting by West End stage doors. Catch up via BBC iPlayer.
Is EastEnders on TV tonight?
No, EastEnders is not on tonight. EastEnders does not air on Fridays — it broadcasts Monday to Thursday on BBC One. You can catch up on any episodes you’ve missed via BBC iPlayer.
What time is Under Salt Marsh on Sky Atlantic tonight?
The series finale of Under Salt Marsh is on Sky Atlantic at 9pm tonight (Friday 27th February 2026). Kelly Reilly and Rafe Spall star in the storm-lashed conclusion to the crime thriller. Catch up via Now.
What’s the best thing to watch on TV tonight?
Our top picks for Friday 27th February 2026 are Big Cats 24/7 on BBC Two at 9pm — the second series returns with leopard cubs and the world’s biggest lion pride. Death in Paradise continues on BBC One at 9pm with a theatrical murder case. Under Salt Marsh reaches its series finale on Sky Atlantic at 9pm. Hippo Watch with Steve Backshall starts on Channel 5 at 8pm, and Would I Lie to You? on BBC One at 8:30pm features Holly Willoughby, Gladiator Fire and David Morrissey.
What’s on BBC One tonight?
BBC One tonight (Friday 27th February 2026) includes MasterChef The Professionals at 7:30pm, Would I Lie to You? at 8:30pm with Holly Willoughby, Montell Douglas, David Morrissey and John Kearns, Death in Paradise at 9pm with a Tempest murder case, and The Graham Norton Show highlights at 10:40pm.
Is there Premier League football on TV tonight?
Yes, Wolverhampton Wanderers host Aston Villa at Molineux in Friday night Premier League action. Coverage starts at 7:30pm on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with kick-off at 8pm. Wolves are bottom of the table; Villa sit third.
Final Verdict
Big Cats 24/7 on BBC Two at 9pm is the standout tonight. The second series of this Botswana wildlife documentary opens with footage that ranges from heart-melting to gut-wrenching, often within the space of minutes. Gordon Buchanan’s leopard cub sequences are irresistible, and the lion pride politics — a struggling matriarch, a greedy alpha male and a family of hungry cubs — provide enough drama to fill a soap opera. It’s nature programming at its very best: beautiful, honest and deeply absorbing.
At the same time, Death in Paradise on BBC One at 9pm delivers a theatrical murder with a side of character development that gives Don Gilet some of his warmest material yet. The stage-door revelation is a small, lovely touch. Under Salt Marsh on Sky Atlantic at 9pm concludes with a storm-battered finale that rewards those who’ve stuck with it — Kelly Reilly is outstanding throughout.
Earlier in the evening, Hippo Watch on Channel 5 at 8pm is a properly gripping nature documentary from Steve Backshall, whose nerves around hippos are entirely justified by the statistics. Would I Lie to You? at 8:30pm on BBC One has one of the stronger panels of the series, with Montell Douglas and John Kearns both proving excellent additions.
For late-night viewing, Scrapper on BBC Two at 11pm is a genuine gem — Charlotte Regan’s Sundance-winning debut about a father and daughter reconnecting is joyful, colourful and utterly charming. Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy on ITV1 at 10:45pm continues to be quietly devastating.
Football fans have Wolves v Aston Villa at 8pm on Sky Sports, plus the Welsh Open snooker on TNT Sports and BBC, the South African Open golf on Sky Sports, and T20 World Cup cricket. A packed Friday.
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Related: What’s On TV Tonight Friday | What’s On TV Tonight Thurs 26 Feb 2026 | What’s On TV Tonight Sat 28 Feb 2026
