Sunday night television is stacked. ITV1 launches The Lady at 9pm, a gripping new four-part drama starring Mia McKenna-Bruce as Jane Andrews, the dresser and personal aide to Sarah Ferguson who murdered her lover in 2000. It is a rags-to-riches tale with a dramatic fall-from-grace ending, and McKenna-Bruce — fresh from her BAFTA-winning turn in How to Have Sex — is magnetic in the lead role. BBC One, meanwhile, gives itself over to the BAFTA Film Awards from 7pm, with Alan Cumming hosting and promising mischief, before Lord of the Flies returns at 9pm with its most harrowing episode yet. The Winter Olympics bows out with a closing ceremony from Arena Verona, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? returns to its classic format on ITV1 at 8pm, and The Great Pottery Throw Down reaches the quarter-finals on Channel 4. Sport fans have the North London derby on Sky Sports and France versus Italy in the Six Nations on ITV1. A Sunday packed with options.
TV Guide UK: Quick Picks
- BAFTA Film Awards — BBC One, 7pm — Alan Cumming hosts; One Battle After Another leads with 14 nods
- The Great Pottery Throw Down — Channel 4, 7:45pm — Quarter-final body sculptures
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? — ITV1, 8pm — Classic format returns with Clarkson
- Eurovision Classical Concerts — BBC Four, 8pm — Gulbenkian Orchestra from Lisbon
- The Lady — ITV1, 9pm — NEW SERIES: Mia McKenna-Bruce, Natalie Dormer (★★★★)
- Lord of the Flies — BBC One, 9pm — Episode 3: Simon. Tribal dance ends tragically (★★★★)
- 999: On the Front Line — More4, 9pm — West Midlands Ambulance Service (★★★★)
- The Wild Duck — BBC Four, 10pm — Ibsen classic with Denholm Elliott (★★★★)
- Murdoch Mysteries — U&Alibi, 7pm — Sally Lindsay guest stars
Afternoon Sport
France v Italy — ITV1, 2:20pm (k/o 3:10pm)
Six Nations Round 4 takes us to Lille, where France host Italy at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. After an eventful first half of the championship, both sides will be looking to build momentum heading into the final rounds. France, as ever, are formidable at home, with the Parisian crowd generating an atmosphere that few stadiums in world rugby can match. Italy, however, have demonstrated in recent tournaments that they are no longer the whipping boys of the competition. A result in Paris would be a statement of genuine intent.
Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal — Sky Sports, 4pm (k/o 4:30pm)
The North London derby. Always electric, always unpredictable. Tottenham host Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a match that could have significant implications at both ends of the Premier League table. Available on Sky Sports Main Event from 4:25pm and Sky Sports Premier League from 4pm. If you do not have Sky, this is the one to arrange a trip to the pub for.
Women’s FA Cup — TNT Sports 1
A double header of Women’s FA Cup football on TNT Sports 1. Chelsea host Manchester United at 1pm (kick-off 1:30pm), followed by the Merseyside derby as Liverpool face Everton at 4pm (kick-off 4:30pm). Two quality ties that underline the growing depth and competitiveness of the women’s game.
Winter Olympics — Final Day
Closing Ceremony — 5:30pm TNT Sports 2 / 7pm BBC Two
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics reach their conclusion with a closing ceremony staged at the spectacular Arena Verona — the ancient Roman amphitheatre that has hosted opera and concerts for centuries, and tonight becomes the backdrop for sport’s grandest farewell.
As reviewer Gabriel Tate notes, the ceremony has been “conceived by ‘content experience makers’ Filmmaster, who oversaw the closing ceremonies of both Euro 2024 and the same year’s Copa America and will weave together music, art and sport in a celebration of competition and togetherness before the baton is passed for 2030’s Games.”
TNT Sports 2 has the early coverage from 5:30pm; BBC Two picks it up from 5:15pm with Clare Balding presenting. If you have followed these Games from the thrilling opening ceremony through to today, this is the emotional full stop — though the Winter Paralympics will launch at the same venue in less than a fortnight. BBC Two coverage runs alongside the BAFTA Film Awards on BBC One, giving viewers a genuine scheduling dilemma.
Snooker: Players Championship Final — Channel 5, 6:30pm
The Players Championship reaches its climax at the Telford International Centre with the second session of the best-of-19 frames final. Channel 5’s first year broadcasting the event has delivered strong coverage, and the final promises a quality conclusion.
Early Evening (7pm — 8pm)
BAFTA Film Awards — BBC One, 7pm
The biggest night in the British film calendar, and this year’s ceremony has genuine intrigue running through it. As Calum Baker observes, “shortlists for film gongs are getting repetitive these days, as the awards season culminates in just a few favourites dominating across the board. On the bright side, this year’s stellar clutch of BAFTA nominees could make for an unpredictable spread of winners.”
The front runner is One Battle After Another, the blazing semi-comic thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio as an ex-revolutionary trying to find and rescue his daughter, which leads with a staggering 14 nominations. Sinners — Michael B Jordan playing twin brothers running a 1930s Deep South bar targeted by a demonic force — is close on its tail, alongside Hamnet (Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal in the affecting tale of the tragedy behind Shakespeare’s most famous play), Marty Supreme (Timothee Chalamet as a slimy table tennis prodigy in 1950s New York), and the relative underdog Sentimental Value, a Norwegian drama starring Renate Reinsve as an actor whose estranged father re-enters her life.
Taking over hosting duties is the wonderful Alan Cumming. “Perhaps unsurprisingly, given his recent work presenting The Traitors US and unsettling a lot of Americans in the process, Cumming has pledged to ‘hopefully make some mischief’ as he emcees one of the glitziest nights in the film calendar.” After the somewhat safe hosting choices of recent years, Cumming feels like exactly the right appointment — unpredictable, witty, and more than capable of puncturing the self-importance that awards ceremonies can sometimes generate. Catch up via BBC iPlayer.
Murdoch Mysteries — U&Alibi, 7pm
A treat for Coronation Street fans tonight. Thomas Craig reunites with former castmate Sally Lindsay, who turns up playing Inspector Brackenreid’s second cousin thrice removed — a well-known mystery writer whose name, Nigella Fletcher, is surely a nod to Jessica Fletcher, the author and amateur sleuth in Murder, She Wrote.
As David Brown notes, “like Angela Lansbury in that series, Nigella is something of an irritant to the official constabulary, in this case Murdoch, whose hackles rise when she starts accompanying him to crime scenes. But his pain is our pleasure, especially when the script allows Lindsay to allude to the role that made her name. ‘I used to work behind a bar,’ notes Nigella at one point. Was that in Weatherfield, Nigella?” Lightweight but thoroughly enjoyable. Catch up on Now.
The Great Pottery Throw Down — Channel 4, 7:45pm — QUARTER-FINAL
The competition reaches the business end, and this quarter-final episode is one of the most emotionally charged of the entire series. As Jane Rackham reports, “the challenge for the remaining potters is to create a sculpture depicting their body in movement and then smoke-fire it. They all choose deeply personal, emotional or traumatic moments in their life — giving birth, times of self-doubt — so there are a lot of wobbly lips and watering eyes. And not just from Keith Brymer Jones this time.”
The smoke-firing technique adds a layer of visual drama to proceedings — the unpredictability of the process means the potters must surrender a degree of control to the flames, which is either poetic or terrifying depending on your temperament. Rich Miller’s throw down challenge is also inspired by body parts (“it involves shoulders, lips and a waist”), and he offers some useful tips to the potters such as “good sticking is all about the wiggle.” Make of that what you will. Catch up via Channel 4 streaming.
Prime Time (8pm onwards)
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? — ITV1, 8pm
After last month’s fast-paced spin-off, Millionaire Hot Seat, proved divisive with viewers, it is back to the original version of the classic gameshow — and all the better for it. As Michael Hogan writes, “it’s six years since the last jackpot winner, Newport teacher Donald Fear, who remains the only millionaire during the Jeremy Clarkson era. The host would love to dish out another top prize. Can any contestants hold their nerve and climb the money ladder?”
The format remains irresistible. Six hopefuls play Fastest Finger First to win a place in the chair. Once in the spotlight, they face 15 increasingly difficult general knowledge questions, helped along by four precious lifelines. “Clarkson expertly cranks up the tension” — and he does. The pauses, the raised eyebrows, the theatrical “final answer?” that has been making palms sweat since Chris Tarrant first uttered it in 1998. Millionaire is television at its simplest and most effective, and the classic format is where it belongs. Catch up via ITVX.
Eurovision Classical Concerts — BBC Four, 8pm
The sophisticated classical cousin of the song contest makes its third stop on a tour of European orchestras, and tonight’s destination is Lisbon — specifically the 1,203-capacity Grande Auditorio of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, built as a bequest from the oil baron and philanthropist who made the Portuguese capital his final home.
As John Aizlewood notes, this is “the home of the Gulbenkian Orchestra, the former chamber ensemble expanded into a symphony powerhouse.” Tonight they perform under the baton of debutant Uzbek conductor Aziz Shokhakimov, who leads them through a programme of wonderfully nautical character: Smetana’s Vltava — the great tone poem depicting the journey of the Czech river from mountain springs to the Elbe — alongside Debussy’s similarly water-themed La Mer and Ravel’s “brief but multi-faceted La Valse.” Three masterworks, one outstanding orchestra, and a conductor making his mark. A refined Sunday evening alternative. Catch up on BBC iPlayer.
The Lady — ITV1, 9pm — NEW FOUR-PART DRAMA
The evening’s headline new drama. The Lady tells the inspired-by-true-events story of Jane Andrews, the former dresser and personal aide to Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, who murdered her lover Thomas Cressman in September 2000. It is a story of ambition, class, proximity to power, and the devastating consequences when all three combine.
Mia McKenna-Bruce stars as Jane, a young woman with lofty aspirations that are spectacularly realised in the early 1990s when she applies for a job in London and discovers it is at Buckingham Palace. She gradually becomes close to the headstrong Sarah Ferguson — played with charismatic authority by Natalie Dormer — who believes Jane has “spirit.” As Jane Rackham writes, “it’s told as a real rags-to-riches tale… with a dramatic fall-from-grace ending.”
Ed Speleers plays Thomas Cressman — Jane’s eventual victim — while Philip Glenister and Claire Skinner round out a strong supporting cast. McKenna-Bruce, whose BAFTA-winning performance in How to Have Sex announced her as one of the most compelling young actors in British cinema, brings a quality of quiet intensity to Jane that is deeply unsettling precisely because it is so controlled. You watch her navigate the world of royal service — the protocols, the hierarchies, the casual cruelties of a system that elevates certain people while reminding them at every turn that they do not truly belong — and you feel the pressure building beneath the surface. Natalie Dormer, no stranger to playing women operating within the constraints of power (she was Anne Boleyn in The Tudors and Margaery Tyrell in Game of Thrones), is superb as Sarah Ferguson, capturing both the warmth and the recklessness that defined the Duchess’s public persona.
Debbie O’Malley’s script taps into our enduring preoccupation with class and the royal family — themes that have proved inexhaustible for British drama in recent years. The cast of familiar faces fills out a world that feels both glamorous and claustrophobic. The full series is available on ITVX for those who cannot wait; episode two airs tomorrow at 9pm. At four stars, this is the drama to watch tonight.
Lord of the Flies — BBC One, 9pm — Episode 3: Simon
The most harrowing episode yet. After the first instalment established the rules of the island and the second explored the darkness within Jack, this third episode shifts perspective to Simon — played by Ike Talbut — a shy, kind boy who represents the last vestiges of civilised behaviour in William Golding’s novel.
As the magazine review notes, “the mood of this episode mainly reflects his gentle personality, despite things on the island suddenly taking a nasty turn. That’s because Jack’s tribe isn’t worrying about practical things like keeping the beacon fire going or building shelters. They’re becoming increasingly savage, although there is one shared concern: the Beast. After an unsuccessful hunt to kill it, the boys engage in a tribal dance that ends tragically.”
Ike Talbut brings a gentle, empathetic quality to Simon that serves as a devastating counterpoint to the savagery consuming the group around him. The tribal dance sequence is genuinely harrowing — handled with the kind of restraint that makes it more powerful, not less. If you have been following the series, this is the episode that will linger longest. If you have not, all episodes are available on BBC iPlayer. Jack Thorne’s adaptation continues to justify itself as essential television.
999: On the Front Line — More4, 9pm
The immersive documentary series following 12-hour shifts at West Midlands Ambulance Service returns with another set of dramatic cases. The scale of the operation is staggering: the control room receives 4,000 calls per day.
As Michael Hogan reports, “this episode features a handful of them — including a motorcyclist who’s collided with a car on a busy road. Police, fire, the public and paramedics all need to work together to get him to hospital. Other patients include an 11-year-old girl who’s had a seizure, a woman with severe chest pains and a man whose heavily bleeding head wound shows no signs of stopping. In the control room, a caller is talked through performing CPR.”
It is television that makes you profoundly grateful for the people who do this work, day after day, under relentless pressure and with diminishing resources. At four stars, this is the evening’s documentary pick. Catch up via Channel 4 streaming.
Secret Genius — Channel 4, 9pm
Alan Carr and Susie Dent present episode 5 of the entertainment quiz. A lighter option at 9pm for those not in the mood for murder (The Lady) or savagery (Lord of the Flies).
Late Night
Match of the Day — BBC One, 10:30pm
Highlights from the day’s Premier League matches, including the North London derby — Tottenham Hotspur versus Arsenal. If you could not watch the match live on Sky, this is where you catch up.
The Wild Duck — BBC Four, 10pm
A genuine archive treasure from the BBC vaults, resurrected as part of the corporation’s Ibsen season. Henrik Ibsen’s relentlessly bleak The Wild Duck was premiered in 1885 and remains, as John Aizlewood writes, “amongst the greatest of his greatest hits. Its themes of blindness, betrayal, self-delusion and whether secrets are best kept remain timeless.”
This 1971 BBC production features Denholm Elliott as the hapless Hjalmar Ekdal and Jenny Agutter as his tragic daughter Hedvig. “The sets creak, the lighting is dim, but with Denholm Elliott as the hapless Hjalmar Ekdal and Jenny Agutter as his tragic daughter Hedvig, the tension is almost palpable, while the wounded wild duck itself, marooned in the Ekdal attic, is drenched in symbolism. Undeniably compelling but certainly not for the faint-hearted.”
If you have the stamina for it after Lord of the Flies, this is a magnificent piece of dramatic archaeology. Two titanic performances in a production that reminds you just how extraordinary BBC drama used to be — and, at its best, still is. Available on iPlayer.
BAFTA Best Film Nominees — Where to Watch
If tonight’s ceremony inspires you to catch up on the contenders, here is where to find them:
- One Battle After Another — Available to buy/rent. Leonardo DiCaprio is the ex-revolutionary trying to find and rescue his daughter. 14 BAFTA nominations.
- Sinners — Available on Now Cinema and to buy/rent. Michael B Jordan plays twin brothers running a 1930s Deep South bar targeted by a demonic force.
- Hamnet — Available to buy/rent. Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal in the affecting tale of the tragedy behind Hamlet.
- Marty Supreme — Available to buy/rent. Timothee Chalamet as a slimy table tennis prodigy in 1950s New York.
- Sentimental Value — Available on Mubi and to buy/rent. Renate Reinsve plays an actor whose father slinks back into her life. The relative underdog with a robust eight nominations.
Sport Summary
Winter Olympics: The closing ceremony from Arena Verona is on TNT Sports 2 from 5:30pm and BBC Two from 7pm. Remaining medal events throughout the day on BBC Two from 9am.
Snooker: Players Championship Final on Channel 5 from 6:30pm — the second session, best of 19 frames.
Rugby: France v Italy in the Six Nations kicks off at 3:10pm on ITV1 from the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille.
Football (Premier League): Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal — the North London derby — kicks off at 4:30pm on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
Football (Women’s FA Cup): Chelsea v Manchester United at 1:30pm and Liverpool v Everton at 4:30pm, both on TNT Sports 1.
The Viewing Schedule
| Time | Channel | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00am | BBC Two | Winter Olympics 2026 (Final Day) |
| 1:00pm | TNT Sports 1 | Women’s FA Cup: Chelsea v Man Utd (KO 1:30pm) |
| 2:00pm | ITV1 | Six Nations: France v Italy (KO 3:10pm) |
| 4:00pm | TNT Sports 1 | Women’s FA Cup: Liverpool v Everton (KO 4:30pm) |
| 4:00pm | Sky Sports PL | Premier League: Tottenham v Arsenal (KO 4:30pm) |
| 5:15pm | BBC Two | Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony |
| 5:30pm | TNT Sports 2 | Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony |
| 6:30pm | Channel 5 | Snooker: Players Championship Final |
| 7:00pm | BBC One | EE BAFTA Film Awards |
| 7:00pm | U&Alibi | Murdoch Mysteries |
| 7:45pm | Channel 4 | The Great Pottery Throw Down (Quarter-Final) |
| 8:00pm | ITV1 | Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? |
| 8:00pm | BBC Four | Eurovision Classical Concerts |
| 9:00pm | ITV1 | The Lady (New Drama) |
| 9:00pm | BBC One | Lord of the Flies (Episode 3) |
| 9:00pm | Channel 4 | Secret Genius |
| 9:00pm | Channel 5 | Rich House, Poor House |
| 9:00pm | More4 | 999: On the Front Line |
| 10:00pm | BBC Four | The Wild Duck |
| 10:30pm | BBC One | Match of the Day |
What’s On Streaming
BBC iPlayer: BAFTA Film Awards (after broadcast), Lord of the Flies (full series), Eurovision Classical Concerts, The Wild Duck, Winter Olympics closing ceremony, Match of the Day
ITVX: The Lady (full four-part series), Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Six Nations France v Italy
Channel 4 streaming: The Great Pottery Throw Down (quarter-final), Secret Genius, 999: On the Front Line
Channel 5 / My5: Snooker Players Championship Final, Rich House Poor House
Now TV: Murdoch Mysteries, Tottenham v Arsenal Premier League highlights (via Sky Sports)
Discovery+/TNT Sports: Winter Olympics closing ceremony (full coverage)
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is The Lady on ITV1 tonight?
The Lady premieres on ITV1 at 9pm tonight (Sunday 22nd February 2026). The new four-part drama stars Mia McKenna-Bruce as Jane Andrews and Natalie Dormer as Sarah Ferguson. The full series is available to stream on ITVX. Episode two airs tomorrow at 9pm.
What time are the BAFTA Film Awards on TV tonight?
The BAFTA Film Awards are on BBC One from 7pm tonight (Sunday 22nd February 2026). Alan Cumming hosts. One Battle After Another leads with 14 nominations, closely followed by Sinners, Hamnet, Marty Supreme and Sentimental Value. Also available on BBC iPlayer.
What time is Lord of the Flies on TV tonight?
Lord of the Flies is on BBC One at 9pm tonight (Sunday 22nd February 2026). This is episode 3, titled Simon, seen through the eyes of Ike Talbut’s character. All episodes are available on BBC iPlayer.
What’s the best thing to watch on TV tonight?
Our top pick for drama is The Lady on ITV1 at 9pm — a compelling new four-part series starring Mia McKenna-Bruce as Jane Andrews. For film fans, the BAFTA Film Awards on BBC One from 7pm promise an unpredictable night with Alan Cumming hosting. Lord of the Flies episode 3 is essential for anyone following the series.
What time is the Winter Olympics closing ceremony on TV?
The closing ceremony is on BBC Two from 7pm and TNT Sports 2 from 5:30pm tonight (Sunday 22nd February 2026). It takes place at Arena Verona, bidding farewell to the Milano Cortina Games. The Winter Paralympics begin in less than a fortnight.
What time is Who Wants to Be a Millionaire on TV tonight?
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is on ITV1 at 8pm tonight (Sunday 22nd February 2026). It returns to the classic format. Jeremy Clarkson hosts as contestants try to climb the money ladder. Also available on ITVX.
What time is The Great Pottery Throw Down on tonight?
The Great Pottery Throw Down is on Channel 4 at 7:45pm tonight (Sunday 22nd February 2026). It is the quarter-final, with potters creating body-in-movement sculptures. Also available on Channel 4 streaming.
What football is on TV today?
The big match is Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal in the Premier League on Sky Sports Main Event (kick-off 4:30pm). In the Women’s FA Cup, Chelsea v Manchester United is on TNT Sports 1 (kick-off 1:30pm) followed by Liverpool v Everton (kick-off 4:30pm).
Final Verdict
A Sunday evening that justifies the licence fee and then some. The Lady on ITV1 at 9pm is the headline new drama — Mia McKenna-Bruce and Natalie Dormer are a formidable pairing, and Debbie O’Malley’s script turns the Jane Andrews story into something far more compelling than a straightforward true-crime retelling. It is a drama about class, ambition and the intoxicating proximity to power, told as a rags-to-riches tale with a fall-from-grace ending that looms over every scene. At four stars, it is the show to prioritise tonight, with the full series available on ITVX for those who want to binge.
BBC One plays its strongest card with the BAFTA Film Awards from 7pm, and Alan Cumming’s hosting is a genuine asset — the man who has been making Americans uncomfortable on The Traitors US now promises to bring the same mischievous energy to Britain’s biggest film night. The best-film race between One Battle After Another, Sinners, Hamnet, Marty Supreme and Sentimental Value is genuinely unpredictable. At 9pm, Lord of the Flies delivers its most emotionally devastating episode as Simon’s story reaches its tragic conclusion — Ike Talbut’s gentle performance makes the savagery around him all the more horrifying.
For sport, the Winter Olympics closing ceremony from Arena Verona provides a spectacular farewell to the Milano Cortina Games on BBC Two from 7pm, while the North London derby — Tottenham versus Arsenal at 4:30pm on Sky Sports — is the Premier League fixture of the weekend. France v Italy in the Six Nations on ITV1 from 2:20pm completes a strong afternoon of live sport.
The evening’s quiet gems deserve attention too. The Great Pottery Throw Down quarter-final on Channel 4 at 7:45pm is one of the most emotionally charged episodes of the series, with potters choosing deeply personal moments for their sculptures. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? returns to its classic format on ITV1 at 8pm, and Clarkson’s tension-building remains masterful. Eurovision Classical Concerts on BBC Four at 8pm offers a beautifully nautical programme from Lisbon. 999: On the Front Line on More4 at 9pm is a powerful documentary reminder of the extraordinary work paramedics do. And for the dedicated, The Wild Duck on BBC Four at 10pm — Denholm Elliott and Jenny Agutter in Ibsen’s devastating masterpiece — is a genuine archive treasure.
Across the evening, Murdoch Mysteries on U&Alibi at 7pm provides a lighter touch, with Sally Lindsay’s guest appearance delivering a warm Coronation Street reunion and a knowing wink to Murder, She Wrote.
A packed Sunday with something for every taste. Record what you cannot watch live — you will want to come back to most of it.
Related: Saturday 21 February 2026 TV Guide | Sunday TV Guide
