Sunday night telly’s looking decent tonight. We’ve got a sobering real-time Titanic documentary, festive murder in the Caribbean, and ice skating legends saying goodbye. Not a bad mix, really.
Quick Picks: Tonight’s Best…
- Titanic Sinks Tonight – BBC Two, 9pm – Harrowing real-time recreation of the disaster
- Death in Paradise – BBC One, 8:30pm – Festive murder mystery with a Swindon twist
- Torvill & Dean: The Last Dance – ITV1, 9:30pm – Emotional farewell documentary
- Royal Institution Christmas Lectures – BBC Four, 7pm – Is there life out there?
Early Evening: Family Viewing (7pm – 8pm)
Royal Institution Christmas Lectures: Is There Life Beyond Earth? – BBC Four, 7pm
Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock kicks off her three-part Christmas lecture marking 200 years since Michael Faraday started the tradition. She’s exploring whether we’re alone in the universe, covering everything from the moon to interstellar travel. Proper science telly – the kind that makes you feel smarter without trying too hard.
Fletchers’ Family Farm at Christmas – ITV1, 7:30pm
The Fletchers head to Austria for a festive farm visit. Kelvin, Liz and their four kids learn about local traditions and attempt a chaotic gingerbread bake-off. It’s cosy Sunday viewing – nothing groundbreaking, but harmless enough if you’re after something gentle before the main event.
Prime Time Picks (8pm onwards)
Death in Paradise – BBC One, 8:30pm
The festive special sees DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) investigating a very awkward office party aftermath. Colleagues wake up hungover to find a stranger shot dead in their villa pool, which is one way to ruin Boxing Day. The weird bit? The victim has a reindeer name inked on his hand, and the murder weapon traces back to Swindon. Saint Marie meets Wiltshire – not a crossover I saw coming.
Torvill & Dean: The Last Dance – ITV1, 9:30pm
Forty years after Bolero made them household names, Jayne and Chris are hanging up their skates. This documentary follows them preparing for their final tour, with plenty of reflection on what it took to become Britain’s best-ever ice dancers. If you grew up watching them, have tissues ready.
Titanic Sinks Tonight – BBC Two, 9pm ⭐
This is tonight’s must-watch. The four-part series relives the Titanic’s final 160 minutes in real time, using actors to read from first-hand testimonies, letters and telegrams. It starts on the evening of 14 April when ice warnings came through while passengers partied or slept. What makes it properly affecting is the focus on second and third class passengers searching for a new life. Sobering, fascinating, essential viewing.
Late Night
The Godfather – BBC Two, 10pm
If you somehow haven’t seen it, or fancy a rewatch, Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece is on. The Corleone family saga kicks off here – Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, that opening wedding scene. It’s nearly three hours but earns every minute.
Tennis: Battle of the Sexes – BBC One, 3:45pm (earlier)
Live coverage from Dubai of the exhibition match. Is it sport or showbiz? Probably both. Given the constant online discourse about women’s sport, this has a slightly queasy feel, but the BBC’s showing it live if you’re interested.
What’s On Streaming
- Murder on the Orient Express – BBC Two, 3:25pm (or iPlayer) – Kenneth Branagh’s moustache investigates
- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – ITV1, 2:50pm – The divisive fourth Indy film
The Viewing Schedule
| Time | Channel | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 3:45pm | BBC One | Tennis: Battle of the Sexes |
| 7:00pm | BBC Four | Royal Institution Christmas Lectures |
| 7:30pm | ITV1 | Fletchers’ Family Farm at Christmas |
| 8:30pm | BBC One | Death in Paradise |
| 9:00pm | BBC Two | Titanic Sinks Tonight |
| 9:30pm | ITV1 | Torvill & Dean: The Last Dance |
| 10:00pm | BBC Two | The Godfather |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is Titanic Sinks Tonight on TV?
Titanic Sinks Tonight is on BBC Two at 9pm tonight (Sunday 28th December 2025).
What’s the best thing to watch on TV tonight?
Our top pick is Titanic Sinks Tonight on BBC Two at 9pm – a sobering real-time documentary about the ship’s final 160 minutes using first-hand testimonies.
What channel is Death in Paradise on?
Death in Paradise is on BBC One at 8:30pm tonight.
What’s on BBC One tonight?
BBC One’s highlights tonight include Death in Paradise at 8:30pm – a festive murder mystery special set in Saint Marie.
What time is Torvill and Dean on TV?
Torvill & Dean: The Last Dance is on ITV1 at 9:30pm tonight, following their emotional farewell tour.
Final Verdict
Clear your evening for Titanic Sinks Tonight – it’s the kind of documentary that’ll stick with you. If you want something lighter first, the Death in Paradise festive special is solid, and Torvill & Dean’s farewell will please fans. Sunday night sorted.
