TV Guide UK Tonight: Thurs 5 Mar 2026 – Molly vs the Machines, The Apprentice & Misery

A heavyweight Thursday. Molly vs the Machines arrives on Channel 4 at 9pm — Marc Silver’s documentary about Ian Russell’s decade-long fight for social media regulation following his daughter Molly’s death in 2017 is terrifying and impossible to look away from. Over on BBC One at 9pm, The Apprentice goes considerably lighter, packing the candidates off to Egypt for a corporate away-day on the Red Sea, where their knowledge of the pharaohs will be tested and almost certainly found wanting. Murder Case concludes on BBC Two at 9pm with the trial for Arlene Fraser’s murder — a case with no body, no forensics and a suspiciously airtight alibi. Film fans get Misery on BBC Four at 9pm, Kathy Bates’s Oscar-winning turn that remains the gold standard for Stephen King adaptations. Earlier, EastEnders sees Gemma Bissix return as Clare at 7:30pm, and Dragons’ Den at 8pm welcomes Susie Ma back to the Den with Peter Jones’s puns in full flow. Plenty to get through.

Quick Picks: Tonight’s Best

• Molly vs the Machines — Channel 4, 9pm — Ian Russell’s fight against big tech after his daughter’s death. Harrowing from start to finish
• The Apprentice — BBC One, 9pm — The candidates head to Egypt for a Red Sea cruise and Sahara trek with grumpy executives
• Dragons’ Den — BBC One, 8pm — Susie Ma returns as guest dragon; Peter Jones and Steven Bartlett squabble over bags
• Misery — BBC Four, 9pm — Kathy Bates’s Oscar-winning performance in Rob Reiner’s 1990 Stephen King thriller
• EastEnders — BBC One, 7:30pm — Clare returns to Walford as Nigel’s dementia storyline reaches its final stages
• Alexander Armstrong in India — Channel 5, 8pm — New series: Mumbai slums, monsoon dabbawallas and a Varanasi cremation

Early Evening

Crufts — Channel 4, 3pm; More4, 6:30pm; Channel 4, 7:30pm

Claudia Winkleman is at the NEC with her pockets stuffed with treats, ready to interview the four-legged stars. The working group — dobermans, rottweilers and the like — is the first to be judged, followed by the pastoral group. There’s also coverage of the agility and flyball competitions, and with the reigning flyball champions sitting this one out, the field’s wide open. Clare presents the live action while Claudia does what Claudia does best: being charming at close range to things that can’t answer back. Catch up via Channel 4 streaming.

EastEnders — BBC One, 7:30pm

Gemma Bissix is back in Walford, reprising the role of Clare that she first played as a child over 30 years ago. The return is fraught with emotion: Nigel’s dementia storyline is heading towards its heartbreaking final stages, and Clare clashes with Julie as she comes to terms with his diagnosis while helping Phil settle him into a care home. Bissix went on to achieve double soap stardom as Hollyoaks’ heightened baddie Claire Devine — whose differences from her EastEnders alter ego run deeper than an extra vowel in her name — but it’s as Nigel’s sweet yet strong little girl that she’s most fondly remembered. Catch up via BBC iPlayer.

Cars: What’s Driving Up Costs Tonight? — ITV1, 7:30pm

Paul Brand investigates why the cost of running a car has soared in recent years. If you’ve looked at an insurance quote lately and wondered whether they’d accidentally added a zero, this might provide some answers. On at 10:45pm on STV.

Prime Time

Dragons’ Den — BBC One, 8pm

Susie Ma returns to the Den as a guest dragon, and her tolerance for Peter Jones’s puns is tested from the outset. His response to a food composting product — “what a load of rubbish” — is exactly the kind of joke that makes Deborah Meaden visibly wince, though Meaden’s warning not to encourage him falls on deaf ears. The real entertainment comes when Peter and Steven Bartlett both take a shine to some stylish bags and squabble over which sample they get to keep. Also pitching: a pre-owned kitchen business and a range of make-your-own drink kits. The funniest moment belongs to the entrepreneur who ends his pitch by saying “I’m not looking forward to your questions, but I suppose I’m here now” — a line that could double as the show’s unofficial motto. Catch up via BBC iPlayer.

Alexander Armstrong in India — Channel 5, 8pm (NEW SERIES)

Alexander Armstrong was last in India 45 years ago as a “wide-eyed backpacker.” He’s back to take the pulse of a country now home to 1.4 billion people, and the contrast between then and now is stark. He starts in sprawling, bustling Mumbai, where he views a lavish apartment — yours for a modest three million quid — before touring the slums of Dharavi just a stone’s throw away. When the monsoon hits, he dons a hat to help the famous dabbawallas, who deliver home-cooked lunches to businessmen across the city with an accuracy rate that puts most courier services to shame. He then travels to Varanasi to observe a cremation. “It’s a sobering moment,” Armstrong says, but he’s “surprised how normal it feels” as the pyre burns and the person’s soul is released. It’s an honest reaction, and it sets the tone for what looks like a thoughtful series. Catch up via Channel 5 streaming.

Emmerdale — ITV1, 8pm

Cain Dingle reaches crisis point. Sarah has had enough of watching him hide his aggressive prostate cancer diagnosis and pushes him to tell his inner circle, but Cain insists on keeping it from Moira — who, to be fair, has enough on her plate between proving she’s innocent of double murder and fighting off the Tates’ attempt to seize her farm. The thing is, it’s been fairly easy for Cain to disguise that something’s wrong: being short-tempered, monosyllabic and moody is his default setting. If he started smiling and skipping around the village, that’s when people would start to worry. Catch up via ITVX.

Molly vs the Machines — Channel 4, 9pm ⭐

The one to watch tonight, though “watch” might be too gentle a word. Marc Silver’s documentary is built around a cause that feels increasingly like a broadside in a lost cause — as big tech loosens regulations and safeguards in the name of free speech, the protections that campaigners have spent years fighting for are being stripped away. But it might not feel quite so hopeless were its central figure not so relentless and impressive.

Ian Russell spent almost a decade campaigning for more regulation of social media and greater protections for its most enthusiastic and vulnerable users, following the 2017 death of his daughter Molly — an ostensibly happy, popular and sociable 14-year-old who took her own life. The documentary, made in close collaboration with the Russell family, reveals both Molly’s repeated exposure to harmful material concerning depression, suicide and self-harm, and the apparent indifference of the social media platforms to the consequences of prioritising engagement over content.

It’s a programme that leaves you angry and sad in roughly equal measure. Russell’s determination is remarkable, and Silver films it without sensationalism or manipulation. The facts are devastating enough on their own. If you’re a parent with children online, watch it. Catch up via Channel 4 streaming.

The Apprentice — BBC One, 9pm

Applying for The Apprentice is a bit of a lottery — one year you’re selling hot tubs in Shepton Mallet, another you might be stripping to your underwear to sell cereal. This lot have lucked out. The first week’s trip to Hong Kong has now been followed by another foreign jaunt, and this time they’re jetting off to Egypt for the dreaded corporate away-day task.

The challenge: take sour-faced executives on a cruise of the Red Sea and across the Sahara, hoping they’ve crammed enough Wikipedia facts about the pharaohs to avoid refunds. It exposes every gap in a candidate’s general knowledge, and the gaps this week are spectacular. Still, even if they’re fired, this crop have collected enough airmiles to move up a tier on British Airways. And who cares about the losers’ cafe when you have BA lounge access? Catch up via BBC iPlayer.

Murder Case: The Hunt for Arlene Fraser’s Killer — BBC Two, 9pm (not Wales)

The concluding episode. When young mother Arlene Fraser disappeared in 1998, there was scant evidence as to her whereabouts. Years later, still no forensics, no body. Her husband Nat Fraser — previously convicted for assaulting Arlene — had maintained a solid alibi for the window of time she went missing. Suspiciously solid. This second episode covers the case and the trial for Arlene’s murder, and following three weeks of evidence, the jury delivered their verdict. But that was far from the end of the story. A compelling and deeply unsettling piece of true crime. Available on BBC iPlayer.

The Hotel Inspector — Channel 5, 9pm

The Navigator Hotel in Bognor Regis has a terrific seaside location and often runs at full occupancy, which makes what follows all the more frustrating: the building is crumbling and likeable novice hotelier Kathleen, 56, is drowning in debt. She’s solely responsible for a large family, including helpful 12-year-old Hope. Alex Polizzi has practical suggestions about improving the decor — always one of the show’s pleasures — but it’s Kathleen’s finances that need the most urgent attention. Hearing Alex explain a proper pricing strategy for the hotel’s enormous menu makes you realise exactly why eating out has become so expensive. Catch up via Channel 5 streaming.

Prescription for Murder: True Crime Presents — ITV1, 9pm

How a hidden relationship led to tragedy for Evie Adams. Another entry in ITV’s True Crime strand.

Late Night

Misery — BBC Four, 9pm

Four stars. Rob Reiner’s tense 1990 thriller remains the only Stephen King adaptation to win an Academy Award, and rewatching it 36 years on, it’s easy to see why. Kathy Bates won the Oscar for her performance as Annie Wilkes, an avid romance reader with a dark past who rescues — then kidnaps — her favourite author Paul Sheldon (James Caan) at her remote home after a car crash. Bates was almost unknown as a film actor when she took the role; Bette Midler, who turned it down, later said she bitterly regretted her decision. Midler’s loss was cinema’s gain. Bates brings a chilling domesticity to Annie — all hot cocoa and tucked-in blankets before the violence erupts — and Caan is superb as the increasingly desperate captive. Followed at 10:40pm by a 2006 interview with Stephen King. Catch up via BBC iPlayer.

Sport

Football: Premier League — Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace on TNT Sports 1 from 7pm (kick-off 8:15pm). Igor Tudor’s third game as Spurs’ interim coach.

Darts: Premier League — Action from Cardiff on Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm.

Tennis: Indian Wells Open — On Sky Sports Tennis from 7pm, then Sky Sports Main Event from 11pm.

Golf: Arnold Palmer Invitational — Day one from Orlando, Florida on Sky Sports Golf/Main Event from 3:30pm.

Crufts — Channel 4 at 3pm and 7:30pm; More4 at 6:30pm.

The Viewing Schedule

What’s On Streaming

BBC iPlayer: Dragons’ Den, The Apprentice, EastEnders, Murder Case: The Hunt for Arlene Fraser’s Killer, Misery, This Farming Life
ITVX: Emmerdale, Prescription for Murder: True Crime Presents, Cars: What’s Driving Up Costs Tonight?
Channel 4 streaming: Molly vs the Machines, Crufts
Channel 5 streaming/My5: Alexander Armstrong in India, The Hotel Inspector
TNT Sports: Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace
Sky Sports: Premier League Darts (Cardiff), Indian Wells Open, Arnold Palmer Invitational

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is Molly vs the Machines on Channel 4 tonight?

Molly vs the Machines is on Channel 4 at 9pm tonight (Thursday 5th March 2026). Marc Silver’s documentary follows Ian Russell’s decade-long campaign for social media regulation after the death of his daughter Molly in 2017. It reveals her repeated exposure to harmful material online and the indifference of social media platforms. Catch up via Channel 4 streaming.

What time is The Apprentice on BBC One tonight?

The Apprentice is on BBC One at 9pm tonight (Thursday 5th March 2026). The candidates head to Egypt for the corporate away-day task, taking executives on a cruise of the Red Sea and across the Sahara. It follows the Hong Kong trip from the first week. Catch up via BBC iPlayer.

Is EastEnders on TV tonight?

Yes, EastEnders is on BBC One at 7:30pm tonight (Thursday 5th March 2026). EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday. Tonight’s episode sees Gemma Bissix return as Clare, with Nigel’s dementia storyline reaching its heartbreaking final stages. Catch up via BBC iPlayer.

What time is Misery on BBC Four tonight?

Misery is on BBC Four at 9pm tonight (Thursday 5th March 2026). Rob Reiner’s 1990 thriller stars Kathy Bates in her Oscar-winning role as Annie Wilkes and James Caan as the kidnapped author Paul Sheldon. It’s the only Stephen King adaptation to win an Academy Award. Followed at 10:40pm by a 2006 interview with Stephen King. Catch up via BBC iPlayer.

What’s the best thing to watch on TV tonight?

Our top pick for Thursday 5th March 2026 is Molly vs the Machines on Channel 4 at 9pm — an essential documentary about Ian Russell’s campaign against social media harm. The Apprentice on BBC One at 9pm is great fun as the candidates head to Egypt. Dragons’ Den at 8pm features Susie Ma as guest dragon. Misery on BBC Four at 9pm is a genuine classic. Alexander Armstrong in India starts on Channel 5 at 8pm.

What’s on BBC One tonight?

BBC One tonight (Thursday 5th March 2026) includes EastEnders at 7:30pm with Clare’s return to Walford, Dragons’ Den at 8pm with guest dragon Susie Ma and some entertaining squabbling between Peter Jones and Steven Bartlett, and The Apprentice at 9pm as the candidates jet off to Egypt for the corporate away-day task.

Is there Premier League football on TV tonight?

Yes, Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace is live on TNT Sports 1 tonight (Thursday 5th March 2026). Coverage starts at 7pm with kick-off at 8:15pm. It’s interim coach Igor Tudor’s third game in charge of Spurs as they host the Eagles.

Final Verdict

Molly vs the Machines on Channel 4 at 9pm is the one to watch tonight. Marc Silver’s documentary about Ian Russell’s fight for social media regulation is not comfortable viewing, and it shouldn’t be. Russell’s calm determination and the family’s willingness to share their story give it a power that no amount of corporate PR can deflect. With tech companies actively rolling back safeguards, the timing makes it all the more uncomfortable.

For something altogether lighter, The Apprentice on BBC One at 9pm delivers the goods with an Egyptian adventure that is exactly as chaotic as you’d hope. The candidates’ attempts to bluff their way through ancient history provide plenty of cringe, which this show has always been good at. Earlier, Dragons’ Den at 8pm is one of the more entertaining editions this run — Susie Ma’s return as guest dragon and Peter Jones’s relentless puns make it a proper laugh.

Misery on BBC Four at 9pm hasn’t aged a day. Kathy Bates is extraordinary and James Caan matches her beat for beat. If you’ve never seen it, tonight’s the night. If you have, it’s worth another go.

EastEnders at 7:30pm is worth watching: Gemma Bissix’s return as Clare runs alongside Nigel’s dementia storyline, while Alexander Armstrong in India on Channel 5 at 8pm is a promising new series from a presenter who handles the contrast between wealth and poverty with more grace than most.

Murder Case on BBC Two at 9pm wraps up the Arlene Fraser story with a conclusion that is anything but straightforward, and Emmerdale at 8pm on ITV1 has Cain Dingle at his most stubborn — which, given his track record, is really saying something.

Sport fans have Tottenham v Crystal Palace on TNT Sports at 8:15pm, Premier League Darts from Cardiff on Sky Sports, Indian Wells tennis and the start of the Arnold Palmer Invitational from Orlando. Plus there’s Crufts across Channel 4 and More4 all afternoon and evening.

Related: What’s On TV Tonight Thursday | What’s On TV Tonight Wed 4 Mar 2026 | What’s On TV Tonight Fri 6 Mar 2026

Clint Edgar

Clint is a writer and self-proclaimed professional binge-watcher who treats the "Skip Intro" button with the suspicion it deserves. When he isn't dissecting plot holes or getting emotionally invested in fictional characters, you can find him scrolling through streaming queues or arguing about why The Office is a masterpiece. Clint lives in London with a dangerously comfortable couch and a remote control that he guards with his life.