Wondering what's on TV tonight? Thursday's TV guide is unusually loaded for a midweek night. The 9pm slot alone offers a genuinely difficult four-way choice -- a hard-hitting documentary, The Apprentice in nostalgic mode, a chilling true-crime case and an emotional penultimate Last of Us. Check the TV listings below for the complete rundown, or browse the Freeview TV guide for every channel. There's enough on tonight to fill a weekend.
What's On TV Tonight: Quick Picks
- The Dunblane Tapes -- Channel 4, 9pm -- Documentary on the campaign that banned handguns in Britain
- The Apprentice -- BBC One, 9pm -- The candidates sell flowers in a nod to series one
- Murder Case -- BBC Two, 9pm -- The Scottish true-crime strand returns with a disturbing disappearance
- The Last of Us -- Sky Atlantic, 9pm -- Penultimate episode of season two
- Dragons' Den -- BBC One, 8pm -- Guest Dragon Jenna Meek joins the panel
- Spain with Michael Portillo -- Channel 5, 8pm -- Series finale on Ibiza
Is EastEnders on tonight?
Yes. EastEnders is on BBC One at 7.30pm tonight. Ravi's already bad situation takes another turn for the worse -- because things never just blow over in Walford, do they? Patrick and Yolande get a genuine shock courtesy of Denzel, who's been tinkering with AI to create a digital version of the late Anthony Trueman. It's a storyline that's part grief drama, part tech commentary, and it's more unsettling than you might expect from a Thursday teatime soap. Elsewhere, Penny lowers her defences around Vinny, which in Albert Square usually means someone's about to get hurt.
TV Guide: Early Evening (7pm -- 8pm)
EastEnders -- BBC One, 7.30pm
See above. The AI-Anthony plotline is genuinely interesting territory for EastEnders -- there's something properly eerie about a dead character being resurrected through a laptop, and the show seems aware of the ethical questions it's poking at. Whether Patrick can find comfort in a computer-generated version of his son remains to be seen, but it's certainly not your standard soap storyline. Half an hour, then straight into Dragons' Den.
Rising Scams -- ITV1, 7.30pm
Paul Brand fronts this investigation into the sheer scale of scam operations targeting the public. With an estimated 9.4 billion pounds stolen in 2025 alone, this is one of those shows that'll have you checking your phone with suspicion for the next week. Brand looks at what's actually being done to tackle the problem and -- more practically -- what you can do to avoid becoming a victim yourself. Useful rather than riveting, but the kind of programme you'll be glad you watched.
TV Tonight: Prime Time (8pm onwards)
Dragons' Den -- BBC One, 8pm
Episode five, and it opens with one of those pitches that makes the Dragons collectively wonder what on earth they've walked into. An entrepreneur arrives carrying a coffin, places it on a stand next to a phone box, and lets the confusion do the heavy lifting. Peter Jones looks genuinely unsettled. Steven Bartlett hasn't got a clue. It's exactly the sort of dramatic entrance this show thrives on, and you'll want to see where it goes. Beauty entrepreneur Jenna Meek joins as this week's guest Dragon, and the rest of the lineup includes someone pitching "glawning" (don't ask, just watch), fermented gut-health foods, and recyclable children's headphones.
Spain with Michael Portillo -- Channel 5, 8pm
The final episode of this consistently charming travelogue, and Portillo saves Ibiza for his farewell. But this isn't the Ibiza you're thinking of. He ducks away from the superclubs to find an island steeped in history -- watching traditional high-kicking dances at a village water celebration, exploring hidden passageways in the old town, making a Phoenician pottery figure, and ending up at a tiny bar in San Carlos that was apparently ground zero for the island's 1960s hippy movement. Portillo also has a go at the local dancing, with predictably limited success. A lovely send-off for a series that's consistently found the Spain the package holidays miss.
This Farming Life -- BBC Two, 8pm
The documentary strand about Scottish agriculture returns for an eighth run, and it opens with a storyline that would give most people heart palpitations. Hampshire couple Adam and Lucy have borrowed four million pounds to relocate their entire dairy operation -- sixty cows and all -- to a farm in Dumfriesshire. That's the kind of gamble that makes Grand Designs budgets look conservative. Over on the Isle of Arran, young farmers Callum and Zara need to get their pregnant cows sheared and their lambs to a mainland market, but winter storms are threatening the ferry service. And in Dornoch, a particularly stubborn bullock has his own views about being sold. Beautifully filmed, as always.
The Dunblane Tapes -- Channel 4, 9pm ⭐
This is tonight's essential viewing. On 13 March 1996, a gunman entered Dunblane Primary School and, in just three minutes, fired 105 bullets, killing sixteen children and their teacher, and injuring fifteen others. Anna Hall's documentary traces the aftermath -- specifically the Snowdrop Campaign, launched by bereaved parents and community members like Ann Pearston, who pledged to secure a handgun ban before the snowdrops returned the following spring. The timing of the broadcast, just a fortnight after yet another school shooting in North America, makes it feel horribly relevant. The film doesn't dwell on the violence longer than it needs to, instead focusing on how ordinary people channelled unimaginable grief into political action that actually changed the law. Runs ninety minutes, to 10.30pm. A difficult watch, but an important one.
The Apprentice -- BBC One, 9pm
Episode five of series twenty, and there's a nice bit of self-awareness here -- the candidates are tasked with arranging and selling flowers, which was the very first challenge back in the original 2005 series. Lord Sugar kicks things off by turning up at the house unannounced, dragging the half-asleep candidates down to the garden for their briefing. One team handles the corporate side, the other targets the public, and while the editing tries its best to make the result look close, you can generally tell which team is wilting long before the boardroom. Followed by The Apprentice: Unfinished Business at 10pm on BBC Two, where Angela Scanlon picks through the wreckage.
Murder Case: The Hunt for Arlene Fraser's Killer -- BBC Two, 9pm
The Scottish true-crime documentary series is back with a deeply unsettling case. In 1998, Arlene Fraser waved her children off to school one morning in Elgin and was never seen again. When police searched the house, everything looked startlingly normal -- washing hung out, the hoover still plugged in, as though she'd simply walked out the door and vanished. The investigation went months without a solid lead until an overheard conversation in a pub broke things open. The programme handles the material carefully, drawing on contributions from family members, journalists and detectives rather than leaning into any kind of sensationalism. Part one of two, with both episodes already on iPlayer.
Emmerdale -- ITV1, 8pm
Arthur's anger has been simmering for weeks, and tonight it boils over. He's furious with his mother Laurel for ever getting involved with Ray -- a man who turned out to be a drug dealer, put the whole family at risk, and whose death hasn't brought the closure anyone hoped for. When Arthur discovers that Laurel actually went to Ray's burial, the confrontation turns physical, and Laurel ends up falling down the stairs and losing consciousness. It's dark material, and the show is clearly signposting a difficult storyline about a child's violence towards a parent.
TV Guide UK: Late Night
The 39 Steps: The Read with John Hannah -- BBC Four, 9pm
John Hannah reads John Buchan's 1915 thriller as part of BBC Four's The Read strand, giving you the original story of Richard Hannay -- a man who winds up with a dead journalist in his flat and has to go on the run to both clear his name and prevent an international conspiracy. It's followed at 10pm by Hitchcock's near-perfect 1935 film adaptation with Robert Donat, which cheerfully ignores most of the book's plot but is brilliant regardless. A proper BBC Four double bill.
24 Hours in A&E -- Channel 4, 10.30pm
New series. A man arrives at A&E with two severed fingers in a bag of frozen peas after a wood-chopping accident, which is exactly as eye-watering as it sounds. There's also a professional cyclist called Max who's come off at high speed and hit his head. The usual blend of medical tension and human warmth that makes this show oddly comforting despite the injuries.
Django Unchained -- Film4, 9pm
Tarantino's 2012 western featuring Jamie Foxx as a freed slave who teams up with Christoph Waltz's eccentric bounty hunter to rescue his wife from Leonardo DiCaprio's plantation owner. It's nearly three and a half hours including breaks, so settle in. Violent, funny, uncomfortable and undeniably brilliant. Over-eighteens only.
Sport
Europa League: A big night of European football across TNT Sports. The main event is Nottingham Forest v Fenerbahce on TNT Sports 1 from 7.30pm (KO 8pm), with Forest sitting pretty after a three-goal first-leg lead. Stuttgart v Celtic kicks off earlier at 5pm on TNT Sports 2, with Celtic needing something special after losing the first leg by three goals. Crystal Palace v Zrinjski Mostar is on TNT Sports 3 from 7.30pm (KO 8pm) in the Conference League. Also on ITV1, Murder on a Knife's Edge at 9pm is a true-crime documentary rather than sport, but worth flagging alongside the evening's grim viewing.
Premier League Darts: Quarter-final night from Belfast on Sky Max from 7pm. Northern Ireland's Josh Rock takes on fellow newcomer Gian van Veen, and Michael van Gerwen faces Gerwyn Price. The home crowd will be fully behind Rock.
Tonight's TV Listings: Full Schedule
| Time | Channel | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00pm | BBC Two | Great British Menu |
| 7:00pm | Channel 5 | Celebrity Puzzling |
| 7:00pm | Sky Max | Live PL Darts: Belfast |
| 7:30pm | BBC One | EastEnders |
| 7:30pm | ITV1 | Rising Scams: What You Need to Know |
| 7:30pm | TNT Sports 1 | Live UEL: Nottingham Forest v Fenerbahce |
| 7:30pm | TNT Sports 3 | Live UECL: Crystal Palace v Zrinjski Mostar |
| 8:00pm | BBC One | Dragons' Den (new) |
| 8:00pm | BBC Two | This Farming Life (new series) |
| 8:00pm | BBC Three | Top Gear |
| 8:00pm | BBC Four | The Bridge: Fifty Years Across the Forth |
| 8:00pm | Channel 4 | George Clarke's Building Home |
| 8:00pm | Channel 5 | Spain with Michael Portillo (last in series) |
| 8:00pm | ITV1 | Emmerdale |
| 8:00pm | E4 | The Great Celebrity Bake Off for SU2C |
| 8:00pm | Sky Arts | Discovering: Tommy Lee Jones |
| 8:30pm | ITV1 | Coronation Street |
| 9:00pm | Channel 4 | The Dunblane Tapes (new, 90 mins) |
| 9:00pm | BBC One | The Apprentice |
| 9:00pm | BBC Two | Murder Case: The Hunt for Arlene Fraser's Killer |
| 9:00pm | BBC Three | 25 Years of Two Pints |
| 9:00pm | BBC Four | The 39 Steps: The Read with John Hannah |
| 9:00pm | ITV1 | Murder on a Knife's Edge |
| 9:00pm | Channel 5 | The Hotel Inspector (new series) |
| 9:00pm | Sky Atlantic | The Last of Us (S2, ep 6) |
| 9:00pm | Sky Arts | Classic Movies: The Story of The Third Man |
| 9:00pm | Film4 | Django Unchained (2012) |
| 9:00pm | ITV4 | The World's End (2013) |
| 10:00pm | BBC Four | The 39 Steps (1935, Hitchcock) |
| 10:00pm | BBC Two | The Apprentice: Unfinished Business |
| 10:30pm | Channel 4 | 24 Hours in A&E (new series) |
| 10:40pm | BBC One | Question Time |
| 10:45pm | ITV1 | The 1% Club |
Freeview TV Guide: What's On Streaming
Can't watch live? Use our now and next guide to see what's showing right now, or browse the full channels list for every available station.
BBC iPlayer: EastEnders, Dragons' Den, The Apprentice, Murder Case (both episodes), This Farming Life, The 39 Steps: The Read, Question Time ITVX: Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Rising Scams, Murder on a Knife's Edge, The 1% Club Channel 4 streaming: The Dunblane Tapes, George Clarke's Building Home, 24 Hours in A&E Channel 5 streaming: Spain with Michael Portillo (full series), The Hotel Inspector NOW: The Last of Us, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Premier League Darts
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is The Dunblane Tapes on Channel 4 tonight?
The Dunblane Tapes is on Channel 4 at 9pm tonight (Thursday 26th February 2026). It runs for 90 minutes until 10.30pm. The documentary examines the Snowdrop Campaign that led to the banning of handguns in Britain after the 1996 Dunblane school shooting.
What's the best thing to watch on TV tonight?
Our top pick is The Dunblane Tapes on Channel 4 at 9pm -- a powerful documentary about the 1996 Dunblane tragedy and the campaign that changed British gun law. The Apprentice on BBC One at 9pm and Murder Case on BBC Two at 9pm are also strong choices.
Is EastEnders on tonight?
Yes, EastEnders is on BBC One at 7.30pm tonight (Thursday 26th February 2026). Ravi's situation goes from bad to worse, Patrick and Yolande are shocked by Denzel's AI creation, and Penny lets her guard down with Vinny.
What's on BBC One tonight?
BBC One's highlights tonight include EastEnders at 7.30pm, Dragons' Den at 8pm with guest Dragon Jenna Meek, The Apprentice at 9pm, and Question Time at 10.40pm.
What time is The Apprentice on tonight?
The Apprentice is on BBC One at 9pm tonight (Thursday 26th February 2026). Episode 5 of series 20 sees the candidates tackle a flower-selling task -- a callback to the very first Apprentice challenge in 2005.
What Europa League football is on TV tonight?
Europa League play-off second legs are live on TNT Sports from 5pm, with Stuttgart v Celtic on TNT Sports 2, Nottingham Forest v Fenerbahce on TNT Sports 1 from 7.30pm, and Crystal Palace v Zrinjski Mostar on TNT Sports 3 from 7.30pm.
TV Guide UK: Final Verdict
The Dunblane Tapes on Channel 4 at 9pm is the programme that matters most tonight. It tells the story of how a shattered community turned unthinkable grief into political action, and given what continues to happen elsewhere in the world, its message has lost none of its power. Set aside ninety minutes for it.
Beyond the headline pick, Thursday is stacked. The Apprentice on BBC One at 9pm delivers a fun callback to the show's origins with a flower-selling task, Murder Case on BBC Two at 9pm launches another gripping Scottish true-crime investigation, and The Last of Us on Sky Atlantic at 9pm reaches its penultimate episode. Earlier, Dragons' Den at 8pm kicks off with one of the most theatrical pitches in recent memory, Spain with Michael Portillo on Channel 5 bids farewell with a gorgeous Ibiza episode, and This Farming Life on BBC Two opens its new series with a four-million-pound farming gamble. Sport fans have Europa League action across TNT Sports all evening and Premier League Darts from Belfast on Sky Max. For a quick look at what else is on TV tonight across all channels, check our tonight's highlights page.