Wondering what's on TV tonight? Wednesday's schedule is stacked, with a 9pm showdown that puts BBC Two, ITV1 and Channel 4 in direct competition and a midweek Premier League bonanza that will have football fans scrambling for screens. Whether you're after gripping documentary, nail-biting drama or live sport, the TV listings have something for everyone. Check below or browse the Freeview TV guide for the full rundown -- it's one of the busiest Wednesday nights in weeks.
What's On TV Tonight: Quick Picks
- Hostage -- BBC Two, 9pm -- New documentary series on missing photojournalist John Cantlie
- Landscape Artist of the Year -- Sky Arts, 8pm -- The grand final at the Falkirk Wheel
- 24 Hours in Police Custody -- Channel 4, 9pm -- Disturbing double bill: The Butcher of Suburbia
- The Stolen Girl -- ITV1, 9pm -- Ambika Mod and Denise Gough in the missing-child thriller
- Premier League -- TNT Sports, from 7pm -- Newcastle v Man Utd, Brighton v Arsenal and more
- Under Salt Marsh -- Sky Atlantic, 9pm -- Series finale of the Welsh coastal thriller
Is EastEnders on tonight?
Yes. EastEnders is on BBC One at 7.30pm tonight. Mark finds himself in a precarious spot -- the kind where you're shouting at the screen for him to turn around -- while Kim receives an unexpected surprise at the Albert. Elsewhere, tensions flare between those closest to Nigel, because when does anyone on this square ever just have a quiet Wednesday?
TV Guide: Early Evening (7pm -- 8pm)
EastEnders -- BBC One, 7.30pm
The Wednesday episode slots back into its regular half-hour shape. Mark's storyline takes a turn that suggests things are about to get significantly more complicated, Kim's Albert encounter has the whiff of something that'll ripple through next week, and Nigel's circle can't seem to agree on anything. It's the kind of table-setting episode that EastEnders does between its bigger moments -- necessary rather than explosive, but it moves the chess pieces around.
Celebrity Lingo -- ITV1, 7.30pm
New series. Adil Ray welcomes a quartet of Coronation Street regulars -- Lucy Fallon, Julia Goulding, Jack P Shepherd and Colson Smith -- for a celebrity run at the word game. The Corrie lot tend to be good value on panel shows, and watching them try to crack five-letter words for charity is a perfectly pleasant way to fill the pre-soap gap. Light, breezy, gone before you've noticed.
Great British Menu -- BBC Two, 7pm
The Scottish heat continues with the remaining chefs tackling mains and desserts, all inspired by the British film industry. Expect dishes referencing everything from Skyfall to Brave, which sounds like one of those briefs that either produces something brilliant or something completely unhinged. Either way, it's good television.
TV Tonight: Prime Time (8pm onwards)
Landscape Artist of the Year -- Sky Arts, 8pm ⭐
This is the one to watch tonight. The final comes round at the Falkirk Wheel -- the world's only rotating boat lift, and a structure that presents some serious challenges for even the best painters. The greyness of both the weather and the central subject could easily flatten a composition, but that's exactly why it's such a good test. Stephen Mangan hosts as the last three artists standing give it everything. The winner takes home a commission worth ten thousand pounds to paint Croagh Patrick in County Mayo, Ireland. One finalist reportedly takes time out mid-competition for an ice cream, which tells you something about either their confidence or their priorities. The Winner's Film follows at 9pm.
The Repair Shop -- BBC One, 8pm
This week's collection is a good one. The centrepiece is a teddy bear with a genuinely fascinating backstory involving the rock and roll era, plus a wartime camera that needs careful restoration. There's also a cherished garden bench and a fishing chart that was once used by a well-known Grimsby trawler skipper. Expert Pierro Pozella handles the camera work -- and when I say camera work, I mean the actual camera, not the filming. The Repair Shop never needs to reinvent itself; the formula of broken things being fixed by people who care is as reliable as it gets.
Hostage -- BBC Two, 9pm
New series, and it's powerful stuff. This three-part documentary follows the story of photojournalist John Cantlie, who vanished in Syria alongside American journalist James Foley in 2012 after being drawn to the most dangerous corners of the conflict. Cantlie was driven by a desire to tell the stories nobody else would, heading into territory controlled by Islamic State where he encountered British jihadists recruited to fight. The series draws on documentary footage shot by Cantlie himself in rubble-strewn Syrian streets, his own words painting a picture of a man who was equal parts charming and reckless. Friends describe an adrenaline junkie drawn to the most extreme stories going. It builds on a podcast called Last Man Standing, and across three episodes, it captures both the chaos of the conflict and the human cost of chasing the truth into the darkest places imaginable.
24 Hours in Police Custody -- Channel 4, 9pm and 10pm
Double bill tonight, and this is a harrowing one. Annette Smith, a 74-year-old woman, goes missing from her home in November 2023. Her lodger, Scott Paterson, reports her disappearance to police, but his account doesn't quite add up -- the details don't match, the evidence isn't there to support his version of events, and gradually Paterson shifts from witness to prime suspect. The investigation that follows leaves even the most hardened members of the police team shaken by what they uncover. Two hours of this at 9pm and 10pm. Not for the faint-hearted.
The Stolen Girl -- ITV1, 9pm
Episode two, and things are getting darker. Elisa (Denise Gough) and her husband Fred (Jim Sturgess) are stuck in that awful limbo of not knowing, while police begin to suspect an organised criminal gang might be behind their daughter's disappearance. Meanwhile, journalist Selma (Ambika Mod) is digging into Elisa's online activity, having spotted something that doesn't sit right. Fred faces some deeply uncomfortable questions about the family's finances. The first episode established the panic; this one starts peeling back layers.
MasterChef: The Professionals -- BBC One, 9pm
The heats continue with 2018 finalist Matthew Ryle setting the skills test challenges. The chefs have to produce raviolo stuffed with pea and ricotta and a poached pear mille-feuille with hazelnut praline cream. These are dishes that sound simple on paper but require precision, especially that mille-feuille -- get the pastry wrong and the whole thing collapses. Four chefs fighting for a quarter-final place.
TV Guide UK: Late Night
We Might Regret This -- BBC Two, 10pm
Episode two of this sharp new comedy, and the tone is already becoming clearer. Freya (co-creator Kyla Harris) and Jo are stumbling through grief, making mistakes and misreading each other at every turn. Abe (Darren Boyd) proposes again -- not for the first time, apparently -- which triggers confusion rather than the reaction he was hoping for. Harris has said that dating while disabled is like being a celebrity: strangers feel entitled to opinions about her body, she comes with an entourage, and she always gets the best parking. That kind of writing tells you this show isn't afraid of anything.
Bernard Hill Remembers... Boys from the Blackstuff -- BBC Four, 10pm
A short but moving tribute in which the late Bernard Hill -- Yosser Hughes himself -- looks back on Alan Bleasdale's iconic Thatcher-era drama. Hill's reflections are followed by three episodes of the original series, starting from the beginning. If you've never seen Boys from the Blackstuff, this is your chance to understand why "gissa job" became one of the most quoted lines in British television history. Hill brings a warmth and a sadness to these memories that makes the whole evening feel like a proper event.
Sport on TV Tonight: Premier League and More
A massive night of Premier League football. Newcastle v Man United headlines on TNT Sports 1 from 7pm (KO 8.15pm), with Brighton v Arsenal on TNT Sports 2 (KO 8.15pm), Aston Villa v Chelsea on TNT Sports 3 from 7pm, and Man City v Nottingham Forest on TNT Sports 4 from 7pm. Four simultaneous top-flight matches -- you'll need multiple screens or a very understanding household.
Scottish Premiership: Aberdeen v Celtic is live on Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm (KO 8pm).
Tennis: The Indian Wells Open gets underway on Sky Sports Tennis from 7pm, with coverage also on Sky Sports Main Event later in the evening.
BBC One has Match of the Day at 10.40pm with highlights of all the midweek fixtures, including Brighton v Arsenal and Man City v Forest.
Tonight's TV Listings: Full Schedule
| Time | Channel | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00pm | BBC Two | Great British Menu |
| 7:00pm | Channel 5 | Celebrity Puzzling (new) |
| 7:00pm | TNT Sports 1 | Live PL: Newcastle v Man United |
| 7:00pm | TNT Sports 2 | Live PL: Brighton v Arsenal |
| 7:00pm | Sky Sports Main Event | Live SPFL: Aberdeen v Celtic |
| 7:30pm | BBC One | EastEnders |
| 7:30pm | ITV1 | Celebrity Lingo (new series) |
| 8:00pm | BBC One | The Repair Shop |
| 8:00pm | BBC Two | Britain's Biggest Warship (new) |
| 8:00pm | BBC Three | Dragons' Den |
| 8:00pm | Channel 4 | Kirstie and Phil's Love It or List It |
| 8:00pm | Channel 5 | Alice Roberts: Our Hospital Through Time |
| 8:00pm | ITV1 | Emmerdale |
| 8:00pm | Sky Arts | Landscape Artist of the Year (final) |
| 8:30pm | ITV1 | Coronation Street |
| 9:00pm | BBC One | MasterChef: The Professionals |
| 9:00pm | BBC Two | Hostage (new series) |
| 9:00pm | ITV1 | The Stolen Girl |
| 9:00pm | Channel 4 | 24 Hours in Police Custody (double bill) |
| 9:00pm | Channel 5 | The Surgeon |
| 9:00pm | Sky Atlantic | Under Salt Marsh (finale) |
| 9:00pm | U&Alibi | NCIS: Sydney (new) |
| 10:00pm | BBC Two | We Might Regret This |
| 10:00pm | Channel 4 | 24 Hours in Police Custody (part 2) |
| 10:00pm | BBC Four | Bernard Hill Remembers... Boys from the Blackstuff |
| 10:40pm | BBC One | Match of the Day |
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, The Repair Shop, MasterChef The Professionals, Hostage, Great British Menu, Britain's Biggest Warship, We Might Regret This, Match of the Day, Dragons' Den, The Apprentice ITVX: The Stolen Girl, Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Celebrity Lingo Channel 4 streaming: 24 Hours in Police Custody, Kirstie and Phil's Love It or List It Channel 5 streaming: Alice Roberts: Our Hospital Through Time, The Surgeon NOW: Under Salt Marsh, Landscape Artist of the Year, NCIS: Sydney
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is Hostage on BBC Two tonight?
Hostage is on BBC Two at 9pm tonight (Wednesday 4th March 2026). This is the first episode of a new three-part documentary series about missing photojournalist John Cantlie and James Foley's reporting in Syria.
What's the best thing to watch on TV tonight?
Our top pick is Landscape Artist of the Year on Sky Arts at 8pm -- the grand final at the Falkirk Wheel is a fitting climax to the series. Hostage on BBC Two at 9pm and 24 Hours in Police Custody on Channel 4 at 9pm are also excellent choices.
Is EastEnders on tonight?
Yes, EastEnders is on BBC One at 7.30pm tonight (Wednesday 4th March 2026). Mark walks into a risky situation, Kim gets a surprise at the Albert, and there's conflict between Nigel's loved ones.
What's on BBC One tonight?
BBC One's highlights tonight include EastEnders at 7.30pm, The Repair Shop at 8pm, MasterChef The Professionals at 9pm, and Match of the Day with Premier League highlights at 10.40pm.
What Premier League football is on TV tonight?
Four Premier League matches are live on TNT Sports from 7pm: Newcastle v Man United (TNT Sports 1), Brighton v Arsenal (TNT Sports 2), Aston Villa v Chelsea (TNT Sports 3), and Man City v Nottingham Forest (TNT Sports 4). BBC One has Match of the Day highlights at 10.40pm. Aberdeen v Celtic is live on Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm.
What time is the Landscape Artist of the Year final?
The Landscape Artist of the Year final is on Sky Arts at 8pm tonight (Wednesday 4th March 2026), followed by the Winner's Film at 9pm. The final takes place at the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland.
TV Guide UK: Final Verdict
Landscape Artist of the Year on Sky Arts at 8pm is our pick of the night -- the final at the Falkirk Wheel is the kind of setting that sorts the true artists from the rest, and the prize commission in Ireland gives it real stakes. It's the perfect blend of competition and creativity that this show does better than almost anything else on television.
The 9pm slot is a genuine battlefield. Hostage on BBC Two opens a powerful new documentary about John Cantlie's disappearance in Syria that demands attention. 24 Hours in Police Custody on Channel 4 delivers one of its most disturbing cases in a two-hour double bill that'll have you gripped and unsettled in equal measure. The Stolen Girl on ITV1 deepens its mystery with Ambika Mod and Denise Gough both excellent. Under Salt Marsh on Sky Atlantic reaches its finale for anyone who's been following the Welsh coastal thriller. Football fans have an embarrassment of riches with four simultaneous Premier League matches across TNT Sports -- Newcastle v Man United is the headline act -- plus Aberdeen v Celtic on Sky Sports Main Event and Match of the Day at 10.40pm on BBC One. For a quick look at what else is on TV tonight across all channels, check our tonight's highlights page.