Champions League night on a Wednesday -- you know the drill. So what's on tv tonight? The tv guide is headlined by two genuine heavyweight quarter-finals on TNT Sports plus an unusually strong lineup on the free channels, including the opening episode of a Michael Jackson documentary series on BBC Two, the first UK showing of Channel 4's slick new spy thriller, and Hugh Bonneville back in his element for a World Cup comedy from the creator of W1A. Check the tv listings below or browse the tonight page for what's currently on. The freeview tv guide has the full schedule further down.
What's On TV Tonight: Quick Picks
- PSG v Liverpool -- TNT Sports 1, 7pm (k/o 8pm) -- Champions League quarter-final; the tie of the round
- The Copenhagen Test -- Channel 4, 9pm and 10:15pm -- NEW SERIES; US spy thriller double-bill; Simu Liu bio-hacked
- Michael Jackson: An American Tragedy -- BBC Two, 9pm -- NEW SERIES; documentary series episode 1; covers the rise from Jackson 5 to superstar
- The Repair Shop -- BBC One, 8pm -- NEW SERIES; ballet shoes worn by Britain's first Black professional ballerina; clockwork bird cage
- Twenty Twenty Six -- BBC Two, 10pm -- NEW SERIES; Hugh Bonneville; Ian Fletcher organises the World Cup in Miami
TV Guide: Early Evening (7pm – 8pm)
The One Show – BBC One, 7pm
The weeknight sofa staple, on before EastEnders as usual. On iPlayer.
Great British Menu – BBC Two, 7pm
Episode 20, and the London and South East heats are still going. Tonight's film theme has produced a 28-day dry-aged duck inspired by 28 Days Later, which is either genius or terrible and possibly both. The creative brief does at least stop chefs reaching for the same old ideas. On iPlayer.
EastEnders – BBC One, 7:30pm
Mid-week Walford. EastEnders is on tonight as usual -- details were not confirmed ahead of broadcast, but it's a Wednesday episode so expect the kind of storyline shuffling that sets things up for later in the week rather than paying anything off. On BBC iPlayer after broadcast.
PSG v Liverpool – TNT Sports 1, 7pm (kick-off 8pm)
The tie of the round. Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-finals, in Paris, against the side assembled specifically to win this competition. If you only watch one match tonight, make it this one. Coverage from 7pm, kick-off 8pm on TNT Sports 1.
Barcelona v Atletico Madrid is on TNT Sports 2 from 7:30pm -- a city derby with knockout football stakes. Two quality quarter-finals running simultaneously is why this round of the Champions League is always the best television of the European season.
TV Tonight: Prime Time (8pm onwards)
The Repair Shop – BBC One, 8pm (NEW SERIES) ⭐
The new series opens with an exceptional set of items, even by this show's standards. First in is a model Range Rover connected to former serviceman Mike Webb's extraordinary achievement of driving the length of the Americas in 1971. Then come a pair of ballet shoes worn on a London stage by Britain's first professional Black ballerina -- an object that carries that history quietly and completely. Finally, a fragile scrapbook documenting the Dick, Kerr Ladies, the factory football team that became a phenomenon before the FA banned women's football in 1921.
And then -- the one that will stay with you -- a clockwork bird cage that captivated Fenella Haffenden as a child. She was born deaf. The story of what that little mechanical bird meant to her, and what it means now that it can be restored, is the kind of thing this programme does that nothing else on television does. You will need tissues. On iPlayer.
Digging for Britain – BBC Two, 8pm (NEW SERIES)
Alice Roberts is back for a new run of archaeology from around the UK. If last series was anything to go by, there'll be a mixture of major professional digs and amateur metal detecting finds that turn out to be more significant than anyone expected. On iPlayer.
Warship: Life in the Royal Navy – Channel 5, 8pm
JJ Chalmers heads to the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre in Devon to watch recruits go through what is genuinely one of the toughest training programmes in the world. Meanwhile Kate Humble boards a submarine at Faslane in Scotland, which is a very different kind of access documentary -- quieter, more claustrophobic, and oddly fascinating. On My5.
Michael Jackson: An American Tragedy – BBC Two, 9pm (NEW SERIES)
Episode one tonight covers the part of the Jackson story that is, the bit before everything got complicated: the Jackson 5 years, the evolution into the most recognisable entertainer on the planet, and the sharp business instincts that led him to, among other things, buy the Beatles' back catalogue. The makers also did Channel 4's The Tony Blair Story, so the research and construction are solid.
The subsequent episodes will deal with the murkier chapters. But this first one largely holds them at arm's length and lets you remember why the fascination exists in the first place. On iPlayer.
The Copenhagen Test – Channel 4, 9pm and 10:15pm (NEW SERIES)
Two episodes tonight of the spy thriller that was a sizeable hit on Peacock in the US last year. Intelligence analyst Alexandre Hale (Simu Liu) discovers that someone has bio-hacked his brain -- they can see and hear everything he experiences. He ends up working with field agent Grace Ballard (Melissa Barrera) to figure out who did it and why, while simultaneously trying to prove he hasn't been turned.
The premise sounds like it could tip into nonsense but it doesn't -- the plot holds together better than you'd expect and Liu and Barrera have good chemistry — enough to make you forgive the occasional stretch in logic. Canadian actor Saul Rubinek is very good as Hale's mentor. Continues tomorrow. On Channel 4 streaming.
China with Ben Fogle – Channel 5, 9pm (LAST IN SERIES)
The series finale, and Fogle saves the most striking material for last. In Shenzhen, he watches 40 million LEDs turn a skyline into something from a science fiction film. A tech millionaire explains, cheerfully, that he plans to replace his entire workforce with AI within two years. And in Hong Kong, Fogle meets a Chinese journalist who has paid a real price for speaking publicly against Beijing's tightening grip since the 2019 protests. Busy finale. On My5.
Twenty Twenty Six – BBC Two, 10pm (NEW SERIES)
John Morton reunites with Hugh Bonneville for the inevitable sequel to W1A and Twenty Twelve -- this time, Ian Fletcher has left the BBC and arrived in Miami to help organise the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The international football federation (referred to throughout by David Tennant's voiceover in the way that only a BBC comedy would) is staffed by the same species of self-important middle-management drone that made W1A so good.
Week one: Ian's team is asked to reduce a shortlist of three semi-final venues to two. This is, in theory, a simple task. It is not a simple task. Morton hasn't missed a step. On iPlayer.
TV Guide UK: Late Night
The Assembly – ITV1, 10:05pm
Stephen Fry faces the panel of neurodiverse questioners on The Assembly -- a format that reinvents the chat show by giving the interview entirely to people who genuinely don't have a reason to ask anything other than exactly what they want to know. Fry has admitted the questions got extremely specific about aspects of his personal life. He also ended up dancing, apparently, which is not something you get from a standard press tour. A second episode, with Nicola Sturgeon, airs on Friday. On ITVX.
NCIS: Sydney – Alibi, 9pm
Agents Mackey, Eve and Blue attend the launch of a geolocation system in a secret underground bunker. The bunker seals itself shut. The air starts running out. It's a contained-space episode, which this kind of procedural drama does well when it commits to it -- and this one apparently commits. On U.
Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story – BBC Two, 11pm (LAST IN SERIES)
The final episode of the Stayner family documentary, which has been one of those true crime series that stays with you longer than you'd like. Steven Stayner was kidnapped as a child, escaped in his teens, rescued a fellow captive, was turned into a TV movie, and died in a motorbike accident at 24. Ten years after his death, his brother Cary confessed to the Yosemite murders. His daughter Ashley's line says it all: "Bad things happen to everybody, but for our family it's unreal." No tidy conclusions. On iPlayer.
MOTD: UEFA Champions League Highlights – BBC One, 10:40pm (approx)
The evening's Champions League action reviewed -- PSG v Liverpool and Barcelona v Atletico Madrid both get the highlights treatment. If you didn't watch the full matches on TNT Sports, this is the catch-up option. Times may vary.
Sport
Football: UEFA Champions League -- PSG v Liverpool on TNT Sports 1 from 7pm (k/o 8pm); Barcelona v Atletico Madrid on TNT Sports 2 from 7:30pm (k/o 8:30pm). Highlights on BBC One at approx 10:40pm.
Golf: The Masters Par 3 Contest -- Sky Sports Main Event/Golf from 5pm. The traditional curtain-raiser at Augusta before the tournament proper begins. Low stakes, high enjoyment.
Tennis: Monte Carlo Open and Linz Open -- Sky Sports Main Event/Tennis from 10am.
See the full sport on TV guide for all times and channels.
Tonight's TV Listings: Full Schedule
Here are the complete TV listings for Wednesday 8th April 2026 across all major Freeview, Sky and streaming channels.
| Time | Channel | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 5:00pm | Sky Sports Golf | The Masters: Par 3 Contest (Augusta curtain-raiser) |
| 7:00pm | BBC One | The One Show |
| 7:00pm | BBC Two | Great British Menu (ep 20 -- London and South East heats; 28 Days Later duck) |
| 7:00pm | TNT Sports 1 | UEFA Champions League: PSG v Liverpool (k/o 8pm -- quarter-final) |
| 7:30pm | TNT Sports 2 | UEFA Champions League: Barcelona v Atletico Madrid (k/o 8:30pm -- quarter-final) |
| 7:30pm | BBC One | EastEnders |
| 8:00pm | BBC One | The Repair Shop (NEW SERIES -- ballet shoes; Dick Kerr Ladies scrapbook; clockwork bird cage) |
| 8:00pm | BBC Two | Digging for Britain (NEW SERIES) |
| 8:00pm | Channel 4 | Help! I Bought It at Auction with Sarah Beeny (NEW -- South Downs; Somerset) |
| 8:00pm | Channel 5 | Warship: Life in the Royal Navy (JJ Chalmers at Royal Marines training; Kate Humble on submarine) |
| 8:00pm | ITV1 | Emmerdale |
| 8:30pm | ITV1 | Coronation Street |
| 9:00pm | BBC One | Ambulance (Yorkshire Ambulance Service) |
| 9:00pm | BBC Two | Michael Jackson: An American Tragedy (NEW SERIES ep 1 -- rise from Jackson 5 to superstar) |
| 9:00pm | Channel 4 | The Copenhagen Test (NEW SERIES ep 1 -- Simu Liu; bio-hacked brain; spy thriller) |
| 9:00pm | Channel 5 | China with Ben Fogle (LAST IN SERIES -- Shenzhen LEDs; AI workforce; Hong Kong journalist) |
| 9:00pm | ITV1 | I'm a Celebrity... South Africa (continuing) |
| 9:00pm | Sky One | The 'Burbs (Keke Palmer; break-in to the Victorian house) |
| 9:00pm | Alibi | NCIS: Sydney (underground bunker; oxygen depleting) |
| 10:00pm | BBC Two | Twenty Twenty Six (NEW SERIES -- Hugh Bonneville; Ian Fletcher; FIFA World Cup Miami) |
| 10:05pm | ITV1 | The Assembly (NEW -- Stephen Fry; neurodiverse questioners; eye-watering queries) |
| 10:15pm | Channel 4 | The Copenhagen Test (ep 2 -- conspiracy continues; concludes tomorrow) |
| 10:40pm | BBC One | MOTD: UEFA Champions League Highlights (PSG v Liverpool; Barcelona v Atletico) |
| 11:00pm | BBC Two | Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story (LAST IN SERIES -- Stayner family final ep) |
Freeview TV Guide: What's On Streaming
Can't watch live? The freeview tv guide has all the catch-up options. Use our now and next guide to see what's currently on, or browse the channels list for every station.
BBC iPlayer: The Repair Shop, Ambulance, EastEnders, Great British Menu, Digging for Britain, Michael Jackson: An American Tragedy, Twenty Twenty Six, Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story, Champions League highlights
Channel 4 streaming: The Copenhagen Test (both episodes), Help! I Bought It at Auction with Sarah Beeny
ITVX: Emmerdale, Coronation Street, I'm a Celebrity South Africa, The Assembly
My5: Warship: Life in the Royal Navy, China with Ben Fogle (full series)
Now: The 'Burbs (Sky One)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EastEnders on TV tonight, Wednesday 8th April 2026?
Yes -- EastEnders is on BBC One at 7:30pm tonight. Available on BBC iPlayer after broadcast.
What time is PSG v Liverpool on TV tonight?
PSG v Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final is on TNT Sports 1 from 7pm, with kick-off at 8pm. Barcelona v Atletico Madrid is on TNT Sports 2 from 7:30pm. Champions League highlights air on BBC One at approximately 10:40pm.
What is The Copenhagen Test and what channel is it on?
The Copenhagen Test is a new spy thriller series on Channel 4, airing episodes 1 and 2 back to back tonight -- episode 1 at 9pm and episode 2 at 10:15pm. Simu Liu plays an intelligence analyst whose brain has been bio-hacked, and who teams up with a field agent (Melissa Barrera) to expose the perpetrators. It was a hit on Peacock in the US. On Channel 4 streaming afterwards. Continues tomorrow.
What time is the Michael Jackson documentary on BBC Two?
Michael Jackson: An American Tragedy begins on BBC Two at 9pm. It's a new documentary series -- tonight's opening episode focuses on Jackson's rise from the Jackson 5 to global superstardom. Available on BBC iPlayer.
What is Twenty Twenty Six on BBC Two tonight?
Twenty Twenty Six is a new comedy series from John Morton (W1A, Twenty Twelve) starting at 10pm on BBC Two. Hugh Bonneville returns as Ian Fletcher, now tasked with helping organise the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Miami. Available on BBC iPlayer.
What's the best thing on TV tonight, Wednesday 8th April?
If you have TNT Sports, PSG v Liverpool at 8pm is the easy answer. For free-to-air television, the new series of The Repair Shop at 8pm on BBC One is an unusually strong opener. The Copenhagen Test double-bill on Channel 4 from 9pm is the pick if you want something with a bit more edge to it, and Michael Jackson: An American Tragedy at 9pm on BBC Two is the documentary event of the week.
TV Guide UK: Final Verdict
The tv guide tonight has enough quality spread across enough channels that there are genuine decisions to make. The Champions League on TNT Sports is the headline -- two quarter-finals running simultaneously rarely disappoints at this stage of the competition. On the free channels, BBC One opens its new Repair Shop series with some of the most affecting stories the show has produced, and BBC Two gives you a choice between the Michael Jackson documentary at 9pm or the lighter pleasure of Hugh Bonneville's World Cup comedy at 10pm.
Channel 4 does well tonight too -- The Copenhagen Test double-bill is a slick spy thriller import that Channel 4 has done well to grab. If you only have two hours, pick The Repair Shop at 8pm and The Copenhagen Test at 9pm. If you have the stamina, Michael Jackson: An American Tragedy is worth committing to.
Browse the full channels list or check what's on now to follow the evening as it unfolds.