TV tonight: Our highlights for Thursday, June 8

TV tonight: Our highlights for Thursday, June 8

On TV tonight, Claire Foy uncovers her history in Who Do You Think You Are?, Davina McCall tackles another myth in her latest doc, Davina McCall's Pill Revolution, plus Mark Wright sets off for A Wright Family Holiday, new comedy Significant Other arrives on ITVX and Phil Spencer sets off for the last Great British Dog Walks of the series. Here's what you shouldn't miss on TV Tonight.

  • Our hand-selected recommendations for what's on TV tonight include TV shows, a film, live sport and the latest trending need-to-binge-on-now box set 
  • Keep up to date with the latest soap spoiler storylines on TV tonight with our daily soap synopsis 
  • For more information about what’s on TV tonight see our TV Guide

What's on TV tonight

Our expert TV journalists have picked the best things on TV tonight... 

Best TV shows on TV tonight

Who Do You Think You Are?, 9 pm, BBC One

Claire Foy for Who Do You Think You Are series 19

(Image credit: Wall to Wall/BBC)

The Crown’s Claire Foy unearths a series of tragic deaths in her family history when she delves into her ancestry in tonight’s episode of the genealogy show. Not only was her great-grandfather Charles killed in a motorbike accident, leaving behind many children, but Charles’ own father Henry, Claire’s great-great-grandfather, drowned in a flooded river when Charles was just four months old. Meanwhile, Claire also finds out how two of her ancestors stood trial for the murder of a policeman in 1867, a crime-of-the-century case that caused a national scandal at the time.

★★★★ HD 

Davina McCall's Pill Revolution, 9 pm, Channel 4

After tackling the menopause, Davina takes on the hot topic of contraception for her latest myth-busting documentary. Shocked by the lack of support surrounding contraception as a whole, she exposes some truths about the pill and its many side effects while also highlighting the woeful lack of research into women’s health. Davina also challenges Maria Caulfield MP, the minister responsible for women’s health strategy, over the inadequate contraceptive choices available – and she even gets her own coil changed on camera! An important watch. 

★★★★ HD 

Significant Other, ITVX

Sam and Anna on a bench in the key art for Significant Other

(Image credit: Quay Street Productions/ITV)

 It’s certainly an arresting start to a comedy! Sam (Youssef Kerkour) is knocking back pills because he wants to die, while his neighbour Anna (Katherine Parkinson) is having a heart attack outside his front door and desperately wants to live. Having never met before, the two lonely souls find themselves in an ambulance being whisked to hospital, where they later bond over jelly babies and cigarettes. Set in Manchester and with gems of humour running throughout, this is a promising and unconventional ‘love story’, and we’re looking forward to seeing how it pans out across its six episodes. ★★★★ TL 

Great British Dog Walks with Phil Spencer, 9 pm, More4 

Phil and his canine companion Luna reach the last stretch of their epic Coast to Coast Walk. And for their wild wander across the beautiful North York Moors, they’re joined by JB Gill and his rescue dog Nala. Their accompanying chat covers JB’s time in boy band JLS and the pressures of fame, his career change to farming and aim to educate children about healthy food, and how rehoming Nala has changed his life – with thanks to the late Paul O’Grady. 

★★★ NT  

A Wright Family Holiday, 8 pm, BBC One/iPlayer (box set)

A Wright Family Holiday on BBC1 see Mark Wright (centre), his did Mark Sr and brother Josh.

(Image credit: BBC)

The Challenge UK host Mark Wright gets his own version of Breaking Dad with this new series, as he takes his dad, Mark Senior, and younger brother Josh on a family-bonding tour of the UK. This involves plenty of daredevil activities, such as skydiving, bungee jumping and jet-skiing. And in this first episode, the trio have a go at mountain biking and caving in Snowdownia. But spending time together also allows them to talk about some difficult life experiences, like Mark Snr’s brush with death when he was hospitalised with Covid during the pandemic, something they’ve never properly opened up about before… 

★★★ HD 

Best box set on TV tonight

Poker Face, Sky Max/NOW (box set)

Natasha Lyonne in Poker Face

(Image credit: Peacock)

Rian Johnson’s anthology series has a pleasing retro feel about it from the titles onwards. Imagine, if you can, Mr Benn in the hands of Quentin Tarantino, as drifting ‘Poker Face’ Charlie (Natasha Lyonne) sets out to solve a different mystery in each episode.

★★★★ JP 

Best film on TV tonight

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, 9 pm, Film4

The war between the shape-shifting robots erupts once again, as the first of the evil Decepticons leads an attack on Earth to locate an ancient planet-destroying machine. Hapless teenager Sam Witwicky is caught in the middle of the ensuing conflict as he holds the key to discovering the location of the device. Sci-fi adventure sequel, starring Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox.

Soaps

Live Sport

  • Vitality T20 Cricket: Middlesex v Sussex Sharks, 6.15 pm, Sky Sports Main Event
  • MLB: Tampa Bay Rays v Minnesota Twins, 6 pm (start time 6.10 pm), BT Sport 1

If you watch just one thing on TV tonight…

Don't miss Who Do You Think You Are? on TV tonight.

Not found anything you want to watch on TV tonight? Check out our TV Guide

Happy viewing!