What's On TV Tonight: Wednesday 12th November 2025

It's a proper midweek mix tonight - we've got Scottish murder mysteries, a Welsh legend getting his due, and some seriously competitive Irish dancing. Chuck in Kevin McCloud's latest building triumph and you've got yourself a decent night in.

Quick Picks: Tonight's Best

• Shetland - BBC One, 9pm ⭐ - Ashley Jensen and team crack another windswept case
• Richard Burton: Wild Genius - BBC Two, 9pm - The Welsh icon's centenary doc with his family
• Grand Designs - Channel 4, 8pm - Kevin revisits the Sevenoaks couple who've endured it all
• A League of Their Own - Sky Max, 9pm - Final series celebration with Wayne Rooney

Early Evening: Family Viewing (6:30pm - 8pm)

The One Show - BBC One, 7pm

The usual sofa chat before things get serious. Tonight's guests haven't been announced yet, but you know what you're getting - a bit of news, a bit of fluff, and Alex Jones being relentlessly cheerful. It does what it says on the tin.

Grand Designs - Channel 4, 8pm

Kevin McCloud returns to Sevenoaks to check on Greg and Georgie, who started converting a knackered 35-year-old barn back in 2019. Since then? Dodgy foundations, cancer, and a global pandemic. You know, just your average self-build project.

It's the kind of episode that reminds you why people watch Grand Designs - not for the architecture porn (though there's plenty), but for seeing ordinary people wrestling with extraordinary circumstances. The barn-to-retreat transformation is ambitious without being show-off, and Kevin's trademark mix of enthusiasm and mild horror at their choices is spot on.

Fair warning: if you haven't seen the original 2019 episode, you might feel a bit lost with all the callbacks. But the payoff's worth it.

Prime Time: Drama & Documentaries (9pm onwards)

Shetland - BBC One, 9pm ⭐

This is the one to prioritise tonight. Out in the isolated hamlet of Lunniswick, there's been a murder - the body exposed to the elements for several days, which means it's going to be messy. Ashley Jensen's Calder and Alison O'Donnell's Tosh have to untangle a close-knit community's secrets, and let's be honest, those are always the best Shetland episodes.

The show's now in its 10th series (bloody hell, has it really been that long?) and it's settled into a comfortable rhythm. The scenery's still stunning, the pacing's deliberate without being glacial, and the chemistry between the leads is what keeps you coming back. Series 9 won a BAFTA Scotland, so they're doing something right.

It's not groundbreaking telly, but when you want a murder mystery that doesn't insult your intelligence and actually uses the location as more than just a pretty backdrop, Shetland delivers.

Richard Burton: Wild Genius - BBC Two, 9pm (BBC One Wales)

It's the centenary year for Richard Burton - the son of a Welsh miner who became a seven-time Oscar nominee and one of the most magnetic actors of his generation. This documentary doesn't shy away from the messier bits: the drinking, the two divorces from Elizabeth Taylor, the talent that was both his making and his undoing.

What makes it special is the access - his widow Sally Burton and daughter Kate Burton share personal stories, alongside Claire Bloom (his former co-star and lover) and Welsh acting royalty Matthew Rhys, Michael Sheen, and Iwan Rheon. It's a proper tribute from people who genuinely understood what made him tick.

The man was a force of nature, and this doc captures both the brilliance and the chaos. Grab a whisky (seems appropriate) and settle in for an hour of Welsh excellence.

A League of Their Own - Sky Max, 9pm

Bad news first: this is the final series of the sports quiz, which means Romesh Ranganathan might actually get a day off (the man's on everything). Good news: they're going out with a bang. Wayne Rooney, Maya Jama, and Alex Brooker join regulars Jill Scott, Jamie Redknapp, and Micah Richards for what's essentially a victory lap.

If you've been watching since the James Corden days, you'll know the format's evolved brilliantly - less forced laddishness, more genuine camaraderie and ridiculous challenges. Romesh's deadpan hosting style is miles better than the shouty energy of early series, and the guests actually seem to be having fun rather than promoting something.

It's comfort telly that happens to involve sports. You'll miss it when it's gone.

Battle of the Irish Dancers - Sky Arts, 9pm

The World Irish Dancing Championships took place in Dublin this year, and this three-part series follows the competitors who treat it like the Olympics. There's 26-year-old Owen, described by his coach as "once-in-a-generation talent", gunning for his third and final win.

Look, if you think Irish dancing is just Riverdance on repeat, this'll change your mind. The athleticism is mental - these dancers are basically doing gymnastics while keeping their upper bodies completely rigid. The competition's fierce, the stakes feel genuinely high, and you don't need to know anything about the sport to get sucked in.

It's Got Talent meets sports documentary, and it's surprisingly gripping.

Late Night: For Crime Fans (10pm onwards)

The Hunting Party - U&Alibi, 9pm

This week's baddie is a psychiatrist slash self-help author nicknamed "Dr Darkness" by the tabloids (brilliant). Kevin Corrigan guest stars, leading ex-FBI profiler Bex (Melissa Roxburgh) and her team on a merry dance around Chicago. Oh, and he's ruining her birthday, the absolute nerve.

It's formulaic American crime procedural stuff - you've seen this exact format a hundred times - but Corrigan's having so much fun chewing the scenery that it's hard not to enjoy the ride. Think Criminal Minds meets Hannibal's campier moments.

If You're Not Into Drama

Freakier Friday - Disney+

The 2003 body-swap comedy gets a sequel, and they've upped the chaos - now there are FOUR people swapping bodies instead of two. Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are back as Tess and Anna, joined by Julia Butters as Anna's teenage daughter Harper and Sophia Hammons as the soon-to-be stepdaughter.

It's daft, it's predictable, and Curtis is clearly having the time of her life playing an irresponsible kid. If you fancy something light after a long day, this hits the spot. Just don't expect anything approaching subtlety.

A Merry Little Ex-Mas - Netflix

Alicia Silverstone and Oliver Hudson play divorced parents spending one last Christmas together as a family. Then he brings his hot young girlfriend (Jameela Jamil), so she hooks up with an equally hot young pine tree seller (Pierson Fodé). Drama ensues.

It's Christmas rom-com by numbers, and it knows exactly what it is. Pour yourself something festive, lower your expectations, and enjoy the seasonal fluff.

The Viewing Schedule Table

Final Verdict

Shetland's your must-watch if you're after quality crime drama, but Richard Burton's doc is the real gem tonight - heartfelt, honest, and celebrating a Welsh legend who deserves the attention. Grand Designs delivers the feel-good building content you need on a Wednesday, while A League of Their Own's final series is the end of an era. Pick your poison, and enjoy the midweek telly lineup.

By Felicity Smith | Updated 12 November 2025