What's On TV Tonight: Sunday 16th November 2025

Sunday night telly is stacked tonight - Sally Wainwright wraps up her menopausal punk band drama, Channel 4 kicks off a creepy Scottish thriller, and I'm a Celebrity hits the big 2-5. If you're not into reality TV or dramas, there's classic De Niro on BBC Two. Let's dive in.

Table of Contents

Quick Picks: Tonight's Best

• Riot Women - Sally Wainwright's finale deserves your attention (9pm, BBC One) ⭐
• Summerwater - Psychological thriller with proper unsettling vibes (9pm, Channel 4)
• The Untouchables - De Niro vs Costner, Mamet script, Morricone score (10pm, BBC Two)

Afternoon Sport: For the Rugby Fans

Women's Premiership Rugby: Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins - TNT Sports 1, Noon

If you're settling in early, there's women's rugby from Sandy Park. Exeter at home always brings decent atmosphere.

Men's International Rugby Union: Scotland v Argentina - TNT Sports 1, 2:30pm

Scotland at Murrayfield against Argentina. Should be tasty - Argentina don't make it easy for anyone, and Scotland at home can be brilliant or frustrating (sometimes both in the same match).

Men's International Football: Albania v England - ITV1, 4pm

World Cup Group K qualifier. England away in Albania. Look, it's not going to be a thriller, but if you care about the qualifiers, it's there.

Prime Time: Drama and Reality (9pm onwards)

Riot Women - BBC One, 9pm ⭐

Sally Wainwright signs off her menopausal punk band saga with aplomb, and honestly? This has been a cracker of a series. Tonight Kitty faces her past with a prison visit (never a light storyline), Holly confronts bent copper Rudy, and Beth tries to patch things up with her angry son Tom.

The show's managed that tricky balance between comedy and genuine emotion without getting schmaltzy. The punk band setup could've been gimmicky, but Wainwright knows what she's doing. Plus, word is there's a second series coming, which tells you everything you need to know about how well it's landed.

If you've been watching, don't miss the finale. If you haven't, catch up on iPlayer - it's worth it.

Summerwater - Channel 4, 9pm

This one's intriguing. Based on Sarah Moss's novel, it's set in a Scottish holiday park that looks relaxing but feels increasingly claustrophobic. Each family gets their own episode across the six-parter, which is a smart structure.

First up: Justine (Valene Kane) and her husband Steve (Daniel Rigby) dealing with paranoia and buried secrets. The reviews mention it gets "kinky" which... wasn't what I expected from a holiday park drama, but here we are. Dougray Scott and Shirley Henderson are also in the cast, so the acting pedigree is solid.

If you liked The Nest or other psychological dramas where scenic locations mask dark undertones, this should hit the spot.

I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! - ITV1, 9pm

Quarter of a century of celebrities eating bugs and pretending to be mates. That's... actually quite remarkable when you think about it.

This year's lineup includes Ruby Wax, Martin Kemp from Spandau Ballet, rapper Aitch, Kelly Brook, Jack Osbourne, and former Lioness Alex Scott. Ant and Dec are back (obviously), doing their double act.

I won't pretend it's highbrow telly, but there's something comforting about the format. It's Sunday night viewing that doesn't demand much from you - just sit back and watch famous people squirm in the jungle.

Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing - BBC Two, 9pm

Eight series in, and Bob and Paul still haven't caught a perch. Tonight they're in Herefordshire, trying again. Will they finally manage it? Probably not, but that's not really the point.

The real star is Ted the terrier, who rocks up in style and gets a canine massage. If that doesn't sell you on the show, nothing will. It's gentle, funny, and the kind of telly that makes Sunday evenings feel less like the weekend's ending.

Daisy May and Charlie Cooper's NightWatch - BBC Two, 9:30pm

The Coopers kick off their ghost hunt at York's Everyman cinema, where Daisy May first settles in for "Channing Tatum with no top on" (relatable). But then it's down to business investigating spooky goings-on at the art deco theatre.

These two have great chemistry - if you liked This Country, you'll know they can make anything entertaining.

Late Night: Classic Cinema

The Untouchables - BBC Two, 10pm

If you can overlook Sean Connery's "Irish" accent (very much via Edinburgh), this 1987 crime drama is a classy piece of filmmaking. David Mamet script. Ennio Morricone score. Giorgio Armani wardrobe. Brian De Palma direction. Robert De Niro as Al Capone being magnetically chilling.

Kevin Costner plays treasury agent Eliot Ness, assembling a ragtag team of honest cops - including Connery's wise old beat cop - to take down Chicago's most notorious gangster during prohibition. It's a period crime thriller done with serious style.

Fair warning: the opening 10 minutes are rough if you've got kids. But if you're up late and want something that looks gorgeous and tells a solid story, this is the one.

'71 - Channel 4, 1:15am

Jack O'Connell plays Gary, a British soldier who gets separated from his unit during a house raid in Belfast in 1971. He spends the night running from IRA gunmen through a city he doesn't know, navigating a political situation he barely understands.

Yann Demange's film packs a lot of nuance into what could've been just a chase thriller. It's tense, smart, and O'Connell is brilliant. If you're a night owl and fancy something gripping, this is worth staying up for.

If You're Not Into Drama or Reality

King of Lies: Football's Greatest Con - Sky Documentaries, 8pm

What connects North Korea's mining industry and England's oldest professional football club? This documentary tells the wild story of Notts County's 2009 takeover by a consortium with a conman at the heart of it.

The unravelling is head-spinning, and for County fans, heartbreaking. If you like football documentaries about bizarre scandals, this delivers.

What's on Streaming

• Netflix: Catch up on whatever true crime series everyone's talking about this week
• Disney+: Sunday night Marvel or Star Wars binges continue
• Apple TV+: Silo and Slow Horses if you're behind

The Viewing Schedule Table

Final Verdict

Riot Women's the must-watch if you've been following the series. Summerwater looks like it could be Channel 4's next big thriller. And if you want to switch your brain off, I'm a Celebrity's there for you. Solid Sunday night lineup - take your pick.