2026 Guide: Best TV Shows & Programmes On This Week
Updated June 2026 with current pricing, channel listings and UK setup steps. With hundreds of programmes broadcast across UK channels every day, finding the genuinely unmissable shows requires either hours of schedule browsing or a trustworthy curation guide. This is that guide. Every Monday, we review the coming week's schedules across BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, and key satellite channels to pick the programmes that are actually worth your time.
Whether you are into new dramas, returning series, documentaries, live sport, or one-off specials, our editor's picks cover every genre and every night of the week. Bookmark this page and check back every Monday for the latest recommendations. For full daily schedules by channel, visit our main UK TV guide.
Editor's Picks: This Week's Must-Watch
Our top recommendations for the week are selected based on three criteria: critical reception and early reviews, the pedigree of the production team and cast, and viewer anticipation. We prioritise programmes that are free to watch on Freeview and catch-up services — though we include notable premium shows when they represent unmissable television.
Each pick includes the channel, time, and a brief explanation of why it deserves your attention. Where possible, we also note catch-up availability so you can watch at your convenience. If a recommended show is on a channel you do not receive through your current setup, our watch TV online guide can help you find alternative ways to access it.
This section is updated every Monday with the latest picks for the coming week. Check back for specific programme recommendations, times, and channels.
New Series Starting This Week
New series launches are the highlight of any TV week. UK broadcasters typically premiere new dramas, comedies, and factual series on Sunday through Wednesday evenings, with BBC One, ITV, and Channel 4 competing for the biggest audience. We track every new series start across all channels and flag the ones that early reviews suggest are worth investing your time in.
Most new series are available on catch-up immediately after broadcast. BBC programmes go to BBC iPlayer, ITV shows to ITVX, and Channel 4 content to their streaming platform. For setup guides on accessing these services, see our free streaming services page or our specific app guides for ITVX and Channel 4.
Returning Favourites
Returning series are the reliable backbone of the UK TV schedule. Shows like Sewing Bee, MasterChef, Bake Off, Taskmaster, and long-running soaps have established audiences who tune in week after week. We note when popular series return after a break, which episode number we are up to, and any significant changes (new judges, format changes, special series).
If you have missed earlier episodes of a returning series, catch-up services typically have the full current series available. BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and Channel 4 all maintain complete current-series box sets from the first episode.
Must-Watch Documentaries This Week
British documentary-making remains world-class, and UK television broadcasts excellent factual programming every week across multiple channels. BBC Two and Channel 4 are particularly strong for feature-length documentaries, while BBC One and ITV run accessible factual entertainment and investigative journalism in primetime.
We highlight the week's standout documentaries with a particular focus on one-off specials and new documentary series. If you enjoy documentaries and want access to a deeper archive, BBC iPlayer's documentary section is one of the best free resources available — covering nature, history, science, crime, and social issues. Our watch free UK TV guide covers every catch-up platform.
This Week's Sport on TV
Live sport is one of the primary reasons people pay for premium TV packages, but a surprising amount of sport is available on free-to-air television. BBC and ITV between them broadcast major football tournaments, rugby internationals, Wimbledon, the Olympic Games, cricket highlights, and more. Channel 4 has cycling and Paralympic coverage.
We flag the week's biggest free-to-air sporting events alongside notable premium sport (Sky Sports, TNT Sports, Amazon Prime) so you know what is available regardless of your setup. If you want access to premium sports without a full Sky subscription, our Now TV guide covers the Sky Sports day and month passes, and our IPTV guide covers alternative ways to access live sport.
For the cheapest way to watch sport overall, our TV and broadband deals guide compares sports bundles from every UK provider.
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