What to watch on TV this week: Wednesday 4 to Friday 13 March

Ready for a jam-packed schedule of telly treats? Seth MacFarlane’s Ted and one of 2024’s most popular TV dramas, Ellis, are back on screens for a second rodeo, while Claudia Winkleman meets some good boys and girls at Crufts 2026 and Steve Carell brings the house down in college comedy Rooster. Happy viewing!

Please note that several Sky channels have changed their channel numbers and moved in the programme guide. The new channel numbers are correct in the listings below. You’ll find full details of the channel number changes here.

With all this plus our usual sport and movie picks of the week, there’s something for all tastes across the service. And don’t forget, with Virgin TV Go, you can take your TV with you on the move.

There’s so much good stuff on this week that we’ve compiled a list of the best TV shows to watch. Bookmark this page to keep up to date with the latest changes.

Pick of the day: Mysteries Unearthed With Danny Trejo
10pm, Sky HISTORY HD (CH 131)

While Danny Trejo is best known for his Hollywood acting career (he has appeared in more than 400 movies and TV shows to date), he also has a penchant for mysteries about the unknown. Which brings us to the second instalment of Mysteries Unearthed With Danny Trejo, in which the star explores the fascinating stories behind buried artefacts, lost civilisations and some of the world’s most significant discoveries, with the help of expert interviews and captivating archival material. Intriguing…

What else to watch:

• Alice Roberts: Our Hospital Through Time – 8pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

• Landscape Artist Of The Year 2026: The Final – 8pm + 9pm, Sky Arts HD (CH 123)

• Hostage – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Stolen Girl – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• We Might Regret This – 10pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

Pick of the day: Crufts 2026
3pm + 7.30pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104) + 6.30pm, More4 HD (CH 147)

Claudia Winkleman has swapped traitors for a whole bunch of faithful boys and girls, as she joins the presenting line-up for this year’s Crufts. Along with regulars Clare Balding and Radzi Chinyanganya, the team chat all things canine through four days of ruff competition, jaw-dropping displays of agility and hilarious mishaps on the arena floor, as hundreds of fluffy candidates compete at the world’s greatest dog show. First up are the thrilling Flyball heats.

What else to watch:

• This Farming Life – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• Alexander Armstrong In India – 8pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

• Bangers & Cash – 8pm, U&Yesterday HD (CH 129)

• The Apprentice – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Prescription For Murder: True Crime Presents – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

Pick of the day: Ted
9pm + 9.45pm, Sky One HD (CH 109)

Family Guy’s Seth MacFarlane is back as Boston’s most badly behaved bear for more raucous antics in the prequel series to hit film franchise Ted. The second instalment follows the foul-mouthed titular teddy and his human best pal John (Max Burkholder, Parenthood), as they navigate the trials and tribulations of the senior year of high school in the 1990s. What could possibly go wrong?! Scott Grimes (The Orville), Alanna Ubach (Euphoria) and Giorgia Whigham (A Little White Lie) all return.

What else to watch:

• Crufts 2026 – 3pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104) + 6.30pm, More4 HD (CH 147)

• Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games: Opening Ceremony – 6.30pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104) + 4seven HD (CH 143)

• Big Cats 24/7 – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• Gogglebox – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Mary Celeste: Solving The Mystery – 9pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

Pick of the day: The Marlow Murder Club
5pm, U&Drama HD (CH 116)

With only weeks to go until the third instalment of Robert Thorogood’s cosy crime arrives, head back to the sleepy town of Marlow for the sleuthing adventures of Suzie Harris, Judith Potts and Becks Starling. This episode sees the crime aficionados bewildered by the murder of a man who is found dead on a quiet suburban street with no ID or connection to Marlow. Samantha Womack (EastEnders) and Patrick Robinson (The Outlaws) guest star.

What else to watch:

• Crufts 2026 – 2.30pm + 7pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Britain’s Got Talent – 7pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Gladiators – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• The Three Kings Of 1936 – 9pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

• The Walsh Sisters – 10.10pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

Pick of the day: Gone
9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

Eve Myles (The Guest) and David Morrissey (Sherwood) star in this twisty thriller that’s inspired by the real-life career of former detective Julie MacKay, who solved the cold case murder of Melanie Road after 32 years. When teacher Sarah goes missing, gutsy DS Annie Cassidy (Myles) is assigned to the case – which takes a sinister turn when she suspects that Sarah’s husband Michael (Morrissey), who’s also the headteacher, is involved. Gripping stuff.

What else to watch:

• Crufts 2026: Best In Show – 3.30pm + 7pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• The Capture – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Forensics: The Real CSI – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Great Pottery Throw Down: The Final – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Bottom Stage Show Live – 10.20pm, U&Gold HD (CH 124)

Pick of the day: Rooster
10pm, Sky One HD (CH 109)

This campus-set comedy follows middle-aged author Rooster (Steve Carell, The Office US) to Ludlow College to help his daughter, a recently divorced professor, only to discover that he’s been stuck at a crossroads in his own life. Charly Clive (The Lazarus Project), John C McGinley (Scrubs), Phil Dunster (Ted Lasso) and Danielle Deadwyler (The Piano Lesson) also star in the newest show from mega sitcom producer Bill Lawrence (Scrubs, The Big Bang Theory, Ted Lasso).

What else to watch:

• Dom Chinea’s Cornish Workshop – 8pm, U&Yesterday HD (CH 129)

• Gone – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Great British Castle Rescue – 9pm, Sky HISTORY HD (CH 131)

• Ross Kemp: Lost Boys, Deadly Men – 9pm, Crime+Investigation HD (CH 133)

Pick of the day: Ellis
9pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

After a long 18 months away from our screens, Sharon D Clarke (Doctor Who) returns as TV’s most tenacious detective. The second series of the runaway hit follows DCI Ellis and her right-hand man DS Harper (Andrew Gower, Outlander) as they solve more hard-to-crack cases with the help of local detectives across the north of England. Charlotte McCurry returns as DC Kate Trent while newcomers include Niamh Blackshaw (Waterloo Road), Mark Addy (The Rig) and Cariad Lloyd (Changing Ends).

What else to watch:

• Sort Your Life Out With Stacey Solomon – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Aldi Vs M&S: Battle Of The Brands – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• The Summit – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• The Dyers’ Caravan Park – 9pm, Sky One HD (CH 109)

Pick of the day: A Woman Of Substance
9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

Back in 1984, Channel 4’s first screen adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s bestselling novel set a record for the network’s highest ever audience for a single show. Now, the rags-to-riches revenge romp has been reimagined with Vera star Brenda Blethyn. Impoverished maid Emma Harte (played by both Blethyn and House Of Guinness’s Jessica Reynolds) embarks on a dizzying journey to become the world’s richest woman. Emmett J Scanlan (How To Get To Heaven From Belfast), Lenny Rush (Am I Being Unreasonable?) and Jo Joyner (The Wives) also star.

What else to watch:

• Ambulance – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Hostage – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Stolen Girl – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Ellis – 9pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

• Mysteries Unearthed With Danny Trejo – 10pm, Sky HISTORY HD (CH 131)

Pick of the day: Dunblane: How Britain Banned Handguns
9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

On 13 March 1996, a 43-year-old gunman murdered 16 children and one teacher at Dunblane Primary School in Scotland, leading to a nationwide campaign in which stricter gun legislation was brought into the UK. To mark the 30th anniversary of the Dunblane massacre, parents, politicians and campaigners share the stories of their courageous mission to change the law and ban handguns in the wake of an unthinkable tragedy. Moving viewing.

What else to watch:

• This Farming Life – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• Car SOS – 8pm, National Geographic HD (CH 183)

• The Apprentice – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• A Woman Of Substance – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• The Body In The Thames – 10pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

Pick of the day: The Claudia Winkleman Chat Show
10.40pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

Claudia Winkleman might have picked the traditional day of bad luck to make her TV chat show debut, but we’re sure it won’t give The Traitors host the willies – let alone the big entertainment hitters who’ll be joining her. Hollywood heavyweight Jeff Goldblum, TV stalwart Jennifer Saunders, West End star Vanessa Williams and comedian Tom Allen chinwag with the owner of telly’s best fringe about their upcoming projects, plus (hopefully) star-studded anecdotes and loose-lipped revelations.

What else to watch:

• Death In Paradise – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Big Cats 24/7 – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Affair – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Gogglebox – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Ted – 9pm + 9.45pm, Sky One HD (CH 109)

Motorsport: Formula One Australian Grand Prix
Sunday 8 March, 2.30am, Sky Sports F1® HD (CH 507)

We’ve never been on board with the “F1 is boring” allegations, but after Max Verstappen won his fourth straight drivers’ title in 2024, we had to concede it was getting just a little predictable. That all changed in 2025, as Verstappen’s Red Bull battled the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in a titanic struggle that went all the way to the final race, when Norris emerged triumphant. It was a brilliant year of top-class motor racing and with so many teams and drivers at the top of their game, the 2026 season – which starts this weekend in Australia – promises to be a cracker.

The intriguing indication from pre-season testing is that Ferrari and Mercedes have the fastest cars right now, having trailed behind Red Bull and McLaren for some time. Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari produced the best lap time, but the Mercedes car’s performance in race simulations led to George Russell being installed as the bookies’ favourite for the championship. There are other complicating factors too: concerns over reliability for Mercedes, for example, while McLaren are expecting a boost when they upgrade to the latest version of the Mercedes power unit for the Melbourne race.

Never forget Verstappen, who’ll bring that four-title nous even if his car isn’t the best of the bunch this time. And with Ferrari in such good shape, could Lewis Hamilton bring his immense experience to bear and have a real impact? Basically, it’s shaping up to be a phenomenal and wildly unpredictable season, and that’s good news for racing fans. All the action is live on Sky Sports, starting with the first practice at 1am Friday 6 March. If you can’t stay up for the Grand Prix itself, set your alarm for Sunday morning, and watch the full race as live starting from 7.55am on Sky Sports F1® HD (CH 507).

What else to watch:

Looking for more sport this week? We can help with that.

• All the best live sport you can watch on TV this week

• Got a Sky Sports subscription? Check out our monthly guide

• If you’ve got TNT Sports, your monthly guide is here

The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry
Saturday 7 March, 10pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

The critically acclaimed screen adaptation of Rachel Joyce’s bestselling novel won’t leave a dry eye in your living room. When pensioner Harold Fry (Jim Broadbent, Paddington) receives the news that a former colleague is dying from cancer, he leaves the comfort of his Devon home and embarks on a 500-mile cross-country pilgrimage to say goodbye before it’s too late, making some unlikely friends along the way. Co-starring Penelope Wilton (Downton Abbey), Linda Bassett (Call The Midwife) and Joseph Mydell (Mrs Wilson), The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry is a touching tale of regret and redemption.

• Our monthly Sky Cinema guide featuring the best movies this month

• Looking for something on Netflix? Try our monthly guide to new releases

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