Race Across the World and Big Night of Musicals: TV highlights this week

Big Night of Musicals 2026 by the National Lottery (Saturday 28/03/26, BBC One, 7.45pm)

Words by Damon Smith

Seeing Jessie Buckley deservedly win an Academy Award as Best Actress for her heartbreaking performance as William Shakespeare’s grief-stricken wife Agnes in Hamnet brought back fond memories of the first time we first saw the County Kerry actor showcasing her undeniable star quality. She was a fresh-faced 17-year-old contestant on the BBC One talent contest I’d Do Anything hosted by Graham Norton.

The Saturday night reality competition series was looking for an unknown to play the role of Nancy in a West End revival of the musical Oliver! featuring music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. Resident judges John Barrowman, Denise Van Outen and Barry Humphries offered their assessments as Buckley safely navigated her way into the final three with Samantha Barks and Jodie Prenger. Andrew Lloyd Webber and producer Cameron Mackintosh both declared Buckley their winner but the public anointed Prenger the new Nancy in the televote.

I’d Do Anything followed hot on the heels of How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do, which plucked Connie Fisher and Lee Mead from obscurity to headline high-profile London productions of The Sound of Music and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Musical theatre has continued to razzle dazzle in primetime on the BBC and tonight, glittering stars of the stage come together to celebrate more than £1.4bn of National Lottery funding, which has helped to support 29,000 theatre related projects in the UK over the last 31 years.

Comedian and musical theatre star Jason Manford returns as host for a fun-filled night recorded live in front of an energetic audience of 12,000 National Lottery players at the AO Arena in Manchester. Eurovision Song Contest hero Sam Ryder, who propelled the United Kingdom to second place with Space Man in 2022, will make his West End debut in June at the London Palladium in the title role of the aforementioned Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar. He delivers a powerhouse performance of Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say).

X Factor winner-turned-musical theatre star Alexandra Burke performs a medley of songs from her new show, I’m Every Woman: The Chaka Khan Musical, which has just received its world premiere at London’s Hackney Empire. Drag queen La Voix was a mischievous delight on the most recent series of Strictly Come Dancing with partner Aljaž Škorjanec. She had to withdraw from the competition due to injury but at the AO Arena, she turns up the villainy to 11 as boozy orphanage manager Miss Hannigan in Annie.

West End stars Lucie Jones, Mae Ann Jorolan and Trevor Dion Nicholas pay tribute to the genius of composer Alan Menken, who wrote many iconic Disney soundtracks, with a selection of his finest work. There are also rousing numbers from The Lion King, Miss Saigon, Oliver!, Paddington The Musical, The Producers and Sunny Afternoon. Plus, there’s a chance to see Emma Kingston and Zizi Strallen reprise their roles from Wicked, as well as teasing behind-the-scenes footage of the forthcoming Bank Of Dave The Musical. Nestle down in your front row seat.

Grace (Sunday 29/03/26, ITV1, 8pm)

Words by Sarah Morgan

Sometimes you hear about a drama going into production and you just know it’s going to be a hit before the cameras have even rolled.

That was the case (no pun intended) for Grace, the crime series based on Peter James’s bestselling novels charting the life and career of Brighton-based police officer DSI Roy Grace.

In fact, the only surprise is that it took so long for the stories to make it to the small screen – the first book, Dead Simple, was published in 2005, while the debut TV show didn’t appear until 2021. What TV executives were waiting for is anybody’s guess, but in the five years since, they have made up for lost time by producing five seasons; now a sixth is about to begin.

John Simm returns as the central character, something that will please James very much indeed: “When ITV said ‘what do you think about John Simm?’ I said, ‘You’re kidding?! This is exactly the kind of image I’ve always had.’ He was Roy Grace from the moment I first saw him,” claims the author, whose 21st novel in the series, The Hawk Is Dead, came out last year.

“When the first episode of Grace aired, it was a dream come true,” adds James. “The continued success of Grace is a testament to the outstanding cast, headed by John, and crew and, equally importantly, the fans, who have loved and devoted their time to these characters both on the page and now the screen.”

Simm seems slightly surprised by it all: “This is the longest I’ve been involved in any show!” he laughs. “But it’s such a joy to do, and to be surrounded by a team like this for large chunks of the year makes it impossible to turn down. I’m really looking forward to seeing where Roy’s journey goes in this series.”

Future episodes in the new run are based on the novels Picture You Dead and One of Us Is Dead, but it begins with Left You Dead, the 17th to be written. It’s a great way to kick off the series because we’ll get to see Grace really struggle – for the first time in his career he’s completely confounded by a crime.

A woman appears to have simply walked away from her life, never to be seen again. She had been bickering with her property developer husband on the day of her disappearance, but nothing serious enough for her to want away. Nevertheless, on their way home from a day out, he dropped her off at a supermarket and waited in the car for her return – except that she never reappeared.

Initially, the husband is a suspect, until Grace realises that nothing is quite as it seems…

“It’s always exciting to return to Grace and the Brighton that Peter’s brilliant stories evoke,” says Huw Kennair Jones, ITV’s drama commissioner. “That, coupled with the fantastic cast and crew who bring it all to life with such expertise, means we’re in for another great series.”

Babies (Monday 30/03/26, BBC One, 9pm)

Words by Sarah Morgan

Love and heartbreak – two things that sometimes go hand in hand, sadly.

They’ve been staple parts of comedy and drama since stories began, but rarely have they been depicted in such a warm and humorous, yet incredibly moving way as in the BBC’s latest drama.

Babies is a six-parter (showing on Monday and Tuesday evenings) written by Stefan Golaszewski, who is best known for his comedy projects. The former president of the famous University of Cambridge’s Footlights is part of the comedy troupe Cowards, alongside Tim Key, Tom Basden and Lloyd Woolf, and is the writer and creator of the Bafta-winning sitcoms Him & Her and Mum.

However, in 2022, he spread his wings by penning Marriage, a drama about the long union between characters played by Nicola Walker and Sean Bean. Now he’s getting serious again.

Siobhán Cullen and Paapa Essiedu head the cast as thirty-something couple Lisa and Stephen. They are very much in love and desperate to seal their happiness by becoming parents. However, they are not prepared for the nightmare that lies ahead; they suffer miscarriage after miscarriage, something they must deal with while the rest of life carries on as normal around them.

Despite all this, they never lose hope, realising that the strength of their relationship will, hopefully, help them deal with their trauma and whatever the future may hold.

“Babies has everything we love about Stefan Golaszewski’s work – a tender, authentic, emotional and human look at couples navigating a time in their lives that is rarely covered on television,” says Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama. “It’s no surprise that this very special series has attracted such an outstanding cast, and it’s been an honour to see them bring Stefan’s scripts to life.”

Cullen will be instantly recognisable to fans of The Dry for her brilliant performance as the troubled Sheridan clan’s doctor daughter Caroline, who outwardly appears normal, but is revealed to be as eccentric and troubled as the rest of her family. She will soon be seen alongside Henry Cavill and Russell Crowe in a revamp of classic 1980s fantasy movie Highlander.

Essiedu, meanwhile, has wowed audiences with his performances for the Royal Shakespeare Company, most notably in a 2016 production of Hamlet. He’s appeared on TV in I May Destroy You, Gangs of London and The Lazarus Project; his next big screen project is The Scurry, which is, believe it or not, a comedy-horror film involving a gang of killer squirrels.

Joining them in the cast are Charlotte Riley, whose credits include a 2009 adaptation of Wuthering Heights, during which she met her husband, Tom Hardy, and Jack Bannon, who played the lead in Batman spin-off Pennyworth. They play another couple, Amanda and Dave, who are facing their own challenges, which may impact on Stephen and Dave’s long-standing friendship.

“Paapa, Siobhán, Jack and Charlotte are all incredible actors,” claims Golaszewski. “Their warmth, detail and deep humanity are essential to telling this crucial story that’s never told.”

There may be heartbreak on screen, but off it, there’s nothing but love, it seems.

The Dog House (Tuesday 31/03/26, C4, 8pm)

Words by Damon Smith

Pets quickly become a part of the family so it’s unsurprising that some owners choose to treat their tail-wagging companions like two-legged members of the household, whether that be keeping a pooch warm on a morning walk with a miniature coat and boots, or permitting a pet to occupy a cosy corner of the master bedroom.

Since it first broadcast in 2019, The Dog House has been matchmaking man’s so-called best friend with people who are willing to offer a lifelong home to rescue animals that might not have had the best start in life. The show is filmed at the Woodgreen Pets Charity’s 43-acre centre in Godmanchester in Cambridgeshire. The charity has provided a refuge for vulnerable and homeless pets for 100 years, including urgent, life-saving care for some canines.

For entertainment purposes, only a small part of the rehoming journey is depicted in each episode of The Dog House. Individuals and families who take part on the show go through the same process and checks as everyone who rehomes a pet from Woodgreen, and finding the right match for each dog is the top priority rather than engineering feelgood moments that attack our tear ducts. This explains why a first attempt at matchmaking is sometimes unsuccessful. In this week’s instalment, Fox the stray Pomeranian seizes a second chance at adoption with the same fervour as a favourite dog chew.

Participants on the show never know ahead of time which dog will be their match. The first meeting we see on screen is an authentic “blind date” – not that it would be easy to fake the volcanic eruptions of excitement from younger participants when a rambunctious animal comes bounding through the door.

Also this week, a lovable Great Dane called Scooby from Cornwall makes a big impression in every sense when he arrives at the centre looking for a new forever friend to join his clan. Plus, the Davies family are glad to be treated to fun and energetic dates with Moana the Labrador and Buffy the German shepherd puppy in quick succession.

Heartstrings are plucked with ruthless efficiency. That undeniable emotional bond between dogs and potential owners has been strong this series. The Bodley family saw double when they met mischievous cockapoo twins Milo and Mable, while Floyd the lurcher arrived at Woodgreen in desperate need of some TLC. Dory the stray terrier found an ardent protector in Willis, the three-legged Pomeranian, proving that size doesn’t matter when it comes to demonstrating bravery on four paws.

The show scored big when football-mad Josh scouted for a perfect team-mate and was paired with Ruby the Staffy as a potential new addition to his squad. Cavapoo Honey didn’t make the best first impression with Corina but every dog has tricks up its furry sleeves and six-year-old Aurora was powerless to resist the boundless charm of broken-hearted cockapoo Ozzy. These were matches made in doggy heaven.

Warship: Life in the Royal Navy (Wednesday 01/04/26, 5, 8pm)

Words by Damon Smith

The Middle East crisis has drawn attention to the vital role that the Royal Navy plays in protecting the UK’s freedom and trade. The oceans are critical to our survival: 50% of the UK’s food and fuel is imported by sea, and 97% of our data is transferred under it.

Formally established by Henry VIII, the Royal Navy is a driving force in maintaining peace and stability, with a remit to operate across the globe to support the flow of trade to our island nation, strengthen vital relationships with allies and maintain a watchful eye over anyone who poses a threat.

The second series of Warship: Life In The Royal Navy welcomes back former Royal Marine JJ Chalmers. Across six episodes, he journeys back to the beginning of his military career and shares what it takes to be an elite Royal Marine Commando. He also takes part in a moving reunion with former colleagues who were serving alongside him when he was injured while on operations in Afghanistan.

The show continues his personal journey from the first series, when JJ returned to his old stomping ground, the Marine Commando Training Centre in Devon, to follow a group of new recruits being pushed to the limit to earn the coveted green beret. He revisited the endurance course that he passed with flying colours when he first began his career and discovered the future of naval warfare, from intense training to hi-tech weapons.

JJ is joined by Kate Humble, who is granted unprecedented access to the Royal Navy on land and at sea. She receives special clearance to go behind the scenes at Britain’s secretive submarine base at Faslane in Scotland and experiences headline-grabbing action firsthand while aboard a British warship as it hunts down a Russian submarine.

The story unfolds in this week’s dramatic first episode, shortly after Kate has stepped onto a British warship for the very first time, HMS Iron Duke, a Type 23 frigate. She had been expecting to witness some fairly routine stuff – until the authorities grew concerned that the sub might explode inside British waters.

A mechanical fault is suspected to be the cause of the issue, and the assignment takes an even more dangerous turn when Storm Amy begins to batter the coast of the UK.

Cameras capture remarkable footage of the sensitive and dangerous military operation and Kate witnesses the British warship track down the Russians and follow them through the English Channel.

She was only supposed to be spending two weeks with the 200-strong crew to experience what it’s like to be a part of such a dedicated team; it’s certainly a far cry from her regular life on her farm in Monmouthshire.

Additionally, roving reporter Dwayne Fields learns how crucial historical events shaped Britain’s oldest fighting service, including the 105-year-old former Wren, who kept Britain fighting in the Second World War.

Race Across the World (Thursday 02/04/2026, BBC One, 8pm)

Words by Richard Jones

Everyone’s favourite travel show is back as 10 more people from all walks of life are dumped at a far-flung location and told to make it to another, via a series of hard-to-reach checkpoints.

In previous series, we have seen contestants travel from London to Singapore, Mexico City to Ushuaia, Vancouver to Newfoundland, Japan to Lombok, and the Great Wall of China to the Southernmost point of India.

Now, in what the BBC is calling a “journey of extremes”, the intrepid teams will be racing more than 12,000km across vast, unforgiving landscapes in Europe and Asia, from the island of Sicily all the way to the remote village of Hatgal on the shores of lake Hövsgöl in northern Mongolia.

The race begins tonight in Palermo and to reach the first checkpoint, the teams must first traverse through southern Italy.

A ferry across the Tyrrhenian Sea could propel them straight to the vibrant city of Naples, or they could choose to travel by land through the rugged region of Calabria.

Once in Puglia, the race continues across the Adriatic towards the first checkpoint: Fiskardo on the Greek island of Kefalonia.

While nothing usually goes to plan in Race Across the World, the real joy comes from watching the five pairs emerge out of their comfort zones, bask in new experiences and learn to appreciate life a little bit more.

Over the next few weeks, we will become well acquainted with the five pairs hoping to claiming the £20,000 prize.

Childhood best friends from Liverpool, Jo and Kush (both 19), are the youngest duo. Still living at home with their mums, this is their first real taste of independence.

“I think our strength would be our ease to speak to strangers,” Jo says.

Meanwhile, inseparable Manchester siblings Katie (20) and Harrison (23) may do everything together, but they couldn’t be more different when it comes to the race. Accountant Harrison’s laser-like focus on the budget and high-paid work takes them to an upmarket café in Naples.

“I think we’re going to be quite tight on budget, because Harrison is tight anyway,” Katie jokes.

Twenty-three-year-old Junior Doctor Molly and her geography teacher father Andrew (54) have always been close, but as Molly prepares to start her medical career, she wants to prove to her dad that she’s more capable than he gives her credit for.

“We want to enjoy every second,” Molly says.

Puja (31) and her cousin Roshni (32) have spent their 20s building successful careers and before the adventure, they are both in agreement with what they will miss the most.

“Home cooked food,” Roshni says.

Finally, this season’s ‘unlikely duo’ are Mark (66) and Margo (59), who have spent the last 40 years with a typically fractious in-laws’ relationship.

“We are in it to win it,” Mark admits. “But enjoyment is also a very key part of the whole

experience.”

If you’re feeling inspired by tonight’s programme, you could always try the Race Across The World experience in London.

Or if you’re particularly brave, maybe sign up to be a contestant on series seven – applications are now open.

The Young Offenders (Friday 03/04/2026, BBC One, 9.30pm)

Words by Richard Jones

The last time we saw Cork gang was in the 2024 Christmas special as Mairéad, Sgt Healy and Conor prepared for a new arrival.

Although that particular storyline of domestic bliss, or rather not, was fun to watch, the coming-of-age comedy has always been at its best when its two main characters, Conor (Alex Murphy) and Jock (Chris Walley), were on screen together, causing chaos.

As The Young Offenders returns for its fifth season tonight, the pair are thankfully reunited in Ireland after a disastrous brush with the law saw them spend jail time on two different continents.

When a chance opportunity allows Jock to stows away on a ship from Colombia bound for Cork, the lads slip back into their old ways quickly, wreaking havoc everywhere they go, but still wanting the best for themselves and their families.

Over the next few weeks, we will see Conor face losing the love of his life, Jock trying to rebuild his relationship with Star, and the lads embark on more crazy plans in the hope of improving their lives.

After appearing in Conversations with Friends, based on Sally Rooney’s novel, Murphy is thrilled to be returning to the show which has made him a star.

“The Young Offenders is something I am very proud of in my life,” the 28-year-old actor says.

“My character is struggling with deciding what type of life he wants to live, while his best friend is constantly convincing him to dip his toe back into the life of crime. “Needless to say Conor doesn’t need much convincing.”

Murphy is also excited to be reteaming with his co-star Walley, after the pair spent the majority of series four apart.

“Conor no longer had his best friend with him, and neither did I, it’s quite poetic really. “So to have Jock/Chris return in season five was very energising.”

Meanwhile, Walley, 30, has seen his career go from strength to strength after also receiving plaudits for his role in The Young Offenders.

He has appeared in Sam Mendes’ war movie 1917, comedy thriller Pixie and the BBC’s Northern Ireland-set police thriller Bloodlands.

He also went one better than Murphy, actually winning an IFTA award for the previous series.

“I’m so grateful for the IFTA win,” he says. “It’s amazing to be honoured at home.”

“What I love about The Young Offenders is Conor and Jock go on these amazing journeys, but then they very quickly forget everything they’ve learned and end up back to their old tricks.”

Also reuniting with Murphy and Walley is Hilary Rose who plays their long-suffering mother/guardian Máiréad.

She thinks the show is going back to basics in this new series.

“It really feels like a return to the original vibe and the truth of the show,” the 46-year-old actress explains.

“Mairéad has progressed in life somewhat. There’s a new family member on the scene, which definitely keeps her busy, and it almost feels like a full-circle moment for her.

“We get to see more of Mairéad’s back story this series, with Fionnula Flanagan coming in to play her mother, which was really exciting for all of us.

“I just hope it brings more laughs, more smiles, and more time spent together watching a show they hopefully love.”