Your Easter weekend 2026 schedule: What’s worth watching this Bank Holiday

Spring is finally here, and the Easter bank holiday weekend is upon us, bringing with it a great selection of TV shows and movies.

If you enjoy science fiction and are looking for something to watch during the long weekend, you might like the restored episodes of Doctor Who: The Daleks’ Master Plan, now available on BBC iPlayer, or the new animated Star Wars series, Maul – Shadow Lord, on Disney Plus.

Good news for drama lovers! New seasons of popular shows are coming soon – you can expect more episodes of Beyond Paradise (season 4), Grace (season 6), and The Capture (season 3) in the next few days.

Whether you enjoy reality TV, entertainment shows, or documentaries, there’s plenty to choose from right now. Highlights include David Attenborough’s Secret Garden, a new season of the travel show Pilgrimage, Wild Atlantic with Ronan Keating, the latest season of Have I Got News For You, and season two of I’m a Celebrity… South Africa.

Finally, comedy lovers can anticipate the fifth season of The Young Offenders, while sports enthusiasts can watch The Boat Race, which will be broadcast on Channel 4 for the very first time.

Read on for our list of what’s worth watching this Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

Doctor Who: The Daleks’ Master Plan

Friday 3 April, 6am, BBC iPlayer

I was so excited when the First Doctor and his friends landed on Kembel, a jungle planet way back in the year 4000! It turned out the Daleks were there, secretly trying to team up with others to take over the entire universe. It was a really tense adventure!

Fans will be thrilled to hear that the first and third episodes of this 1960s television series – previously missing for 60 years – are now available on iPlayer, joining episodes two, five, and ten. Called ‘The Nightmare Begins’ and ‘Devil’s Planet,’ these newly rediscovered installments complete the 12-part story, a compelling, though sometimes meandering, tale brought to life with strong performances and impressive direction.

Patrick Mulkern

Beyond Paradise season 4 episode 2

Friday 3 April, 8pm, BBC One

The portrayal of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) in mystery stories is a controversial topic. While it can create compelling, unreliable characters – as seen in films like Psycho – it also carries the risk of reinforcing harmful stereotypes about people with the condition, particularly linking it to violence. This story explores the idea that someone with DID might be a criminal, suggesting a violent ‘alter ego’ could be responsible for a crime. The episode will reveal whether or not this suspicion is justified. However, presenting this possibility can be problematic, as research indicates that individuals diagnosed with DID are much more likely to be self-harming than harmful to others.

David Brown

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Have I Got News For You season 71

Friday 3 April, 9pm, BBC One

When Have I Got News For You first aired in September 1990, the panel talked about the potential Gulf War and a UK recession – some things never change! Add to that the growing popularity of the Reform and Green parties, while Labour and the Conservatives lost ground, the fallout from the Epstein files, and the latest headlines from the White House, and you have a week of news perfectly suited for comedy duo Paul Merton and Ian Hislop to dissect.

I tuned in for the first episode of this show’s seventy-first season, and it was great to see Armando Iannucci and Anushka Asthana from Channel 4 News involved. It feels like they’ve got a really sharp, new group of comedians to work with – kind of like the UK’s version of Saturday Night Live! The host tonight, Roy Wood Jr., has actually spent time on the other side of the pond, hosting the US version of Have I Got News for You, and this is his third time leading the show, which is awesome.

Gabriel Tate

The Young Offenders season 5

Friday 3 April, 9:30pm, BBC One

It feels like an amazing time for Irish arts and culture right now! From incredible actors like Jessie Buckley and Cillian Murphy, to bestselling authors like Marian Keyes and Sally Rooney – and let’s not forget the beloved Mrs. Brown – we’re really having a moment. So, the return of Mrs. Brown’s Boys for another series feels perfectly timed, adding to all the other great Irish content out there. It’s like a full-on ‘Guinnaissance’ – a revival, and it’s fantastic to see!

Conor and Jock, two old friends and somewhat clumsy criminals, reconnect after being released from prison in different countries. They promise to turn their lives around, but quickly fall back into their old habits. Disguised as part of a bachelor party – calling themselves Diego and Juan – they mistakenly take a retired couple hostage while hiding out in a secluded house. Surprisingly, they discover they have more in common with the couple than they thought, leading to a funny mix of arguments, silly antics, and unexpected warmth.

Michael Hogan

The Boat Race 2026

Saturday 4 April, 1:30pm, Channel 4

For the first time in almost a century, the BBC won’t be showing The Boat Race, but the exciting competition on the River Thames will still take place as usual.

The first radio broadcast of the Boat Race happened in 1927, transmitted from a small boat called the Magician, which was packed with over half a ton of equipment, including a generator and batteries. It wasn’t until 1938 that teams from Oxford and Cambridge competed on television, eleven years before the BBC could broadcast the entire race to viewers at home.

In 2026, you’ll be able to watch the men’s and women’s races on Channel 4, with Clare Balding leading the coverage. Times Radio will also be broadcasting live commentary.

Honestly, all the cameras and commentary aside, it’s still the same incredible course from Putney to Mortlake, and the crews are just as determined to win as always. Cambridge has been dominating recently, winning six of the last seven men’s races, and their women’s team hasn’t lost in eight years! But I’m really hoping to see Oxford break through and start a new chapter for this amazing British tradition. It’s time for a change!

Michael Potts

Secret Garden

Sunday 5 April, 6pm, BBC One

As a lifelong cinema and nature documentary fan, I always thought what made David Attenborough so special was his ability to bring the wonders of the natural world into our living rooms. It felt like he connected us to places most of us would only dream of visiting. Now, as he nears his 100th birthday, he’s doing something even more amazing – he’s turning his lens on the incredible wildlife right here where we live. This new series isn’t about faraway lands, it’s about discovering the hidden beauty all around us, right on our doorstep.

It’s truly a pleasure to watch. While a beautiful voiceover always enhances a nature documentary, the stunning footage here really speaks for itself. The filmmakers have captured something wonderful in the garden of a mill house beside the River Thame in Oxfordshire, and this first episode is a perfect example.

One of the most captivating moments shows a male kingfisher trying to win over a female by sharing his freshly caught fish – and later, we get a peek at their adorable, squabbling chicks tucked away in their riverbank home. The filmmakers also captured a secret nest of tiny vole pups – seriously, they’re smaller than jelly babies and completely blind! – and a surprisingly intense otter hunt that felt straight out of ‘Jaws.’ It’s all beautifully filmed, and honestly, if you have even a small garden, this documentary will completely change how you look at it.

David Butcher

Grace season 6 episode 2

Sunday 5 April, 8pm, ITV1

Peter James has written a lot of books, but the TV series based on his work is moving ahead quickly. That’s why this new episode features an original story, not one taken directly from a published novel, though James himself approved it and it includes his typical themes. The story focuses on psychological cruelty and stalking, this time happening at a university where female students feel unsafe. It’s a relevant topic, as stalking on UK campuses is often underreported. Thankfully, this episode is handled with restraint, avoiding the over-the-top moments that have sometimes appeared in previous installments.

David Brown

The Capture season 3 episode 5

Sunday 5 April, 9pm, BBC One

This episode has a lot of secrets, and I can’t share much about it without risking trouble – kind of like what happened to Ron Perlman’s character in a movie!

This episode revisits a clever trick from the late Home Secretary involving a fake TV interview, and reveals details about Noah Pierson (Killian Scott), including his true identity, past actions, and the purpose of his heart implant.

Pierson explains to Rachel that he feels like a small, insignificant part of a larger system, unaware of what others are doing or even who they are. However, Rachel has good reason to doubt him, considering his history of dishonesty.

Jane Rackham

Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island

Sunday 5 April, 9pm, BBC Two

Past seasons of this show have followed celebrities traveling religious paths in warm places like Spain and Italy, seeking spiritual understanding. This time, the group is tackling a very different journey: a 290-mile hike through the rainy landscapes of northern England, from Whitby to Lindisfarne, over twelve days.

People hold diverse beliefs, and this often leads to fascinating conversations. It’s a setup you might see in a joke – a Christian, an atheist, and a Jew going for a walk – but in this case, it’s a genuine search for understanding. Comedians Hasan al-Habib, who practices Islam, and Ashley Blaker, who was raised in an Orthodox Jewish tradition and still maintains strong beliefs, offer particularly insightful perspectives on their faiths.

Get ready for a mix of fun, thoughtful moments, and real talk about faith – and maybe a little bit of exertion! We’ll continue this tomorrow.

Jane Rackham

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord

Monday 6 April, Disney+

If you’ve only seen the Star Wars movies, you might be a little lost by this series. Most fans last saw Darth Maul being cut in half by Obi-Wan Kenobi way back in 1999’s The Phantom Menace. That makes his return – and his lightsaber skills – pretty surprising!

Darth Maul, now simply known as Maul, returned to screens in the animated series The Clone Wars with a robotic upgrade. He now stars in his own show where he battles the powerful Galactic Empire. It’s essential viewing for dedicated fans.

Huw Fullerton

Ronan Keating’s Wild Atlantic

Monday 6 April, 6:30pm, BBC Two

You might not expect words like ‘wild’ and ‘rugged’ to describe Ireland to singer Ronan Keating, but that’s exactly how he sees the west coast. This beautiful travel show isn’t really about him, though – it’s about the stunning scenery of Ireland where the land meets the Atlantic Ocean. Keating felt drawn back to his homeland after the sad loss of his brother, and this journey is his way of reconnecting with his Irish roots.

The series begins with Donal Keating traveling to County Cork, the largest county in southern Ireland. He enjoys the stunning landscapes and tries his hand at road bowling, competing against his nephew, a professional footballer. He also explores a rewilding project, searching for plants he can eat. Keating also takes time for personal reflection, visiting Ireland’s first Tibetan Buddhist temple to process his grief over the loss of a sibling.

Johnathon Hughes

I’m a Celebrity… South Africa season 2

Monday 6 April, 9pm, ITV1

Ant and Dec are enjoying another two free vacations this year! In addition to their usual trip to Australia in the fall, they’ll be heading back to the jungle for a special spring edition. This season of the show features fan-favorite contestants from past seasons competing for the title of “ultimate legend” in South Africa.

The final of the show will be slightly different this year, with the results broadcast live from London, allowing viewers to vote for the winner. Harry Redknapp, a well-known football manager, is currently the bookmakers’ favorite. Other strong contenders include Scarlett Moffatt, previously on Gogglebox, and actor Adam Thomas. Completing the lineup are Ashley Roberts of the Pussycat Dolls, boxer David Haye, actress Beverley Callard, Olympic runner Sir Mo Farah, singer Sinitta, DJ Craig Charles, footballer Jimmy Bullard, comedian Seann Walsh, and reality TV personality Gemma Collins – who only lasted three days on ‘I’m a Celebrity…’ back in 2014.

The twelve contestants are probably used to the format by now – we’re being told to expect really challenging and difficult competitions. You’ll want to eat dinner first, though – it’s going to be a long show!