This week sees Wednesday: Season 2 – Part 1 continue its gothic reign, with streaming highlights including Fit for TV, Fixed, and Sister Boniface Mysteries on BritBox. No new blockbuster films this week, but music fans remain engaged with Craig David’s new release.
UK Terrestrial Television Highlights
This week’s terrestrial TV lineup brings historical drama, tension, and emotional storytelling front and centre:
MasterChef Series 21 continues across BBC One and iPlayer, though its latest run is marred by controversy following the removal of Gregg Wallace and John Torode due to misconduct allegations—creating a tense return for the storied cooking competition.
King and Conqueror premieres on BBC One on Sunday 24 August, a sweeping historical drama tracing the fateful clash in 1066 between Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy—an epic tale of ambition and legacy.
In Flight, debuting Thursday 21 August on Channel 4, is a gripping crime thriller starring Katherine Kelly as a beleaguered flight attendant coerced into smuggling drugs when her son is imprisoned abroad—thrilling, intense, and emotionally charged.
I Fought the Law, arriving this week on ITV1, tells the true story of a mother’s tireless fight for justice after her daughter’s murder. With Sheridan Smith at the helm, it’s a potent exploration of courage and legal reform.
Streaming
This week brings a thrilling return, an evolution in drama, and fresh entertainment across channels.
- Netflix continues to reign with Wednesday: Season 2 – Part 1, where the gothic, sardonic teenage sleuth explores more macabre mysteries at Nevermore Academy—dark humour and eerie intrigue still resonate strongly.
- Netflix also introduces a range of new and returning titles throughout the week. Highlights include Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser (a revealing docuseries) and a dramatic new animated feature—Fixed—showcasing a bold, R-rated adult comedy style. Additionally, Night Always Comes, a gritty crime thriller, delivers tough drama and emotional stakes on screen.
- On BritBox, something special arrives this week: Sister Boniface Mysteries: Season 4, with the determined detective nun back on the case, and Playing Nice: Season 1, a gripping tale of families torn apart by a child-switching secret.
- Across Prime Video in August, beloved teen drama The Summer I Turned Pretty: Season 3 continues its weekly rollout, alongside new Amazon Originals such as the espionage thriller Butterfly, the animated comedy Sausage Party: Foodtopia Season 2, and true-crime docuseries including Built in Birmingham: Brady & The Blues and Taurasi.
Pick of the Week
Wednesday: Season 2 – Part 1 on Netflix remains unmissable. The series continues to masterfully blend deadpan wit, supernatural suspense, and memorable character work. Its compelling narrative and tone make it our Pick of the Week—and the benchmark for must-watch programming this week.
Spanish Television Highlights
Spanish terrestrial channels stay in summer mode: La 1 (TVE) continues broadcasting El Grand Prix del verano, while Antena 3 remains in the realm of reruns and talk-show comfort. No new fiction debuts headline the schedule this week.
Cinema Releases
United Kingdom and Spain
No major premieres appear for this week. Cinema screens remain dominated by earlier summer blockbusters, including Superman, Jurassic World: Rebirth, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Fantastic Four: The First Steps, and Smurfs. The momentum continues for these fan favourites.
Music and Concerts
New Releases – Week of 18 August
No major international album releases are slated for this week. However, Craig David’s new album Commitment, released on 8 August, maintains a strong chart presence and cultural buzz.
Books: New Releases and Highlights (UK Focus)
- Frankly by Nicola Sturgeon – The former First Minister’s highly anticipated memoir was officially released on 14 August, though it quietly appeared on shelves at some Waterstones stores from 11 August. Frankly offers an unguarded account of her political journey, personal life, and mental health, including her tenure in office and the pressures that came with it. Her launch tour begins at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
- Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York by Andrew Lownie – Published on 14 August, this unauthorised biography explores the lives and controversies of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, including Andrew’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein. It has already sparked intense public debate over its revelations and timing.
- Katabasis by R. F. Kuang – A highly anticipated fantasy adventure scheduled for publication on 26 August, Kuang’s new novel offers a metaphoric descent into academia as hell. Reviewers praise its sharp prose and imaginative scope, comparing its academic hellscape to scholarly absurdity with mythical depth.
