TV tonight: a fantastically silly family-friendly Squid Game

The Guardian

22-03-2025

6pm, ITV1
Who would have thought a group of adults trying to balance a spiral toy on their heads could be so entertaining? This is soap actor brothers Adam and Ryan Thomas's fun new gameshow, in which 100 contestants have to make it to the end of the whole series to win a cash prize – but first they need to complete a bunch of very silly tasks without coming last. Think of it as a family-friendly Squid Game. Hollie Richardson
5.50pm, BBC One
It's the first semi-final of the enjoyably ludicrous meta-sport spectacular and the gladiators are pumped: Cyclone loses it in the locker room, while a fan gets on the wrong end of Viper's pantomime wrath. On the arena floor, one contestant lets loose in a more positive way, smashing records in Powerball. Jack Seale
6.50pm, BBC One
Disney fans can preview the upcoming Hercules musical in this annual stage extravaganza, with Herc actor Luke Brady singing Go the Distance. There'll also be performances from buzzy comedy Titanique, the award-winning Cabaret and the classic Mary Poppins. HR
8.15pm, Channel 4
If you ever needed evidence of the astonishing influence of the Greeks on culture, this historical travelogue should do it. Not in the drinker Thespis being responsible for the term 'thespian'. Or in their invention of democracy. But in the goddess Nike, whose name became a globe-conquering brand. Alexi Duggins
9.15pm, BBC One
In the penultimate episode of the post-first world war drama, secrets and scandals collide. A missing bullet spells danger for Violet and Kate, we discover the truth about Billie, and MP Frederick Asquith-Gore is blackmailed: 'You work so hard, the last thing you need is sordid rumours flying around the press speculating about seances and black magic.' Ali Catterall
9.20pm, ITV1
Aimee Lou Wood is already having a whopper of a year, as the star of Toxic Town and a standout in The White Lotus. She's on Jonathan Ross's sofa, along with Stephen Fry, Gangs of London actor Sopé Dìrísù and comedian Joanne McNally. HR
O'Dessa, out now, Disney+
Geremy Jasper's new sci-fi film has similarities to the We Will Rock You musical in its simple morality and dressing-up-box punk aesthetic. In this dystopian world, there is a prophecy of 'one who could stir souls … armed with a guitar'. That would be folksy farm girl O'Dessa (Stranger Things's Sadie Sink), who follows her late father's stolen guitar to Satylite City, a neon-lit tip whose inhabitants are in thrall to quasi-religious TV entertainer/dictator Plutonovich (Murray Bartlett). Kelvin J Harrison is a standout as O'Dessa's gender-fluid rock star love interest. Simon Wardell
Athletics: World Indoor Championships, 10.30am, BBC Two Day two concludes with the women's 60m final and men's pole vault final, in which world record holder Mondo Duplantis should feature.
Premiership Rugby Union: Saracens v Harlequins, 2.30pm, TNT Sports 1 Followed by Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs at 5.15pm. Bath v Gloucester is on Sun at 2.30pm.
Women's Six Nations Rugby: Scotland v Wales, 4.30pm, BBC Two From Hive Stadium, Edinburgh. England v Italy is on Sun at 2.30pm.
Super League Rugby: Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors, 5pm, Sky Sports Main Event At AMT Headingley Stadium.
World Cup Football: Wales v Kazakhstan, 7.30pm, BBC Three A Group J qualifier from Cardiff. North Macedonia v Wales is on Tue at 7.30pm on BBC Three.