From the Doctor Who special to an Ice Age adventure: What to stream and watch on TV this Easter weekend

Virgin Radio

14 Apr 2022, 14:34

The long Easter weekend calls for catching up with friends and family, diving into the Easter egg stash, and chilling out in front of the telly. 

However you’re spending your weekend, whether you’re enjoying all four days off or want something to watch in your downtime, here are a few things coming out over the next few days to keep you entertained. 

(Don’t forget, you can check out everything released this month on streaming services in our helpful guide to the best TV shows and films to stream in April)

BBC

Doctor Who: Legend of the Sea Devils (Easter Sunday)

It wouldn’t be a national holiday without the BBC putting on a Doctor Who special. 

In this new adventure, called Legend of the Sea Devils, The Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), Yaz (Mandip Gill) and Dan (John Bishop) will come face to face (or fin) with one of the Doc’s oldest adversaries, the Sea Devils. The nautical enemies haven’t been seen on screen since 1984. 

The episode will serve as the penultimate outing for Jodie’s doctor, with the final special airing this autumn to say goodbye to the thirteenth iteration of the time-traveller. 

Until then, Whovians can enjoy Legend of the Sea Devils on BBC One on Easter Sunday (17th April) at 7:10pm.

Michael Ball: Showtime (Easter Sunday)

It’s a Welsh musical extravaganza on BBC Two this Easter Sunday.

Michael Ball plays host at the Wales Millennium Centre to celebrate the reopening of theatres and venues around the country. 

Charlotte Church will be joined by Gregory Porter, while Michael will perform with singer-songwriter Amy Wadge, who wrote the UK’s Eurovision Song Contest track Space Man. 

Strictly Come Dancing pro Amy Dowden and her fiance Ben Jones will take to the stage to perform a one-off routine together too. 

Michael Ball: Showtime airs at 6pm on Easter Sunday.

Idris Elba’s Fight School (Easter Sunday)

Hollywood heavy hitter Idris Elba will see if boxing can help change the lives of a group of young people in his new challenging series - Fight School. 

Having seen how people’s lives were impacted by the introduction of a boxing club within a small community in South Africa, Idris wanted to try out the same thing back in the UK. 

Fight School will see a group of eight young people try out an intensive course of boxing training with some of the country’s leading coaches to see if they can test out their physical and mental resilience and help them acquire new life skills. 

Idris Elba’s Fight School airs on Easter Sunday at 9pm on BBC Two. 

ITV

The Thief, His wife and The Canoe (Easter Sunday)

ITV is diving into some real-life crime for its Easter Sunday evening. The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe tells the insane story of Hartlepool couple Anne and John Darwin, who gripped the entire nation 20 years ago after John faked his own death in order to cash out his insurance money. 

Eddie Marsan and Monica Dolan star as the deceptive couple, who were sentenced to more than six years in prison for fraud when John was not only discovered alive and well, but living nearby after secretly moving back in with Anne in 2003. 

The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe starts on ITV Easter Sunday at 9pm.

Channel 4

Hotel Chocolat at Easter (Good Friday)

As you’re tucking into any chocolatey Easter eggs, why not watch how they came to be from Britain's largest independent chocolate makers. 

Hotel Chocolat at Easter will show behind-the-scenes life at the confectioners during one of their busiest times of the year. 

The brains behind some of the best chocolate flavours out there will also share had they come up with their new luxury Easter egg. We’re craving something sweet just thinking about it. 

Hotel Chocolat at Easter airs on Good Friday at 7:30pm on Channel 4. 

Disney+

Ice Age: Scrat Tales 

Some family fun now, and the latest in the Ice Age franchise is out this Easter weekend. 

Everyone’s favourite adorable sabre-toothed squirrel is back, and he’s passing his infinite love of acorns down to his child - Baby Scrat (how cute!)

Disney+ are releasing six new animated shorts starring Scrat as he traverses the perils of fatherhood with Baby Scrat by his side, who also has a taste for that beloved acorn. 

Ice Age: Scrat Tales is available on Disney+ now. 

Apple TV+ 

Roar (Good Friday)

If you like your Easter eggs with a side of girl power, this series is for you. 

Apple TV+ has just released a new anthology series called Roar, which contains ‘darkly comic femininst fables that paint a portrait of what it means to be a woman today’. 

Based on a book of short stories by Cecelia Ahern, the star-studded cast includes Nicole Kidman, Cynthia Erivo, Issa Rae, Merritt Weaver and many more.

Roar is available to watch on Apple TV+ from Good Friday.

Netflix

Anatomy of a Scandal (Good Friday)

Sienna Miller is back in this new psychological thriller alongside Rupert Friend. 

Anatomy of a Scandal follows government minister James Whitehouse and wife Sophie, as their marriage is put to the ultimate test following massive accusations against James.

Michelle Dockery also stars in the drama as Kate Woodcroft, the barrister embroiled in the scandal which could break Westminster and the Woodcroft’s marriage apart. 

Anatomy of a Scandal lands on Netflix on Good Friday.