August Bank Holiday 2022: What to watch over the long weekend

Virgin Radio

26 Aug 2022, 14:15

It’s the last bank holiday weekend before Christmas (sorry for the terrifying thought!) and to see in the final days of summer, there’s some brilliant telly ready to settle down with. 

From classic family movies, to reality TV, there’s something for everyone to see our the long weekend, so here are our picks of what to watch this August Bank Holiday weekend 2022.

BBC One 

Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out - 2pm, Saturday 27th August 

Everyone’s favourite stop-motion animation is here for all the family to enjoy. 

1989’s A Grand Day Out, the first in the franchise, sees the cheese-loving inventor and his dog struggle to find something to do over the bank holiday (we’ve all been there) and so they decide, having run out of cheese, to build a rocket to the Moon.

Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death - 3:20pm, Sunday 28th August 

If you didn’t get your W&G fill, then no fear, Sunday will air another Aardman adventure, this time A Matter of Loaf and Death. 

This one is more of a murder mystery, when Wallace and Gromit open up their own bakery, they soon try and track down the culprit behind other bakers being murdered, before they become the next target. 

The 2008 short film was the last to be voiced by Peter Sallis, and was one of the most watched TV specials when it aired 14 years ago.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo - 6:30pm, Monday 29th August

There’ll be spectacular performances to enjoy during The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on Monday night. 

JJ Chalmers and Jennifer Reoch will host the return of the military performance, which last took place in 2019.

Joining the world-famous Massed Pipes and Drums will be performers from across the globe, including the Top Secret Drum Corps, Banda Monumental de Mexico, the New Zealand Army Band, plus the US Air Force Drill Team and for the first time, the Highland Divas and the US Army Field Band.

Blackpool Dance Fever - 8pm, Monday 29th August 

Strictly Come Dancing winner Stacey Dooley is diving deep into the world of dance once again! 

She will go behind the scenes of the Blackpool Dance Festival and look into one of dancing’s most prestigious competitions - the British Open Championships. 

The documentary promises to show viewers the larger-than-life personalities of the talented competitors, as well as the trainers and coaches hoping to get them to glory in the little-known world of competitive ballroom. 

BBC Two

University Challenge At 60 - 9pm, Monday 29th August

After the news of longtime host Jeremy Paxman stepping away from University Challenge (and Amol Rajan taking over), BBC Two will take a trip down memory lane to explore 60 years of the beloved competition. 

Jeremy will still be at the helm of the new series, which also airs on Monday, but the series opener will be followed by a documentary about the UK’s longest running quiz show. 

University Challenge’s most memorable contestants will help take a look at the history of the show, as well as the job of the question setters, and will be put through their paces to see if they can still correctly answer their starters for 10.

ITV

The Suspect - 9pm, Monday 29th August 

Get ready for another gripping drama on ITV with The Suspect. 

Aidan Turner plays troubled Dr Joe O’Loughlin in the gritty crime thriller, in which his seemingly perfect life comes crumbling down as he risks his life help solve a murder. 

The Suspect is made by the same producing team as Line of Duty and Vigil, and is based on the bestselling crime novel by Michael Robotham. 

Channel 4

The Big Breakfast - 10am, Saturday 27th August

Aj Odudu and Mo Gilligan will be back for another two-and-a-half hour nostalgia ride with The Big Breakfast. 

Celeb guests joining this week include Big Zuu, Oti Mabuse, AJ Tracey, Joe Lycett and Tom Grennan. 

Married At First Sight UK - 9pm, Monday 29th August on E4

That’s right, the hole left by Love Island is about to be filled with the 2022 series of Married At First Sight UK.

The Channel 4 reality series promises to be bigger and bolder than ever, with a new batch of singletons ready to walk down the aisle with a complete stranger, all in the name of love. 

The first episode of the series will be followed by Married At First Sight UK…One Year On, which will feature the couples who walked down the aisle together for the first time 12 months ago, see where they are now, and reminisce about their best moments. 

Channel 5

MTV Video Music Awards - 11pm, Monday 29th August

The biggest names in music will be heading to New Jersey’s Prudential Center in Newark to celebrate the music video goodness, pop-culture defining moments and incredible performances.

The show will be hosted by iconic R&B singer LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers will receive the Global Icon Award.

Other performers confirmed to appear include Harlow, Lizzo, BLACKPINK, Måneskin - who controversially pulled out of Reading and Leeds Festivals to perform - Anitta, J Balvin, Marshmello x Khalid, Panic! At The Disco and Kane Brown.