What to watch on TV tonight: New real-time thriller Nightsleeper, plus a shocking miscarriage of justice in Britain’s Atomic Bomb Scandal

By Susan Brett | Sat Sep 14 2024

Joe Cole, Alexandra Roach and David Threlfall star in a new thriller set on board a sleeper train from Glasgow to London. Meanwhile, Channel 4 highlight a devastating miscarriage of justice for British veterans.

Zeus the Shih-Tzu awaits owners (Credit: Channel 4)

The Dog House

Channel 4, 8pm

A new series of the heartwarming series, which sees Woodgreen’s rescue dogs paired with new potential owners - much like blind dating! Tonight’s episode introduces new boy Pipet, an anxious Retriever, as he meets potential adopters Tom and Ayesha. Zeus the Shih Tzu may have met his match in nine-year-old Helena, while Malamute Wolf is picky about who he chooses to love. Can Woodgreen staff find the perfect partner for him?

Alexandra Roach as Abby in Nightsleeper (Credit: BBC)

Nightsleeper

BBC One, 9pm

Joe Cole, Alexandra Roach and David Threlfall star in this new real-time thriller, which is set on a night train from Glasgow to London. When cyber terrorists take control of the train, an off-duty cop who happens to be on board must team up with officials at the National Cyber Security Centre to identify and detain the threats. The only issue is: how do you recognise a cyber terrorist in real life?

British veterans faced a miscarriage of justice (Credit: Channel 4)

Britain’s Atomic Bomb Scandal

Channel 4, 9pm

A shocking true story of injustice, this documentary shines a light on the devastating legacy of Britain’s nuclear weapons programme. During the Cold War, more than 20,000 British military personnel were stationed in the South Pacific, the site of Britain’s nuclear weapon tests. They received no training or protective clothing, only guidance to turn away and cover their eyes. Many of the men suffered poor health for decades following the event, and some believe witnessing the tests affected their children; a surprising number of veterans’ kids were born with birth defects and auto-immune conditions. The British government is the only nation (besides North Korea) not to compensate its nuclear test veterans, and still refuses them access to their health records from their time in service.

Dena Thompson deceived, defrauded, and abused men (Credit: Sky)

Black Widow

Sky Documentaries and NOW TV, 9pm

Known as the ‘Black Widow’, Dena Thompson terrorised men in the 1980s and 1990s. Found guilty of fraud, deception, bigamy and murder, Thompson used Lonely Hearts columns in newspapers to lure lovers into her life. She then fabricated stories convincing them to give her their savings and homes. In this doc, Sky has exclusive access to Thompson’s first husband Lee Wyatt, who believed the Mafia were after him due to Thompson’s lies. He felt forced to go on the run, while his wife continued life without him.

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