Today's TV with Sara Wallis: Bradley Walsh crack walnuts with bum in ITV's Breaking Dad

From thrilling new dramas and gritty documentaries through to glossy entertainment shows, reality binge-watches, returning series and all the best soaps, there's always something to keep us glued to the small screen. If you're wondering what to watch tonight, I've handpicked the best of the box, selected from all the traditional networks like BBC and ITV, as well as streamers like Netflix, Prime, Disney+ and Apple TV.

Tonight, watch out for a familiar child star of Outnumbered, who has returned to acting in a major role for a gory new Sky docu-drama. Alison Hammond is spotted reading bedtime stories to cats, while Bradley and Barney Walsh meet a bizarre record-breaker in Japan and Stacey has a horrible discovery in EastEnders.

See below for my top telly picks.

Top Pick Bradley & Barney Walsh: Breaking Dad, ITV1, 8pm

The boys are living the Japanese dream, enjoying a bit of sushi lunch by Mount Fuji. Just a shame they’ve overloaded on the eye-watering wasabi. In this episode, their driving skills are put to the test when they experience the real-life Tokyo Drift - expect everything to get fast and furious. The competition continues when the pair meet one of Japan’s wackiest record breakers, Mr. Cherry, as father and son go head-to-head trying to crack the most walnuts with their bums. It’s certainly nuts. “At one point we were respected,” muses Brad.

As their road trip takes them to more rural regions of Japan, Barney decides it’s time for his dad to learn how to be more Zen, however the meditation session he’s got planned is anything but relaxing. Their day ends with Brad perched on the edge of a bridge as he attempts a stomach-churning bungy jump, in a bid for redemption after pulling out of one during their European road trip.

READ MORE:

The best of the rest... For the Love of Dogs with Alison Hammond, ITV1, 8.30pm

Big-hearted Alison Hammond spends a lot of time ooh-ing and ahh-ing as she continues her job as Chief Treat Dispenser at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. These poor pups - and kittens - have had a tough start in life, but Alison is always on hand with a bedtime story, squeaky toy or pocket full of chicken to make things easier. Over in the kennels, she meets lively four-month-old cocker spaniel Woody - named so because he was found roaming in woodlands at just six months old.

He’s adorable but extremely energetic, meaning he’s already been returned to Battersea once. Since cocker spaniels are a working breed, without a job to do they quickly become restless. Staff decide to send him to sniffer dog training to see if he’s cut out for life as a military working dog. Alison also helps shy and nervous lurcher dog Rita to build up her confidence. After a change in owner, she’s scared of pretty much everything.

READ MORE:

How can Alison get to know her? Chicken seems to be the answer. And in the cattery, Alison meets one-year-old Mel, who has been involved in a major trauma. Vet Laura says: “Looking at her injuries it could be from hitting a car and the tyre going over her. She had an injured eye which we’ve unfortunately had to remove and a couple of fractured ribs.” Alison says: “Honestly it just breaks my heart just looking at her.” Hopefully Mel has not run out of her nine lives…

Jack The Ripper: Written in Blood, Sky History, 9pm

This blood-thirsty drama documentary tells the gruesome story of Jack the Ripper from an entirely new angle. Across three episodes about the infamous London murders of 1888, this explores how a team of reporters from Whitechapel’s The Star newspaper created and fuelled the legend of Jack the Ripper, contributing to the serial killer evading justice.

Journalist Fred Best (Mark Strepan) and his colleagues at The Star, including its cunning editor TP O’ Conner (Moe Dunford) and his wily assistant, Ernest Parke (Tyger Drew Honey), allegedly misled the police investigation by planting false leads and fabricating evidence, and printing speculation as fact.

Drama weaves with expert comment from historians, an ex detective and medical examiner. It begins with Best tapping away on his typewriter, as he says: “When the horror began, it was one brutal murder after another. As blood ran through Whitechapel, the public devoured the breaking news. The words we wrote created a monster. As the bodies piled up, so did the profits."

Emmerdale, ITV1, 7.30pm

When Charity realises that it was Jacob who called the police, she suggests they team up to bring Kammy down. Will Jacob agree? Tracy’s unnerved to hear that Eric intends to rake over the accounts in order to prepare the business for sale. Later that day, Tracy’s wracked with guilt when Pollard beats himself up over the missing money whilst continuing to praise her for her support. Liam is annoyed when John misdiagnoses Kerry because he’s completely distracted.

EastEnders, BBC1, 7.30pm

Ruby’s anger towards Stacey builds after Martin’s funeral and at the wake emotions bubble over. Later, Stacey discovers Ruby at the allotment and there’s a confrontation with revelations that could destroy any hope of peace. Lily hits the bottle with encouragement from Avani, only for Stacey to find her daughter drunk. Stacey is horrified to discover Martin’s stall has been set on fire. After taking a mysterious call, Ross tries to convince Vicki that they should stay in Walford longer than planned.

Follow Mirror Celebs on , , , , , and .