Sunday evening television offered a rich tapestry of drama and intrigue, with Channel 4 premiering the much-anticipated espionage thriller The Veil, alongside compelling offerings across the BBC and ITV. Fans of gripping narratives and stellar performances had plenty to dive into on July 20, 2025.
At the heart of the night’s programming was The Veil, a spy thriller created by Steven Knight, the acclaimed writer behind Peaky Blinders. Originally released on Disney+ in the UK and FX on Hulu in the US in 2024, the series made its terrestrial debut on Channel 4 at 9 PM. The show follows MI6 agent Imogen Salter, portrayed by Elisabeth Moss, who is recruited by the CIA alongside her boyfriend Malik Amar, played by Dali Benssalah. Their mission: to investigate whether French woman Adilah El Idrissi, played by Yumna Marwan, is part of an ISIS cell plotting a terrorist attack.
The series weaves a tense narrative of espionage and emotional complexity, as Imogen and Adilah engage in a high-stakes game of truth and deception across cities like Istanbul, Paris, and London. The plot thickens as CIA and French DGSE mission controllers put aside political differences to prevent a potential disaster on US soil.
Elisabeth Moss, known for her powerful role in The Handmaid's Tale, expressed enthusiasm about the show’s unique take on spy dramas. “I love all the spy franchises, but I don't know if we've seen this kind of story on television before,” she said in an interview with Radio Times. “For that reason, I am excited for people to get hooked by how fun, entertaining and global this story is.” Moss highlighted the emotional depth between her character Imogen and Marwan’s Adilah, calling them “the emotional truth and the emotional heart of the story.”
The cast of The Veil boasts a strong ensemble, including Josh Charles as Max Peterson, the confident CIA agent leading the task force; Thibault de Montalembert as Magritte, Malik’s superior in the DGSE; James Purefoy as Sir Michael Althorp; Dan Wyllie as Guy; Joana Ribeiro as Sandrina; Haluk Bilginer as Mr. Demir; Alec Secăreanu as Emir; Kobna Holdbrook-Smith as Johnson; and Nadia Larbioune as Nour. The show’s six episodes are set to air weekly on Channel 4, with each episode available for streaming on All 4 after broadcast, and the entire series is also accessible on Disney+.
Meanwhile, BBC One aired the haunting World War II drama The Narrow Road to the Deep North at 9:15 PM. Based on Richard Flanagan’s Booker Prize-winning novel, the Australian epic follows the life of Dorrigo Evans, played by Jacob Elordi and Ciarán Hinds as his younger and older selves, respectively. The narrative unfolds across three timelines: Dorrigo as a promising student engaged to a wealthy family’s daughter; as a Japanese prisoner of war enduring the brutal construction of the Burma railway; and as a retired, traumatized man grappling with his past, including an intense and forbidden love affair with his uncle’s wife, Amy (Odessa Young). The performance was widely praised for its emotional depth and stirring portrayal of war’s horrors.
ITV1’s 8 PM slot featured Karen Pirie, starring Lauren Lyle as a determined young Scottish detective tackling the cold case of a kidnapped oil heiress and her baby during the miners’ strike 40 years ago. The series delves into the complexities of the investigation, with Pirie’s boss referring to the case as “Scotland’s John Paul Getty,” underscoring the high-profile nature of the mystery.
On Channel 4 at 8 PM, wildlife enthusiast Jimmy Doherty continued his adventures with Jimmy Doherty’s Big Bear Rescue. Known for managing zebras, meerkats, and capybaras on his Suffolk wildlife park, Jimmy faced a new challenge: building a suitable home for Diego, a brown bear from Sweden. The show explored the difficulties of introducing Diego to a potential companion, highlighting the unpredictability of animal behavior and the dedication required to care for such creatures.
BBC Four presented a remarkable musical moment at 8 PM with Nicholas McCarthy’s Proms debut, performing Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand. McCarthy, the world’s only professional one-handed concert pianist, captivated audiences with this atmospheric piece originally commissioned by pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who lost his right arm in the First World War. The performance was a testament to resilience and artistry, offering an inspiring interlude amid the evening’s dramatic fare.
Later at 10:20 PM on ITV1, the documentary Breaking the Silence: Kate’s Story aired, spotlighting former MP Kate Kniveton’s harrowing experience with domestic abuse. Kniveton, who was abused by her husband and ex-Conservative minister Andrew Griffiths for over a decade, has since become an advocate campaigning to ban domestic abusers from seeing their children. The candid documentary featured Kniveton sharing her story, listening to others affected by abuse, and highlighting her ongoing work to support survivors.
For film enthusiasts, Disney+ offers The Amateur, a spy thriller starring Rami Malek as a CIA cryptographer turned avenger after his wife’s death in a terrorist attack. Directed by James Hawes, the film stands out for Malek’s chilling portrayal of a man spiraling into psychopathy, bringing depth and intensity to a globe-trotting revenge narrative that questions the morality of violent retribution.
Sports fans were treated to live coverage of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final at 3 PM on BBC Two, where Cork faced off against Tipperary at Dublin’s iconic Croke Park. The match represents one of the most celebrated events in Irish sport, attracting fervent support and showcasing the skill and passion of hurling, a sport deeply embedded in Ireland’s cultural fabric.
It’s worth noting a correction issued on July 20, 2025, regarding the Proms broadcast: Paul Wittgenstein, the pianist who commissioned Ravel’s concerto, lost his right arm in the First World War, not the Second as previously reported.
All in all, Sunday’s lineup offered a compelling mix of historical drama, contemporary thrillers, wildlife adventures, and poignant real-life stories, ensuring viewers were engaged and entertained across multiple channels and genres.
