Television schedules on July 12, 2026, feature a diverse range of programming spanning documentary, drama, film, and major sporting events.

BBC Two’s prime-time lineup includes a documentary titled *Evolution*, hosted by Chris Packham. The five-part series begins with an episode on elephants, exploring how evolutionary processes produced “complex, beautiful and enormous” creatures. Subsequent episodes will focus on the ostrich, bat, dolphin, and horse. Later in the evening, the Christopher Nolan film *Oppenheimer* airs at 10 pm. This 2023 biographical drama centers on J. Robert Oppenheimer, known as the “father of the atom bomb,” and is based on the book *American Prometheus* by Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin. Cillian Murphy leads a cast that includes Emily Blunt and Robert Downey Jr., portraying the physicist’s moral complexities amid scientific innovation.

BBC Four commemorates the late actress Penelope Keith with a retrospective program, *Penelope Keith Remembers…*, followed by episodes showcasing her performances in *To the Manor Born*, *The Good Life*, and a 1984 adaptation of Noël Coward’s *Hay Fever*. Keith passed away last month at age 86, with tributes from peers and audiences honoring her legacy.

At 9 pm on BBC Two, a documentary titled *The Tech Billionaire Takeover* profiles Chinese crypto-billionaire Justin Sun as he embarks on a space voyage valued at $28 million. The film, directed by Matt Shea, reveals the dynamics of ultra-wealthy elites pushing boundaries in both technology and nation-building. Channel 4’s 10 pm slot features Oobah Butler’s *How to Trick Your Way On to the Property Ladder*, a satirical look at challenges facing first-time homebuyers, showcasing inventive stunts from the prankster.

Streaming platforms offer notable drama and comedy entries. Disney+ debuts *RJ Decker*, a crime drama set in South Florida focusing on a former photojournalist turned private investigator, with direction by Paul McGuigan. Apple TV+ launches *Lucky*, an action series starring Anya Taylor-Joy as a woman in pursuit of revenge after betrayal by her partner, with Annette Bening and Timothy Olyphant in supporting roles. Prime Video presents *Ride or Die*, an eight-episode comedy-thriller starring Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer as unlikely allies combating underestimated foes.

Among the films scheduled, *Junior Bonner* (1972), a neo-western directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring Steve McQueen, airs on Great! Action in the afternoon. Channel 4 screens the documentary *I for India* by Sandhya Suri at 2:50 am, followed by her award-winning fiction short *The Field*.

In late-night programming, Channel 4’s *The Piano* returns for its fourth series with a revised format, featuring Claudia Winkleman and mentor Mika alongside guest piano experts, starting with Tiffany Poon.

True crime programming continues with *The Drowning Pool: The Murder of Paula Leeson* airing at 10 pm on Channel 5. This two-part documentary revisits the 2025 case surrounding the murder of millionaire Paula Leeson and examines why her husband, Donald McPherson, a convicted fraudster, could not be retried despite new evidence.

Sports viewers will have their attention drawn to the FIFA World Cup semi-final held on Tuesday, with the second semi-final kicking off at 8 pm on ITV1 and BBC One. Despite rumors regarding political interference in the tournament, these claims remain unfounded. The possibility of England’s participation in the semi-finals adds to the anticipation.