What to watch on TV on Tuesday 16 July, from Midsomer Murders to Worst House On The Street

We return to Midsomer, Britain’s deadliest county, for another enjoyable and blood-splattered whodunnit.

And with two murders to investigate, DCI Barnaby is going to have his work cut out.

Here are TV Mag’s six telly picks for Tuesday 16 July 2024…

Midsomer Murders (8.15pm ITV1)

The quintessentially British county of Midsomer – fictional, thankfully – is again the scene of two grisly murders in this feature-length special.

The first is of former detective Elaine Bennet (Sabina Franklyn) who’s discovered dead in her car on the night of her retirement do after seemingly crashing into a tree.

But if it were that simple, DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) and his partner DS Jamie Winter (Nick Hendrix) would spend the rest of the episode twiddling their thumbs…

The second killing is of Elaine’s husband Damian Bennet (Gary Beadle), an ex-police officer suspected of stealing cash he found stashed after an infamous armed robbery thirty years ago – and this one is impressively theatrical.

As ever, Barnaby and Winter end up solving the complex case… thanks to a dollop of chicken poo!

Secrets Of The Sun with Dara Ó Briain (9pm C5)

If you’ve always wanted to witness a total solar eclipse, now’s your chance – albeit through the magic of TV.

In the first of this two-parter, Dara explores the heart of our complex solar system.

He begins his journey in Texas, America, where he joins other stargazers desperate to see the spectacle, before meeting experts and a host of Sun-worshippers.

Daley: Olympic Superstar (9pm BBC2)

For many, Daley Thompson is the greatest British athlete of all time.

After all, it takes a superhuman effort to win one Olympic decathlon gold medal, let alone two.

This new documentary – which coincides with the Paris Olympics and the 40th anniversary of Daley’s second Olympic triumph – tells his story, from humble beginnings to sporting immortality.

Featuring unprecedented access to the man himself, plus rare archive material, it’s a surprising portrait of a British legend.

Worst House On The Street (8pm C4)

Scarlette and Stuart Douglas return for a second series of the show that helps families turn less-than-desirable residences into homes to be proud of – and all without spending a fortune.

They kick off in Cardiff, where recently engaged Gavin and Luke want to breathe new life into their cottage, which has definitely seen better days.

But with the place crumbling, it’s going to take some smart ideas – and even smarter budgeting – from the siblings to make the couple’s dreams come true.

Battle In The Box (9pm U&Dave)

What happens when you trap celebrities in a box and force them to compete in games for 24 hours?

We’re about to find out, as host Jimmy Carr leaves celebrity pairs to battle it out in a string of ridiculous challenges.

The winner of each challenge will be able to push the box’s dividing wall onto their competitors’ side and secure boxcoins to purchase luxuries like food, furniture and a, er, sound bath, but only one team will find the keys and escape.

Tonight, Joe Swash and Seann Walsh take on Lara Ricote and Harriet Kemsley.

Silly but funny viewing. 

Orlando Bloom: To The Edge (streaming U)

UKTV rebrands itself as U today, and here’s one of the brilliant streaming shows on offer.

Hollywood star Orlando Bloom is taking on three extremely dangerous sports in a bid to push himself physically, mentally and emotionally.

In this episode, he faces his fears and learns how to skydive wearing a ‘wingsuit’, before putting his new skills to the test with a terrifying jump over the ocean.

All episodes are available to stream on U.