The Gilded Age is back for more more society scandal as it returns tonight

Daily Mirror

23-06-2025

Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon star in lavish period drama The Gilded Age, which is returning to Sky tonight with its brand new series after two years off our screens
Fasten your corsets, The Gilded Age is back on screen tonight (Mon 23 June, Sky Showcase 9pm), the closest thing we've had to fill the void of Downton Abbey. Created by Lord Julian Fellowes, the genius behind worldwide smash Downton, this New York City-set period drama has all the usual scandal and secrets we've come to expect. Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon play sisters Agnes and Ada, rigidly conventional aunts to orphaned Marian (Louisa Jacobson), who came to live with them.
Set in the late 19th century, it's a period of immense economic and social change, when empires were built. As season three begins, following the Opera War of 1883, the old guard is weakened and the Russells stand poised to take their place at the head of society. Bertha (Carrie Coon) sets her sights on a prize that would elevate the family to unimaginable heights while George (Morgan Spector) risks everything on a gambit that could revolutionise the railroad industry - if it doesn't ruin him first.
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Across the street, the Brook household is thrown into chaos as Agnes refuses to accept Ada's new position as lady of the house. Peggy (Denee Benton) meets a handsome doctor from Newport whose family is less than enthusiastic about her career. As all of New York hastens toward the future, their ambition may come at the cost of what they truly hold dear. With lavish locations and costumes, feisty heroines, dowagers and dames, dashing men, class clash, pearl clutching, society gossip, rebellion and upstairs / downstairs drama, this ticks all the boxes for period drama fans.
The Gilded Age is airing on Sky Showcase tonight at 9pm.
There's plenty more on TV tonight - here's the best of the rest..
DEATH IN THE DESERT: THE NURSE HELEN MYSTERY, CHANNEL 4, 9pm
With new evidence finally released, this fascinating documentary pores over the shocking case of a British nurse who died in suspicious circumstances in Saudi Arabia in 1979. Helen Smith, 23, apparently fell from a balcony at an expat party - her body was found on the marbe courtyard outside the block of flats. Foul play was quickly dismissed, but speculation was rife and the case became an international mystery. Was she murdered?
Helen's family never believed what they were told. At first they thought Helen had committed suicide - until it emerged that the body of a Dutch tugboat captain, who had allegedly been with Helen just beforehand, was found next to her, impaled on a spiked fence. Now, 45 years on, director Keely Winstone has obtained hundreds of previously classified government documents, revealing what the British government really knew about Helen's tragic death. Helen's brother Graham says: 'We were close. I saw her off at Heathrow. That was the last time I ever saw her.'
CELEBRITY PUZZLING, 5, 7pm
It's not often you see Carol Vorderman stumbling over an answer, but she is at one point finally stumped in this brand new play-along game show. She is a team captain, with actor Sally Lindsay heading up the other team, while Jeremy Vine takes the hot seat as host. A battle of logic and wordplay, this episode sees Carol joined by Ore Oduba and Sally joined by Gareth Malone.
Rounds include In Other Words, where teams must decode two-word answers using only initials and cleverly crafted synonyms. Then it's Thirdle, where stacks of words are missing their third letters, and in Cinema Cypher, film titles are obscured by symbols. Heat Map brings a QWERTY twist, while Funundrum sees teams unscrambling anagrams, and Memory Bank gets the cogs turning. Jeremy says this is 'the most relentless puzzling ever televised'. A bold claim, and not entirely true, but it's certainly an addictive format that will have you shouting answers at the telly.
EMMERDALE, ITV1, 7.30pm
Assuming Cain knows, Jacob mentions Sarah's IVF. Cain is furious that Jacob is more in the loop about his granddaughter's life than he is. Belle overhears Tracy making preparations for Nate's funeral and seizes the opportunity to ask if she's now allowing Cain to attend. After Tracy confirms that he's still banned, Belle takes it upon herself to change her mind. Robert feels guilty about Victoria's black eye and decides to move out, but Victoria is worried about him.
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EASTENDERS, BBC1, 7.30pm
Phil is worried about Nigel when he goes out barefoot, and his fears are exacerbated when he returns home to find chaos in the kitchen. The situation gets dangerous when Nigel and Phil grapple over a pan of boiling water. Yolande asks at The Vic if they can host Patrick's 85th birthday. Nicola and Teddy are concerned when they find out Barney failed a chemistry exam due to the stress. Kat confides in Jean that she's hurt over Alfie not communicating.
CORONATION STREET, ITV1, 8pm
At Bernie's suggestion, Aadi throws a midsummer party. Carla hands Betsy the keys to the factory, asking her to lock up but Betsy gets distracted by Brody, Dylan and Lauren, and forgetting to lock up, they head for the party. When Brody shows Dylan a bottle of LSD, telling him he intends to make some money, Dylan's concerned. There's romantic tension between Amy and Aadi, but a misunderstanding leaves Aadi hurt. Kit tells Bernie that he's had the DNA results through.