Today's TV with Sara Wallis: A terrible secret, a stolen chicken and Jamelia in surprise BBC comedy role

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 and ITV, as well as streamers like Prime, Disney+ and Apple TV.

Tonight, watch out for singer in a comedy role in new BBC Three drama Just Act Normal - her Tina Turner impression is particularly special. Hannah Fry takes us through the genius of the rollercoaster, every parent's worst nightmare is played out in The Stolen Girl on and Sonia ponders a big decision in .

See below for my top telly picks.

Top Pick JUST ACT NORMAL, BBC THREE, 9pm

This darkly comic drama follows three young siblings hiding a terrible secret, a goodhearted teacher, a stolen chicken and singer Jamelia as you’ve never seen her before. Set in Birmingham, this is a charming coming-of-age story that is fast and funny, while also dealing with big thorny issues like class, race, societal neglect, grief and sibling love.

As it starts, there’s a big problem for Tiana, Tionne and Tanika. “Mum’s gone and she ain’t coming back,” says older sister Tiana (Chenée Taylor) as she realises that she’s in charge now. While Tionne (Akins Subair) curls up into a ball and stops talking, little sister Tanika (Kaydrah Walker-Wilkie) has some strong words. “Just act normal!” she scolds him. “They’re gonna split us up and adopt me because I’m young and pretty, and they’ll keep you in a home because you look like you’ve got problems.”

The siblings will have to bond together to hide the truth of their situation from the outside world in order to stay together as a family. The cast also features Romola Garai as their well-meaning teacher Ms. Jenkins, Sam Buchanan as their mum’s unexpectedly kind drug dealer Dr Feelgood, and Ivanno Jeremiah as their laid-back but struggling father, Leo.

And watch out for Jamelia, complete with blonde bouffant wig, who makes a late but excellent entrance as ‘Fake Jackie’ - a poor stand-in for their mum. It’s a heartfelt portrait of black working-class teenage life, dreams, desires and a wonderfully bad Tina Turner impersonation.

The best of the rest... ROLLERCOASTER: THE SECRET GENIUS OF MODERN LIFE, BBC2, 8pm

Knee-knocking, stomach-turning, scream-making, why the hell would anyone ever go on a rollercoaster? This divisive machine has been sending our hearts racing and stomachs dropping for over a century, and today, millions of us get our kicks on these dare-devil joyriders. There are nearly 6,000 of these rides across the world, but behind the fun is some seriously impressive physics and ingenious engineering.

British mathematician and presenter Hannah Fry heads to Thorpe Park to get the inside track on the UK’s newest, tallest and fastest rollercoaster. Hyperia took four years to design, 18 months to make, is 236ft tall, has an 81mph drop and is just under 1km long. Hannah says: “There is something slightly insane about strapping yourself to a piece of metal and hurtling around a track at 80mph upside down.” She also uncovers the origins of the rollercoaster, from dodgy French physics in the 19th century, to NASA rocket scientists in the 1970s and the ambitious vision of a certain well-known cartoonist called Walt.

THE STOLEN GIRL, DISNEY+

Every parent’s worst nightmare plays out in this heart-stopping psychological thriller from the producer of Happy Valley.
Adapted from Alex Dahl’s novel Playdate, it tells the horrifying story of a nine-year-old girl Lucia Blix (Beatrice Cohen), who has a seemingly innocent sleepover at the house of her new school friend Josie. But when Lucia’s parents Elisa (Denise Gough) and Fred (Jim Sturgess) go to collect her the next morning, a cleaner says that no one lives in that house, it’s a holiday rental. Everyone has gone.

The couple’s existence spirals into chaos as Elisa embarks on a cat-and-mouse chase across Europe to find out the truth about her daughter’s disappearance. Why did Rebecca (Holliday Grainger) take her daughter? And was it random? As she tries to piece it all together, persistent journalist Selma Desai (Ambika Mod), reports live and is convinced that Elisa is hiding something. What started as a textbook abduction quickly evolves into something much darker…

READ MORE:

EMMERDALE, ITV1, 7.30pm

Joe panics when he realises that he’s left his coat (with his pills inside) at Caleb’s. Steph goes to hand over Joe’s coat but his medication falls out and Caleb is intrigued to catch Joe stuffing some pills back in his pocket. Dawn feels like a fraud as she avoids her husband again. Overwhelmed, she begins to open up to Manpreet. John apologises to Aaron for yesterday’s reaction about the wedding. Aaron’s surprised when John seems eager to talk about his faults.

EASTENDERS, BBC1, 7.30pm

Sonia is torn as she agonises over whether it’s time to say goodbye to Walford. She goes in search of Stacey, but Jean and Harvey reveal she isn’t coping. Priya and Ravi continue to worry about Avani, but they can’t seem to get through to her. Nicola returns from holiday and is shocked to hear that Zack is training Barney. Jean steps in to help Nigel after his dementia leads him to confuse the pharmacy for the old video shop.

CORONATION STREET, ITV1, 8pm

Sean asks Glenda if she can lend him £500. She wonders if he’s in some sort of trouble. Brody meanwhile is pushing for his cash by the end of the day. Debbie asks Kevin and Abi to help her try the wedding menu and tells them that no expense has been spared. Dee-Dee attends a meeting with a rep from the Patient Advice and Liaison Service who assures her they’re investigating her complaint and Zoe, the midwife, was to blame.