A “brilliant” ’80s-set British drama that is “wickedly witty” is on TV tonight

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Tonight, you can watch Alan Bennett’s acclaimed British drama, *The History Boys*. This story, set in the 1980s, centers around eight ambitious students at a grammar school as they prepare for their A-Level exams and apply to top universities like Oxford and Cambridge.

When a group of boys starts preparing for the challenging Oxbridge exams, their headmaster brings in Irwin, a recent Oxford graduate, to help them succeed. However, the students are caught between Irwin’s innovative teaching methods and the traditional style of their well-liked teacher, Hector.

You can watch *The History Boys* on BBC Two tonight, September 22nd, at 11:00 PM. If you miss it, or it’s too late, it will also be available to stream on BBC iPlayer after it airs on TV.

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This film is based on Bennett’s 2004 play, and features the original stage actors playing the same characters.

The show boasts a star-studded cast, featuring James Corden, Dominic Cooper, Sacha Dhawan, Russell Tovey, Samuel Barnett, Samuel Anderson, Jamie Parker, and Andrew Knott, all playing the mischievous schoolboys.

The cast also includes Richard Griffiths and Frances de la Tour, known from *Harry Potter*, along with Clive Merrison, Georgia Taylor (from *Corrie*), and Stephen Campbell Moore.

The 2006 drama currently has a 66% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 103 reviews. The BBC called it “wickedly witty.”

According to *New York Magazine*, the movie is fantastic and captivating, mirroring Bennett’s vocal style: dryly witty and distinctly British, yet remarkably kind and giving.

If you’re looking for something to watch on Monday night, BBC Three is showing the thriller *Before I Go to Sleep* starring Nicole Kidman at 10:30pm. The movie centers around a woman with a brain injury who can’t create new memories. As she tries to figure out what happened in her life, she uncovers disturbing truths and finds herself with more mysteries than solutions.

Tonight, Film4 is showing the action comedy *Team America: World Police* at 11:05pm. It’s a satirical film that uses puppets to tell the story of a failed American attempt to fight terrorism.

The new edition of Living Legends is here! Buy Gaga in newsagents or online, priced at just £8.99.

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2025-09-22 09:19