PICKS OF THE MONTH: JANUARY 2026, WHAT TO WATCH THIS MONTH

The new and returning programmes launching this month...

 The Traitors

Claudia Winkleman hosts the ultimate reality game of trust and treachery with new twists and new players. Time to take to the edge of your seat once more as 22 people from across the UK descend on a Scottish castle to win up to £120k. Let the mind games begin.

 The Night Manager

Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) thought he’d buried his past. Now living as Alex Goodwin - a low-level MI6 officer running a quiet surveillance unit in London - his life is comfortingly uneventful. Then one night a chance sighting of an old Roper mercenary prompts a call to action and leads Pine to a violent encounter with a new player: Colombian businessman Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva).

 Gladiators

The wait is over, Gladiators is back tougher. Bradley and Barney Walsh kick off a brand-new series of the iconic competition which sees the return of Sabre, Legend, Nitro, Diamond, Phantom, Athena, Cyclone, Hammer, Bionic, Fire, Giant, Dynamite, Viper, Electro, Apollo, Comet, Steel and Fury as they face a fresh crop of gritty Contenders in five brutal events before going head-to-head in the gruelling Eliminator.

 Michael McIntyre's Big Show

Expect more big laughs, big stars and big surprises as Michael McIntyre’s Big Show returns to BBC One and iPlayer for its ninth series. Filmed in front of a live audience, the entertainment extravaganza will be packed with superstar guests, incredible musical performances and a few extra surprises.

 Would I Lie To You

Rob Brydon is back in the host’s chair for the award-winning comedy panel show, with Lee Mack and David Mitchell returning as the lightning-quick team captains.

Each week, a stellar cast of celebrity guests reveal extraordinary stories about themselves. But are they telling the truth, or are they making it all up

 Amanda & Alan's Greek Job

Besties Amanda Holden and Alan Carr have packed their boiler suits once again, raring to spend a summer on the idyllic Ionian island of Corfu. Having bagged a slightly smaller property this time, they have high hopes for an easier ride, but their dreams of lounging by the beach are soon shattered as they discover a big fat Greek renovation lies ahead.

 Lynley

Tommy Lynley is a brilliant police detective but an outsider in the force – simply by virtue of his aristocratic upbringing. He is paired with Barbara Havers, a sergeant with a maverick attitude and a working-class background. With seemingly nothing in common and against all odds, the mismatched duo of Lynley and Havers become a formidable team, bonded by their desire to see justice done.

 Waterloo Road

When the school experiences a teacher shortage in the next series, Miss Haydock is called in as a supply teacher. Although teaching may still not be her strong suit, Steph knows exactly how to handle the chaos. 

 Can You Keep A Secret

Dawn French plays widow Debbie Fendon - granny, lawn bowler, tinpot dictator - who will stop at nothing to make sure her family’s protected. Unfortunately, most of the time the person they really need protecting from is her. When her hermit-like husband William (Mark Heap - Friday Night Dinner, Green Wing) unexpectedly dies, she makes an outlandish decision that will put the family under more pressure than ever before.

Because Debbie isn’t actually a widow and William didn’t really die – he was just mistakenly declared dead and the two retirees found themselves staring down the barrel of an opportunity too good to pass up. Just a few months hiding out in the loft waiting for the life insurance to pay out and then they can live out their golden years in peace.

 Black Ops

Series two kicks off with Dom and Kay now working for MI5. They may be in the world of espionage, but their jobs are decidedly unglamorous – not everyone can be James Bond, someone has to do the admin. All that changes when Dom meets a charismatic spy called Steve, offering the promise of more exciting, classified work. Dom and Kay soon find themselves embroiled in an escapade that tests their wits, their friendship, and their love of carnival to the limits. 

 Father Brown

Following the jubilant wedding celebrations at the end of series 12, the new Mr and Mrs Sullivan settle into married life and a new home, with Isabel thrilled to be welcomed into the Policeman’s Wives Society. Meanwhile, Brenda goes on a journey of self-empowerment as she covers the role of Parish Secretary and learns to drive with the help of Sergeant Goodfellow.

 Time Is Money

Contestants begin with their prize money already on the line and must race against the clock to keep it. If they fail to answer correctly, their cash prize slips away. Time Is Money will be hosted by Sara Davies, whose quick wit and engaging personality make her the perfect host to guide contestants through the tension-filled rounds in this fast-paced competition.

 Red Eye

Jing Lusi reprises her role as DS Hana Li for a new investigation alongside guest star Martin Compston. Joining Jing and Martin in the highly pressurised roller-coaster world of Red Eye are Lesley Sharp and Jemma Moore, who also return as Head of MI5 Madeline Delaney and journalist Jess Li.

 The Masked Singer

Davina McCall, Maya Jama, Jonathan Ross and Mo Gilligan are heading back to their detective chairs as the nation’s favourite guessing game begins all over again. The panel will be joined by an array of guest panelists throughout the series who will be joining in on all of the action and hoping that they can guess who is masquerading behind the mask.

 Wheel Of Fortune

Each episode sees three new contestants spin the iconic wheel and solve the puzzles for their chance to win up to £50,000 - this new series also features the return of the hugely popular Couples’ Episode and introduces fresh gameplay twists, including the aptly named Bankrupt Shield which could save players from losing it all.

 The 1% Club

The show sees 100 contestants begin every show, but to make it to the end and win the top prize of up to £100,000, contestants must correctly answer a question only 1% of the country would get right. Contestants of all ages and backgrounds can take part, because, unlike most quizzes, no swotting up on general knowledge is required to do well - logic and common sense are the key to success.

 Ant & Dec's Limitless Win

The primetime hit entertainment quiz show is back for a thrilling fifth series. With the stakes higher than ever, a new line-up of contestants take on the Limitless Ladder and push their knowledge and nerve to the absolute limit as they attempt to win a life-changing fortune. Across six primetime shows, this groundbreaking format continues to make TV history with its unique, never-ending money ladder offering the world’s only unlimited jackpot.

 The Floor

Rob Brydon hosts The Floor, where 81 quiz fanatics face off in quiz duels on a giant LED floor divided into 81 equal squares, each representing its own field of knowledge. The goal is to conquer the entire floor and take home a huge cash prize. The rules are simple - a random contestant challenges an adjoining opponent in a quiz duel and they play against each other in the category of the opponent’s square.

 Corriedale

For the first time in British soap history, the episode will see characters from both soaps come together in a celebration of the soap genre. To herald the beginning of the new scheduling pattern, both soaps will mark the occasion in spectacular style as the combined production teams embark on an ambitious stunt that will have everlasting consequences for everyone involved.

 Millionaire Hot Seat

In Millionaire Hot Seat, every second counts - players take turns in the Hot Seat facing Jeremy and climbing the Million Pound Money Ladder one question at a time. A correct answer keeps them in the game, but one wrong move means elimination and the top prize drops - contestants can choose to ‘pass’ and stay alive, but that means moving to the back of the line and risking never getting another turn.

 Grantchester

Following the departure of Reverend Will Davenport (Tom Brittney) in the ninth series, DI Geordie Keating (Robson Green) and Alphy Kottaram (Rishi Nair) cement their friendship and working relationship as they embark on more adventures and mysteries to solve across eight brand-new episodes.

 Love Island All Stars

Once again, fan-favourite Islanders from across ten years of the show will return to the famous Villa in search of that much-wanted spark while navigating the relationship dilemmas of Bombshells, heads turning and blasts from the past. Returning to scorching South Africa, the third All Stars series will run for a bumper six weeks instead of five.

 Piglets

After receiving widespread critical acclaim, the sitcom starring Mark Heap and Sarah Parish returns to ITV for an exciting second series. The Government’s stated policy of recruiting 20,000 new police officers in double quick time has not come at the cost of lowering standards... or has it? Term continues at Norbourne, the charmingly dysfunctional police training college, and two new recruits have joined B Group in the form of the irrepressible Danni and Connor, an enigmatic teller of tales.

 The Great Pottery Throwdown

The series follows 12 passionate, home potters as they strive to create their most intricate and imaginative work, before their pieces are judged by the expert judging duo and a variety of well-known faces and experts from the world of pottery.

 Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins

Decades of rivalry are set to be tested to the limit as fourteen British and Australian celebrities face the most punishing challenge of their lives. In the brutal heat of North Africa, these famous faces are embarking on a savage, condensed version of SAS selection that even they won’t be able to charm, spin, or tweet their way out of. 

 Junior Bake Off

Thousands applied, but only 20 made it through to the famous Bake Off tent for the most exciting junior baking competition yet.  Harry Hill hosts while Ravneet Gill and Liam Charles unite as judges with the tough job of finding Britain’s best junior baker.

 Patience

Patience (Ella Maisy Purvis) will continue her work in the police criminal records department of City of York Police after establishing herself as an invaluable member of the team, bringing her unique insight into a series of perplexing cases.

 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown

Jimmy Carr will return to host the chaotic comedy twist on Channel 4’s classic brainteaser quiz alongside Rachel Riley overseeing the numbers and Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner. Rob Beckett takes up the permanent role of team captain and Judi Love joins the show as a regular returning guest in the show’s 29th series. Fellow fan favourites Jon Richardson and Joe Wilkinson will also continue appearing as regulars in the new series.

 Big Fat Quiz Of Telly

Jimmy Carr acts as quizmaster as Harry Hill, Judi Love, Tom Allen, Joanne McNally, Sam Campbell and Susan Wokoma compete to see who knows the most about past and present television shows. Charles Dance, the children of Mitchell Brook Primary School, and a host of celebrity question-setters help Jimmy to ask the big questions.

Transmission details will be announced in due course.