It’s finale night for The Traitors, and after four weeks of scheming, suspicious glances and secret meetings in dark corners, Claudia Winkleman will finally reveal whether the Faithfuls or Traitors take home the prize money. Elsewhere, Monty Don continues his riverside journey through Germany, there’s classic comedy on Sky Atlantic with The Trip, and BBC Four celebrates Carole King and James Taylor.
Quick Picks: Tonight’s Best
- The Traitors Final – BBC One, 8:30pm – Series 4 comes to an end
- Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens – BBC Two, 8pm – Palace gardens and allotments
- Would I Lie to You? – BBC One, 8pm – Jo Brand and Beverley Knight
- Carole King and James Taylor Music Night – BBC Four, 10:20pm
Early Evening (5pm – 8pm)
Father Brown – BBC One, 2pm
Archers listeners will recognise that voice. Timothy Watson, who played the loathsome Rob Titchener in Ambridge for years, turns up as a hotel guest named Max Bishop – and meets a suitably swift end. The proprietor of this coastal establishment is Patricia, played by Maureen Lipman, who happens to be Inspector Sullivan’s aunt. Family tensions make the investigation complicated, though Sullivan seems fairly confident his relative won’t end up taking the blame for long. The full series is on iPlayer if you want to catch up.
Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job – BBC One, 7:30pm
The Corfu renovation continues, though calling it a renovation gives the impression that Amanda and Alan do much of the actual work. This week, Alan encounters a Greek grandmother who seems to like him well enough but still gives him an earful anyway. Amanda, meanwhile, takes charge of kitchen shopping and makes decisions without bothering to consult her co-host – though to be fair, Alan’s probably off having a nap somewhere. The finished result appears remarkably quickly, suggesting the actual builders deserve more credit than they’re getting.
Prime Time (8pm onwards)
Would I Lie to You? – BBC One, 8pm
Lee Mack and David Mitchell continue their weekly battle of wits, though Mitchell’s getting so intense in his interrogations that Mack has to remind him at one point that they’re supposed to be having fun. Tonight’s guests include Jo Brand, Beverley Knight, Josie Gibson and Alasdair Beckett-King, all armed with stories that may or may not be complete fabrications. Mitchell claims his parents used to reward him with a wine glass full of milk, while Mack reckons he once got caught listening through walls with a stolen stethoscope. Make of that what you will.
Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens – BBC Two, 8pm
Monty’s 800-mile journey along the Rhine continues with an episode full of contrasts. He visits Schwetzingen Palace, where the formal gardens are the kind of thing that makes you feel underdressed just looking at them, then heads to some schrebergarten – essentially German allotments where ordinary people grow vegetables and flowers in small plots. There’s also a trip to a former steel plant in Duisburg that’s been transformed into a public park, keeping its industrial heritage while becoming something green and beautiful. The most sobering moment comes when Monty discovers that climate change is causing the Rhine’s water levels to drop, with serious consequences for the ancient trees along its banks.
David Baddiel: Cat Man – Channel 4, 8pm
For those who missed this last week, here’s another chance to watch Baddiel meet some remarkable cats, including one described as the ugliest on the internet. Whether you agree with that assessment depends on your relationship with feline aesthetics.
The Traitors Final – BBC One, 8:30pm ⭐
Four weeks of castle intrigue come to an end tonight, and the question on everyone’s lips is whether the remaining players can correctly identify who’s been murdering their fellow contestants in their sleep. Series four has been a ratings triumph, even if the producers have occasionally been accused of holding back information that would have helped us at home. There have been secret identities, hidden relationships, and moments where the wool has been thoroughly pulled over our eyes. Through it all, Claudia Winkleman has presided with that inscrutable half-smile, and tonight she’ll crown whoever manages to survive the final round table. Will the Faithfuls see through the deception, or will the Traitors successfully claim the prize? Afterwards, the finalists join Ed Gamble for Uncloaked at 9:45pm. And if that’s not enough, The Traitors Ireland launches from midnight with Siobhan McSweeney hosting a double bill from a fresh castle.
Mystery Road: Origin – BBC Two, 9pm
The Australian outback crime drama continues. Detective Jay Swan is faced with another missing child, and the local police seem content to brush it under the carpet. Jay isn’t the type to let things slide, which leads him to some fairly extreme methods of investigation. Mark Coles Smith brings a quiet intensity to the role, and the desert landscapes provide an atmosphere you won’t find in your average British procedural. The full series is available on iPlayer.
Astrid: Murder in Paris – More4, 9pm
French detective series where police officer Raphaëlle works alongside Astrid, an autistic documentalist at the criminal records office who has an extraordinary ability to spot patterns and solve cases. Tonight’s episode involves a woman killed by a poison dart fired from a distant hotel room – the kind of impossible crime that other detectives have failed to crack. Astrid immediately announces she knows who did it, and Raphaëlle believes her without question, which is refreshing. There are links to a larger criminal conspiracy and an unsettling cliffhanger at the end. Walter Presents found this one, and it’s been adapted into the British series Patience, which takes a different approach to the same premise.
The Trip – Sky Atlantic, 9pm
Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon tour restaurants across northern England, eat nice food, do impressions of Michael Caine, and occasionally contemplate the emptiness of middle age. This is the feature-length film version of their 2010 BBC series, edited down for international audiences. If you’ve never seen it, you’re in for something special – it’s funny, melancholy, beautifully shot, and features some of the best duelling celebrity impressions you’ll ever witness. A fifth series, The Trip to the Northern Lights, is coming later this year.
Taskmasterclass – Channel 4, 10pm
Here’s a novel premise for a clip show: it’s 2048, the Taskmaster house lies in ruins, and Greg Davies and Alex Horne have been reduced to brains in jars, trying to work out where civilisation went wrong. Their conclusion? The answers lie in archive footage from previous series. It’s an excuse to revisit classic moments, including James Acaster’s legendary tantrum about a garage door, but the post-apocalyptic framing device adds some genuine entertainment value.
Late Night
Carole King and James Taylor Music Night – BBC Four, 10:20pm
A tribute evening dedicated to the musical partnership between two singer-songwriters who defined a particular era of American music. Starting with Just Call Out My Name, a documentary featuring early footage and performances recorded specially for the programme. For fans of Tapestry, Sweet Baby James, and that whole California sound, this is your evening sorted.
The Graham Norton Show – BBC One, 11:10pm
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly make a rare chat show appearance – their last one was four years ago when they were promoting Limitless Win. They’re still promoting Limitless Win, which hasn’t changed much since then, but Ant and Dec are always good value regardless of what they’re technically there to discuss. They’ll definitely be sitting in the correct positions: Ant on the left, Dec on the right. Rapper Tinie Tempah performs his single Energy.
The Eternal Daughter – BBC Two, 11pm
Director Joanna Hogg specialises in uncomfortable family dynamics, and this 2022 film adds a gothic twist to her usual concerns. Tilda Swinton plays both a mother and daughter who check into a remote hotel where strange things start happening. Swinton actually wore her own mother’s clothes to play the older character, which gives you some idea of the personal investment here. It’s an unofficial companion piece to Hogg’s two-part film The Souvenir – both parts of which are showing on Monday from 11pm if you want the full experience.
Sport
Football: Championship – Sky Sports, 7:30pm (kick-off 8pm)
Derby County host West Bromwich Albion at Pride Park. The Rams have been solid at home this season.
Rugby Union: Premiership – TNT Sports 1, 7pm (kick-off 7:45pm)
Gloucester welcome Bath to Kingsholm in what should be a tasty West Country derby.
Tennis: Australian Open – TNT Sports 3, 7am/12:30am
Day six and seven coverage from Melbourne, with the tournament entering its decisive stages.
Cricket: India v New Zealand T20 – TNT Sports, 1:15pm
Game two of the five-match series.
The Viewing Schedule
| Time | Channel | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 2:00pm | BBC One | Father Brown |
| 7:00pm | TNT Sports 1 | Rugby: Gloucester v Bath |
| 7:30pm | BBC One | Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job |
| 7:30pm | Sky Sports | Football: Derby v West Brom |
| 8:00pm | BBC One | Would I Lie to You? |
| 8:00pm | BBC Two | Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens |
| 8:00pm | Channel 4 | David Baddiel: Cat Man |
| 8:30pm | BBC One | The Traitors Final |
| 9:00pm | BBC Two | Mystery Road: Origin |
| 9:00pm | More4 | Astrid: Murder in Paris |
| 9:00pm | Sky Atlantic | The Trip |
| 9:45pm | BBC One | The Traitors Uncloaked |
| 10:00pm | Channel 4 | Taskmasterclass |
| 10:20pm | BBC Four | Carole King and James Taylor Music Night |
| 11:00pm | BBC Two | The Eternal Daughter |
| 11:10pm | BBC One | The Graham Norton Show |
| 12:00am | BBC One | The Traitors Ireland |
What’s On Streaming
BBC iPlayer: The Traitors (full series including finale), Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens, Mystery Road: Origin (full series), Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job, The Eternal Daughter
Channel 4 streaming: David Baddiel: Cat Man, Taskmasterclass, Astrid: Murder in Paris
Now: The Trip (with Entertainment Pass)
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is The Traitors finale on tonight?
The Traitors series 4 finale is on BBC One at 8:30pm tonight (Friday 23rd January 2026), followed by The Traitors Uncloaked at 9:45pm.
What’s the best thing to watch on TV tonight?
Our top pick is The Traitors finale on BBC One at 8:30pm – Claudia Winkleman crowns the winners after four weeks of betrayal and paranoia in the Scottish Highlands.
Is EastEnders on TV tonight?
No, EastEnders is not on tonight. The soap airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One. You can catch up on recent episodes via BBC iPlayer.
What time is The Graham Norton Show on tonight?
The Graham Norton Show is on BBC One at 11:10pm tonight, with guests Ant and Dec plus a performance from Tinie Tempah.
What’s on BBC Two tonight?
BBC Two’s highlights include Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens at 8pm, Mystery Road: Origin at 9pm, and Joanna Hogg’s film The Eternal Daughter starring Tilda Swinton at 11pm.
Final Verdict
Finale night for The Traitors dominates proceedings, and unless you’ve been avoiding the nation’s water cooler conversations for the past month, you’ll probably want to watch. The atmosphere in the castle reaches peak paranoia as the final round table decides who walks away with the prize money. For something gentler, Monty Don’s Rhineland journey offers palace gardens and climate change reflections in equal measure. Would I Lie to You? has a strong guest lineup, and the late-night offerings are excellent – The Trip on Sky Atlantic is a genuine treat if you’ve never seen Coogan and Brydon sparring over restaurant tables, while The Eternal Daughter gives Tilda Swinton two roles for the price of one. Stay up past midnight if you want to start The Traitors Ireland while the finale buzz is still fresh.
