Monday brings the return of one of British TV’s longest-running dramas as Silent Witness begins its 29th series with a fresh Birmingham setting. Elsewhere, After the Flood wraps up its second run on ITV1, Panorama goes inside Russia with the BBC’s Steve Rosenberg, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms delivers its first proper tournament action. Plus there’s Monday night football and a powerful documentary on BBC Two.
Quick Picks: Tonight’s Best
- Silent Witness – BBC One, 9pm – Forensic drama returns with Birmingham relocation
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – Sky Atlantic, 9pm – Dunk faces a sadistic Targaryen
- Our Man in Moscow – BBC One, 8pm – Steve Rosenberg’s year reporting from Russia
- After the Flood – ITV1, 9pm – Series 2 finale
Early Evening (6pm – 8pm)
EastEnders – BBC One, 7:30pm
Ronni Ancona continues to bring an unpredictable edge to newcomer Bea. Having arrived in Walford and immediately rubbed people up the wrong way, she’s now attached herself to the kind-hearted Honey at the Minute Mart. Tonight, Honey has an accident at work and Bea decides to get involved – advising her to take legal action against the Panesars. Whether this is genuine helpfulness or Bea stirring up trouble for her own amusement remains to be seen. Ancona is clearly having fun with the role, and there’s something unsettling in those too-intense eyes. Available early on BBC iPlayer from 6am.
Football: Sunderland v Burnley – Sky Sports, 7pm (k/o 8pm)
Premier League Monday night football from the Stadium of Light. Sunderland have been one of the stories of the season since their return to the top flight, currently sitting comfortably in mid-table. Burnley, however, are struggling near the bottom and desperately need points. Should be a decent watch for neutral fans.
Prime Time (8pm onwards)
Our Man in Moscow – BBC One, 8pm ⭐
This Panorama documentary offers a rare look at what it’s actually like to be a Western journalist in Putin’s Russia. Steve Rosenberg has been the BBC’s Moscow correspondent since 2003 and became Russia Editor in 2022 – he’s now essentially the last BBC correspondent left in the country after colleagues were expelled or banned. The film follows a year in his working life, from that extraordinary press conference where he questioned Putin directly on Russian television to the mundane realities of reporting under constant surveillance. Rosenberg has lived in Russia since 1991 and reflects on how dramatically the country has changed across three very different eras. Genuinely fascinating stuff.
Air Crash Investigation – National Geographic, 8pm
Twenty years in and this Canadian documentary series keeps finding disasters to examine with forensic detail. Tonight’s episode looks at Yeti flight 691, a Nepali turbo-prop that crashed into a river gorge near Pokhara in 2023, killing all 72 people on board. The plane was seconds from landing when both engines failed. The investigation’s findings are unsettling, to say the least. Probably one to avoid if you’re flying anywhere soon. Catch up on Disney+.
University Challenge – BBC Two, 8:30pm
The quiz continues as two more teams battle for a semi-final spot. Amol Rajan hosts. Follows Celebrity Mastermind and Only Connect repeats earlier in the evening.
Silent Witness – BBC One, 9pm
The long-running forensic drama celebrates 30 years on air with a significant shake-up. Newlyweds Nikki (Emilia Fox) and Jack (David Caves) have relocated from London to Birmingham, setting up shop at the Bowman Centre at Birmingham General Hospital. Jack’s apparently grown a goatee beard during the move, giving him a slightly different look. The supporting cast of Harriet (Maggie Steed) and Kit (Francesca Mills) have also made the journey north, though what’s happened to the Lyell Centre back in London isn’t explained.
There’s little time for settling in – the team are immediately on the trail of a professional assassin with the surname Booth. The Birmingham setting gives the show a different visual texture after all those years in London, and the production team have made the most of filming in the city. It’s still recognisably Silent Witness – autopsies, interpersonal drama, dark conspiracies – but the fresh surroundings keep things interesting for series 29.
After the Flood – ITV1, 9pm
The second series reaches its conclusion with Jo (Sophie Rundle) finally having to confront what happened in that woodland clearing between Pat and Mackie. Molly is reeling from the revelations she received in last night’s episode and the mother-daughter relationship at the heart of the show has been shattered. Unlike the ambiguous ending of series one, this finale apparently ties things up more definitively – at least in terms of the corruption investigation. Emotionally, it sounds like everyone’s left in pieces. Sophie Rundle has said she could see a third series happening, so perhaps not all threads are resolved. Full series on ITVX.
Lover, Liar, Predator – BBC Two, 9pm
Heavy but important viewing. This BBC Scotland documentary tells the story of Aaron Swan, a sex offender who manipulated and abused multiple women over several decades. He was convicted in 2023 and sentenced to prison after his victims came forward. The programme features testimony from those women, who describe how Swan initially appeared charming and attentive before gradually taking control of their lives. It’s a difficult watch but offers genuine insight into how coercive behaviour operates. If you’ve ever wondered how people become trapped in these situations, this helps explain.
Platoon 24/7: Preparing for War – Channel 5, 9pm
New documentary series embedded with 13 Platoon of the Rifles at Bulford Camp in Wiltshire. These thirty soldiers have completed basic training but now face months of gruelling work to become combat-ready infantry. The opening episode follows them to the Brecon Beacons for what’s called a “thrashing” – basically officers screaming in their faces while they push through physical exhaustion. Given everything happening in the world right now, there’s something newly relevant about watching young people prepare for potential frontline deployment. Catch up on Channel 5 streaming.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – Sky Atlantic, 9pm (also 3am)
Episode three brings the tournament action that’s been building since the series began. Our loveable hedge knight Dunk (Peter Claffey) has been wandering from pavilion to pavilion trying to find a sponsor, with little success – nobody’s heard of his late master Ser Arlan. But the tournament itself introduces a properly nasty Targaryen in the form of Prince Aerion Brightflame (Finn Bennett), who cheats at jousting and treats commoners with casual cruelty.
When Dunk witnesses Aerion going too far with an innocent woman, his sense of honour won’t let him stand by. It’s a pivotal moment that shows what kind of knight Dunk is – and sets up serious trouble, because picking fights with Targaryens is never a good idea. The dynamic between Dunk and his young companion Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) continues to be the show’s greatest strength. Available on NOW.
Pete Wicks: for Dogs’ Sake – U&W, 9pm
Series finale for the reality star’s animal welfare show. Tonight Pete meets Jay, a shih-tzu cross with personality to spare but some significant health issues including prostate problems. It’s light, heartfelt stuff.
Late Night
Space Season – BBC Four, 10pm
BBC Four continues its run of space programming ahead of the Artemis 2 mission. Tonight includes Seven Days on Mars, introduced by Professor Brian Cox, originally broadcast in 2022. Good background viewing if you’re interested in space exploration.
Industry – BBC One, 10:40pm
The financial drama continues to be one of the most intense things on television. The dialogue comes so thick and fast you almost need subtitles, and the plotting is dense enough to require a flowchart. Harper is digging for dirt on the fintech app Tender so she can short its stock, which is awkward given that it’s now run by Yasmin’s husband. Meanwhile, disgraced trader Rishi has turned drug dealer. Not exactly light Monday night viewing, but undeniably gripping. Catch up on iPlayer.
Chevalier – Film4, 10:55pm
Kelvin Harrison Jr stars in this 2022 biopic of Joseph Bologne, the 18th-century French-Caribbean composer who faced racism while attempting to become director of the Paris Opera. Harrison Jr actually learned to play the violin for the role after producers decided they wanted him performing rather than using a double. The results are impressive. Catch up via Channel 4 streaming.
The Viewing Schedule
| Time | Channel | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00pm | Sky Sports | Sunderland v Burnley (k/o 8pm) |
| 7:30pm | BBC One | EastEnders |
| 8:00pm | BBC One | Our Man in Moscow |
| 8:00pm | National Geographic | Air Crash Investigation |
| 8:30pm | BBC Two | University Challenge |
| 9:00pm | BBC One | Silent Witness |
| 9:00pm | ITV1 | After the Flood |
| 9:00pm | BBC Two | Lover, Liar, Predator |
| 9:00pm | Channel 5 | Platoon 24/7: Preparing for War |
| 9:00pm | Sky Atlantic | A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms |
| 9:00pm | U&W | Pete Wicks: for Dogs’ Sake |
| 10:00pm | BBC Four | Space Season |
| 10:40pm | BBC One | Industry |
| 10:55pm | Film4 | Chevalier |
What’s On Streaming
BBC iPlayer: Silent Witness, Our Man in Moscow, EastEnders, Lover Liar Predator, Industry
ITVX: After the Flood (full series)
Channel 5 streaming: Platoon 24/7: Preparing for War
NOW: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Disney+: Air Crash Investigation
Channel 4 streaming: Chevalier
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is Silent Witness on TV tonight?
Silent Witness series 29 premieres on BBC One at 9pm tonight (Monday 2nd February 2026). The team has relocated to Birmingham for this anniversary series.
What’s the best thing to watch on TV tonight?
Our top pick is Silent Witness on BBC One at 9pm – the long-running forensic drama returns with a fresh Birmingham setting and a new mystery involving a professional assassin.
Is EastEnders on TV tonight?
Yes, EastEnders is on BBC One at 7:30pm tonight (Monday 2nd February 2026). Ronni Ancona’s character Bea continues to cause trouble in Walford, this time advising Honey to sue the Panesars.
What time is After the Flood finale on?
The After the Flood series 2 finale is on ITV1 at 9pm tonight. The full series is also available on ITVX.
What channel is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on?
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 3 is on Sky Atlantic at 9pm tonight (with an early 3am showing for keen viewers). It’s also available to stream on NOW.
Final Verdict
A packed Monday with several strong options at 9pm. Silent Witness returning with its Birmingham makeover is the main event for drama fans – 30 years on and still finding new angles. If documentaries are more your thing, Our Man in Moscow at 8pm offers a genuinely compelling look at journalism under pressure in Putin’s Russia. After the Flood wraps up satisfyingly on ITV1, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms delivers the tournament confrontation we’ve been waiting for. EastEnders is on at 7:30pm for your regular Walford fix, with Ronni Ancona’s Bea proving an entertainingly chaotic addition to the Square.
