What’s on TV tonight? The Winter Olympics arrive in Milan with the Opening Ceremony dominating Friday night programming, and it promises to be one of those events you remember watching for years to come. BBC Two clears its schedule for live coverage from the San Siro, while elsewhere Death in Paradise offers another murder mystery in the Caribbean sun, ITV continues its chilling John Wayne Gacy drama, and Gogglebox delivers its usual dose of armchair wisdom.
What’s On TV Tonight: Friday’s Best Shows
- Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony – BBC Two, 7pm – THE event of the night from Milan
- Death in Paradise – BBC One, 9pm – Series 15, Episode 2
- Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy – ITV1, 9pm – True crime drama continues
- Gogglebox – Channel 4, 9pm – Series 27
- The Graham Norton Show – BBC One, 10:45pm – Weekly chat show
Early Evening (6pm – 8pm)
Hollyoaks – Channel 4, 6:30pm
The Chester soap serves up its regular dose of drama to ease you into the evening. A useful warm-up before the main event.
The One Show – BBC One, 7pm
Alex Jones and Roman Kemp keep the magazine show ticking over with topical chat and celebrity guests, though you sense even they know most viewers will be flicking over to BBC Two tonight.
Emmerdale – ITV1, 7pm
The Dales drama continues for those who prefer their early evening entertainment a bit closer to home than Milan.
Winter Olympics 2026 Opening Ceremony – BBC Two, 7pm
Here it is, then. The main event. The moment Milan has been building towards for years, and the reason your Friday night schedule just got rearranged.
The San Siro – that cathedral of Italian football – transforms tonight into the stage for one of sport’s grandest spectacles. BBC Two begins coverage at 7pm UK time, with the ceremony itself starting at 8pm CET (7pm GMT). And what a show they’ve assembled.
The musical lineup alone justifies clearing your evening. Mariah Carey headlines, because apparently warming up 80,000 people in a football stadium in February is exactly the kind of challenge she fancies. Andrea Bocelli brings the operatic grandeur that only he can deliver – this is Italy, after all, and they don’t do things by halves. Laura Pausini completes the trio, one of the best-selling Italian artists of all time making her Olympic moment count.
But the real talking point is the dual cauldron lighting. For the first time in Olympic history, the flame will be lit simultaneously in two locations – at Arco della Pace in Milan and in Piazza Dibona in Cortina d’Ampezzo, some 250 kilometres to the north-east, where the skiing and sliding events will take place. It’s a technical and symbolic achievement that speaks to the ambition of these Games.
The parade of nations, the artistic segments celebrating Italian culture, the inevitable tears from athletes who’ve dedicated their lives to this moment – it’s all here. Clear the sofa, get the snacks in, and settle in for a proper television event. These opening ceremonies don’t come around often, and when they’re held in a country with Italy’s flair for the dramatic, you know they’ll pull out all the stops.
Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job – BBC One, 7:30pm
Amanda Holden and Alan Carr continue their Corfu renovation project, which at this point feels less like a property show and more like a documentary about two friends having an extended holiday with occasional DIY interruptions. The villa is slowly taking shape, though “slowly” remains the operative word. The pair’s bickering over paint colours and furniture choices is strangely watchable, probably because it mirrors every couple’s argument in B&Q on a Saturday morning.
Coronation Street – ITV1, 7:30pm
Weatherfield’s finest navigate whatever fresh drama has landed on the cobbles this week. A reliable option if the Opening Ceremony isn’t your thing, though you’d be missing out.
Prime Time (9pm onwards)
Death in Paradise – BBC One, 9pm
Series 15 continues with DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) settling into his Caribbean posting. This series brings some serious guest star power, with Siobhan Finneran, Hermione Norris, and Ben Willbond among the names appearing across the run, suggesting the writers have crafted something a bit more substantial than the usual locked-room mystery.
Gilet has brought a different energy to Saint Marie – a bit more world-weary, perhaps, than his predecessors – and it’s working. The sunshine, the impossible murder scenarios, and the inevitable revelation in the final act remain gloriously intact. It’s comfort television of the highest order, the kind of show you watch with a glass of wine and absolutely no intention of trying to solve the case yourself.
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy – ITV1, 9pm
The true crime drama continues its unsettling examination of the serial killer who presented a friendly face to his community while committing horrific crimes. Michael Chernus remains utterly convincing in the lead role, managing to convey Gacy’s surface charm without ever making him sympathetic.
What sets this apart from the usual true crime fare is its restraint. The violence happens off-screen; the focus stays on the victims and those left behind. It’s earned that 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating. Not an easy watch, but a worthwhile one.
Gogglebox – Channel 4, 9pm
Britain’s favourite armchair critics return to pass judgement on the week’s television. The Malones, Jenny and Lee, the Siddiquis – they’re all here, offering the kind of unfiltered reactions that somehow make watching people watch TV genuinely entertaining.
There’s something comforting about Gogglebox, especially on a Friday night. It’s the television equivalent of a warm bath – familiar, relaxing, and occasionally hilarious when someone says exactly what you were thinking about a particularly daft programme.
Late Night
The Last Leg – Channel 4, 10pm
Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker bring their weekly satirical review to proceedings, taking on the news with their usual mix of righteous anger and genuine warmth. With the Winter Paralympics on the horizon in Milan, expect the team to have plenty to say about the Games and accessibility in sport.
The Graham Norton Show – BBC One, 10:45pm
The week’s not complete without Graham gathering celebrities on his famous red sofa. Tonight’s lineup promises the usual mix of anecdotes, gentle teasing, and the red chair of doom. A perfect wind-down after the spectacle of the Opening Ceremony.
The Viewing Schedule
| Time | Channel | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30pm | Channel 4 | Hollyoaks |
| 7:00pm | BBC One | The One Show |
| 7:00pm | BBC Two | Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony |
| 7:00pm | ITV1 | Emmerdale |
| 7:30pm | BBC One | Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job |
| 7:30pm | ITV1 | Coronation Street |
| 9:00pm | BBC One | Death in Paradise |
| 9:00pm | ITV1 | Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy |
| 9:00pm | Channel 4 | Gogglebox |
| 10:00pm | Channel 4 | The Last Leg |
| 10:45pm | BBC One | The Graham Norton Show |
What’s On Streaming
BBC iPlayer: Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony (live from 7pm), Death in Paradise (series 15), Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job
ITVX: Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (full series available), Emmerdale, Coronation Street
Channel 4 streaming: Gogglebox, The Last Leg, Hollyoaks
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony on TV tonight?
The Winter Olympics 2026 Opening Ceremony is on BBC Two at 7pm tonight (Friday 6th February 2026), with live coverage from Milan’s San Siro Stadium. Performances include Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli and Laura Pausini, plus the historic first dual cauldron lighting.
What’s the best thing to watch on TV tonight?
The Winter Olympics 2026 Opening Ceremony on BBC Two at 7pm is the unmissable event tonight. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle with world-class performances and historic moments you’ll want to see live.
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 Death in Paradise on tonight?
Death in Paradise series 15, episode 2 is on BBC One at 9pm tonight, starring Don Gilet as DI Mervin Wilson with guest stars Siobhan Finneran, Hermione Norris and Ben Willbond.
What time is The Graham Norton Show on tonight?
The Graham Norton Show is on BBC One at 10:45pm tonight.
How can I watch the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony online?
The Opening Ceremony streams live on BBC iPlayer from 7pm and will be available on catch-up after the broadcast.
Final Verdict
This is a night where the choice is genuinely easy. The Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony on BBC Two is THE event – you don’t get ceremonies from the San Siro featuring Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli and Laura Pausini very often. The dual cauldron lighting alone makes history.
Record Death in Paradise for later (it’s not going anywhere, and the Caribbean sunshine will still be there tomorrow). Devil in Disguise continues to impress on ITV1 if true crime is more your speed. And Gogglebox offers its usual comfort – though if the Goggleboxers aren’t watching the Opening Ceremony, something’s gone very wrong.
The Graham Norton Show caps things off nicely at 10:45pm, but honestly, after the spectacle from Milan, you might just want to sit with what you’ve witnessed. These are the nights television was made for.
Related: [What’s On TV Tonight Friday](/whats-on-tv-tonight-friday/) | [Sunday 1 February 2026 TV Guide](/whats-on-tv-tonight-sunday-1-february-2026/)
