Friday night delivers a strong lineup with The Traitors hitting its halfway point, which means we’re about to enter the really paranoid phase. If competitive backstabbing isn’t your thing, Channel 4 has Big Fat Quiz of Telly and there’s a proper Ken Loach film on late for anyone who fancies something more substantial.
Quick Picks: Tonight’s Best
- The Traitors – BBC One, 8pm – Halfway point paranoia
- Big Fat Quiz of Telly – Channel 4, 9pm – Jimmy Carr’s TV trivia special
- Would I Lie to You? – BBC One, 7:30pm – Bob Mortimer returns
- The Old Oak – BBC Two, 11pm – Ken Loach’s final collaboration with Paul Laverty
Early Evening (7pm – 9pm)
Would I Lie to You? – BBC One, 7:30pm
Bob Mortimer’s back, which means David Mitchell is already nervous. At this point Mortimer could tell Mitchell that he once trained a badger to operate a cash register and Mitchell would genuinely have to think about whether it was true. Tonight’s tale involves advising a footballer on cheese selection, which sounds ridiculous but that’s never stopped Bob before. Dianne Buswell, Jamelia and Mark Chapman round out the panel for what promises to be one of the series’ funnier instalments.
FA Cup: Wrexham v Nottingham Forest – TNT Sports 1, 7:30pm
Third-round action from North Wales, where Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s Wrexham host Premier League opposition. Forest will be favourites, obviously, but Cup upsets are what this competition’s all about. If you’ve been following the Wrexham story through the documentary, this is another big moment in their rise.
The Traitors – BBC One, 8pm ⭐
We’ve reached the halfway point and things are about to get really tense. Claudia Winkleman presides over the Scottish castle where a group of strangers continue trying to work out who among them are the Traitors secretly murdering the Faithfuls each night. By now, alliances have formed, suspicions are mounting, and at least a few people have convinced themselves they’ve definitely worked it all out. They’re probably wrong. The Traitors Uncloaked follows at 9:05pm, with Ed Gamble interviewing the latest casualties.
Tom Read Wilson’s Magnificent Journey – Channel 5, 8pm
The Celebs Go Dating greeter takes his considerable enthusiasm to Lake Como this week, admiring the scenery in his characteristically flamboyant style. There’s a hot air balloon ride involved, which gives Tom plenty of opportunity for innuendo. It’s travel programming with extra personality, and those ochre-coloured villas against the lake do look rather nice.
Can You Make £10k in 10 Days? – Channel 4, 8pm
Scarlett Moffatt from Gogglebox fronts this examination of side hustles and get-rich-quick schemes. Can people really turn modest effort into serious money? The programme investigates whether these opportunities genuinely work or whether they’re mostly wishful thinking. Timely viewing for January, when everyone’s checking their bank balance.
Prime Time (9pm onwards)
Big Fat Quiz of Telly – Channel 4, 9pm
If you’re still in the mood for quizzing after last week’s Big Fat Quiz of the Year, here’s another helping. This one focuses purely on television rather than the events of the past twelve months, so expect questions spanning decades of telly history. Harry Hill, Judi Love, Tom Allen, Joanne McNally, Sam Campbell and Susan Wokoma make up the teams, competing to answer everything from classic Simpsons moments to recent reality TV controversies. Jimmy Carr keeps things moving along with his usual efficiency.
Mystery Road: Origin – BBC Two, 9pm
The second series of this Australian prequel drama continues, following Indigenous detective Jay Swan as he investigates crimes in the Western Australian outback. This time around, Jay’s looking into the disappearance of a foster child while also dealing with the death of an elderly nun in circumstances that don’t quite add up. Mark Coles Smith brings a quiet intensity to the lead role, and the outback landscapes are genuinely stunning. The full series is available on iPlayer if you want to binge.
Jane McDonald: From Pole to Pole – Channel 5, 9pm
Jane’s epic journey from Arctic to Antarctic continues with a visit to the Falkland Islands, where she samples an extremely generous cream tea and remarks on the wind. She’s particularly interested in meeting locals and understanding what draws people to such remote places. Then it’s on to Uruguay. It’s comfort viewing of the reliable sort – Jane having adventures in beautiful locations while being thoroughly herself.
Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job – BBC One, 9:30pm
Alan Carr’s birthday approaches, but there’s renovation work to be done on the Corfu property he’s tackling with Amanda Holden. They knock down a dividing wall before sensibly heading to the beach, where Alan interrogates a local builder about the Greek dating scene over crazy golf. Amanda works on building a banquette while Alan smashes plates. Their genuine friendship makes this watchable even when the DIY gets chaotic.
The Graham Norton Show – BBC One, 10:40pm
Cynthia Erivo discusses her upcoming West End role in Dracula, where she’ll play 23 different characters, having recently wrapped the Wicked films. Chris Pratt’s promoting Mercy, a thriller involving an AI judge. Dawn French talks about her new sitcom Can You Keep a Secret?, and Rob Beckett hopefully provides some levity. Jack Savoretti handles the music.
Late Night
Rod Stewart Night – BBC Four, 10:05pm
BBC Four celebrates the veteran rocker with classic live performances from across his career, including Glastonbury 2002 and Hyde Park 2015. Proper Friday night viewing for fans.
The Old Oak – BBC Two, 11pm
Ken Loach’s 2023 film deserves the late slot for anyone willing to stay up. Set in a former mining town in the north-east of England, it follows pub landlord TJ and Syrian refugee Yara as their community grapples with the arrival of migrants. It’s the final part of Loach’s trilogy about austerity Britain, and possibly his final collaboration with long-time screenwriter Paul Laverty. Not a cheerful watch, but a powerful one. Dave Turner and Ebla Mari are excellent in the central roles.
The Viewing Schedule
| Time | Channel | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30pm | BBC One | Would I Lie to You? |
| 7:30pm | TNT Sports 1 | FA Cup: Wrexham v Nottingham Forest |
| 8:00pm | BBC One | The Traitors |
| 8:00pm | Channel 5 | Tom Read Wilson’s Magnificent Journey |
| 8:00pm | Channel 4 | Can You Make £10k in 10 Days? |
| 9:00pm | BBC Two | Mystery Road: Origin |
| 9:00pm | Channel 4 | Big Fat Quiz of Telly |
| 9:00pm | Channel 5 | Jane McDonald: From Pole to Pole |
| 9:05pm | BBC One | The Traitors Uncloaked |
| 9:30pm | BBC One | Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job |
| 10:05pm | BBC Four | Rod Stewart Night |
| 10:40pm | BBC One | The Graham Norton Show |
| 11:00pm | BBC Two | The Old Oak |
What’s On Streaming
BBC iPlayer: The Traitors (full series), Mystery Road: Origin (full series), Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job, The Old Oak
Channel 4 streaming: Big Fat Quiz of Telly, Can You Make £10k in 10 Days?
My5: Jane McDonald: From Pole to Pole, Tom Read Wilson’s Magnificent Journey
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is The Traitors on tonight?
The Traitors is on BBC One at 8pm tonight (Friday 9th January 2026), followed by The Traitors Uncloaked with Ed Gamble at 9:05pm.
What’s the best thing to watch on TV tonight?
Our top pick is The Traitors on BBC One at 8pm – we’ve reached the halfway point and tensions are running high in Claudia Winkleman’s game of deception.
What channel is Big Fat Quiz of Telly on?
Big Fat Quiz of Telly is on Channel 4 at 9pm tonight, hosted by Jimmy Carr with panellists including Harry Hill, Judi Love and Tom Allen.
What’s on BBC One tonight?
BBC One’s highlights include Would I Lie to You? at 7:30pm (with Bob Mortimer), The Traitors at 8pm, Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job at 9:30pm, and The Graham Norton Show at 10:40pm.
What time is The Old Oak on TV?
Ken Loach’s The Old Oak is on BBC Two at 11pm tonight.
Final Verdict
A properly good Friday night. The Traitors at the halfway point is must-watch television – this is where the game gets interesting. Big Fat Quiz of Telly offers lighter entertainment if you’d rather laugh than stress about who’s betraying whom. For something with more weight, stay up for The Old Oak – it’s a significant film from one of Britain’s most important directors. And if Bob Mortimer’s on Would I Lie to You?, that’s always worth catching.
