It’s a big night for crime drama fans. Death in Paradise kicks off series 15 on BBC One, Kelly Reilly headlines a moody new Welsh thriller on Sky Atlantic, and ITV takes on the disturbing story of serial killer John Wayne Gacy. Elsewhere, Monty Don continues his journey through the Rhineland, and Halle Berry joins Chris Hemsworth on Graham Norton’s sofa.
Quick Picks: Tonight’s Best
- Under Salt Marsh – Sky Atlantic, 9pm – Kelly Reilly in Welsh crime drama
- Death in Paradise – BBC One, 9pm – Series 15 premiere
- Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy – ITV1, 9pm – Michael Chernus stars
- The Graham Norton Show – BBC One, 10:40pm – Halle Berry and Chris Hemsworth
Early Evening (5pm – 8pm)
Father Brown – BBC One, 2pm
Anyone with an aversion to ventriloquist dummies should probably steer clear of this one. The unsettling puppet Mr Kafka makes a return appearance alongside his owner, the strangely named Uncle Mirth. Longtime viewers might remember that this particular dummy once nearly did for Mrs McCarthy when she found poisoned needles hidden inside its wooden body. This time around, Mr Kafka is discovered perched beside another corpse, and while Father Brown remains convinced neither puppet nor puppeteer are responsible, good luck convincing yourself of that while watching. There’s something about that painted grin that refuses to sit right.
Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens – BBC Two, 7pm
Monty reaches the Netherlands, where the Rhine fragments into countless smaller waterways and canals. The result is a landscape dominated by grasses rather than the colourful herbaceous borders we’re used to. He visits the garden of influential designer Piet Oudolf, a man bold enough to argue that brown is a perfectly acceptable colour palette. There’s also a trip to an Instagram-famous garden and one that was somehow coaxed into existence from the ruins of wartime destruction. For colour relief, Monty stops at the vast Aalsmeer flower auction and then Keukenhof, where the tulip displays are as spectacular as you’d expect from sandy soil enriched by centuries of Rhine deposits. He’s back at 8pm with a compilation of Gardeners’ World seasonal tips.
Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job – BBC One, 7:30pm
The Corfu renovation stumbles forward as Amanda Holden and Alan Carr attempt to transform the main bedroom of their crumbling villa into something resembling romantic. It takes three goes to get the paint colour right, which suggests the planning process could use some work. Between decorating disasters, Alan takes his visiting parents out for Greek food while Amanda forms an attachment to an abandoned foal at a local donkey sanctuary. In a touching moment, she opens up to Alan about her stillborn son. The episode ends with an attempt to reclaim the front of the house from the village, who’ve been using it as an informal car park. The Greek builders are notably unenthusiastic about Amanda’s outdoor chandelier vision. Northern Ireland viewers get last week’s episode at 8pm instead.
Prime Time (8pm onwards)
Would I Lie to You? – BBC One, 8:30pm
The truth-or-fiction panel show continues with guests including Will Kirk from The Repair Shop, Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri, and the perennially verbose Gyles Brandreth. Among tonight’s claims: Kirk reckons King Charles once nicked one of his chisels, Ghouri may or may not have a regrettable tattoo of an ex, and Brandreth has a story about an embarrassing on-stage accident during a record attempt that I’m not entirely sure I want the details of. The mystery guest segment throws up three possibilities: a person who polishes Strictly trophies, someone whose horse has a biting habit, or a self-proclaimed expert at catching birds. Quite the CV.
Under Salt Marsh – Sky Atlantic, 9pm ⭐
The standout new drama of the night. Kelly Reilly plays Jackie Ellis, a former police detective now working as a teacher in a small Welsh coastal town that’s bracing itself for an incoming storm. The weather serves as more than just atmosphere – this community exists on borrowed time, with the sea gradually claiming the land they live on. When Jackie discovers one of her young pupils apparently drowned, it dredges up memories of an unsolved case that wrecked her career: the disappearance of her own niece three years earlier. Making matters worse, her old partner from the force, Eric Bull (Rafe Spall), arrives to lead the investigation – the same partner who failed to solve that original case. It’s atmospheric, unsettling, and Reilly is genuinely excellent. The first two episodes drop tonight, with weekly releases thereafter. Available on Now with an Entertainment Pass.
Death in Paradise – BBC One, 9pm
Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington) is back at his old desk and, unusually for him, actually smiling about it. That won’t last. The new series introduces Sergeant Mattie Fletcher (Catherine Garton), whose approach to policing could charitably be described as unconventional, and whose methods immediately rub the Commissioner the wrong way. Meanwhile, Selwyn’s office space is being encroached upon by a dubious Business and Tourism board, one of whose consultants ends up dead on a car roof after a fall – or a push – from considerable height. DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) takes the case, though his investigation features at least one forensic shortcut that wouldn’t work in real life. But then, this is a show where you check your disbelief at the airport. If you’re here for Caribbean sunshine and murders solved over rum punch, you’ll be quite happy.
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy – ITV1, 9pm
The phrase “banality of evil” gets thrown around a lot when discussing serial killers, but John Wayne Gacy was something different – actively likeable, someone who dressed as a clown for community events and was regarded as a trustworthy neighbour. Between 1972 and 1978, he murdered 33 young men and buried most of them beneath his house. Michael Chernus (Severance) gives a chilling performance as Gacy in this eight-part drama that’s already earned a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes in America. Unlike Netflix’s more lurid true crime offerings, this one keeps the actual violence off-screen, focusing instead on the victims and the devastating impact on their families. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s done with restraint and respect.
Astrid: Murder in Paris – More4, 9pm
The French detective series continues with Astrid (Sara Mortensen) and Raphaëlle (Lola Dewaere) finding themselves unwillingly dragged into spy games between the CIA and French intelligence. Astrid, being someone who physically cannot tell a lie, is spectacularly ill-suited to the world of espionage, which makes for some genuinely funny moments. The plotting requires you to suspend disbelief somewhere around the top of the Eiffel Tower, but at this point you either accept the show’s more outlandish tendencies or you don’t.
Boom Town: How Merthyr Made the World – BBC Two, 9pm
A documentary examining how a small Welsh town became the unlikely epicentre of the Industrial Revolution. At its peak, Merthyr Tydfil was producing iron and steel that helped build the modern world. It’s part of BBC Wales’ programming celebrating the bicentenary of Cyfarthfa Castle.
Late Night
The Last Leg – Channel 4, 10pm
Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker return for a new run of their weekly satirical review show. After covering events like the Paris Paralympics last year, they’re now gearing up for Milan’s Winter Paralympics later this year. Expect the usual mix of topical comedy, celebrity guests, and Hills’ occasionally sincere attempts to find the good in humanity.
The Graham Norton Show – BBC One, 10:40pm
A strong lineup tonight with Halle Berry and Chris Hemsworth promoting their crime thriller Crime 101, John Bishop bringing the laughs, Rachel McAdams discussing her latest project, and Jessie Ware providing the music. Berry and Hemsworth are always good value on the chat show circuit, and the prospect of Hemsworth’s Australian charm bouncing off Norton’s Irish wit should produce a few memorable moments.
Bird – BBC Two, 11pm
Andrea Arnold’s 2024 film brings her signature gritty realism to Gravesend, where she grew up. Nykiya Adams plays Bailey, a young girl living with her chaotic father Bug (Barry Keoghan) and her brother in a Kent squat. When a mysterious stranger named Bird (Franz Rogowski) appears, something magical begins to infiltrate Arnold’s usually hard-edged storytelling. The film earned 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and seven BIFA nominations. Arnold has resisted explaining what it’s all about, preferring audiences to draw their own conclusions.
This Cultural Life: Pete Townshend – BBC Four, 11:15pm
The Who’s guitarist and co-founder discusses the creative influences that shaped him, from seeing Bill Haley and His Comets perform in 1956 (terrifying, apparently) to his musician parents. He also speaks with characteristic honesty about darker subjects, including the abuse he suffered from his grandmother. An articulate, revealing interview.
Sport
Cricket: Sri Lanka v England T20 – TNT Sports 1, 1:15pm
First match of the three-game series from Kandy.
Football: Championship – Sky Sports, 7:30pm (kick-off 8pm)
Bristol City host Derby County at Ashton Gate.
Tennis: Australian Open – TNT Sports 1/3, 7:30am & 1am
Men’s semi-finals on Friday, women’s doubles final overnight.
Golf: Bahrain Championship – Sky Sports Golf, 8:30am
DP World Tour action continues.
The Viewing Schedule
| Time | Channel | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 1:15pm | TNT Sports 1 | Cricket: Sri Lanka v England T20 |
| 2:00pm | BBC One | Father Brown |
| 7:00pm | BBC Two | Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens |
| 7:30pm | BBC One | Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job |
| 7:30pm | Sky Sports | Football: Bristol City v Derby |
| 8:30pm | BBC One | Would I Lie to You? |
| 9:00pm | BBC One | Death in Paradise |
| 9:00pm | Sky Atlantic | Under Salt Marsh |
| 9:00pm | ITV1 | Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy |
| 9:00pm | BBC Two | Boom Town: How Merthyr Made the World |
| 9:00pm | More4 | Astrid: Murder in Paris |
| 10:00pm | Channel 4 | The Last Leg |
| 10:40pm | BBC One | The Graham Norton Show |
| 11:00pm | BBC Two | Bird |
| 11:15pm | BBC Four | This Cultural Life: Pete Townshend |
What’s On Streaming
BBC iPlayer: Death in Paradise (series 15 from 9pm), Father Brown (full series), Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens, Bird (after broadcast)
Now TV/Sky: Under Salt Marsh (with Entertainment Pass)
ITVX: Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (full series available)
Channel 4 streaming: The Last Leg, Astrid: Murder in Paris
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is Death in Paradise on tonight?
Death in Paradise series 15 begins on BBC One at 9pm tonight (Friday 30th January 2026). Episodes are also available on BBC iPlayer from the same time.
What’s the best thing to watch on TV tonight?
Our top pick is Under Salt Marsh on Sky Atlantic at 9pm – Kelly Reilly and Rafe Spall star in this atmospheric Welsh crime drama about past secrets and impending storms.
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 10:40pm tonight, with guests Halle Berry, Chris Hemsworth, John Bishop, Rachel McAdams and music from Jessie Ware.
What channel is Under Salt Marsh on?
Under Salt Marsh is on Sky Atlantic at 9pm, also available on Now TV with an Entertainment Pass.
Final Verdict
A genuine battle for eyeballs at 9pm tonight. Under Salt Marsh on Sky Atlantic is the one to prioritise if you want something atmospheric and genuinely gripping – Kelly Reilly is outstanding. Death in Paradise offers its usual Caribbean comfort, even if you have to overlook the occasional scientific impossibility. Devil in Disguise on ITV1 is a more challenging watch but rewards with its restrained, victim-focused approach to a horrific true story. Later on, Andrea Arnold’s Bird on BBC Two is worth staying up for, and Pete Townshend’s candid interview on BBC Four provides a thoughtful nightcap. The Graham Norton Show has the star power with Berry and Hemsworth, but honestly, you might want to record that and watch Under Salt Marsh live.
