Monday night serves up a treat for fans of thoughtful British drama as Mackenzie Crook’s highly anticipated new series Small Prophets debuts on BBC Two. With Michael Palin in a key role, this exploration of loss, loneliness, and hope from the creator of Detectorists looks set to be something special. Elsewhere, there’s a new spy thriller on ITV1, Silent Witness tackles politically charged territory, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms delivers the Trial of Seven. Plus there’s Winter Olympics action and Championship football.
Quick Picks: Tonight’s Best
- Small Prophets – BBC Two, 10pm – Mackenzie Crook’s new series with Michael Palin
- Silent Witness – BBC One, 9pm – Racially motivated murder investigation continues
- Betrayal – ITV1, 9pm – New MI5 class-war thriller
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – Sky Atlantic, 9pm – Dunk faces Trial of Seven
- Knife Crime: What Happened to Our Boys? – BBC One, 8pm – Powerful Panorama documentary
Daytime (Winter Olympics)
Winter Olympics – BBC One from 9am, BBC Two from 1pm
The Games continue with two major finals today. The Women’s Slopestyle Final kicks off at 11.30am – expect spectacular aerials and plenty of spills on the snow. Then at 5.15pm it’s the Curling Mixed Doubles Final, which has become one of the most compelling events of recent Winter Olympics thanks to its blend of strategy and genuine drama. TNT Sports also has coverage if you want alternative commentary. The quality of British curling means we might well have a genuine medal chance.
Riddiculous – ITV1, 3pm
Ranvir Singh hosts this afternoon quiz where contestants tackle lateral thinking challenges set by Riddlemaster Henry Lewis. It’s a gentle watch for the afternoon crowd – think of it as a brain teaser with personality.
Early Evening (6pm – 8pm)
Football: Sheffield United v Middlesbrough – Sky Sports, 7:30pm (k/o 8pm)
Championship action from Bramall Lane as Sheffield United host Middlesbrough. Both sides have been in and around the promotion conversation this season, so this could be a crucial fixture in the race for the Premier League. Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United have found their rhythm at home, but Middlesbrough under Michael Carrick have been one of the more attractive sides to watch in the division. Should be a good one.
Cricket T20 World Cup – Sky Sports Cricket
Earlier in the day, Sky Sports has T20 World Cup action with Zimbabwe v Oman at 9am and South Africa v Canada at 1pm. The South Africa match is the bigger draw – the Proteas are among the favourites and should make light work of the Canadians.
Prime Time (8pm onwards)
Knife Crime: What Happened to Our Boys? – BBC One, 8pm ⭐
It has been just over a year since 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa was stabbed to death in Woolwich in south-east London. The tragedy occurred a few months after his friend, 15-year-old Daejaun Campbell, was also killed in a knife attack on a nearby street. Both had been groomed by criminal gangs. Their mothers tell Panorama they knew that their sons were in danger, but that attempts to get help from the authorities had failed. A scheme to relocate people at risk from gang violence, for instance, was not able to intervene because of a lack of support from Greenwich Council. Essential if difficult viewing. Regional variations: 10.40pm in Wales, 12.20am in Northern Ireland.
Silent Witness – BBC One, 9pm
We’re in ripped-from-the-headlines territory tonight with a racially motivated murder that results in plenty of “us versus them” rhetoric from those caught up in events. Everyday differences – in particular, religion and ethnicity – have been reinterpreted as markers of threat by those who Nikki (Emilia Fox) and Jack (David Caves) are investigating, and we see how trust and social cohesion are being frayed to tatters by populist politics.
Given such thematic concerns, it all makes for a rather disturbing viewing experience, especially when Jack is seen attempting to unwind at a boxing gym, only to find it a sweatbox of inflammatory discourse. His initial instinct is to keep his powder dry and remain silent, but as viewpoints narrow, Jack’s composure begins to erode. There’s more tomorrow at 9pm. Catch up via iPlayer.
Betrayal – ITV1, 9pm ⭐ NEW SERIES
Having previously adapted The Spy Who Came in from the Cold for the stage, writer David Eldridge is clearly someone who’s familiar with the shadier side of espionage. What he’s done with the bracing Betrayal is take the air of disillusionment found in John le Carré and bring it bang up to date, centring his story not on an agent from public school but one with a working-class background.
As such, there’s a real air of class tension to both John’s career and domestic life. At Thames House, he’s snarked at by supercilious fellow officers, and at home, the gap between him and relatively well-to-do wife Claire is widening. But with a terrorist threat looming, can one man juggle both a midlife and national crisis? Full series available on ITVX for those who want to binge.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – Sky Atlantic, 9pm (also 3am)
“All men are fools, and all men are knights, where women are concerned.” Those words from Ashford Meadow’s puppet show may be ringing around Dunk’s head as he sits in a cell, facing death after unwisely rushing to the rescue of a fair maiden. To save his life, he faces a Trial by Combat – a tradition seen before in parent series Game of Thrones, which has gone both very well and very badly for the “good guys”. And for this Trial of Seven he also needs to persuade six others to fight alongside him.
The Trial of Seven is one of the most dramatic elements from George R.R. Martin’s source novellas, and it’s been a set piece fans have been anticipating since the show was announced. Available on NOW for streaming.
Guy Martin’s House without Bills – Channel 4, 9pm
We’ve reached a point in the climate debate where the very words “net zero” are toxic to parts of the media. So who would be the best television personality to hire if you wanted to win over, or at least soften up, a few climate sceptics? Plain-speaking Grimsby mechanic Guy Martin would be high on the list, and here he is sent on a mission to explore how homes can be made cheaper to run, thereby also slashing carbon emissions.
Guy learns about heat pumps and state-of-the-art insulation, visits a rebuilt Victorian church that barely needs the heating turned on, and helps on a Manchester project to turn a typical 1930s semi into one of Britain’s most energy-efficient homes. Catch up via Channel 4 streaming.
Platoon 24/7: Preparing for War – Channel 5, 9pm
The best thing about this boom-bang-crash Army training series is that we’re getting to know the recruits’ personalities. 13 Platoon, D Company, 5 Rifles are an interesting bunch, and the film-makers zoom in on how the process of infantry training is shaping their characters. Slight, 18-year-old Rifleman Morris is starting to come out of his shell. Burly Rifleman Dutton’s drive for promotion may be stymied by his dodgy ankle. And the exercise where Rifleman French gets to test his gunnery skills has the touching air of a young man finding his calling, having left school with no GCSEs. While training in Germany, the young soldiers also hope to “drink ’em dry”. Catch up via Channel 5 streaming.
Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids – More4, 9pm
The Yorkshire farming family continues their adventures. Tonight sees preparations underway for Clive’s 70th birthday – a significant milestone that the whole family wants to mark properly. Meanwhile, Amanda is worried about a premature newborn calf whose survival hangs in the balance. It’s the familiar blend of celebration and concern that makes this gentle series such comfortable viewing.
Space Season – BBC Four, 9pm
The first instalment of BBC Four’s astronomical buffet this week, Do We Really Need the Moon?, was first shown in 2011. It’s a sort of lunar love letter from Maggie Aderin-Pocock to our precious, spherical satellite. It’s a shame the title sounds like the opening slide in an ill-advised HR meeting. “I mean, it looks nice up there and all, but does it add anything to the balance sheet?” But, as we learn before the hour is up, our Moon performs many more useful balancing acts than most of us realise. The season concludes with two more programmes from the BBC’s recent golden age of space docs. Catch up via iPlayer.
Adam Richman Eats Italy – Food Network, 9pm & 9:30pm
He’s no Stanley Tucci, but what Adam Richman lacks in refinement, he makes up for with his appetite for Italian food. The American ex-all-you-can-eat competitor is enthusiastic about most food, and after happily munching his way around Britain, he’s now exploring Italy “fork first”. That means tasting bolognese lasagna in Bologna and Neapolitan pizza in Naples. He starts in Florence with a traditional bistecca followed by lampredotto, a cow’s-stomach sandwich that even he is nervous about trying. However, he pronounces it “the best thing I’ve eaten in Italy”. Catch up via Discovery+.
Late Night
Small Prophets – BBC Two, 10pm ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NEW SERIES
Michael Sleep (Pearce Quigley) shows signs of giving up. His garden, like his beard, is overgrown, he eats unhealthily and he drives a clapped-out Ford Capri to work, where he’s going through the motions. We learn that his partner Clea disappeared seven years previously, and life has been on hold ever since. There is magic to be found in the mundane, however, as you’d expect from the same fertile mind that gave us Detectorists.
Michael and DIY store colleague Kacey (Lauren Patel) bond over their dislike of boss Gordon, a joyless jobsworth played by the show’s writer/director Mackenzie Crook. And despite the fact that his father Brian (Michael Palin) is in a care home, theirs is a close relationship – going against the grain of spiky father-son pairings on TV. Brian even thinks he can help Michael get answers about Clea. By mysterious, alchemical means…
Although a portrait of loss and loneliness, Small Prophets is also about hope and friendship. It goes somewhere courageously different, but underlying its fantastical furniture is a deeply human story. It’s another winner from Crook. The full series drops on iPlayer tonight, so if you’re hooked you can keep going. 11pm in Northern Ireland.
Industry – BBC One, 10:40pm (11:40pm Wales, tomorrow 11:40pm N Ireland)
At last, an episode that hinges on the central issue: can Harper and Eric’s hedge fund dig up the dirt it needs on banking start-up Tender? They have taken out a huge short position, so if Tender’s stock keeps rising, they’re ruined. (Of course, the flip side is that if they do torpedo Tender, the other half of the cast list – Yasmin, Henry, Whitney etc – are ruined instead.) Step forward supporting character Sweetpea Golightly, who has her moment to shine. She and fellow trader Kwabena fly to Ghana on the trail of Tender’s opaque subsidiaries. It’s a shifty storyline in the best traditions of this show, including signs of emotional damage that are awful to behold. Catch up via iPlayer.
What We Do in the Shadows – BBC Two, 11pm & 11:25pm
Double bill of the vampire comedy. Laszlo and Nandor find themselves at odds with a troublesome film crew, while in the second episode the gang’s friends are blamed for a murder. The show has maintained its quality remarkably well across its run – the jokes still land, the characters still surprise, and there’s a genuine affection between the writers and their ridiculous undead creations. Two episodes tonight for those who want their comedy with fangs.
The Viewing Schedule
| Time | Channel | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00am | BBC One | Winter Olympics |
| 9:00am | Sky Sports | Cricket: Zimbabwe v Oman |
| 1:00pm | BBC Two | Winter Olympics |
| 1:00pm | Sky Sports | Cricket: South Africa v Canada |
| 3:00pm | ITV1 | Riddiculous |
| 7:30pm | Sky Sports | Sheffield United v Middlesbrough (k/o 8pm) |
| 8:00pm | BBC One | Knife Crime: What Happened to Our Boys? |
| 9:00pm | BBC One | Silent Witness |
| 9:00pm | ITV1 | Betrayal |
| 9:00pm | Sky Atlantic | A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms |
| 9:00pm | Channel 4 | Guy Martin’s House without Bills |
| 9:00pm | Channel 5 | Platoon 24/7: Preparing for War |
| 9:00pm | BBC Four | Space Season: Do We Really Need the Moon? |
| 9:00pm | More4 | Our Farm Next Door |
| 9:00pm | Food Network | Adam Richman Eats Italy |
| 10:00pm | BBC Two | Small Prophets |
| 10:40pm | BBC One | Industry |
| 11:00pm | BBC Two | What We Do in the Shadows |
What’s On Streaming
BBC iPlayer: Small Prophets (full series), Silent Witness, Knife Crime: What Happened to Our Boys?, Industry, What We Do in the Shadows, Space Season
ITVX: Betrayal (full series)
Channel 4 streaming: Guy Martin’s House without Bills
Channel 5 streaming: Platoon 24/7: Preparing for War
NOW: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Discovery+: Adam Richman Eats Italy
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is Small Prophets on TV tonight?
Small Prophets debuts on BBC Two at 10pm tonight (Monday 9th February 2026). The full series is available on iPlayer immediately. In Northern Ireland, the broadcast time is 11pm.
What’s the best thing to watch on TV tonight?
Our top pick is Small Prophets on BBC Two at 10pm – Mackenzie Crook’s new series from the creator of Detectorists stars Michael Palin and explores loss, hope, and friendship.
What time is Silent Witness on tonight?
Silent Witness is on BBC One at 9pm tonight (Monday 9th February 2026). The racially motivated murder storyline continues, with part two airing tomorrow.
What channel is Betrayal on?
Betrayal debuts on ITV1 at 9pm tonight. Written by David Eldridge, it’s a class-conscious MI5 thriller. The full series is available on ITVX.
What time is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on?
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is on Sky Atlantic at 9pm tonight (with an early 3am showing). This episode features the dramatic Trial of Seven. Also available to stream on NOW.
Is the Winter Olympics on TV today?
Yes, the Winter Olympics coverage runs from 9am on BBC One, then continues on BBC Two from 1pm. Key events include the Women’s Slopestyle Final at 11.30am and Curling Mixed Doubles Final at 5.15pm.
Final Verdict
A genuinely excellent Monday with quality programming across multiple channels. Small Prophets at 10pm is the standout – Mackenzie Crook and Michael Palin together, exploring grief and hope with the gentle touch that made Detectorists so beloved. Get your box sets ready because the full series hits iPlayer tonight.
Earlier in the evening, Knife Crime: What Happened to Our Boys? at 8pm is essential if difficult viewing – Panorama at its best, giving voice to families failed by the system. At 9pm you’re spoilt for choice: Silent Witness continues its topical storyline on BBC One, Betrayal brings a fresh class angle to the spy thriller on ITV1, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms delivers the Trial of Seven on Sky Atlantic, and Guy Martin’s House without Bills offers practical inspiration for anyone worried about energy costs.
For sport fans, the Winter Olympics offers all-day coverage with two finals, while Championship football sees Sheffield United host Middlesbrough in what could be a promotion six-pointer. It’s a packed schedule, but Small Prophets is the one you absolutely should not miss.
