Saturday night telly gets properly disrupted by the FA Cup, which is exactly as it should be. The third round throws up the kind of David vs Goliath ties that make this competition worth watching, plus Casualty finally returns after the Christmas break. If you’d rather avoid sport entirely, Channel 4 has Tom Cruise doing what Tom Cruise does best.
Quick Picks: Tonight’s Best…
- FA Cup: Macclesfield v Crystal Palace – BBC One, 12:15pm – Non-league vs cup holders
- FA Cup: Tottenham v Aston Villa – BBC One, 5:45pm – Premier League heavyweights collide
- Casualty – BBC One, ~8:45pm – New series premiere
- Top Gun Maverick – Channel 4, 8pm – Tom Cruise’s billion-dollar sequel
Daytime: FA Cup Third Round (12pm – 8pm)
FA Cup: Macclesfield v Crystal Palace – BBC One, 12:15pm ⭐
Here’s your magic of the FA Cup moment. Macclesfield, sitting 14th in the National League North – that’s the sixth tier of English football – host Crystal Palace, the actual cup holders. The phoenix club only reformed in 2020 after the original Macclesfield Town were wound up, and they’ve beaten AFC Totton and Slough Town to reach this stage. Palace will be overwhelming favourites, obviously, but that’s rather the point. Sometimes the minnows bite back.
FA Cup: Tottenham v Aston Villa – BBC One, 5:45pm
The late kick-off brings Premier League opposition together at White Hart Lane. This is one of four all-Premier League ties in the third round, which somewhat defeats the romantic notion of the Cup, but should at least guarantee quality football. Villa have been in decent form, Spurs have been… Spurs. Expect the usual drama and the very real possibility of extra time, which will knock the entire evening schedule sideways.
Prime Time (7pm onwards)
The Masked Singer – ITV1, 7pm
Joel Dommett returns with another batch of celebrities hidden inside elaborate costumes, singing their hearts out while Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, Mo Gilligan and Maya Jama try to work out who’s underneath. We’re into series seven now and the format hasn’t changed much, but there’s something reliably entertaining about watching famous people attempt to throw everyone off the scent. Previous reveals have included everyone from pop stars to politicians, so genuinely anything is possible.
Top Gun Maverick – Channel 4, 8pm
Tom Cruise spent years trying to get this sequel made, and the wait was worth it. Nearly four decades after the original, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell returns to train a new generation of Top Gun pilots, including the son of his late best friend Goose. What could have been a lazy nostalgia cash-grab turned into something genuinely thrilling – Cruise insisted on filming real aerial sequences with the actors actually in the jets, and it shows. Made over $1.4 billion worldwide and reminded everyone why we go to the cinema.
Planet Earth III – BBC Two, 8pm
David Attenborough continues his lifelong mission to show us the natural world in ways we’ve never seen before. This latest instalment of the Planet Earth franchise brings the usual stunning visuals and sobering reminders about what we’re doing to the planet. Perfect viewing if you want something beautiful to look at while recovering from the football.
Casualty – BBC One, ~8:45pm
Britain’s longest-running medical drama returns for a new series subtitled “Learning Curve”. The exact start time depends on whether the Spurs-Villa game goes to extra time, so keep an eye on the schedule. Two new junior doctors arrive at Holby City Hospital’s emergency department on the hottest day of the year, which feels like a recipe for chaos. The last series ended with Ngozi Okoye in a critical condition after a relapse, so expect answers about her fate.
Late Night
The Graham Norton Show – BBC One, ~10:30pm
Depending on how the football and Casualty shake out, Graham should appear sometime around half ten. The red sofa awaits another batch of guests for chat, anecdotes and the inevitable spin in the big chair. Check the schedule closer to transmission for the exact time.
A Few Good Men – Channel 4, 10:35pm
If one Tom Cruise film isn’t enough, here’s another. Rob Reiner’s 1992 courtroom drama features Cruise as a Navy lawyer defending two Marines accused of murder, leading to that famous confrontation with Jack Nicholson. “You can’t handle the truth!” has become so embedded in pop culture that you forget how genuinely tense the build-up is.
Sport
The FA Cup dominates Saturday, with two live matches on BBC One. Macclesfield v Crystal Palace kicks off at 12:15pm – sixth-tier minnows against the cup holders is exactly the kind of upset potential that makes the third round special. The late game sees Tottenham v Aston Villa at 5:45pm, one of four all-Premier League ties this round. Both matches are also available on TNT Sports and discovery+.
The Viewing Schedule
| Time | Channel | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 12:15pm | BBC One | FA Cup: Macclesfield v Crystal Palace |
| 5:45pm | BBC One | FA Cup: Tottenham v Aston Villa |
| 7:00pm | ITV1 | The Masked Singer |
| 8:00pm | Channel 4 | Top Gun Maverick |
| 8:00pm | BBC Two | Planet Earth III |
| ~8:45pm | BBC One | Casualty |
| ~10:30pm | BBC One | The Graham Norton Show |
| 10:35pm | Channel 4 | A Few Good Men |
Note: BBC One times approximate due to live football
What’s On Streaming
BBC iPlayer: FA Cup highlights, Casualty, Planet Earth III – plus full series of The Traitors if you’re catching up
ITVX: The Masked Singer (full series)
Channel 4 streaming: Top Gun Maverick, A Few Good Men
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is Casualty on tonight?
Casualty is on BBC One at approximately 8:45pm tonight (Saturday 10th January 2026), though the exact time depends on how long the FA Cup football runs.
What’s the best thing to watch on TV tonight?
Our top pick is the FA Cup third round clash between Macclesfield and Crystal Palace on BBC One at 12:15pm – non-league minnows hosting the cup holders is the definition of FA Cup magic.
What channel is Top Gun Maverick on?
Top Gun – Maverick is on Channel 4 at 8pm tonight. Tom Cruise’s 2022 sequel earned over $1.4 billion worldwide.
Is The Traitors on tonight?
No, The Traitors is not on tonight. After the first week, The Traitors airs on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings only. Catch up on BBC iPlayer.
Is EastEnders on tonight?
No, EastEnders is not on tonight. EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One. Catch up on iPlayer if you’ve missed any episodes.
What time is The Masked Singer on?
The Masked Singer is on ITV1 at 7pm tonight. Series seven continues with more costumed celebrities performing for the panel.
Final Verdict
The FA Cup owns Saturday, and rightly so. Macclesfield v Crystal Palace at lunchtime is the must-watch – non-league against the holders is what this competition was made for. If football isn’t your thing, Top Gun Maverick on Channel 4 delivers genuine thrills, and Casualty returns later for those who’ve missed their weekly dose of medical drama.
