What to watch on TV this week: 22 – 31 January

Ready for another brilliant week of telly? Don’t miss the electrifying finale of The Traitors, a high-octane series in Guy Martin: Proper Jobs, a landmark documentary in The Tattooist’s Son: Journey To Auschwitz and a gripping recreation of Margaret Thatcher’s 1989 TV interview in Brian And Maggie. Happy viewing!

With all this plus our usual sport and movie picks of the week, there’s something for all tastes across the service. And don’t forget, with Virgin TV Go, you can take your telly on the move with you. There’s so much good stuff on this week that we’ve compiled a list of the best TV shows to watch. Bookmark this page to keep up to date with the latest changes.

Pick of the day: The Alienist
9pm, U&Drama HD (CH 116)

Daniel Brühl (Rush) and Dakota Fanning (The Perfect Couple) star in this high-class period crime drama about a team of investigators tracking a serial killer in the 1890s. In the penultimate episode, Sara (Fanning) and the team head to the Census Bureau as they finally close in on the killer before he can act on his plans. Catch all the whole gripping series in On Demand now.

What else to watch:

• Winterwatch – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• How To Clear Your Credit Card Debt Quickly – 8pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

• Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake – 8pm, U&W HD (CH 125)

• The Traitors – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Patience – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

Pick of the day: Marooned With Ed Stafford
9pm, Discovery Channel HD (CH 177)

Have you ever wondered whether you would survive if you were stranded at the mercy of the elements? Adventurer and survivalist Ed Stafford puts himself to the test by heading to the remotest parts of the world including Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, the jungles of Guatemala and the Arctic Circle, to see if he can survive with no food, shelter or tools in these extreme conditions.

What else to watch:

• Dragons’ Den – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Winterwatch – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• Sandi’s Great British Woodland Restoration – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• The Traitors – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Patience – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

Pick of the day: The Traitors: The Final
8.30pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

It’s here! After three weeks of secrets, lies and double-crossing, the Faithfuls and Traitors have reached the final stage of their quest to bag a whopping cash prize of up to £120,000. Tune in to find out who will emerge victorious. Remember, this time around, none of the exiting finalists will reveal if they’re a Faithful or a Traitor. Expect fireworks (appropriate since Claudia will probably be wearing fingerless gloves).

What else to watch:

• Junior Bake Off: The Final – 5pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Amanda & Alan’s Spanish Job – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Winterwatch – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• Bloody Mary: Lucy Worsley Investigates – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Last Leg – 10pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

Pick of the day: Burns Night 2025
10.30pm, BBC Four HD (CH 108)

Eat your fill of haggis, neeps and tatties before settling down to enjoy a night of Scottish traditions. Alistair Heather presents an impressive line-up of music and spoken word performance to honour legendary bard Robert Burns, with appearances from Scottish stars including Deacon Blue’s Ricky Ross, Nina Nesbitt, Nathan Evans, Dead Pony’s Anna Shields, Becky Sikasa, Katie Robertson (aka The Wheeled Piper) and more.

What else to watch:

• Gladiators – 5.50pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Michael McIntyre’s Big Show – 6.50pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• The Masked Singer – 7pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• The Miniaturist – 11.20pm, U&Drama (CH 116)

• Robert Burns: The People’s Poet – 11.30pm, BBC Four HD (CH 108)

Pick of the day: Guy Martin: Proper Jobs
8pm, U&Dave HD (CH 127)

They say that if you find a job you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life. And daredevil presenter Guy Martin takes that to extreme new levels as he seeks out some of the UK’s most dangerous jobs. Come along for the adrenaline-fuelled ride as Martin travels to the trawler town of Brixham in Devon, where he sets sail for a gruelling four-day trip as a deckhand for a local fishing crew.

What else to watch:

• Dancing On Ice – 6.30pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• The Great Pottery Throw Down – 7.45pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Call The Midwife – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• This Farming Life – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• Out There – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

Pick of the day: The Tattooist’s Son: Journey To Auschwitz
9pm, Sky HISTORY HD (CH 131)

To mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp on Holocaust Memorial Day, join the son of real-life Auschwitz tattooist Lali Sokolov in this poignant documentary. Gary Sokolov, whose parents’ story came to global attention with the novel The Tattooist Of Auschwitz, retraces his father’s steps at one of Germany’s most notorious death camps.

What else to watch:

• 80th Anniversary Of The Liberation Of Auschwitz – 2.30pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Holocaust Memorial Day – 7pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Jamie’s £1 Wonders & Money-Saving Meals – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• The Last Musician Of Auschwitz – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• Out There – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

Pick of the day: Great British Menu
8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

Top chefs from across the UK battle it out again as this huge culinary competition returns for its 20th anniversary. In the first episode, four chefs from the north-west of England are cooking dishes inspired by great Britons, with menu items including a scouse pie in honour of Hillsborough activist Anne Williams and a poetic Wordsworth confit trout. Sounds delicious!

What else to watch:

• Inside The Factory – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• The Martin Lewis Money Show: Live – 8pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• The Fear Clinic: Face Your Phobia – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Manhunt – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Life And Death Row – 9pm, BBC Three HD (CH 107/113)

Pick of the day: Brian And Maggie
9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

The year is 1989 and one of Britain’s leading political journalists is about to take on the biggest story of his career: an interview with the beleaguered Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. Steve Coogan stars as tenacious reporter Brian Walden while Harriet Walter is the formidable Iron Lady in this two-part docudrama that captures one of the most seismic interviews in British TV history. Concludes tomorrow.

What else to watch:

• Great British Menu – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake – 8pm, U&W HD (CH 125)

• Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Murder Trial: Girl In The River – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Alienist – 9pm, U&Drama HD (CH 116)

Pick of the day: The Dog House
8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

A new series of the nation’s favourite canine show is upon us and we can’t wait to blubber to our heart’s content as more precious pups at Woodgreen find their forever homes. In this edition, glamorous poodle cross Lola struts her stuff for five-year-old dog enthusiast Violet, while Barley the bouncy labradoodle and cuddly Staffie puppy Peanut put their best paw forward for Welsh couple Liam and Tabitha.

What else to watch:

• Dragons’ Den – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Great British Menu – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Apprentice – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Brian And Maggie – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• The Road Trip – 10.05pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

Pick of the day: Death In Paradise
9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

There’s a new sheriff in town. Following the departure of Ralf Little’s DI Neville Parker last year, newcomer DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet, who played Lucas Johnson in more than 200 episodes of EastEnders) is settling into life on Saint Marie. When Wilson hears news of his estranged mother’s death, he must decide whether to leave or stay to help solve a new and confounding case. Michelle Greenidge (Kaos), Joy Richardson (Dreamland) and Stephen Odubola (Boiling Point) guest star in the series.

What else to watch:

• Amanda & Alan’s Spanish Job – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• The Good Ship Murder – 8pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

• Travel Man: 48 Hours In… – 8.30pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Uncanny – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Last Leg – 10pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

Pick of the week: Football – Chelsea v Arsenal
Sunday 26 January, 12pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

A clash between these two Women’s Super League giants is always a tasty one, and they occupy the top two positions in the table going into the weekend. Admittedly Chelsea are seven points ahead, but Arsenal have won their last five WSL games without conceding and are the league’s form side as they head to Stamford Bridge. The Gunners’ England stars Beth Mead and Leah Williamson are returning to their best after long-term injuries, and new coach Renée Slegers has evidently given the team confidence after a slow start to the season.

On the other hand, Chelsea have such a strong squad that, even when missing key players like Sam Kerr, they’re a winning machine. But Arsenal often rise to the occasion against the Blues – as in the last two League Cup finals, when they’ve overcome the odds to triumph. Can they close the gap? It should be a cracker.

What else to watch:

Looking for some more sport this week? We can help with that.

• Check out our day-by-day guide to sport on TV this week, including TNT Sports, Sky Sports, Premier Sports and more

• If you subscribe to Sky Sports, find all the live matches, races, tournaments and more right here

• TNT Sports subscribers can find their full guide to the month’s live action here

Pick of the week: Babe

Saturday 25 January, 12.45pm, Film4 HD (CH 428)

Are you ready to feel old? Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the Oscar-winning screen adaptation of Dick King-Smith’s novel The Sheep-Pig definitely stands the test of time while continuing to hit you right in the feels. If you’ve not had the pleasure, don’t miss this heartwarming family flick about a little pig who has a knack for herding sheep, starring Miriam Margolyes, Magda Szubanski and James Cromwell in his Academy Award-nominated role as Farmer Hoggett. That’ll do, pig.

What else to watch:

Looking for more movies this week? We can help with that.

• Looking for something to watch on Sky Cinema? Our monthly round-up has the best on the service this month

• Looking for something on Netflix? Try our monthly guide to new releases here