There's plenty of chat with The Late Late Show and The Graham Norton Show, new show Jon & Lucy’s Odd Couples looks at celeb partnerships, Travel Man and Hunters both return . . .
Pick of the Day
The Late Late Show, 9.35pm, RTÉ One
Streaming on RTÉ Player
Succession, Braveheart, and Bourne Identity star Brian Cox will talk with Ryan about his connection to Ireland, why he dreams of an independent Scotland, and the fans who ask him to curse at them.
In 2018, Santis O'Garro was a single mother with a mountain of debt, yet a year later she cleared that debt with no safety net and no financial training, she’ll explain to Ryan how she did it, why money is a taboo subject in Ireland and how you can make 2023 the year you take control of your cash.
Ryan will also be looking at some of the historical objects that tell the story of modern Ireland as the country went through a revolution and found its identity politically, socially and culturally after independence, with Lynn Scarff, director of the National Museum of Ireland.
TradFest Temple Bar, returns later this month, and we will kick start the celebrations with craic agus ceol from some of Ireland’s most talented musicians and vocalists including Mike Hanrahan, Aoife Scott, Tommy Hayes and Frankie Gavin.
Plus, Toy Show stars Cuckoo's Nest return for a performance as well as a catch-up on life since their debut back in November.
Don’t Miss
The Graham Norton Show, 10.40pm, BBC One
Double Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett (below) talks about her critically acclaimed role as conductor Lydia Tár in the psychological drama TÁR, for which she won a Golden Globe the other night.
There's more Hollywood chat with actor and producer Margot Robbie discusses starring in Damien Chazelle's Hollywood drama Babylon.
Comedian and presenter Alan Carr reveals all about his efforts to renovate a Sicilian home in his new BBC show and singer and West End star Beverley Knight discusses her return to the stage in Sylvia.
With music by RAYE, who performs her current single Thrill Is Gone.
Amanda and Alan’s Italian Job, 8.30pm, BBC One
Amanda Holden and Alan Carr take on their first project - designing a Sicilian kitchen (whatever that is).
Kicking off the demolition in 36-degree heat proves to be a trial for Alan, and he soon realises that taking on a build in a medieval hilltop town comes with its own unique challenges.
With the help of Project Manager Scott, Amanda barters with the locals at a nearby marble factory as she bags a bargain for their feature island and brushes up on her culinary skills in Marsala, learning how to cook Sicily's signature dish.
Imagine – The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson, 11.00pm, BBC Four
The music world mourned when legendary guitarist Wilko Johnson died last November.
But, as Julien Temple's rather unique and fascinating 2015 documentary recalls, it could have been much earlier.
The film charts the remarkable story of how in 2012 the former Dr Feelgood guitarist was given less than a year to live following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Wilko reflects on his impending death and muses on the transformative power of mortality, determining to live out his remaining months playing music. He embarks on a series of farewell tours - but there's an unexpected twist in the tale.
New or Returning Shows
Food Unwrapped, 8.00pm, Channel 4
The return of the series uncovering secrets behind mass-produced food.
Here's one of my favourite clips from a previous show:
This week, Matt Tebbutt finds out why the shelf life for a vegetable stir-fry mix is so short, Jimmy Doherty uncovers the sweet secret of how ice lolly makers get such perfect layers in a rocket lolly and Kate Quilton travels to Portugal to discover all about piri-piri.
Travel Man: 48 Hours in Vilnius, 8.30pm, Channel 4
Joe Lycett (below) returns with the series that explores how to get the most out of a weekend away with a fun-packed, 48-hour itinerary of trademark humour and facts.
This time, fellow comedian Sarah Millican joins him for an exploration of the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.
The duo take to the skies to see the city from above - an experience they find by turns terrifying, thrilling and beautiful.
Keen to explore Lithuanian cuisine, they sample cold beetroot soup and cepelini dumplings washed down with gira, a drink made from fermented beer.
Later, the pair explore Vilnius' medieval centre on foot, taking in Gediminas's tower and Lukiskes Prison.
Jon & Lucy’s Odd Couples, 9.00pm, Channel 4
Here's a brand new show that could go either way. Still, it's a Friday night in January. We could all do with a laugh.
Comedians Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont put their own marriage flaws to one side in order to judge everyone else's, by inviting two unsuspecting celebrity couples to go head to head to decide who has the best relationship.
First to respond to the challenge are Countdown maths whizz Rachel Riley and professional dancer Pasha Kovalev (above), who are compared to comedian couple Richard Herring and Catie Wilkins.
New to Stream
Hunters, Prime Video
Al Pacino returns for the epic conclusion of Hunters, alongside previously announced new series regular Jennifer Jason Leigh and returning cast regulars.
After an accident derails their exploits in Europe, the Hunters must band back together to hunt down history's most infamous Nazi, Adolf Hitler, who's hiding in South America.
Meanwhile, a look to the past reveals Meyer Offerman (Pacino) encountering a dangerous threat that could unravel his secret and expose his true identity, with explosive reverberations for our Hunters.
The Estate, Sky Cinema Premiere
A Sky Original film starring Toni Collette, Anna Faris, David Duchovny, Rosemarie DeWitt and Ron Livingston.
Two sisters attempt to win over their terminally ill, difficult-to-please Aunt in hopes of becoming the beneficiaries of her wealthy estate, only to find the rest of their greedy family members have the same idea.
Break Point, Netflix
From the team behind F1: Drive to Survive, this documentary follows a diverse group of tennis players on and off court with hopes of winning a final and even bigger dreams of becoming world number one.
As some of the greatest players tennis has ever seen reach the twilight of their careers, there is room for a new generation of players to claim the spotlight.
Break Point aims to get up close and personal with these top players on the tennis circuit through an entire year travelling across the globe for all four Grand Slams and the ATP and WTA tours.
From physical injuries and emotional heartbreak, to triumphant victories, to personal moments off the court, viewers will get a behind the scenes look at the pressure-tested lives of these pro tennis players.
