Television viewers are in for a packed evening of entertainment, headlined by the debut of a gripping new Irish detective drama and the return of a beloved physical gameshow.
A Compelling New Crime Drama Lands on BBC Four
At 9pm on BBC Four, a fresh face arrives in the crime drama landscape with Blackshore. The series introduces DS Fia Lucey, portrayed by Lisa Dwan, a detective temporarily seconded from Dublin to her rural hometown. She makes an immediate impact, ruffling feathers as she is assigned to the case of a missing woman. True to the genre's finest traditions, Fia is a complex character wrestling with personal demons from her past, which may hold a direct connection to her current investigation.
Family Entertainment and Live Sporting Action
Earlier in the evening, the arena beckons as Gladiators returns for a third series at 5.45pm on BBC One. The reboot has been a ratings triumph by faithfully recreating the spandex-clad spectacle and tough challenges of the original 1990s format. For this new run, fans are promised a brand new event to test the contenders.
Comedy follows with a new series of Michael McIntyre's Big Show at 6.45pm, also on BBC One. The episode will see the manic host surprise England rugby player and Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler with a late-night wake-up call for the 'Midnight Gameshow'.
For sports fans, the day is dominated by the Premier League. The Manchester derby kicks off at 11am on Sky Sports Main Event, with Michael Carrick taking charge of Manchester United against rivals Manchester City. Later, Nottingham Forest host Arsenal at 4.30pm on TNT Sports 1.
Further Highlights Across the Channels
The evening's schedule offers a diverse range of programming. Channel 4 presents the conclusion of Valley of the Kings: Secret Tomb Revealed at 7.30pm, where archaeologists race to complete the excavation of Pharaoh Ramses III's tomb, known as KV11, and investigate whether Howard Carter stole from Tutankhamun's tomb.
On Sky Atlantic at 9pm, the ice hockey drama Heated Rivalry serves up a double bill with an icy twist, focusing on a new romance for character Scott Hunter before returning to the central story of Ilya and Shane.
Finally, BBC One airs the continuing drama Waiting for the Out at 9.20pm. Dan (Josh Finan), a prison philosophy teacher, grapples with haunting childhood memories of his father (Gerard Kearns), leading to exquisitely awkward scenes at a middle-class London dinner party.
Other notable broadcasts include the first semi-final of The Masters snooker tournament at 1pm on BBC One, and day one of the Australian Open tennis from Melbourne Park, starting at 12.30am on TNT Sports 1.
