As the clock strikes midnight and 2025 gives way to 2026, a beloved British tradition awaits: settling in for a day of exceptional television. The major broadcasters have unveiled their line-ups for 1st January, promising a blend of comforting classics, blockbuster films, and the highly-anticipated return of major drama series.
A Day of Drama and Family Favourites
The schedules are designed to cater to all tastes, offering everything from animated adventures for the family to gripping espionage thrillers for the evening. BBC One leads the charge with a particularly strong offering, ensuring viewers have little reason to leave the sofa.
The daytime on BBC One is packed with family films, including Abominable at 9:15am and Minions – The Rise of Gru from 10:40am. The afternoon features the timeless classic The Sound of Music at 3:15pm. However, the evening is where the real must-see events unfold.
At 8:00pm, the fourth series of the hugely popular reality game show The Traitors continues with Episode 1. This is swiftly followed at 9:05pm by the hotly awaited return of The Night Manager for its second series, starring Tom Hiddleston.
Classic Cinema and Cult Comedy Across the Channels
Other channels are offering their own distinctive flavour of New Year's Day viewing. BBC Two provides a dose of culture with the New Year’s Day Concert live from Vienna at 10:15am and the epic film Lawrence of Arabia from 2:35pm. The channel also caters to quiz enthusiasts with Only Connect and University Challenge in the evening.
Over on ITV1, the morning is perfect for family viewing with Shrek 2 airing at 7:00am. The evening schedule includes the soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street, before the launch of a brand new series: Red Eye Series 2 begins at 9:00pm. The night concludes with the Romesh Ranganathan’s Parents’ Evening: Christmas Special.
Channel 4 opts for a cosy, comedy-led approach for much of the day, with back-to-back episodes of sitcoms like Cheers, Frasier, and Everybody Loves Raymond. The afternoon features family films Raya and the Last Dragon and the live-action Aladdin. The channel's evening is a highlight, featuring The Great New Year Bake Off at 6:40pm and the traditional The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2025 at 10:35pm.
Kicking Off the New Year in Style
The collective line-up from the UK's main terrestrial channels demonstrates a clear understanding of the viewing mood on New Year's Day. The blend of easy-watching daytime content and premium evening drama provides the perfect recipe for a relaxing start to the year.
Whether you're planning a film marathon, catching up on the latest twists in unmissable series, or simply enjoying some light-hearted comedy, the 2025 New Year's Day TV schedule has something for everyone. It's a televised celebration that promises to entertain the nation from breakfast time until late at night.
