If Friday night television is meant to help you forget about January, tonight’s schedule has understood the assignment. There is bleak Welsh coastline crime, Monty Don at his most soothing, celebrity cats, a grim true crime drama, and enough familiar favourites to keep the remote control busy.
It is a line up that leans into winter moods, dark skies, warm rooms, and stories that work best when the outside world feels a bit hostile.
Here is what is worth your time this evening.
Under Salt Marsh brings rugged Welsh noir
Under Salt Marsh, 9pm, Sky Atlantic
This is the standout for anyone in the mood for serious, atmospheric drama. Set against the harsh beauty of the south Wales coast, this new crime series understands that landscape is not just a backdrop, it is part of the story.
Kelly Reilly leads as Jackie, a former detective turned teacher who carries the weight of an unresolved cold case and an unmistakable air of exhaustion. When the body of one of her pupils is found in a ditch, the past comes rushing back, along with Rafe Spall as her former colleague, Eric Bull.
There is a looming storm, a sense of old wounds reopening, and a coastal community that feels both close knit and quietly hostile. Sheep in the pub and oversized cardigans add texture, but this is very much a drama about grief, guilt, and the way small places remember everything.
It looks like perfect winter telly, moody, slow burning, and built for watching with the lights low.
Monty Don does calm better than anyone
Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens, 7pm, BBC Two
If you need something gentler before the crime kicks off, Monty Don remains one of the most reliable ways to lower your blood pressure on a Friday night.
In this final episode of his Rhine journey, Monty crosses into the Netherlands, exploring how the river shapes Dutch life and visiting the world’s biggest tulip display. It is all enthusiasm, horticultural passion, and quietly impressive landscapes.
There is something reassuring about watching someone care this much about plants while January does its worst outside.
David Baddiel finishes his feline mission
David Baddiel: Cat Man, 8pm, Channel 4
This charming series reaches its conclusion with Baddiel continuing his campaign to give cats their cultural due. He meets remarkable moggies that have saved their owners’ lives and makes the case that cats deserve more airtime than dogs.
It is light, affectionate, and gently odd, with Baddiel leaning into the idea that a man with a cat is, as one interviewee puts it, “a more rounded person”. It is an easy watch and a nice tonal shift between Monty and later, darker drama.
True crime and familiar favourites
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy, 9pm, ITV1
This is not cosy viewing. The drama explores the horrific case of John Wayne Gacy, who presented himself as a community figure while murdering dozens of young men and boys. The series promises to centre the victims, but it remains heavy material.
For those who prefer something more familiar at the same time:
Death in Paradise, 9pm, BBC One
Another body, another mystery, and another chance for Saint Marie to deliver its sunny setting and dependable formula. Selwyn’s return to the island is interrupted by a suspicious death at Government House, while DI Mervin Wilson is distracted by family revelations. It is comfort crime, polished and familiar.
Chat shows and film nostalgia
The Graham Norton Show, 10.40pm, BBC One
If you want to round off the night with lighter entertainment, Graham’s sofa welcomes Halle Berry, Chris Hemsworth and Rachel McAdams, with John Bishop also appearing to discuss his latest project. Expect anecdotes, gentle chaos, and a reliable late night wind down.
The Naked Gun, 9.10pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
For daytime catch up or on demand viewing, the reboot of The Naked Gun gets its UK TV premiere. Liam Neeson steps into the role of Frank Drebin Jr, alongside Pamela Anderson, in a knowingly silly update to the classic spoof franchise. It is broad, ridiculous, and very aware of what it is.
Watching across devices this weekend
With so much spread across different channels and platforms, chances are you will be watching on more than one screen this weekend. Whether it is catching up on BBC iPlayer, moving between rooms, or using a tablet while someone else controls the main TV, flexibility matters.
Using a trusted VPN can make it easier to stay connected across laptops, phones, tablets and smart TVs. LibertyShield VPN offers secure access across devices, with a 48-hour free trial that is handy for a packed weekend of viewing. It is a practical way to keep your Friday night and the rest of the weekend running smoothly, without technical fuss.
Final thought
Under Salt Marsh looks like the kind of drama that could quietly become a word of mouth hit, while Monty Don and Death in Paradise offer familiar comfort. Add in celebrity cats, grim true crime, and Graham Norton for good measure, and this feels like a well balanced Friday night.
Dark outside, strong stories inside. That is winter television done properly.