What's on TV today: New Year's Day highlights include The Night Manager, Red Eye, Run Away and Stranger Things' final ever episode
It's a packed viewing schedule for January 1, 2026!New Year’s Day TV is set to be an absolute treat with both The Night Manager and Red Eye back for second series.
Both thrillers will draw huge audiences and have amazing casts. Plus there’s the latest Harlan Coben thriller Run Away landing on Netflix. It’s a big day for the streamer, as the final ever episode of Stranger Things drops too.
Here’s the cream of New Year’s Day TV – get the snacks out, you won’t be moving from the sofa much today!
The Night Manager series 2 (BBC One, 9.05pm)
Wow, what a New Year’s Day TV highlight! The first series of The Night Manager was one of the BBC’s biggest ever dramas. Amazingly, it was shown way back it 2016 and it had a crazily good cast including Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddleston and Olivia Colman.
Hugh Laurie isn’t back but both Tom Hiddleston and Olivia Colman return. Based on the characters created by John le Carré, MI6 officer Jonathan Pine (Hiddleston) is now living as Alex Goodwin.
Following the events of season 1, Pine is running a quiet operation in London. But then he catches sight of an old associate of Roper (Hugh Laurie in the original). This leads him into a violent encounter with a new player: Colombian businessman Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva).
The BBC teases: “As allegiances splinter, Pine races to expose a conspiracy designed to destabilise a nation. And with betrayal at every turn, he must decide whose trust he needs to earn and how far he’s willing to go before it’s too late.”
Red Eye series 2 (ITV1, 9pm)
The first series of Red Eye was crazily good fun. Richard Armitage starred as Dr Matthew Nolan, who was taken back to China on the red eye flight to face murder charges. Jing Lusi played DS Hana Li, who accompanied her prisoner Matthew on the plane. Was Matthew guilty or was he the victim of a massive conspiracy?
Unfortunately, Richard Armitage isn’t back for series 2, but Jing Lusi does reprise her role as Hana. Joining the cast is Line of Duty’s Martin Compston. Hana faces another international crisis. Teasing the New Year’s Day TV highlight, ITV says: “Inside the US Embassy, the celebrations for a newly-appointed US Ambassador to London are shattered when officials receive a threatening call.
“The caller will blow a British plane out of the sky if anyone leaves the embassy. This triggers an immediate embassy lockdown and traps guests and staff inside.”
So, Hana must work with Head of Embassy Security, Clay Brody (Compston). But the pair have a history as Clay screwed her over when they worked together. Who can Hana trust?
Lesley Sharp returns as MI5 boss Madeline Delaney, who’s on the jet that has been threatened with being blown up.
New Year’s Day TV: The Traitors (BBC One, 8pm)
Well, how an earth can it top Alan Carr? The comedian was the star of Celebrity Traitors, which saw 15million viewers watch the final. Now, the main version is back and hoping to match the success of the celeb outing.
Claudia Winkleman returns to host the civilian series in the Scottish Highlands. One advantage it has is that the contestants are playing to win huge money for themselves rather than for charities as in Celebrity Traitors. This means extra pressure on them all as they try to deduce who’s a faithful and who’s a traitor. The 12-part series features a potential top prize of £120,000! The BBC promises “fresh twists”.
Harlan Coben’s Run Away (Netflix)
James Nesbitt stars as Simon, a desperate father who’s trying to find his runaway daughter Paige (Ellie de Lange) in this latest adaptation of a hit book by Harlan Coben. The quality cast also includes Minnie Driver as Simon’s wife Ingrid and Ruth Jones as private detective Elena.
Simon’s seemingly perfect life hits turmoil, then he finds Paige alone on drugs in a city park. Netflix teases: “But it turns out she’s not alone, and an argument escalates into shocking violence. In the aftermath, Simon loses his daughter all over again, and his search to find her will take him into a dangerous underworld, revealing deep secrets that could tear his family apart forever.”
Of course, there are loads of plot twists in the eight-part series which looks like a perfect New Year’s Day binge.
The Great British Bake Off New Year’s Special (Channel 4, 7.40pm)
For the first time in the show’s history, legendary bakers from past seasons have been invited back to the tent. As Channel 4 puts it, the four teams of “Bake Off besties” will compete in pairs in the New Year’s Day TV treat. Judges Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith return along with presenters Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding.
To kick off, the pairs tackle the Signature challenge, where they must work together to create fab festive pies. Next, they tackle a tricky technical relay. But their final task sounds the most fun! In the Showstopper, each past master must bring to life their favourite Christmas film in biscuit form! Bake Off fans should note that Junior Bake Off, hosted by Harry Hill, returns on Friday, January 2.
New Year’s Day TV: Mrs Brown’s Boys (BBC One, 10.05pm)
After all the drama of The Night Manager, Mrs Brown is here to provide some light relief. However, judging by the look on Mrs B’s face in the snap above not everything is going to plan!
Stormin’ Mammy is the second of the festive episodes of Mrs Brown’s Boys. The BBC teases: “Tensions are high as Agnes and the gang prepare for an incoming storm. Buster’s flying high as he nervously awaits his birthday parachute jump. Winnie receives a shock to the system, and a lost nun looks for help.”
Wild London (BBC One, 6.30pm)
Sir David Attenborough has travelled the world to discover fabulous nature stories. However, in this one-off documentary David heads much closer to home as he explores England’s capital city.
When you think of London wildlife your mind probably goes to pigeons in Trafalgar Square. But there’s a surprising amount of animals in London including snakes slithering along Regent’s canal!
We follow the fortunes of a pair of peregrines nesting on the House of Parliament and a family of foxes living in the heart of Tottenham.
New Year’s Day TV: Stranger Things final ever episode (Netflix)
The TV event of 2026 arguably is just one hour into the New Year. Yep, around 1am in a huge New Year’s Day TV moment the final ever episode of Stranger Things will drop. Titled The Rightside Up, the last episode is extra long at two hours.
Netflix crashed within minutes of the first episodes of series 5 being released. So, fans will be hoping this time the streaming service can hold up! The finale has been three years in the making and no one knows quite how the sci-fi hit will end…
Read more: The 50 best Netflix series you should watch
