Honestly, if you're looking for the Channel 4 schedule today, you've probably noticed that things aren't exactly "business as usual." It is Thursday, January 15, 2026, and the TV guide looks like someone threw a deck of cards down the stairs. Between the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-finals and some heavy-hitting new drama, the regular evening slots have been shuffled around quite a bit.
If you were hoping to catch the latest soap drama or a relaxing property show, you might need to adjust your expectations. Channel 4 is leaning hard into live sports and high-stakes thrillers this week.
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The Big AFCON Shaken Up: Why Your Regular Shows Moved
The main thing everyone is talking about today is the Nigeria vs. Morocco semi-final. Because Channel 4 has the rights to the Africa Cup of Nations, they’ve cleared a huge block of the afternoon and evening to accommodate the match at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.
This has a massive knock-on effect. For instance, Hollyoaks fans are going to be gutted. The show isn't airing in its usual slot tonight. Instead, the schedule has been pushed back, and that specific episode is now being held until Monday, January 19th. Even the early online release has been scrapped to keep everything in sync.
It’s a bold move. Usually, the "big four" channels try to protect their soaps at all costs, but live football—especially a semi-final with this much riding on it—is a different beast entirely.
Afternoon Comfort and Classic Sitcoms
If you’re tuning in during the day, the morning and early afternoon still feel familiar. You've got your usual rotation of Cheers, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Frasier.
- 10:10 AM: Frasier fans get a heavy one. It’s the SeaBee broadcasting awards episode where Frasier has a full-blown emotional crisis. Classic Kelsey Grammer.
- 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM: The "Find It, Fix It, Flog It" marathons are running to bridge the gap before the sports coverage starts heating up.
- 5:00 PM: Junior Bake Off is still on. It’s "Bread Day," which is arguably the most stressful day in the tent. This is the second heat of bakers, and they’re tasked with creating "inner animals" out of dough. It’s wholesome, it’s floury, and it’s a necessary breather before the evening news.
Prime Time: York Crime and Blackmail
Once the football wraps up, the schedule pivots sharply into drama. At 9:00 PM, we have a new episode of Patience.
If you haven't seen it, it's a crime drama set in York. Tonight's premise is actually pretty wild: a lawyer gets shot dead in a boardroom full of people, but nobody saw the killer. The only clue is a dead magpie at the scene. It sounds a bit like a modern-day Agatha Christie, but it’s played much darker. Ella Maisy Purvis plays the lead, an autistic criminal records officer who sees patterns others miss. It's a standout show for 2026 so far.
Right after that, at 11:00 PM, is the documentary series about The Murder of Laci Peterson. This isn't new territory for true crime fans, but this specific 2026 re-examination covers the "State vs. Scott Peterson" trial with a focus on how public opinion shifted daily during the proceedings. It’s heavy, but if you're a night owl, it’s compelling.
What About "The Ring"?
There’s been some confusion online about The Ring (not the horror movie, but the Dutch thriller De Ring).
Basically, the first episode premiered on Tuesday, but today you can find all ten episodes on Channel 4’s streaming service. It’s about a lawyer named Anna who steals a ring from a client in a "moment of madness" and gets blackmailed into a nightmare. If the linear schedule today feels too disrupted by the football, heading over to the app to binge this is probably your best bet.
A Quick Look at the Evening Breakdown
| Time | Show | What’s Happening? |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 PM | A Place in the Sun | Polly and Andrew are in Valencia with £250k. |
| 7:00 PM | Channel 4 News | A full hour of the day's headlines. |
| 8:00 PM | Kirstie and Phil | They’re in Essex fixing a "bothersome bungalow." |
| 9:00 PM | Patience | The boardroom murder mystery. |
| 10:00 PM | Celebrity Gogglebox | The usual crew reacting to the week's TV. |
Why the Schedule Feels Different Lately
You’ve probably noticed that Channel 4 is behaving more like a streaming-first platform. They are deliberately moving big shows like The Ring to their app before they even finish airing on the main channel.
This "Digital First" strategy is why the Channel 4 schedule today might feel a bit thin on "new" content if you’ve already been browsing their streaming library. They want you on the app. The linear channel is increasingly becoming a home for live events (like AFCON) and comfort repeats (The Simpsons, Frasier) while the "prestige" stuff lives online.
Also, don't forget that 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown returns tomorrow, Friday the 16th. Jimmy Carr is back with Rob Beckett and Judi Love. So, if today feels a bit too serious with all the crime drama and football, just know that the chaos is coming tomorrow night.
Your Next Steps
If you're looking for something specific on the Channel 4 schedule today, here is how to handle the changes:
- For Hollyoaks Fans: Stop refreshing the app. The episode is delayed until Monday. You can go back and watch the "Best of 2025" clips if you need a fix.
- For Drama Seekers: Ignore the live TV and jump onto the streaming service to start The Ring. It’s a 10-part binge that’s much better than waiting for weekly slots.
- For Sports Fans: Check the red button or the sports category on the app for pre-match analysis of the Nigeria vs. Morocco game, as the live broadcast starts right after the news.
Watch out for the regional variations too. If you're in Scotland or Wales, sometimes the late-night documentary slots get swapped for local programming, so always double-check your local TV guide if you're planning to record anything after 11:00 PM.