If you’re anything like me, you probably spend more time scrolling through the TV guide than actually watching the shows. It’s a classic modern struggle. This week, the Channel 4 - TV guide this week is looking surprisingly beefy, especially if you have a soft spot for people crying over clay or celebrities being shouted at in the desert.
Honestly, Channel 4 has always been the "edgy" sibling of the UK's big broadcasters. While the BBC is out here being respectable, Channel 4 is usually off in the corner commissioning a documentary about something that’ll make you want to throw your router into the bin. This week—Sunday, January 18 through Sunday, January 25, 2026—is no different.
The Sunday Night Heavy Hitters
Let’s talk about Sunday the 18th because that’s the big pivot point. You’ve got the usual Sunday evening rhythm, but the tension is higher than a kite in a hurricane.
At 7:45 PM, The Great Pottery Throw Down is back. There is something profoundly soothing about watching Keith Brymer Jones weep over a well-turned glaze. It’s the ultimate Sunday night "reset" show. If you haven't seen it, basically, 12 home potters try not to let their creations explode in the kiln. Simple, but weirdly high stakes.
But then, the mood shifts. Hard.
By 9:00 PM, we trade the damp clay for the brutal heat of North Africa. Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is currently putting a mix of British and Australian celebs through a "condensed" version of SAS selection. No tweets, no publicists, just a lot of mud and a very angry Chief Instructor. If you’re into watching famous people question every life choice that led them to a sand dune at 3:00 AM, this is your slot.
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Immediately following that at 10:00 PM is Four Kings. It’s a deep dive into the golden age of British boxing—think Lennox Lewis, Frank Bruno, and Chris Eubank. It’s nostalgic, punchy (pardon the pun), and a great reminder of when boxing was the only thing anyone talked about on a Monday morning.
Midweek: True Crime and Tense Dramas
Monday and Tuesday are usually the "leftover" days in TV land, but the Channel 4 - TV guide this week has a few anchors.
- Jamie’s Feasts For A Fiver (Monday, 8:00 PM): Jamie Oliver is still fighting the good fight for our wallets. In 2026, a "fiver" doesn't buy what it used to, so watching him stretch ingredients is actually a bit of a survival skill at this point.
- Arctic Adventure: Ultimate Survival (Monday, 10:00 PM): If the desert heat of SAS wasn't enough, this series takes the opposite route. It’s cold. Very cold.
The real meat of the week, though, happens on Wednesday and Thursday.
The "Patience" Phenomenon
Patience is the show everyone’s texting about right now. Starring Ella Maisy Purvis, it follows a young woman working in the criminal records department of the City of York Police. She’s neurodivergent and has this incredible, almost forensic eye for detail that the "regular" cops miss.
This Wednesday, January 21, at 9:00 PM, we see the relationship between Patience and Elliot hit some serious rocks. It’s one of those crime dramas that focuses as much on the internal world of the protagonist as the actual "whodunnit" element. If you missed the start, the whole thing is usually sitting on the streaming platform, but the live broadcast is where the social media chatter happens.
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Social Media Monsters
Speaking of social media, Wednesday at 10:00 PM sees the conclusion of Social Media Monsters. This documentary series has been making people’s blood boil for weeks. It looks at serious crimes where platforms like TikTok or Instagram played a role. The final episode focuses on Ali Abulaban—a name some might remember from the "TikTok star" headlines a few years back. It’s harrowing stuff. Not exactly a light watch before bed, but definitely essential viewing for anyone worried about the "dark side" of the web.
Thursday and Friday: Travel and Teasing
Thursday, January 22, feels a bit more like a traditional Channel 4 lineup.
8:00 PM: Lorraine Kelly’s Norwegian Odyssey. Lorraine has traded the morning sofa for a boat. She’s sailing north along the Norwegian coast, harvesting mussels and looking for the Northern Lights. It’s pure "comfort TV." If you’ve had a stressful week, watching Lorraine be genuinely delighted by a fjord is the antidote.
9:00 PM: Patience. Yes, it’s a double-tap week for the crime drama. Channel 4 is playing with the schedule a bit here to keep the momentum going.
Then we hit Friday.
Friday nights on C4 have been the home of comedy for decades. We’ve got David Baddiel: Cat Man at 8:00 PM. It’s exactly what it sounds like—Baddiel exploring the weird, wonderful, and sometimes obsessive world of cat owners.
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And don’t forget the return of Astrid: Murder in Paris on More4 (via Walter Presents) at 9:00 PM. If you prefer your subtitles with a side of French police procedure, series five is finally dropping. It’s arguably the "original" neurodivergent detective show that paved the way for things like Patience.
The Weekend Wrap-up: January 24 - 25
As we head into the end of the week, the schedule gets a bit more eclectic.
- Saturday Night (7:30 PM): Valley Of The Kings: Secret Tomb Revealed. Channel 4 loves a good archaeology doc. This one promises "new information" about a daring plan, though let’s be real, they usually find a bit of pottery and a very old wall. Still, it’s fascinating.
- Sunday Night (6:45 PM): Mission To Space with Francis Bourgeois. This is a new one. The trainspotting legend is heading to... well, not quite orbit, but he’s exploring the tech behind it. It’s weird, it’s wholesome, and it’s very Channel 4.
A Quick Cheat Sheet for the Week
| Day | Time | Show | Why Watch? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 7:45 PM | Pottery Throw Down | Pure Zen. |
| Sunday | 9:00 PM | Celebrity SAS | To feel better about your own fitness. |
| Wednesday | 9:00 PM | Patience | The best acting on TV right now. |
| Thursday | 8:00 PM | Lorraine’s Norway | Beautiful scenery, zero stress. |
| Friday | 8:00 PM | David Baddiel | Cats. Need I say more? |
What You Should Actually Do Next
Don't just rely on the live feed. Channel 4’s streaming app (still called "Channel 4," though we all miss the "All 4" branding) is where the real value is.
- Check the "Expiring Soon" section. Shows like 24 Hours in Police Custody sometimes have licensing blips where episodes vanish and reappear. If you see an episode you haven't watched, grab it now.
- Binge "Social Media Monsters" before the finale. If you jump into Wednesday's episode without the context of the previous four, it won't hit the same way. The James Gibbons case from earlier in the series is particularly vital for understanding the show's tone.
- Set a recording for "Four Kings". Even if you aren't a sports fan, the archival footage of 1990s London and the rivalry between Benn and Eubank is a masterclass in storytelling.
The Channel 4 - TV guide this week is a weird mix of high-adrenaline survival and low-stakes pottery. It’s basically a reflection of all our personalities: half-stressed, half-wanting to hide under a duvet with a cat. Pick your lane and enjoy.
To make the most of your viewing, ensure your streaming app is updated to the latest version, as the 2026 interface has a new "Live Sync" feature that lets you jump into the social commentary threads directly from the video player. This is especially useful for Celebrity SAS when everyone starts roasting the contestants on X (formerly Twitter).
Actionable Insight: If you're looking for the best "water cooler" conversation, focus your energy on Patience and Social Media Monsters. These are the two shows currently driving the most engagement and "did you see that?" moments.