The best New Year’s Day TV – The Traitors returns and bonus Gavin and Stacey

Oh we are so back! (Picture: Cody Burridge/BBC/PA Wire)

It’s New Year’s Day and hopefully your only plan is perfecting a vision board, perhaps a short walk, and then enjoying the comforts of your sofa.

Of course, no chill day is truly complete without a bit of TV (as a Senior TV Reporter I would say that).

Choosing what to watch on the first day of 2025 isn’t a task that anyone should do alone, so we’ve picked out the best that the channels and streamers have to offer.

So now all you need to do is grab any leftover Christmas chocolates (hopefully it’s not just Bounty left), fluff the cushions, and find the remote.

Here are our top picks for January 1…

The Traitors

Claudia Winkleman will be dusting off her impeccable oversized jumpers once again for the return of The Traitors.

A new batch of contestants (one is already being called ‘the Next Dianne’ so we’re in for a treat) will be playing the murder mystery contest.

The game sees Traitors hidden among the gang, they are tasked with secretly ‘murdering’ the Faithfuls and manipulating their way to the prize pot.

In the UK series it’s 1-1 to the Traitors and Faithfuls, so it’s all to play for in the third offering.

Where to watch: BBC One, 8pm

Missing You

After the success of last year’s (2024 is last year now, how did that happen?!) Fool Me Once, Harlan Coben has quickly become synonymous with the bank holiday.

There are effectively two storylines in the thriller, both of which concern our heroine Detective Kat Donovan (Rosalind Eleazar). At work, she’s investigating the disappearance of a middle-class mum who has gone on holiday to Costa Rica with a bloke she met off a dating app but her son isn’t buying it.

At home, Kat is still troubled by the murder of her dad (Sir Lenny Henry). She believes the imprisoned hitman who confessed to killing him was put up to it, but by who? She’s also startled when her ex-fiancé Josh (Ashley Walters), who vanished into thin air with no prior warning some years back, reappears on a dating app.

You may have to temporarily forget about logic to enjoy it, but it’s addictive viewing.

Where to watch: Netflix

Gavin and Stacey: A Fond Farewell

Gavin and Stacey had to wave goodbye to the beloved Wests, Shimpans and their clan of mates on Christmas day.

After 17 years, creators James Corden and Ruth Jones decided to end the show with their third Christmas special.

The 90-minute episode was a perfect farewell, but for some fans, it was one they didn’t want to ever do.

To help cushion the blow, they can watch this bonus episode, which provides behind the scenes insight into what went into creating one of the UK’s most beloved sitcoms.

Where to watch: BBC One, 7pm

SAS Rogue Heroes

We’ve got another entry from BBC, this time it’s the return of SAS Rogue Heroes.

Created by Steven Knight, the writer behind Peaky Blinders, the TV drama is a World War II adventure that motors along to the power chords of AC/DC. The story centres on how army buddies David Stirling, Paddy Mayne and Jock Lewes, a trio of musketeers from very different backgrounds, hit on the idea of forming a parachute squad aimed at confusing the Nazis in the north African desert.

After praise for the first series, it was inevitable it got a second outing.

Where to watch: BBC One, 9pm

Vera

After 13 years, 14 series and 56 episodes DCI Vera Stanhope, the beloved creation of crime writer Ann Cleeves, brought so beautifully to life by award-winning actor Brenda Blethyn, is parking up her battered old Land Rover and hanging up her fishing hat and trench coat.

But before leaving the small screen forever, we’ve got two final installments of Vera to enjoy – the first will air tonight, and the second will follow tomorrow.

In this evening’s installment, the murder of a young man washed up on the banks of the Tyne becomes intertwined with a 20-year-old cold case, involving the violent death of a student and the disappearance of a young girl.

Where to watch: ITV, 8pm

World’s Strongest Man

After days of the heats being aired, tonight things reach their conclusion with an epic finale.

Although the contest actually took place in May, hopefully those who tune in have been able to avoid spoilers so they can just enjoy the action.

Reigning champion Mitchell Hooper and 2023 Scotsman winner Tom Stoltman, are facing touch competition from Evan Singleton, Mathew Ragg, and Tristain Hoath in the last installment.

Where to watch: Channel 5, 7pm

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.