No don’t worry, you haven’t clicked on an old article from last year by mistake, it just so happens that England has been placed into the third national lockdown since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic first emerged.
The only difference this time is that we’re starting to run out of TV shows on our watchlist.
We all have our ‘comfort shows’, our trusty favourites and the ones that never fail to have us cracking a smile or hanging on to every word, but if you watched your fair share of those during the first lockdown and you’re looking for something different to get your teeth stuck into whilst you’re at home for the next few weeks, then here are 12 of the best new shows already airing or set to hit screens this month.
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The Serpent
BBC / BBC iPlayer – Now Airing
BBC / Mammoth Screen
This one’s already got people talking.
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Inspired by real-life events and starring Tahar Rahim and Jenna Coleman, The Serpent tells the story of how conman and killer Charles Sobhraj posed as a gem dealer and, with his girlfriend Marie-Andree Leclerc, carried out a string of crimes across Thailand, Nepal and India in 1975 and 1976, while also becoming the chief suspects in a series of murders of young Western travellers.
It’s a slick drama that’s well worth your concentration, and you can catch it on BBC and BBC iPlayer now.
A Discovery of Witches
Sky One & NOW TV – Airing from 8th January
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Sky UK
Now in its second season starring Matthew Goode and Teresa Palmer – plus a number of new cast members – and adapted from Deborah Harkness’ best-selling trilogy of novels, this is a romantic thriller about a secret underworld of vampires, witches and demons all hiding in plain sight for fear of persecution by humans.
This series sees the two hiding in the treacherous world of Elizabethan London, where they must find a powerful witch teacher to help Diana control her magic and search for the elusive Book of Life.
You can catch it on Sky One or NOW TV from 8th January.
The Stand
Starzplay – Airing Now
CBS / Robert Falconer
This spookily-timely series about a pandemic is adapted from a Stephen King book.
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Not a million miles from the news footage we’ve seen in the last year, the first episode can be hard to watch, although the flu in this series wipes out 99% of the population, and those left have strange dreams involving a mysterious old lady.
It stars Whoopi Goldberg, Alexander Skarsgard, James Marsden and Amber Heard, and you can catch it on Starzplay now.
American Gods
Amazon Prime Video – Airing from 11th January
Amazon Prime Video
American Gods is back once again.
This is the third series of the drama based on Neil Gaiman’s novel of the same name, about a war being waged between the old gods and the new, and after a few shocks at the end of series two, this one starts with the main character, Shadow Moon – played by Ricky Whittle – in hiding and trying to start a new life in a small town.
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Ian McShane and Marilyn Manson have also joined the cast for this season too, and you can catch it airing on Amazon Prime Video from 11th January.
Servant
AppleTV+ – Airing from 15th January
AppleTV+
Servant is made by and starring some industry heavy-hitters.
Executive produced by the Oscar-nominated director M Night Shyamalan, this chilling psychological horror series was one of the first shows to debut when Apple TV + launched in November 2019 with stars Rupert Grint, Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell and Nell Tiger Free.
This second 10 episode series is set to take a supernatural turn, and you can catch it from 15th January.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race UK
BBC iPlayer – Airing from 14th January
BBC / World of Wonder
A lot of people have been waiting for this one.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is back with twelve new competing queens – Tayce, Lawrence Chaney, Cherry Valentine, Tia Kofi, Bimini Bon Boulash, Ginny Lemon, Veronica Green, Sister Sister, Joe Black, Ellie Diamond, Asttina Mandella and A’Whora – are at your service and here to show you the very best of what the UK drag scene has to offer.
With weekly challenges to test their make-up skills, fashion sense, sewing abilities, comedy, singing, acting, dancing and lip-syncing, this is the perfect way to cure the lockdown blues.
Catch it on BBC iPlayer from 14th January.
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WandaVision
Disney+ – Airing from 15th January
Marvel Studios / Disney+
WandaVision offers up a unique blend of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in which Wanda Maximoff and Vision – two super-powered beings living idealised suburban lives played by Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany – “begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems”.
The series has been described as “a love letter to the golden age of television”, and you can catch it airing on Disney+ from 15th January.
It’s A Sin
Channel 4 / All 4 – Airing from 22nd January
Channel 4
Starring musician and actor Olly Alexander, and featuring Keeley Hawes, Stephen Fry, Neil Patrick Harris, Tracy Ann Oberman, Shaun Dooley and Omari Douglas, this is a new five-part drama from the multi-BAFTA-winning writer Russell T Davies follows the story of the 1980s, the story of AIDS, and charts the joy and heartbreak of a group of friends across a decade in which everything changed.
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Tune in to Channel 4 / All 4 from 22nd January to watch the magic unfold.
The Masked Singer
ITV – Airing Now
There’s no denying that The Masked Singer was one of the surprise hits of 2020 and now it’s returned to our screens as a must-see Saturday night fixture.
If you’re unfamiliar with the show, it basically sees a bunch of celebrities disguised in some seriously-good fancy dress costumes sing for a panel of judges – Davina McCall, Rita Ora, Jonathan Ross and newcomer Mo Gilligan – who make wild guesses as to who’s behind the mask.
Audience members then vote, chant “take it off” at the end and the panel has the final say on who goes home from the lowest scorers each week.
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You can already catch it airing on ITV every Saturday night now.
Cobra Kai
Netflix – Airing from 8th January
Netflix / Curtis Bonds Baker
Taking place 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, this long-time-coming sequel spin-off to The Karate Kid – with original stars – has unsurprisingly become a big hit and is set to get underway with season three.
The series starts with the successful Daniel LaRusso struggling to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of Mr Miyagi, and once again facing his previous adversary Johnny Lawrence, who seeks redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai karate dojo.
Log on to Netflix from 8th January to binge the new series.
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Bulletproof: South Africa
Sky One – Airing from 20th January
Sky UK
Noel Clarke and Ashley Walters are reprising their roles as best pals and partners Pike and Bishop for the third instalment of this action-packed buddy cop series.
This time though, they’ve left London for the far sunnier Cape Town in South Africa, and after years of finding themselves in some seriously dangerous situations with hardened criminals, the pair just want a bit of rest and relaxation – but obviously, things don’t quite go to plan.
You can catch the latest series of Bulletproof: South Africa from 20th January.
The Pembrokeshire Murders
ITV – Airing from 11th January
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ITV
This one’s for the true crime fans.
Luke Evans stars in this three-part drama mini series depicting the cold-case investigation into a serial killer that’s adapted from the book The Pembrokeshire Murders and is written by Senior Investigating Officer Steve Wilkins and ITV news journalist Jonathan Hill.
It’s also from the makers of Line Of Duty and Bodyguard, so you know it must be good.
Wilkins reopened the case of two unsolved murders from the 1980s in 2006, and using forensic methods that were pioneering at the time, he and his team found microscopic DNA and fibres that potentially linked the killings to a string of burglaries.
Catch it on ITV from 11th January.
Trending
Bruno Guimaraes’ talks over potential move to Manchester United this summer said to be ‘true’
Danny Jones
With the conclusion of the 2025/26 campaign fast approaching, eyes are already shifting towards next season and the upcoming transfer window, and one player who has already been linked with a move to Manchester United this summer is Bruno Guimaraes.
Currently the captain at Newcastle, it’s fair to say it would take some doing to swap Uniteds, but stranger things have happened.
Man United seem to be linked with a new midfielder almost every week at this point, with several names floating around in the same sentence as Old Trafford, but this is one that looks to have increasing traction to it.
With talks between the club and Bruno Guimaraes’ representation having reportedly taken place over the past month or so, some have even gone as far as to claim that discussions have already progressed to an ‘advanced’ stage.
🚨 BREAKING:
A meeting took place a few weeks ago between the agents of Bruno G & Manchester United!
As per ever-reliable transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, while he refuted the claims that any direct negotiations have taken place with Newcastle themselves, he stated that “a meeting did take place in recent weeks.”
Believed to have happened a little while ago, rather than more recently, as some reports have suggested, he went on to add that “the information from Brazil is accurate: a meeting was held, and United maintain a good relationship with the agency.”
He also qualified that although it is true that Guimaraes is admired by those at Carrington, he is among a number of shortlisted candidates that they could potentially bring in from June onwards.
For instance, names such as Elliot Anderson, previously pursued Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton, as well as two Wolves players and even Bruno’s midfield partner Sandro Tonali have all been rumoured.
However, it’s thought that the 28-year-old Brazilian international and compatriot is the only one that current cog in the middle of the park, Casemiro, is said to have ‘personally’ recommended.
That’s according to the likes of Sports Illustrated, ESPN and others, who say that the veteran midfielder and fellow national teammate has put his Bruno G as the man to follow in his footsteps and fill the key central position when he eventually departs.
Meanwhile, with Bruno Fernandes still the talisman for the Red Devils, you would imagine he wouldn’t mind having another Portuguese-speaking playmaker alongside him.
Whether or not the Magpies secure another year in at least one of UEFA’s continental tournaments will factor into his decision to stay long-term or not remains to be seen, but the feeling is that he could be allowed to leave if they miss out on the Champions League.
As for selling to a relative rival in the table these days, on the other hand, it would likely take some fee for the North East side to let one of their most important stars leave St James Park.
Then again, it looks like Manchester United aren’t willing to simply settle for just the Europa League, given their upturn in form under Michael Carrick, and were they to end up back in all four competitions next year, they could do with all the strength in depth possible.
Featured Images — CBF Oficial (via Flickr)/The Manc Group
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The MOBO Awards in Manchester – everything you need to know
Thomas Melia
It’s official, the MOBOs are coming to Manchester for a night of live music performances and international artists, all at Co-op Live.
This award show, dedicated to music created by black creatives and musicians, has been hosted in cities nationwide, most recently in Newcastle, but 2026 marks its first time ever in the music capital of the North: Manchester.
A whole host of impressive musicians and acts take to the stage every year, with iconic moments throughout the award show’s history attributed to R&B royalty Lauryn Hill and Queen of Dancehall, Spice.
This award show is dedicated to celebrating Music of Black Origin but is recognised more widely as the MOBOs, with the aim of platforming as many genres as possible, from reggae and rap to soul, hip-hop and more.
Odeal and Spice performing at MOBOs 2025 in Newcastle / Credit: Nick Redman
The MOBOs first took place in 1996, and since then, founder Kanya King and her team have created a legacy – one now set to celebrate its 30th anniversary at 23,500 indoor venue Co-op Live.
MOBOs 2026 guide – all the key info
Are there still tickets left for the MOBO Awards ceremony at Co-op Live?
In a word, yes; there is still a healthy amount of tickets, both general admission and hospitality/VIP packages, if you fancy splashing out.
There’s still time to secure a seat, so grab yours HERE while you still can.
What time do the 2026 MOBOs start in Manchester and on TV?
This year, the MOBOs won’t be broadcast on mainstream TV channels; the award show has decided to collaborate with Amazon.
The show will be live-streamed via Amazon Music UK’s official Twitch account on Thursday, 26 March from 8pm – watch HERE.
There’s also an ‘Access All Areas’ programme hosted by DJ Target on BBC One with interviews and all the red carpet action on Friday 27 March, recapping all the action HERE.
All live streams and official channels have a finishing time of 10:30pm, meaning you can enjoy a night of huge performances while also getting a good quality kip.
Eve and Eddie Kadi are hosting this year’s MOBOs in Manchester / Credit: MOBO Organisation
2026 MOBO nominations
Obviously, the focus of this night isn’t just toasting 30 years of music with Black British culture and beyond, but recognising those pushing the industry forward in their field(s).
Lots of current and up-and-coming acts have found their way onto the list of nominees for the MOBOs this year – many for the very first time.
Shortlisted are the likes of the neo-soul singer-songwriting sensation, Olivia Dean, fellow female solo artists, PinkPantheress and Little Simz; Central Cee, Skepta, Kojey Radical, Raye, Myles Smith and FKA twigs, just to name a few excitinng few.
The MOBOs are known for some of the most insane live performances by some of the music industry’s biggest stars, this year with presenters Eve and Eddie Kadi.
Get ready for the Co-op Live crowd to chant “DEANO!” as the aforementioned Ms Dean will be performing on the night, and with the amount of hits this ‘Lady Lady’ has, we’re bound to know every word.
The ‘Queen of Afrobeats’, Tiwa Savage, is set to take to the stage and her album, This One Is Personal, helped soundtrack 2025, like the Skepta collaboration ‘On The Low’. With ‘Skeppy’ in attendance, anything is possible…
Dancehall diva Shenseea will be performing and has seen massive international success on MOLIY’s single ‘Shake It To The Max (Remix)’, Aya Nakamura duet ‘Dis-moi’, and solo hit ‘Time For Me’.
R&B trio FLO, Manchester rapper Aitch, Myles Smith, Slick Rick and Estelle, as well as a grime medley featuring Wiley, Chip, Nolay, Scorcher and D Double E curated by DJ Target, are also putting on a show – Co-op Live is in for a treat.
Tiwa Savage, FLO and Shenseea are just some of the acts taking to the Co-op Live stage / Credit: Press Shots via supplied
Who else is on the live music line-up in Manchester for MOBOs Fringe?
With the MOBO Awards heading to town for the very first time, there’s also a whole host of events taking place at various independent venues throughout the city.
Some may have already passed in the build-up to event week, such as a special partnered Manchester Basketball game for the MOBO Fringe festival, but if you time to go along to any of the ones still remaining, we strongly urge you to do so.
Get your MOBOs fix ahead of the show by attending some stellar upcoming acts as you gear up for the big event next Thursday night.
Fri 20 March – Shimrise Selects – The Deaf Institute
Sat 21 March – Mobørigins – Renae
Sat 21 March – Habitat x MOBO Fringe – Cupra City Garage
Sun 22 March – Manchester Made: Roots, Rhyme & The Future – Niamos Centre
Sun 22 March – Aarchive House – Side Street
Sun 22 March – Crib Sessions with Faro – Side Street
There are plenty of events ahead of the MOBOs that you can get involved with across Manchester / Credit: Nick Flynn via supplied
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live to watch the BRIT Awards shows in person, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays. It’s also worth noting that anyone with a valid BRITs ticket is granted FREE travel from all zones travelling to and from the venue.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Emily Sergeant -
7th January 2021 
