What’s on telly tonight? Our pick of the best shows on Monday 22nd January

Love Soup actor Michael Landes on being Nikki’s new man in Silent Witness: 'Nikki and Matt meet under dire circumstances'

(Image credit: BBC/Gary Moyes)

TV Times tops picks for tonight

What’s on telly tonight? Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight the best shows on Monday 22^nd January

Silent Witness, 9.00pm,BBC1

Poor traumatised Nikki (Emilia Fox) is certainly due a break after narrowly escaping death at the end of the last series. And this week she gets a new love interest in the form of American diplomat Matt Garcia (Love Soup’s Michael Landes), who invites her to a swanky bash at the embassy. Cue Nikki trying on various date outfits at home – well, it makes a change from those white forensic coveralls! Sadly, her previous boyfriends have either turned up dead or turned out to be wrong ’uns – and with Matt at risk from an assassin who has already killed a colleague of his, the pattern could be set to repeat itself… Rating: ****

Great American Railroad Journeys, 6.30pm, BBC2

Michael Portillo returns Stateside to follow some of the journeys suggested in Appleton’s 19th-century guidebook. This time round his adventure begins in Boston, Massachusetts. In a part- travelogue, part-history lesson, Michael joins in an enactment of the 1773 Boston Tea Party, which looks like a lot of rebellious fun as they throw crateloads of British tea in the sea. Next, he takes America’s first underground tram and dines on oysters at the city’s oldest restaurant. Michael then makes tracks for Lowell, the birthplace of America’s Industrial Revolution, and finishes on a high note with a choir singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Rousing stuff! Continues tomorrow. Rating: ****

Next of Kin, 9.00pm, ITV

For those of you enjoying this slow, subtle burner your patience is about to be rewarded. Mona Harcourt (Archie Panjabi) returns home to the UK, badly injured but very much alive. Underneath grief for her murdered brother, Kareem, and anxiety for his missing son, Danny, Mona is furious, believing she’s been set up by British counterterrorism. Conflicted, Mona plays a dangerous game in order to prove her nephew Danny isn’t a terrorist. Whether her plan works or backfires, it could spell disaster for the people she loves. Meanwhile, DCI Vivien Barnes (Claire Skinner) has an uphill job trying to keep tabs on Mona and Danny. Whatever you do, don’t take your eyes off the second half! Rating: *****

More previews tomorrow

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough.

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!