TLC Launches On Freeview Today As HGTV Shuts Down

Warner Bros. Discovery is shutting down HGTV today  – and replacing it with something completely different: the formerly Premium-only channel TLC.

TLC arrives on Freeview and Freesat for the first time, taking over HGTV’s channel as the home improvement channel closes down after nearly six years as a free-to-air service.

All of HGTV’s property programming is being folded into Really instead, whilst TLC gets a complete makeover and becomes free-to-air on Freeview Channel 12 (see the full Freeview and Freesat channel reshuffling below).

Until now, TLC has been a pay-TV channel – available through Sky, Virgin Media, and Discovery+, but not on Freeview. That changes from today, massively expanding the channel’s potential audience.

But it’s not just about making TLC free. Warner Bros. Discovery is completely overhauling what the channel actually is. Alongside TLC’s traditional reality shows like 90 Day Fiancé and Dr Pimple Popper, you’re now getting sitcoms like The Big Bang Theory.

And the biggest headline? Mock the Week is coming back – arriving on TLC from February 1 with Dara Ó Briain returning as host.

The changes are part of a wider refresh across Warner Bros. Discovery’s entire UK free-to-air portfolio. All six channels – TLC, Quest, Quest Red, Food Network, Really, and DMAX – are getting updated looks from today.

But for TLC specifically, this is more than just a visual refresh – it’s a complete reinvention.

HGTV Shuts Down, TLC Takes Its Freeview Slot

TLC’s arrival on Freeview comes at the expense of HGTV, which has closed down as planned.

HGTV had been sitting on Freeview channel 44 since launching as a free-to-air service back in March 2016 (it started life as UK Style way back in 1997, became Home in 2009, then HGTV in 2020).

The channel focused exclusively on home improvement and property programming – shows like My Lottery Dream Home with David Bromstad, Celebrity IOU with the Property Brothers, and Home Town.

Rather than keep HGTV running, Warner Bros. Discovery decided to consolidate all that home and garden content onto Really, which is already on Freeview channel 17.

Really’s getting “an injection of HGTV shows” including Celebrity IOU, Home Town, and My Lottery Dream Home, making it the go-to destination for property content within WBD’s free-to-air lineup.

TLC now takes over HGTV’s Freeview slot, but will be on Freeview Channel 12, with other channels moving around to accommodate this.

So What Actually Is TLC Now?

TLC built its reputation on reality and lifestyle programming – think Dr Pimple Popper, My 600-lb Life, The Bad Skin Clinic, and the hugely popular 90 Day Fiancé franchise.

All of that stuff is staying. But now you’re also getting scripted sitcoms thrown into the mix.

From today, The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, and Mike & Molly are all airing on TLC – which Warner Bros. Discovery describes as its biggest order of scripted entertainment across the UK free-to-air portfolio.

The UK premiere of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, the latest spin-off from The Big Bang Theory universe, follows on 18 January.

It’s a somewhat odd programming mix – you could be watching Sheldon Cooper one minute and someone getting a massive cyst removed the next – but WBD reckons there’s an audience for this blend of “big laughs, real emotions and true escapism.”

Mock The Week Is Back

The return of Mock the Week is probably the biggest news here.

The topical satirical panel show ended its 21-year run on BBC Two back in 2022, but it’s getting a second life with a nine-episode series starting 1 February on TLC.

Dara Ó Briain returns as host, with the new series featuring extended one-hour episodes – up from the BBC’s typical 30-minute format, so there’s more time for the panellists to do their thing.

The lineup includes Rhys James, Sara Pascoe, Angela Barnes, Ed Byrne, Ahir Shah, Milton Jones, Katherine Ryan, Hugh Dennis, Sarah Keyworth, Lou Sanders, Glenn Moore, Ellie Taylor, and Russell Howard – with more names to be announced.

Classic rounds like “If this is the answer, what is the question?”, “Wheel of News”, “Picture of the Week”, and “Scenes we’d like to see” are all returning, alongside some new rounds designed for the extended format.

Produced by Angst, the series is apparently staying true to what made the original work whilst taking advantage of the extra runtime.

Zero Stars: Deliberately Bad Travel

Arriving in April, Zero Stars sees comedians Roisin Conaty and Sara Pascoe travelling the globe visiting destinations with the funniest and worst reviews they can find.

Based on an original Danish format, the show’s produced by CPL and sees the duo seeking out terrible hotels, dodgy attractions, and questionable restaurants for “a truly unique travel experience.”

It’s the kind of format that should fit reasonably well alongside TLC’s existing reality programming without feeling too out of place.

Everything Gets A New Look

Beyond TLC’s content overhaul, all six of Warner Bros. Discovery’s UK free-to-air channels are getting updated on-screen looks from today.

Quest, Quest Red, Food Network, Really, and DMAX keep their existing content focuses but with refreshed branding designed to make them feel like part of a unified family whilst still maintaining their individual identities.

The updated look extends across all platforms where these channels are available – Freeview, Freesat, Freely, Sky, Virgin Media, and the Discovery+ app (where TLC shows will also be available to stream for free, though finding the free-to-air content within Discovery+ can be a bit of a faff).

Note that on Freely, you still need an aerial connected for these channels – but they’re set to join Freely’s streaming roster soon.

New Shows Coming To Quest And Discovery+

Warner Bros. Discovery has also confirmed several new and returning series for 2026 across its wider portfolio.

Discovery+ is getting:

• Vinnie Jones in the Country (series 3, from February 2) – Following the footballer-turned-actor’s 2,000-acre Sussex farm, with a particular focus on the long-awaited lakehouse renovation. Six episodes.
• Richard Hammond’s Workshop (series 6, late 2026) – The Herefordshire workshop tackles ambitious restorations whilst dealing with business expansion. Eight episodes.
• An American Serial Killer in Cairo (working title, late 2026) – A four-part true crime series about Lobna Yakout’s search for her missing son after escaping her abusive ex-husband, TikTok personality Karim Selim, who later became one of Egypt’s most notorious serial killers.

Quest is getting:

• Guz Khan’s Custom Cars (from 19 January) – The comedian explores car modification culture whilst attempting to mod his own vehicle. Eight episodes.
• Francis Bourgeois & Chris Harris: We Saved a Train (Spring 2026) – The train enthusiast and car presenter restore a dilapidated diesel locomotive. Eight episodes.
• Johnny Vegas’ Little Shop of Antiques (series 2, Summer 2026) – More antiques adventures from Dagfields. Eight episodes.
• Ant Anstead: Born Mechanic (series 3, Summer 2026) – Continuing the house renovation funded by classic car restorations.

What About The Netflix Deal?

These channel changes and new commissions are happening whilst Netflix’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery’s entertainment assets hangs in the balance.

Back in December, Netflix agreed to buy WBD’s film and television studios plus HBO Max for £54bn, though Paramount has since launched counter-bids for the entire company.

If the Netflix deal goes through, it won’t include Discovery or any of the linear channels. That means TLC, Quest, Really, and the rest of the free-to-air portfolio on Freeview would remain as a separate entity, likely continuing under Discovery ownership.

With HBO Max launching in the UK in late March (regardless of who ends up owning it), and the free-to-air channels continuing separately, Warner Bros. Discovery is essentially splitting its business in two.

The entertainment side – HBO, Warner Bros. films, DC Universe – is heading towards Netflix, whilst Discovery’s factual and lifestyle channels continue serving the UK free-to-air market (unless things change again with the Warner Bros. Discovery deal).

Where To Find TLC

TLC is launching on Freeview channel 12 and Freesat channel 144 – taking over Quest’s old channel numbers.

As part of the reshuffle, Quest is moving to Freeview channel 17 and Freesat channel 145 (taking Really’s old spot), whilst Really moves to Freeview channel 44 and Freesat channel 149 – taking over HGTV’s former channel numbers.

The other Warner Bros. Discovery free-to-air channels remain on their current numbers:

• Quest Red: Freeview 40, Freesat 146
• DMAX: Freeview 39, Freesat 147
• Food Network: Freeview 43, Freesat 148

As always on Freeview, some devices will need a retune for the new channel numbers to fall into place (but we don’t know the exact time Freeview will push these changes – so it might be better to wait until the evening).

On Sky, TLC SD and HD (satellite channels 133/828, Scotland 134/828) are now free-to-air, along with TLC +1 (satellite 233, Scotland 234).

HGTV (satellite 158, Sky Glass & Stream 153) and HGTV +1 (satellite 258) have closed permanently.

TLC is also available on Virgin Media and through the Discovery+ app for free streaming.

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