2016-12-12


Sunday 18th December
6.30pm Sports Personality Of the Year 2016 BBC1 -  Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan host the 2016 BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Now in its 63rd year, the show recognises the standout achievers and relives the must-see sporting moments in front of a 12,000 strong crowd at Birmingham's Genting Arena.
7.00pm All Star Mr. & Mrs ITV -  Emmerdale's Dominic Brunt and his wife Jo, T'Pau singer Carol Decker and her husband Richard and boxing legend Lennox Lewis and his wife Violet.
8.20pm Best of British - Victoria Wood BBC2 - Exploring the careers of well-known British entertainers. A look back on the career of the award-winning comedian Victoria Wood, from a solitary childhood in 1960s Lancashire to becoming the first stand-up to sell out the Royal Albert Hall. In this programme from 1998, Victoria Wood talks at length about her life as a performer. Other contributions come from collaborators Julie Walters and Celia Imrie, while admirers such as Clive James, Dame Thora Hird and Caroline Aherne discuss what they love most about her style of comedy.
7.30pm Britain's Wildest Weather Channel 4 - The story of Britain's extreme weather from the last year, told and filmed by people right in the middle of it, from record-breaking floods and super-storms to terrifying tornadoes and hair-raising lightning strikes.
8.00pm Midsomer Murders ITV - DCI Barnaby and his temporary DS Jamie Winter must unravel a sinister web of lies from both past and present in order to catch a killer in the ghost village of Little Auburn, left derelict and untouched since WWII.
9.00pm The Apprentice: The Final BBC1 - The two finalists receive a call summoning them to London's City Hall. Lord Sugar informs them that their final task is to launch their business by creating a brand and unveiling their campaign in front of a packed audience full of industry experts.
Notable Continuing Series: Humans, 9.00pm, Channel 4
Christmas Specials:8.25pm The Two Ronnies' Old-Fashioned Christmas Mystery GOLD - Some seasonal laughs from one of Britain's best loved double acts - Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett. The bespectacled duo star in an old fashioned Christmas mystery.
10.00pm The Apprentice: You're Hired BBC1 - Rhod Gilbert meets the series winner and runner-up as well as Lord Sugar himself to discuss the tears, triumphs and most memorable moments of the past 12 weeks. They are joined by former candidates and special guests on the panel.
10.00pm Victoria Wood: At it Again BBC2 - Recorded at the Royal Albert Hall in 2001, Victoria Wood performs her At It Again show, featuring her typically penetrating observations of mundane life.
Monday
8.00pm Jamie's Ultimate Christmas Channel 4 - Jamie Oliver has been cooking and experimenting with classic Christmas food for over two decades. This year, he pulls together his knowledge and experience to bring the very best of Christmas. The starting point is what Jamie calls 'the three foundations of Christmas': turkey, gravy and roast potatoes.
8.30pm Would I Lie To You? BBC1 - Rob Brydon hosts a festive edition of the award-winning comedy panel show with David Mitchell and Lee Mack as the lightning-quick team captains. This episode's guests are Tom Courtenay, Richard Osman, Chris Kamara and Sara Pascoe.



BBC/Red

9.00pm Last Tango in Halifax BBC1 - The first of a 2-part special of Sally Wainwright's drama series. Caroline's new headship involves the family moving to a ramshackle farmhouse in Huddersfield in time for Christmas. Alan has a difficult conversation with Gilian about where he woud like to be buried. Meanwhile, Gillian is consumed by thoughts of the afterlife and is convinced that she is being haunted by Eddie.
9.00pm Lenny Henry - A Life on Screen BBC2 - Sir Lenny Henry tells the story behind his success. Celebrating Lenny's outstanding career in television, this one-off special delves into the archives to showcase some of his incredible work, looking at everything from his big break aged 16 on New Faces through his instrumental roles in Tiswas and Comic Relief to the present day. The film includes an in-depth interview with the man himself, as well as interviews from people who helped shape Lenny's glittering career, such as Richard Curtis OBE, Kim Fuller, Lord Michael Grade, Sir Trevor McDonald and Chris Tarrant.
9.00pm Prince Harry ITV - Brand new film following HRH Prince Harry on his return to the African kingdom of Lesotho, where he continues the work of Sentebale, the charity he established there a decade ago along with Prince Seeiso of the Lesotho royal family. Prince Harry first visited the country 12 years ago where, after seeing the country's disadvantaged children, he decided to follow in the humanitarian footsteps of his mother Princess Diana and set up Sentebale - which translates as Forget Me Not.
9.00pm First Dates at Christmas Channel 4 - Fred and his team open up the First Dates restaurant one last time this year, to help 10 new singletons find love in time for Christmas.
9.00pm Chris Tarrant on the Xmas Express Five - In this special Christmas edition of his train-based travelogue series, Chris Tarrant heads across Scandinavia on an epic journey from the beautiful southern fjords to Europe's most northerly passenger station at Narvik, where British warships won a famous victory during the Second World War, while also squeezing in a chat with a certain white-bearded gentleman
9.00pm Celebrity Advice Bureau W - Celebrity advisors, including Louis Walsh, Fay Ripley, David Baddiel and Rick Edwards, offer their best advice for daily dilemmas.
10.00pm Booze, Beans and Bhajis: The Story of the Corner Shop BBC4 - Journalist Babita Sharma, the daughter of shopkeepers, explores the growing and shifting fortunes of the corner shop to discover why this unsung hero has been at the centre of ordinary lives for more than 70 years. The corner shop has always been there for us, it's a British institution. It was on the frontline of what was happening in society from the '40s to the noughties.
10.00pm Alan Carr's 12 Stars of Christmas Channel 4 - On the nights before Christmas, Alan Carr turns festive elf as he hosts a star-studded new quiz show in which three stars compete to win hundreds of presents for the studio audience. To get their hands on these goodies, the audience need the celebrity panellists - in this first show, Alesha Dixon, Rob Beckett and Alexander Armstrong - to answer questions about the year posed by the celebrity stars hidden behind Alan's giant advent calendar. Studio guest Gok Wan helps Alan with a question for the panel. At the end of each part, an audience member from each team plunges into Alan's giant gift box containing 30,000 balls, hoping to be the first to find one of the three wrapped presents hidden inside.
Christmas Specials:10.20pm The Royle Family Christmas Special 1999 GOLD - Join the Royles on the couch in this festive comedy special. It's Christmas Day at the Royles' and there could be an unexpected present for Denise - baby David!

10.00pm Greatest Ever Christmas Ads Five - Julian Clary revisits some of the most memorable festive adverts. From cat food to Coca-Cola, stocking fillers to stock cubes, Christmas has provided the opportunity for adverts to sell us everything and anything. Julian remembers the good, the great, and the unforgettable.

Tuesday

8.00pm Hilda Ogden's Last Ta-ra - A Tribute to Jean Alexander ITV - One-off special celebrating the work of actress Jean Alexander, who died in October having played one of the most popular Coronation Street characters of all time - Hilda Ogden. The tribute features contributions from her family, friends and Coronation Street stars such as William Roache, Michael Le Vell and Sally Dynevor, who also enjoy watching classic Hilda moments in a special recreation of Stan and Hilda's famous living room - complete with flying ducks, muriel and paraquat floor. Younger members of the Coronation Street cast celebrate Hilda's legacy and there are also contributions from famous fans including Paul O'Grady, on whose chat show Jean made a rare public appearance in 2005.

8.00pm The Supervet at Christmas Channel 4 - Charity worker Kerry brings in Maxi, a three-year-old rescue greyhound with severely damaged front legs. Kerry hopes Noel will be able to fix Maxi so he can be rehomed in time for Christmas. Noel's dog Keira is rushed into the practice with sickness and diarrhoea. River, a Border terrier puppy has fractured both back legs. And Noel makes a surprise visit home to Ireland.

9.00pm Last Tango in Halifax BBC1 - Second and final episode of this 2-part special.

9.00pm Inside the Christmas Factory BBC2 - Gregg Wallace, Cherry Healey and Ruth Goodman explore the fascinating factory processes and surprising history behind our favourite festive treats. Gregg follows 24 hours of production at the world's largest mince pie factory, home to Mr Kipling, where they will make 180 million mince pies this year.

9.00pm Paul O'Grady's Favourite Fairy Tales ITV - Paul O'Grady travels to Germany and into the world of his fairy tale heroes - the Brothers Grimm. Paul discovers that as with all forms of magic, there is more to fairy tales than first meets the eye.

Notable Continuing Series: This is Us, 9.00pm, Channel 4

9.00pm Tattoo Fixers at Christmas E4 - Sketch bakes up a gingerbread-based treat for Luke, Alice uses Sam's bum to help reunite a yuletide favourite with his family, and Jay gives Brendan's below-the-belt mistletoe the kiss-off it deserves. Meanwhile, Owen gets the purrrfect tattoo, Siobhan trolls everyone with some childlike inking, and Mark becomes a Christmas hero with a belly tatt that's beyond belief.

10.00pm Virtually Famous at Christmas E4 -  Inimitable host Chris Ramsey does his best to keep control of team captains Vicky Pattison and Seann Walsh and regular panellist Scarlett Moffatt, plus a raft of celebrity guests, as they attempt to win points for knowing the most about the biggest online viral content of the week.

10.35pm Lip Sync Battle UK: Christmas Special Five -  Hosted by Professor Green and Spice Girl Mel B. EastEnders stars Shane Richie and Jessie Wallace, used to battling it out on the screen, now do battle on stage as they perform Christmas classics for the audience's approval.

10.45pm Darcey Bussell: Looking for Margot BBC1 - Documentary in which Darcey Bussell uncovers the life of Margot Fonteyn, who inspired generations of ballerinas, and who with her late flowering partnership with a much younger Rudolf Nureyev, created the most dazzling ballet partnership in history. Yet behind the scenes Darcey discovers that Margot's life was marked by tragedy and disappointment.
Wednesday
Christmas Specials:5.00pm Back in Time For Christmas  BBC2 - It really will be Christmas every day as the Robshaw family, stars of BBC Two's Back in Time for Dinner, time-travel through six decades of festive nostalgia.
8.00pm The Dog Rescuers at Christmas Five - Alan Davies helms the seasonal special of the heart-warming documentary series.
Notable Continuing Series: 24 Hours in A&E, 9.00pm, Channel 4
9.00pm Quarry Sky Atlantic - Gritty drama following Vietnam veteran Mac Conway, who is drawn into a criminal underworld on return to his home of Memphis.
10.00pm Insert Name Here: Christmas Special BBC2 - Sue Perkins is joined by captains Josh Widdicombe and Richard Osman and guests Danny Baker, Sara Pascoe, Deborah Meaden and historian Kate Williams for a special festive edition. In a twist to the usual format, different names are discussed, all with a link to Christmas. So expect fiendish facts about the Queen's Christmas speech, Delia Smith's Christmas cooking and the original Father Christmas, St Nicholas.
Thursday
Christmas Specials 9.00pm The Royle Family: The Queen of Sheba BBC1 -Tension mounts in the Royle household as the family contemplate the prospect of becoming fully laminated throughout. Dr Mahmoud prescribes new medication for Nana in the form of yellow tablets; coincidentally they turn out to be the same colour as the tablets that Joe was prescribed for the swelling when he got his mickey stuck in his zip. Meanwhile, a mysterious ginger visitor reminds Nana of her favourite musical.  *First Shown in November 2006*
9.00pm The World's Most Expensive Christmas Channel 4 - While the rest of us search out bargain toys on the high street and online, the UK's millionaires and billionaires use a network of bespoke, high-end suppliers of luxurious gifts and entertainment.
9.00pm Educating Joey Essex ITV2 - A festive installment of the series in which fun-loving reality TV star Joey Essex sets out to learn about the world. In his quest to discover the true meaning of Christmas,
9.00pm The Case of: Jonbenet Ramsey More4 - This two-part docu-series unites former investigators with new experts to re-examine the 20-year-old unsolved murder of six-year-old JonBenÚt Ramsey from Boulder, Colorado. Concludes Tomorrow Night.
10.00pm QI - Sandi Toksvig hosts the QI Christmas special with guests Josh Widdicombe, Susan Calman, Matt Lucas and Alan Davies.
Friday
Christmas Specials 5.15pm Porridge BBC2 -Fletcher plans to add a bit of Christmas spirit to the festive season at Slade Prison in the form of his very own home-made liquor. But when prison officers Mackay and Barraclough uncover the stash of 'Chateau Slade', Fletcher seems in danger of spending Christmas in solitary.
8.00pm Food Unwrapped Does Christmas Channel 4 - Jimmy Doherty, Kate Quilton and Matt Tebbutt explore how the food industry brings the taste of Christmas to our tables. The number one complaint at Christmas is a dried-out turkey, so Matt turns to science for the answer.
9.00pm The Last Leg Christmas Special Channel 4 - The Last Leg's final instalment of the year is a merriment-packed edition that takes in the whole of 2016. Hosts Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker embrace the Christmas spirit in a way only they can! The boys are joined for some festive leglessness by a variety of guests including Grayson Perry. As ever, viewers' taboo-busting Is It OK guides the boys through the very best the season has to offer, as they work out who was naughty and who was nice in 2016.
9.00pm Stella Sky1 - Enjoy a festive fix of the heartwarming comedy-drama starring Ruth Jones. But is it going to be a merry Christmas in Pontyberry for Stella and the gang?
10.00pm The Windsors Christmas Special Channel 4 - The comedy soap opera returns sending up our beloved royals and satirising what seasonal celebrations at Sandringham might involve...It's Christmas with The Windsors and it's an even tenser affair than usual following the events that led Wills to usurp Prince Charles as next in line to the throne. Camilla is still fuming - especially as Kate has put herself in charge of Christmas lunch, but will Kate's festive feast meet host Princess Anne's expectations or could this be Camilla's chance for revenge?
Christmas Eve
6.30pm Blankety Blank ITV - David Walliams brings back the legendary game-show for a Christmas special.
7.25pm Michael Mcintyre's Big Christmas Show BBC1 - Michael McIntyre hosts a festive edition of his family entertainment series. Michael is joined on stage by comedians Harry Enfield and Catherine Tate and there's a duet from Michael Ball and Alfie Boe. Plus a choir is given a surprise when they become the unexpected stars of the show. There is also new comedy material from Michael himself, and Aled Jones hands over his phone in Celebrity Send To All.


7.30pm We're Going on a Bear Hunt Channel 4 -  Based on the bestselling bedtime book, written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, We're Going on a Bear Hunt follows the intrepid adventures of siblings Stan, Katie, Rosie, Max, the baby and Rufus the dog, who decide one day to 'catch a big one' and set off on an expedition in search of bears. Coming up against a host of obstacles, the family ventures through a whirling snowstorm, thick oozy mud and a big dark forest on their ambitious quest.
8.00pm Alan Bennett's Diaries BBC2 - Intimate encounters, filmed over a year, reveal a writer who is bemused by his own popularity and is still as angry and irreverent in his 80s as he was in his 20s. Leafing through private photographs, Bennett reflects on his modest beginnings and his enduring gratitude to a welfare state that paid for his education and looked after his parents in their old age. With a satirical force that has never left him, he also attacks the politics of today.
8.00pm Birds of a Feather ITV - Festive special of the Essex-set sitcom. When Travis goes missing in Morocco, Sharon, Tracey and Dorien move heaven and earth to track him down and bring him home for the holidays. On their three-woman mission, the Chigwell pals journey by aeroplane, ferry, car and camel, meeting old friends and making new enemies along the way.

8.00pm Gogglesprogs Christmas Special Channel 4 - The UK's youngest TV critics return with a special Christmas edition of Gogglesprogs, as familiar faces and brand new pint-sized viewers give their uninhibited opinions and hilarious take on a range of TV highlights from 2016. From TV moments to news stories and popular hits, these chatterboxes share their comical and often insightful opinions on the world of television as they see it. The children have cast their eyes over a range of programmes from 2016: from big news stories about the American Presidential election, to TV's most popular hits, including Strictly Come Dancing, First Dates and Planet Earth II, and some classic Christmas movies.
8.00pm The Yorkshire Vet at Christmas Five - It's Christmas in Thirsk, but the vets cannot join in the celebrations until they have tended to their flock. A cow has collapsed on Chris's farm leading Peter to fear the worst, Barney the spaniel may have to have a leg amputated and a piglet named Tiny Tim needs some urgent care. When things settle down, Peter and Julian have the honour of switching on Thirsk's Christmas lights.
9.00pm David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey BBC1 - Viewers are invited to join Dame Shirley Bassey for a special night of entertainment, ahead of her 80th birthday. The event is hosted by her great friend, and one of her biggest fans, comedian David Walliams. The one-off special features a lavish mix of entertainment, comedy, surprises and live music.

9.00pm Grantchester ITV - Christmas special of the drama series set in the early 1950s. It is the week before Christmas 1954, and vicar Sidney Chambers is rushed off his feet with church duties. He has little time to think about his beloved Amanda, estranged from her husband and now heavily pregnant. Sidney loves her, but whether she is married or divorced, he knows there is no way a clergyman can have a relationship with her. DI Geordie Keating is as grumpy as Scrooge over the festive season.
9.00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Channel 4 - Jimmy Carr hosts this festive show with Sean Lock and Kathy Burke, who take on Jon Richardson and Russell Howard. Joe Lycett joins Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner.
Eamonn and Ruth: A Million Pound Christmas Five
9.00pm A League of their Own Sky1 - James Corden, Freddie Flintoff, Jamie Redknapp and Jack Whitehall are joined by Dennis Taylor and Gary Barlow for this special Christmas episode of the comedy sports quiz.
10.00pm Rude Tube Christmas Cracker 2016 Channel 4 - Alex Zane and his little doggie helper Bah Hum-Pug provide a selection box of 50 seasonal clips from the web.

10.05pm Peter Kay's Christmas Comedy Shuffle BBC1 - Peter Kay returns with a special Christmas Comedy Shuffle, featuring festive favourites from Car Share, Phoenix Nights and a seasonal singalong with Sir Paul McCartney.
10.30pm Through the Keyhole ITV - Keith Lemon rifles through three celebrity homes, sniffing out seasonal clues to help the star-studded studio panel guess the identity of the owner. Getting in the Christmas spirit with Keith are soap star and pop star Shayne Ward, model Kelly Brook and comedian Johnny Vegas.
11.00pm Trigger Happy TV Channel 4 - Trigger Happy is back for a Channel 4 Christmas Special. Dom Joly totally revamps the original noughties series while retaining the charm, surrealism and soundtrack. Featuring all-new characters new Trigger Happy has a laugh at modern life.
11.45pm Christmas Carols on ITV - Aled Jones joins the congregation of the historic St Chad's church in Rochdale, Lancashire, for a traditional candlelight Christmas Eve carol service.
Christmas Day
1.50pm Top Of the Pops BBC1 - Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates return to the Top of the Pops studio to celebrate Christmas Day with a special edition of music show featuring the biggest songs and brightest stars from the past year. As usual, the show is wrapped up with the Christmas number. Performers include Grammy Award-winning Brits Clean Bandit with guest vocalist Anne-Marie, Joe Jonas with his band DNCE, electronic dance producer Jonas Blue with guest vocalist Dakota, Britain's Got Talent star Calum Scott, French DJ Valentin Brunel aka Kungs, James Arthur, Craig David, X Factor 2015 winner Louisa Johnson, Mercury Prize-winning Grime superstar Skepta, Olly Murs, Zara Larsson and Christine and the Queens.
3.00pm The Queen's Christmas Broadcast BBC1 - HM Queen Elizabeth II delivers her annual address in the Christmas message to the nation and the Commonwealth.

4.45pm The Great Christmas Bake Off BBC1 - The tent has been decorated and the invitations have been sent out for a very special Christmas episode of The Great British Bake Off, featuring returning contestants from previous years.
5.40pm Morecambe and Wise the Christmas Show 1976 BBC2 - Classic quintessential seasonal viewing from one of the best British comedy duos.

5.45pm Doctor Who BBC1 - The Doctor joins forces with a masked superhero for an epic New York adventure. With brain-swapping aliens poised to attack, the Doctor and Nardole link up with an investigative reporter and a mysterious figure known only as the Ghost. Can the Doctor save Manhattan?

6.45pm Strictly Come Dancing BBC1 - . With past contestants Ainsley Harriott, Pamela Stephenson, Gethin Jones, Denise Lewis, Melvin Odoom and Frankie Bridge competing for the trophy. Routines are inspired by Home Alone, The Polar Express, Love Actually, Meet Me In St Louis, Elf and Frozen.
6.45pm Paul O'Grady for Love of Dogs at Christmas ITV - Paul O'Grady returns to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home to bring some festive cheer to the canine residents - and hopefully find them new homes.

8.00pm Call the Midwife BBC1 -  When a small South African mission hospital that has links with the Order is threatened with closure, Sister Julienne procures the assistance of Sister Winifred, Trixie, Barbara, Nurse Crane, Dr Turner, Shelagh, Fred and Tom Hereward to try and save it. The Nonnatus team travel to Africa and are soon faced with a range of challenges. The the biggest hurdle is a neighbouring white farmer, who refuses access across his land for a new water pipe which could save the clinic's future.
8.00pm Travel Man Channel 4 - Hollywood actress Rebel Wilson joins Richard Ayoade for a ridiculously overloaded 48 hours in Florence. In a Christmas special that makes only the most token nod to the festive season, Richard and Rebel blitz the Tuscan capital in a mini-break mixing art, action, food and fun.
8.00pm Monkeys: An Amazing Animal Family Sky1 - Biologist Patrick Aryee travels to wild locations across the globe to reveal the amazing stories of how each of the world's primate species came to be.
8.30pm Gospel Christmas BBC2 - Beverley Knight and Gregory Porter introduce a feast of uplifting festive music from the cream of the British gospel scene, at the church of St John in Hackney.
8.30pm When Celebrities go Pop Five - Countdown show of forty celebs who stepped away from their usual fame to try out music - with not always positive results. Includes Nick Berry, Katie Price, Vinnie Jones, Mr T, David Hasselhoff and even Christopher Lee.

9.00pm Maigret's Dead Man ITV - Rowan Atkinson stars in the second adaptation from the novel by Georges Simenon. A series of murderous attacks on three farms in Picardie hits the national headlines, and Maigret is ordered to take charge of the investigation. He resists because he is intrigued by a series of hurried phone calls from an anonymous man, who claims to be being pursued by a gang of thugs who want to kill him. But when a body is dumped in a quiet back street, Maigret is convinced the anonymous victim is the same man who called him.
9.00pm Gogglebox 2016 Channel 4 - A special programme providing a chance to revisit some of the best and funniest moments from the most recent series of Gogglebox, including Planet Earth II, Strictly Come Dancing, Poldark, Victoria and the US election news.
9.05pm Father Ted More4 - It's a nightmare Christmas when Father Ted and Father Dougal get lost in a department store's vast lingerie department. Only Ted's quick thinking can save the Church from another embarrassing scandal, but the incident still has far-reaching and dangerous

9.30pm EastEnders BBC1 - The residents of Albert Square are determined to have a peaceful Christmas this year. But with secrets festering, families fractured and pressure building, will they all get the Christmas they asked Santa for?
9.30pm Victorian Bakers at Christmas BBC2 - How the Victorians invented Christmas as we know it today - through the eyes of four professional bakers, who make favourite festive products from the most revolutionary era in British history. Historians Alex Langlands and Annie Gray are on hand to fill in the fascinating facts behind the transformation of our midwinter break - from a riotous 12-day affair with clear pagan elements which climaxed in early January, to the more respectable family based occasion centred on December 25th which we know today.

10.30pm Mrs Brown's Boys BBC1 - Agnes Brown has had enough hassle with Christmas trees to last a lifetime, so this year she refuses to have one. But with Grandad's health a worry for everyone, is there something else missing this Christmas apart from just the tree?
10.30pm Alan Carr's Christmas Chatty Man Channel 4 - Alan's guests on the sofa for some Christmas cheer are the judges from the new BBC talent show Let It Shine: Gary Barlow, Dannii Minogue and Martin Kemp. Olympic diver Tom Daley chats about his new book Tom's Daily Plan, and Gogglebox stars Chris Steed and Stephen Webb drop in along with more celebrity guests.
Boxing Day

6.30pm Revolting Rhymes BBC1 - The first of two animations based on the much-loved rhymes written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake. Snow White and Red Riding Hood become lifelong friends as Snow White takes on the might of the wicked Queen, while Red is called home to deal with a pair of hungry wolves - one who has eaten her grandma and then dressed in her clothes, and another who can't stop himself from eating some unsuspecting pigs. *Concludes Tomorrow Night*
7.00pm The Great Christmas Bake Off BBC1 - The tent has been decorated and the invitations have been sent out for a very special Christmas episode of The Great British Bake Off, featuring returning contestants from previous years.
8.00pm Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2016: Supercharged - Fuelling the Future BBC4 - Celebrating 80 years since the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures were first televised, chemist Professor Saiful Islam explores one of humankind's biggest challenges - how to generate and store energy, with guest appearances from Christmas Lecturers past.

8.00pm Lego's Big Christmas Channel 4 - Documentary that goes behind the scenes as the world's biggest Lego store prepares to open in London's Leicester Square. The one-off film also follows Duncan, Britain's only certified Lego professional, who is attempting to build the largest Lego model ever - a giant Tower Bridge, using nearly six million bricks. There's also Sophie and Michael, two adult fans of Lego, who unashamedly maintain their love for the brick. And Lego designer Justin's first kit - a re-imagining of The Beatles' Yellow Submarine - is about to hit the shelves.
8.30pm Still Open All Hours BBC1 - Granville and Gastric find themselves playing marriage counsellors and Leroy adopts a festive disguise to avoid relationship trouble of a different kind. Meanwhile, Mrs Featherstone struggles to find the Christmas spirit and Kath attempts to bring the street together as one harmonious choir to beat Finkle Street once and for all - but does Granville have a trick up his sleeve to help them out?
8.30pm The Elephant Family & Me BBC2 - Gordon Buchanan tries to gain the trust of a herd of elephants in the wilds of Kenya to film this uniquely intimate portrait of their family life. Wendy is a teenage elephant mother, struggling to raise her first baby Wiva. Filming them is tough - elephants are one of the most dangerous animals on earth thanks to years of human persecution. With the help of local expert Benjamin Kyalo, Gordon manages to get spectacularly close to the elephants on foot. And he witnesses at first hand the dangers baby Wiva faces growing up in the African bush.

9.00pm The Witness for the Prosecution BBC1 - Two-part drama based on Agatha Christie's novel. When beautiful rich widow Emily French is brutally murdered, suspicion falls on Leonard, a dashing young chancer who, according French's housekeeper, seduced the older woman into leaving him her vast fortune. Penniless solicitor Mayhew is put in charge of Leonard's defence and slowly becomes moved by the case. Leonard is convinced that his innocence can be proved by his wife Romaine, and the entire case rests on her alibi. But will Romaine testify to save her husband, or will his infidelity make her vengeful? *Concludes Tomorrow Night*
9.00pm Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2016 Channel 4 -  Answering the questions are Richard Ayoade, Rob Delaney, Mel Giedroyc, Sarah Millican, David Mitchell and Romesh Ranganathan. Plus Jon Snow, Charles Dance, the children of Mitchell Brook Primary School, a host of celebrity question-setters and some surprise guests as they take in everything from the US election to Boaty McBoatface.
9.30pm The Entire Universe BBC2 - Eric Idle persuades Professor Brian Cox to present a lecture on the birth of the entire universe. Brian soon realises Eric is actually hosting a comedy and musical extravaganza with the help of Warwick Davis, Noel Fielding, Hannah Waddingham and Robin Ince, alongside a chorus of singers and dancers.

10.00pm Outnumbered BBC1 - It is Boxing Day, and the Brockman family have to carry out a special mission for Grandad. They encounter car problems, child problems, parent problems, emotional problems and World War Two. If the adults can't sort things out, the children will have to. Like all families, everything has changed and everything remains the same.
10.00pm In Bed with Jamie at Christmas E4 - Made in Chelsea's Jamie Laing uses his loveable charm to entertain and quiz a host of celebrity guests in their beds, getting a surprisingly candid look at their home and private lives. In this special festive episode, Jamie runs riot through Charlotte Crosby's brand new mansion, snuggles up to Tattoo Fixers' Jay Hutton in his Shoreditch apartment and gets naked with cult 90s TV star Pamela Anderson.
Tuesday
7.00pm Posh Pawn at Christmas Channel 4 - James takes his team for an ice-breaking Christmas excursion with jewellery expert Ian. A luxury yacht moored in London's most exclusive location comes up for sale. And Lawrence and James are put through their paces by Britain's most successful female gymnast, Beth Tweddle, who wants to sell her Olympic leotards to raise money for a good cause.
8.00pm Amazing Spaces: Snow Special Channel 4 - In this Amazing Spaces festive special, George Clarke and Will Hardie embark on a snow-covered design odyssey across the mountain ranges of western Canada. From a remote buffalo herder's lodge to the ultimate snowboarder ski chalet, and even a monster snowmobile big enough to live inside, this epic journey showcases the most ingenious Canadian structures built to survive and enjoy the stunning snowy surroundings. George and Will also build their own igloo.

9.00pm The Real Marigold on Tour BBC2 - Having previously road-tested retirement in India, Miriam Margoyles, Wayne Sleep, Bobby George and Rosemary Shrager are reunited to discover what it is like to grow old in other countries around the world. In this episode, the senior citizens jet off to Florida, a major retirement hotspot thanks to its low taxes and sunny weather. Many retirees here live in gated villages, and the gang experience living in two different communities at either end of the price scale.
Notable Continuing Series: Witness for the                                                                                                                    Prosecution, 9.00pm, BBC1
This is Us, 9.00pm, Channel 4
10.00pm Walliams and Friend: Christmas Special BBC1 - David is joined by Downton Abbey and W1A actor Hugh Bonneville. Hugh plays Alan Sugar, dishing out the hardest ever Apprentice tasks, and the Countess of Grantham in her new commercial. Hugh and David pair up to play smarmy game show hosts of the completely baffling 'Double or Nothing', the world's most embarrassing dancing dads and Bruce Wayne and his loyal butler Alfred. Featuring mini festive episodes of Middle Class Jeremy Kyle and Celebrity Slammer.

10.00pm Inside No.9 BBC2 - Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith's award-winning anthology of comedy dramas returns with a seasonal special. Austria. Krampusnacht, 1977. All the good children are given gifts by St Nicholas and all the bad ones are punished by the demonic Krampus. Julian and Kathy arrive for a holiday with their family. But who has been good and who has been bad?
10.45pm Pompeii with Michael Buerk ITV - Michael Buerk delves deeper than ever before into the remains of the infamous volcanic eruption that preserved its victims to a remarkable degree in this illuminating documentary. Buried for nearly two thousand years, one of the most famous historic archaeological sites on earth is brought dramatically back to life, using the very latest technology in an ambitious attempt to show viewers what life was really like in this beautiful Roman city situated on the Bay of Naples.
Wednesday

7.00pm Ethel and Ernest BBC1 - Hand-drawn animated film based on the award-winning book by acclaimed British author and illustrator Raymond Briggs telling the true story of Raymond's own parents Ethel and Ernest - two ordinary Londoners living through a period of extraordinary events and immense social change. Heartwarming, humorous and bittersweet, the film follows the lives of lady's maid Ethel and milkman Ernest from their first chance meeting in 1928, through the birth of their son Raymond in 1934 to their deaths, within months of each other, in 1971.
7.00pm The Arrivals Channel 4 -  Refreshingly warm and intimate insight into the lives of some of the thousands of people travelling in today's ever-shrinking world as they pass through the Heathrow airport arrivals halls. Captivating, surprising, heart-warming and often heart-breaking stories are told by passengers and their waiting loved ones, all meeting under the same roof. Narrated by Julie Walters, this documentary goes beyond plain airport 'people-watching' and reveals the incredible and momentous life stories that people have to share. From long-lost friendship to newly found romance, The Arrivals is a captivating and honest exploration of love and life.
8.00pm Robot Wars: Battle of the Stars BBC2 - Olympic athletes the Brownlee brothers, DJ Scott Mills, space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock and sports presenter Suzi Perry help design their own fighting robots to battle it out in the bulletproof Robot Wars arena. Faced with the House Robots and some mystery pit hazards, they need to prove they have got what it takes to become the Robot Wars champion.
8.00pm What Britain Bought in 2016 Channel 4 - Mary Portas catches up with some of the nation's leading retailers, including John Lewis, Maplin, Waterstones, ASOS, Superdrug, Hobbycraft and Waitrose. Mary meets buyers, forecasters and influencers who cast their eyes back over the 'I can't believe we bought that', the 'I still need to get one of those' and the 'I couldn't live without mine' moments of the year.

9.00pm Jonathan Creek BBC1 - Alan Davies returns to the role of Jonathan Creek for a new special. The dark, forbidding edifice of Daemons' Roost does not readily yield its evil secrets. Here it was, according to legend, that a 19th-century sorcerer named Jacob Surtees would summon the powers of hell to terrorise and subjugate his victims. Contemporaneous accounts describe his impossible feats of telekinesis, which have remained unexplained to this day. 150 years after his death, the house is occupied by another equally macabre figure: veteran film director Nathan Clore, whose output of schlock horror movies in the 1970s generated its own brand of terror among cinema audiences. With his health now failing he has summoned home his stepdaughter Alison, to share with her, finally, the chilling truth of what happened to her family there when she was just a child.
9.00pm Dragons' Den BBC2 -  In this episode, a Scottish entrepreneur bearing chocolate gifts, a couple of city slickers selling socks and a teacher trying to get the party started with his dance mats are all hoping the Dragons are feeling generous in the season of goodwill. And finally, for the tennis coaches offering active holidays, will it be game over or will they walk away with a sack full of cash?
Notable Continuing Series: 24 Hours in A&E, 9.00pm, Channel 4
9.00pm Most Shocking Celebrity Moments Five - A light-hearted look at the most outlandish and outrageous antics by the rich and famous this year. Brangelina's break-up, Hiddleswift's (brief) hook-up, and Ed Balls and Honey G's reality TV dalliances: if it merits a gawp, it goes in! Contributors include Louis Walsh, Michelle Visage, Chloe Khan and Len Goodman.
9.00pm James May: The Christmas Reassembler BBC4 - Series in which James May explores the intricacies and engineering marvels of various objects by putting them back together again from a pile of hundreds of their component parts. In a festive special, he reassembles his favourite childhood Christmas present. But this isn't just any Christmas present, this is the one that changed his life and sent him on to a path of mechanical intrigue and reassembly. This is the Hornby Flying Scotsman with realistic chuffing sounds which James ripped open on Christmas Day 1972.
9.30pm Pop Quiz: The Comeback BBC4 - It was the Saturday night smash hit music quiz show that ran for four years between 1981 and 1984. Over 30 years later it's back, with the original presenter Mike Read hosting the first of two special celebration shows where the biggest pop stars from the 1980s go head to head in a test of their 80s music knowledge. Guests include Toyah Willcox, Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins), Andy McCluskey (OMD), Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet), Mari Wilson and Leee John (Imagination).
Thursday
7.00pm Strictly Ballroom Boys Channel 4 - In the world of competitive ballroom there's a serious shortage of young male dancers, with hundreds of girls lining up for every boy. This First Cut documentary from first-time director Carla Wright follows four of these rare boys, from south Wales's Valleys, as they head towards the biggest competition of their dancing lives so far: the UK Championships in Bournemouth.
8.00pm Life in the Snow BBC1 - In a seasonal special, Gordon Buchanan meets the animals who live in nature's winter wonderlands. He reveals their survival secrets, from the polar bear mother who gives her cubs the best possible start in life to the owl that finds food hidden beneath a blanket of snow, plus the plucky penguins that huddle together to keep warm. Gordon also unwraps the lives of some popular Christmas characters: reindeer and the robin redbreast.
8.00pm Location, Location, Location Channel 4 - In Birmingham, Kirstie Allsopp helps sewing blogger Elle and her fiance Ed, who have seen 52 properties and still can't find the perfect pad. Phil Spencer helps Ben and Laura, who are relocating from Bristol to Birmingham. It's Phil's job to find them a property where they won't be stuck in suburbia.
8.00pm Biggest Dog in the World Five - Documentary following three owners of Great Danes that have grown to such a size that they hope to gain an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records. The film reveals the highs and lows of living with giant dogs, including crippling costs of over ú12,000 a year, constant care for a pet that cannot be left for longer than four hours at a time, extreme domestic destruction and simple days out with dogs that attract wide-eyed stares from passers-by.

9.00pm To Walk Invisible BBC1 - Period drama on the Bronte Sisters from Happy Valley writer Sally Wainwright. Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte face a bleak future, with their father half-blind and troubled brother Branwell in decline. As their situation worsens, Charlotte sees that writing could offer a way out. This is the story of the sisters' great novels and their extraordinary battle for recognition.
9.00pm Charlie Brooker's 2016 Wipe BBC2 - Charlie Brooker looks back on the ups and downs of 2016. Helping Charlie to make sense of the year's news, TV and online phenomena is Philomena Cunk. In her most challenging interview yet, Philomena tries to understand what it is Professor Brian Cox is actually saying.
9.00pm Guy Martin: Cycling Home For Christmas Channel 4 - Guy Martin takes on his longest and hardest challenge yet as he attempts to break a record that has stood since 1984 by cycling around the entire coast of Great Britain - 4800 miles - in just 20 days. He needs to cover 240 miles every day to win the record; that's twice the distance of the average Tour De France stage, every day in the depths of a British winter. It's a challenge that will push Guy to his physical and mental limit.
9.00pm The Adele Story Five - Documentary about the remarkable career of one of the most famous and successful singers on the planet today, from her humble beginnings in Tottenham, North London, to global super-stardom.
10.00pm Cunk on Christmas BBC2 - Mockumentary starring Diane Morgan as Philomena Cunk, who explores the traditions and trappings of Christmas. Philomena looks at pagan winter festivals, the Nativity story, 'Sir Charles Dickings' and Santa Claus, and also grills a variety of experts to try and expose hard truths about Christmas.
10.15pm Celebrity Juice ITV2 - Keith Lemon and pal Paddy McGuinness look back at some previously unseen Celebrity Juice footage as they reminisce about the hilarious celebrity shenanigans that went down in 2016.
10.35pm Bruce Springsteen: In His Own Words Channel 4 - This exclusive Bruce Springsteen bio-documentary sets out to reveal the man behind the music. With home video from his youth, and footage from his early years performing solo in Greenwich Village, this 90-minute special provides a unique insight into the man as well as the musician. Having sold 160 million albums around the world, Bruce Springsteen is now a number one best-selling author following the release of his autobiography, Born to Run, earlier this year.
Friday
7.00pm Noel's Sell or Swap Live Channel 4 -  Noel Edmonds and his Sell or Swap team are here to help. This brand new live auction show gives guests the chance to bid on an eclectic mix of items, with up to three auctions running at the same time during the show. The item's owners will have a funny or emotive reason why they desperately need to dispose of the things they're putting up for sale - it might be an unwanted Christmas present, an object that the family rows over, or something bought in haste. Noel and his SOS squad are on hand to create a bidding frenzy.
8.00pm Judi Dench: All the World's Her Stage BBC2 - An intimate portrait of Judi Dench, one of the most outstanding and best loved British actors of all time, told by some of the biggest names in entertainment - Daniel Craig, Stephen Frears, Pierce Brosnan, Samantha Bond and Sir Ian McKellen.
8.00pm Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast Channel 4 - Jamie Oliver and Jimmy Doherty are back in their caff at the end of Southend Pier for a new fourth series, cooking up feasts for the weekend, helped by some very special guests, who'll be getting the cooking lesson of a lifetime. Guests this series include Michael McIntyre, John Bishop, Salma Hayek, Alesha Dixon, Lindsay Lohan, Scarlett Moffatt, Martin Clunes and Tom Daley.  In this episode, Jamie cooks up an amazing Thai green curry and shows comedian John Bishop how to make the best lasagne ever. The boys try to change the way children are fed during the school holidays. And Jimmy builds a log hive hoping to attract wild bees to his farm.
8.00pm Britain's Cleverest Dog Five - Documentary featuring pet owners who are convinced that their furry friend is cleverer than the rest. One canine brainbox attends a higher educational establishment devoted to his species. Another - dubbed a canine Einstein - makes the news when he masters a shape-sorting puzzle that has most toddlers struggling. Prize pooch Barlie has entered the competitive world of trick dogs, in which the pets have to master increasingly difficult skills.
9.00pm The Real Marigold on Tour BBC2 - Having prev

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