A guide to game shows broadcast in the UK and Ireland for the seven days beginning 13 December 2008.
Schedules are subject to change.
It's both Miss World (Challenge, 7pm) and The X Factor (ITV, 7.10) final on Saturday. To quote Simon Cowell, "If people enjoy it as entertainment, that's great, but it's all a bit empty and meaningless as a competition." ITV presents the Christmas Cooks Challenge (11am weekdays), Radio 4 has the first Christmas special (The Unbelievable Truth, 6.30 Monday), and we find out the winners of Last Man Standing (BBC3, 9pm Tuesday), The Last Millionaire (BBC3, 9pm Wednesday) and Election (BBC1, 4.35 Thursday).
Shortcuts: Highlights | Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Challenge
Saturday
| 0400 | VIR1 | Takeshi's Castle x2
|
| 0455 | C4 | Countdown
|
| 0600 | VIR1 | Millionaire
|
| 0800 | VIR1 | Fort Boyard
|
| 0800 | DAVE | Whose Line is it Anyway? x2
|
| 0825 | CBBC | Best of Friends | Also 1330.
|
| 0830 | BBC2 | Gimme a Break
|
| 0900 | CBBC | Beat the Boss
|
| 0900 | VIR1 | Ninja Warrior
|
| 0930 | TOON | Skatoony | Also 2000.
|
| 1000 | VIR1 | Fear Factor UK
|
| 1030 | CBBC | Get Your Own Back
|
| 1100 | C5 | World's Strongest Man
|
| 1100 | Rad5 | Fighting Talk | This week, live from Liverpool.
|
| 1100 | CBBC | 50/50
|
| 1200 | CBBC | Hider In the House
|
| 1304 | RWal | Jest a Minute
|
| 1529 | TV5M | Questions pour un Champion
|
| 1530 | CBBC | Trapped!
|
| 1610 | S4C | Deal or No Deal
|
| 1630 | CITV | Jungle Run
|
| 1655 | TV3 | All Ireland County Quiz
|
| 1700 | DOCU | Mechannibals Evening | Eight episodes, to 2100.
|
| 1740 | BBC1 | Hole in the Wall
|
| 1740 | BBC2 | Eggheads | Scotland only.
|
| 1800 | CBBC | Get Your Own Back
|
| 1810 | BBC1 | Strictly Come Dancing | Also BBC-HD. Results at 2055, not in HD.
|
| 1840 | ITV | Harry Hill's TV Burp
|
| 1910 | ITV | The X Factor | Last! In! The! Present! Series!!! Also TV3. Coverage concludes at 2140, and on ITV2.
|
| 2025 | RTE1 | Winning Streak
|
| 2100 | DAVE | Buzzcocks Night
|
| 2140 | BBC2 | Have I Got a Bit More News For You | Jerry Springer.
|
| 2220 | BBC2 | Never Mind the Buzzcocks
|
| 2253 | TV5M | Pékin Express
|
| 2300 | Rad4 | Brain of Britain
|
Sunday
| 0100 | DAVE | HIGNFY
|
| 0400 | VIR1 | Ninja Warrior x2
|
| 0500 | C4 | Countdown
|
| 0500 | VIR1 | Fort Boyard | Also 0800.
|
| 0600 | VIR1 | Millionaire
|
| 0725 | C4 | Adrenalin Rush | Yachting and mountaineering.
|
| 0820 | CBBC | Best of Friends | Also 1330.
|
| 0900 | BBC2 | Escape from Scorpion Island | (12/15) Rolling Thunder. Also CBBC 1200.
|
| 0900 | Mor4 | Scrapheap Challenge x4
|
| 0900 | DAVE | Whose Line is it Anyway? x2
|
| 0900 | VIR1 | Ninja Warrior x2
|
| 0930 | TOON | Skatoony | Also 2000.
|
| 1000 | VIR1 | Fear Factor UK
|
| 1150 | C4 | Unsigned Act
|
| 1250 | C4 | Relentless
|
| 1320 | ITV | The X Factor | TV3 1020.
|
| 1330 | C5US | Whose Line x3
|
| 1400 | RWal | Jest a Minute
|
| 1400 | S4C | Come Dine With Me
|
| 1530 | CBBC | Trapped!
|
| 1630 | CITV | Jungle Run
|
| 1630 | Mor4 | Come Dine With Me x5
|
| 1710 | C4 | Deal or No Deal
|
| 1730 | BBC2 | One Man and His Dog
|
| 1830 | RTE1 | Colm and Jim Jim's Home Run
|
| 1945 | S4C | Mastermind Plant Cymru | "Alex Rider", Gareth Edwards, "Spiderwick Chronicles", Everton FC.
|
| 2000 | C4 | Britain's Got the Pop Factor | Repeat.
|
| 2000 | DAVE | Dragons' Den
|
| 2100 | DAVE | Mock the Week
|
| 2140 | DAVE | Argumental
|
Shortcuts: Highlights | Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Challenge
Weekdays
| 0415 | VIR1 | Takeshi's Castle | Also 0700. Not 0415 Mo.
|
| 0600 | VIR1 | Millionaire
|
| 0700 | GOLD | Brucie's Generation Game
|
| 0930 | CBBS | The Shiny Show | Also 1230.
|
| 0945 | TV5M | Des Chiffres et des Lettres
|
| 1000 | CBBC | Best of Friends
|
| 1015 | TV5M | Tout le Monde Veut Prendre sa Place
|
| 1100 | CBBC | Get 100
|
| 1100 | CITV | Jungle Run
|
| 1130 | ITV | Christmas Cooks Challenge New!
|
| 1130 | CBBC | Raven
|
| 1210 | C5US | Whose Line x2
|
| 1215 | BBC1 | Bargain Hunt
|
| 1245 | C5 | Going for Gold | Thursday's edition subject to delay.
|
| 1330 | S4C | Deal or No Deal
|
| 1400 | ITV | House Guest At Christmas | Not STV.
|
| 1415 | S4C | Countdown
|
| 1450 | C5 | Going for Gold Extra
|
| 1515 | ITV | Spin Star | STV 1445.
|
| 1529 | TV5M | Questions pour un Champion
|
| 1530 | STV | Golden Balls
|
| 1600 | ITV | School for Cooks
|
| 1615 | C4 | Deal or No Deal
|
| 1700 | TOON | Skatoony | Also 2000.
|
| 1715 | BBC1 | The Weakest Link
|
| 1730 | CITV | Eliminator
|
| 1800 | BBC2 | Eggheads | Celebrity editions. Scotland: not Thursday.
|
| 1830 | BBC2 | Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two | Scotland: not Thursday.
|
| 1830 | CBBC | 50/50
|
Monday
| 0400 | VIR1 | Ninja Warrior
|
| 0500 | VIR1 | Fort Boyard
|
| 0515 | C4 | Countdown | The final is repeated.
|
| 1330 | Rad4 | Brain of Britain 2008 | (12/17) Scotland and the North of England.
|
| 1505 | BBC1 | Kerwhizz | Also BBC-HD 1740.
|
| 1605 | BBC1 | Get 100
|
| 1830 | Rad4 | The Unbelievable Truth Christmas Special Special
|
| 1830 | S4C | Pen Campau | Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Ruthin v Ysgol Llwchradd, Brecon.
|
| 2000 | BBC2 | University Challenge | (22/31) Lincoln Oxford v St Andrews.
|
| 2030 | BBC4 | Only Connect
|
| 2030 | ALBA | Cocaire nan Cocairean
|
| 2100 | DAVE | QI
|
| 2100 | LIV | America's Next Top Model | Last in the series.
|
| 2105 | TG4 | Survivor
|
| 2200 | BBC2 | Have I Got News For You | Not 2W, NI.
|
| 2200 | TG4 | Paisean Faisean
|
| 2220 | DAVE | Mock the Week
|
| 2245 | BBC1 | A Question of Sport | NI 2340, Scotland 2315 Thursday.
|
| 2300 | DAVE | Buzzcocks
|
Shortcuts: Highlights | Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Challenge
Tuesday
| 1230 | BBC7 | We've Been Here Before | Also 1930.
|
| 1605 | BBC1 | The Slammer
|
| 1900 | DAVE | Dragons' Den
|
| 2000 | ITV | Millionaire
|
| 2000 | BBC4 | Legends: Humphry Lyttelton
|
| 2100 | BBC3 | Last Man Standing | 10: Outrigger Canoe Race. Last in the series.
|
| 2100 | BBC4 | I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
|
| 2100 | DAVE | Buzzcocks
|
| 2100 | Mor4 | Come Dine With Me
|
| 2140 | DAVE | QI
|
Wednesday
| 1723 | TV5M | Pékin Express
|
| 1900 | ARTS | Mastermind
|
| 1930 | ARTS | What the Dickens? | Graeme Garden, Will Smith.
|
| 2100 | BBC3 | The Last Millionaire | (6/6) Hong Kong.
|
Thursday
| 1230 | BBC7 | I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue | Christmas 1993. Also 1930.
|
| 1625 | S4C | Concro'r Cwm
|
| 1635 | BBC1 | Election | (10/10) Decision, with The Prime Minister.
|
| 1830 | Rad4 | Act Your Age
|
| 2100 | BBC2 | Never Mind the Buzzcocks | Best of the series. Not 2W.
|
| 2250 | DAVE | Mock the Week
|
Friday
| 1130 | RSco | Soundbiters
|
| 1800 | ESPT | Strongest Man | Hei! Hei! Ukraine.
|
| 1930 | BBC1 | A Question of Sport
|
| 2000 | C5 | World's Strongest Man
|
| 2100 | BBC1 | Have I Got News For You? | Jeremy Clarkson. NI 2255.
|
| 2100 | BBC3 | Britain's Missing Top Model
|
| 2100 | DAVE | Buzzcocks
|
| 2100 | VIR1 | American Inventor
|
| 2100 | WTCH | Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special | Darren Gough, Mark Ramprakash, and the 2007 top four.
|
| 2200 | BBC2 | QI | England, NI only.
|
Shortcuts: Highlights | Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Challenge
Challenge?
Saturday
| 0000 | Distraction x2
|
| 0100 | Gambling
|
| 0300 | Take It or Leave It | To 0400.
|
| 0700 | House of Games x2
|
| 0800 | Don't Try This at Home!
|
| 0900 | Takeshi x2
|
| 1000 | The Krypton Factor
|
| 1100 | Britain's Worst
|
| 1200 | The Crystal Maze
|
| 1300 | Gladiators
|
| 1400 | Take It or Leave It
|
| 1500 | Bruce's Price is Right x2
|
| 1600 | Wipeout x2
|
| 1700 | Catchphrase x2
|
| 1800 | Take Your Pick x2
|
| 1900 | Miss World Special
|
| 2100 | 8 Out of 10 Cats x2
|
| 2200 | Take It or Leave It
|
| 2300 | Shooting Stars x2
|
Sunday
As Saturday except
| 0000 | 8 Out of 10 Cats x2 | To 0100.
|
| 1400 | Miss World | To 1600.
|
| 1900 | Bullseye x2
|
| 2000 | Family Fortunes x2
|
Monday
| 0000 | 8 Out of 10 Cats x2
|
| 0100 | Gambling
|
| 0300 | Take It or Leave It | To 0400.
|
| 0700 | Takeshi x2
|
| 0800 | Ninja Warrior x2
|
| 0900 | Supermarket Sweep x2
|
| 1000 | Wheel of Fortune x2
|
| 1100 | Wipeout x2
|
| 1200 | Family Fortunes x2
|
| 1300 | Wheel of Fortune x2
|
| 1400 | Wipeout x2
|
| 1500 | Take It or Leave It
|
| 1600 | Millionaire
|
| 1700 | Takeshi
|
| 1730 | Unbeatable Banzuke
|
| 1800 | Ninja Warrior x2
|
| 1900 | Family Fortunes x2
|
| 2000 | Strike it Rich x2
|
| 2100 | Take It or Leave It
|
| 2200 | Millionaire
|
| 2300 | 8 Out of 10 Cats
|
Tuesday - Friday
As Monday except
| 0000 | Distraction x2 | To 0100.
|
| 0300 | Take It or Leave It | To 0400.
|
Shortcuts: Highlights | Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Challenge
Channel abbreviations
| 4MUS | 4 Music
|
| ABSR | Absolute Radio
|
| ALBA | BBC Alba
|
| BBC1 | BBC1 (Network unless otherwise noted)
|
| BBC2 | BBC2 (Network unless otherwise noted)
|
| 2W | BBC2 Wales digital service
|
| BBC3 | BBC3
|
| BBC4 | BBC4
|
| BBC7 | BBC7 (Radio)
|
| BOOM | Boomerang
|
| BORD | Border (ITV in Cumbria and south-west Scotland)
|
| BRVO | Bravo
|
| C5 | Five
|
| CBBC | CBBC
|
| CBBS | Cbeebies
|
| CLAS | Classic FM (Radio)
|
| DAVE | Dave
|
| DISC | Discovery
|
| DISN | Disney Channel
|
| DRAM | UKTV Drama
|
| DRT | Discovery Real Time
|
| DSCI | Discovery Science
|
| ESPT | Eurosport
|
| ESP2 | Eurosport 2
|
| GOLD | UKTV Gold
|
| HLMK | Hallmark
|
| ITV | ITV (Network unless otherwise noted)
|
| ITV2 | ITV2
|
| ITV3 | ITV3
|
| ITV4 | ITV4
|
| LIV | UK Living TV
|
| LIV2 | UK Living TV 2
|
| MOR4 | More 4
|
| NICK | Nickelodeon
|
| PCM1 | Paramount Comedy 1
|
| PCM2 | Paramount Comedy 2
|
| Rad1 | BBC Radio 1
|
| Rad2 | BBC Radio 2
|
| Rad3 | BBC Radio 3
|
| Rad4 | BBC Radio 4
|
| Rad5 | BBC Radio 5
|
| RCym | BBC Radio Cymru
|
| RSct | BBC Radio Scotland
|
| RUls | BBC Radio Ulster
|
| RWal | BBC Radio Wales
|
| RTE1 | RTE1 (Irish)
|
| RTE2 | RTE2 (Irish)
|
| RTR1 | RTE Radio 1 (Irish)
|
| S4C | S4C (analogue)
|
| S4CD | S4C Digidol
|
| SCI | Sci-Fi
|
| SKY1 | Sky One
|
| SKY2 | Sky Two
|
| SKY3 | Sky Three
|
| STV | STV (ITV in North and Central Scotland)
|
| TLKS | Talk Sport (radio)
|
| TV3 | TV3 (Irish)
|
| TV5M | TV5 Monde (Europe)
|
| TG4 | TG 4 (Irish)
|
| UTV | Ulster Television (ITV in Northern Ireland)
|
| VIR1 | Virgin 1
|
| WTCH | Watch
|
See also
TV Guide Last Week
