TV Guide This Week

Contents 1 A guide to game shows broadcast in the UK and Ireland for the three weeks beginning 20 December 2008 1.1 Highlights in Christmas Week (20-26 Dec) 1.2 Highlights in New Year Week (27 Dec-2 Jan) 1.3 Highlights in Week Three (3-9 Jan) 2 Christmas Week 2.1 Saturday 20 2.2 Sunday 21 2.3 Monday 22 2.4 Tuesday 23 2.5 Wednesday 24 2.6 Thursday 25 2.7 Friday 26 2.8 Challenge? 2.8.1 Saturday 2.8.2 Sunday 2.8.3 Monday 2.8.4 Tuesday - Friday 3 New Year Week 3.1 Saturday 27 3.2 Sunday 28 3.3 Monday 29 3.4 Tuesday 30 3.5 Wednesday 31 3.6 Thursday 1 3.7 Friday 2 3.8 Challenge? 3.8.1 Saturday 3.8.2 Sunday 3.8.3 Monday 3.8.4 Tuesday - Friday 4 Week Three 4.1 Saturday 3 4.2 Sunday 4 4.3 Weekdays 4.4 Monday 5 4.5 Tuesday 6 4.6 Wednesday 7 4.7 Thursday 8 4.8 Friday 9 4.9 Challenge 4.9.1 Saturday 4.9.2 Sunday 4.9.3 Monday 4.9.4 Tuesday 4.9.5 Wednesday - Friday 4.10 Channel abbreviations 5 See also

A guide to game shows broadcast in the UK and Ireland for the three weeks beginning 20 December 2008

What's better than legendary? How's about a record-breaking never-before-attempted triple issue.

In this edition, we aim to cover all game shows on terrestrial television, the most attractive airing for shows on Freeview channels, and selected highlights from cable and satellite channels. Schedules subject to change. New series are generally not indicated.

Shortcuts: Highlights | Christmas Week | New Year Week | Week of 3 January

Highlights in Christmas Week (20-26 Dec)

• Strictly Come Dancing reaches the end of its controversial series on Saturday (6.40 and 9pm); ITV retaliates with Mr and Mrs (7.55).
• QI steps over to BBC1 on Monday night (9pm), but the brain-teasing highlight of the week is the Only Connect final (BBC4, 8.30).
• Specials include Have I Got News for You (Christmas Eve, 9.30 BBC1) and Celebrity Ding Dong (Tuesday, 10pm C4), while those who prefer seeing celebrities making fools of themselves have a double bill on Christmas night, Strictly Come Dancing at 7pm, Dancing on Ice at 8.
• Nostalgia includes a night paying tribute to Bill Cotton (BBC2, from 8.30), including a 1973 edition of The Generation Game.
• High culture has its moments, The Book Quiz comes back for a special (BBC4, 8.30 Christmas Eve) and BBC2 goes behind the scenes of Maestro (6pm Christmas Day).
• Radio listeners aren't neglected: a special edition of Genius (Radio 4, 6.30 Monday), the Five Live Movie Game (3pm Christmas Day) and Fighting Talk considers Old Chestnuts (10am Boxing Day).

Highlights in New Year Week (27 Dec-2 Jan)

• Saturday night is University Challenge Night on BBC2, beginning at 8pm with a documentary, and taking in a special edition from 2005, a movie, and a parody from the 1980s.
• Tuesday night is Shooting Stars Night, with a documentary and a new show. And, er, that's it.
• There are more brain games on Celebrity Mastermind (BBC1, Su - Th), and there's a Welsh-language edition on Tuesday night.
• For those after something more visual, iron is pumped on World's Strongest Man (C5, Su - Fr).
• Comedy quizzes had their time last week, but The Big Fat Quiz of 2008 takes its traditional spot on Sunday night (C4, 10pm).
• Some shows for the new year get in: In It to Win It returns on Saturday night, Celebrity Big Brother takes over Channel 4 from Friday, and ITV kicks off the new year with the first in a new run of The Krypton Factor (7.30 Th).

Highlights in Week Three (3-9 Jan)

• Andrew Lloyd Webber is in charge of selecting the BBC's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, and has been hob-nobbing with stars from Poland, Hungary, and President Poutine of Russia. Your Country Needs You begins at 7.10 on Saturday.
• Richard Hammond won the lucky dip at the Christmas party, and his prize is the BBC Luxury Mansion in the leafy woods of Sussex. Being the careful tenant, his one desire is to blow the place sky-high, and he'll do this with the assistance of some young scientists. Richard Hammond's Blast Lab is on BBC2 at 8.30am on Saturday.
• It's followed by Sam and Mark asking Who Wants to be a Superhero? (9am), and Richard pops up again on BBC1's Total Wipeout (6.10).
• Most of the usual shows return this week, though Countdown is still replaced by Come Dine with Me. So is Paul O'Grady.
• Celebrity Big Brother continues to bore the nation, and the zombie fantasy of Dead Set (Tuesday - Thursday) assumes the contestants have brains to begin with.
• S4C has Cwis Meddiant, a quiz for rugby clubs, hosted by Blue Peter hardman Gethin Jones.
• Challenge picks up Joe Pasquale's time on The Price is Right, beginning with five hour-long episodes.

Shortcuts: Highlights | Christmas Week | New Year Week | Week of 3 January

Christmas Week

Saturday 20

0400	VIR1	Takeshi's Castle x2
0600	VIR1	Millionaire
0800	VIR1	Fort Boyard
0900	BBC2	Help! Teach is Coming to Stay
0900	VIR1	Ninja Warrior
0930	TOON	Skatoony	Also 2000.
1000	VIR1	Fear Factor UK
1000	CBBC	Bamzooki
1025	CBBC	Get Your Own Back
1100	C5	World's Strongest Man
1100	Rad5	Fighting Talk
1100	CBBC	50/50
1210	C5US	Whose Line Is It Anyway?
1304	RWal	Jest a Minute
1400	WTCH	The Weakest Link: Musicals
1455	TV3	The All-Ireland County Quiz
1529	TV5M	Questions pour un Champion
1530	CBBC	Trapped!
1530	BBC2	Strictly Come Dancing It Takes Two	Previewing the final.
1610	S4C	Deal or No Deal
1630	CITV	Jungle Run: Coronation Street
1740	BBC1	Hole in the Wall
1800	CBBC	Get Your Own Back
1840	BBC1	Strictly Come Dancing	The grand final. Also BBC-HD. Results at 2100, not in HD.
1855	C4	Come Dine With Me at Christmas
1925	ITV	Harry Hill's TV Burp
1955	ITV	All Star Mr and Mrs Christmas Special	Ronan and Yvonne Keating; Terry and Yvette Venables; Tamzin Outhwaite and Tom Ellis.
2025	RTE1	Winning Streak
2140	BBC2	Have I Got a Bit More News For You	Jeremy Clarkson.
2253	TV5M	Pékin Express
2300	Rad4	Brain of Britain

Sunday 21

0025	BBC2	Never Mind the Buzzcocks
0400	VIR1	Ninja Warrior x2
0520	C4	Scrapheap Challenge
0600	VIR1	Millionaire
0750	C4	Adrenalin Rush	A race round Hobart.
0800	DAVE	Full Metal Challenge
0800	VIR1	Fort Boyard	Also 0500.
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
1200	CBBC	Help! Teach is Coming to Stay
1204	Rad4	The Unbelievable Truth Christmas Special
1220	C4	Unsigned Act
1325	C4	Relentless
1400	RWal	Jest a Minute
1515	5LIF	World's Strongest Man Super Series x4
1620	C4	Deal or No Deal
1630	CITV	Jungle Run
1700	Mor4	Come Dine With Me x5
1750	ITV3	Torvill and Dean Dancing on Ice
1830	RTE1	Colm and Jim Jim's Home Run
1900	Rad5	The Big Ask	Martin Kelner is joined by guests to answer the big questions of the week. Like, Game Show or Not?
1920	S4C	Mastermind Plant Cymru	"Bill and Ted"; "Harry Potter"; Tony Hawk (skateboarder); "Artemis Fowl".
2000	ITV2	The Xtra Factor: The Winner's Story
2000	WTCH	The Weakest Link: Comedians
2000	SKY1	Gladiators - The Legends Strike Back
2100	DAVE	Mock the Week Night
2300	BBC2	Have I Got News For You	Subject to delay by the snooker.

Monday 22

0400	VIR1	Ninja Warrior
0500	VIR1	Fort Boyard
0600	VIR1	Millionaire
0700	VIR1	Takeshi's Castle
0945	TV5M	Des Chiffres et des Lettres
1015	TV5M	Tout le Monde Veut Prendre sa Place
1030	ITV	Christmas Cooks Challenge
1100	S4C	Deal or No Deal x2
1100	CITV	Jungle Run
1130	ITV	Dickinson's Real Deal
1200	C5	World's Strongest Man
1215	BBC1	Bargain Hunt
1330	Rad4	Brain of Britain 2008	(13/17) First semi-final.
1330	S4C	Deal or No Deal x2
1415	C4	Come Dine With Me Extra Portions x4
1529	TV5M	Questions pour un Champion
1615	C4	Deal or No Deal
1710	BBC2	Ready Steady Cook
1715	BBC1	The Weakest Link
1730	CITV	Eliminator
1825	CBBC	The Slammer
1830	Rad4	Genius Christmas Special
1830	S4C	Pen Campau	(16/31) Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr (Swansea) v Ysgol Y Strade (Llanelli).
2000	BBC2	University Challenge	(23/31) City v Brighton.
2000	WTCH	The Weakest Link: Glamour
2030	BBC4	Only Connect	The grand final.
2030	ALBA	Cocaire nan Cocairean
2100	BBC1	QI	A festive edition, and a new channel. Scotland 2235, NI 2320.
2100	DAVE	HIGNFY Night
2100	SKY1	All Star Don't Forget The Lyrics	CAUTION: Contains Gareth Gates.
2105	TG4	Survivor
2200	TG4	Paisean Faisean
2300	CLAS	Classic Ephemera	An hour of brain-teasers and clues, hosted by Henry Kelly.
2305	BBC1	A Question of Sport	NI 0020, not Scotland.

Tuesday 23

0415	VIR1	Takeshi's Castle	Also 0700.
0600	VIR1	Millionaire
0700	VIR1	Takeshi's Castle
0945	TV5M	Des Chiffres et des Lettres
1015	TV5M	Tout le Monde Veut Prendre sa Place
1030	ITV	Christmas Cooks Challenge
1055	S4C	Deal or No Deal x2
1100	CITV	Jungle Run
1130	ITV	Dickinson's Real Deal
1200	C5	World's Strongest Man
1215	BBC1	Bargain Hunt
1230	BBC7	We've Been Here Before	Also 1930.
1330	S4C	Deal or No Deal
1415	S4C	Countdown
1415	C4	Come Dine With Me Extra Portions x4
1529	TV5M	Questions pour un Champion
1550	BBC2	Ready Steady Cook
1615	C4	Deal or No Deal
1715	CBBC	Hider in the House
1730	CITV	Eliminator
1825	CBBC	The Slammer
1830	ESP2	Viking
2000	ITV	Millionaire
2000	WTCH	The Weakest Link: Soaps	Also 1500.
2030	ESP2	Paintball
2100	DAVE	Buzzcocks Night
2145	BBC2	Mock the Week
2200	C4	Alan Carr's Christmas Ding Dong
2300	CLAS	Classic Ephemera

Wednesday 24

0415	VIR1	Takeshi's Castle	Also 0700.
0600	VIR1	Millionaire
0700	VIR1	Takeshi's Castle
0925	ITV	Mr and Mrs Special
0945	TV5M	Des Chiffres et des Lettres
1015	TV5M	Tout le Monde Veut Prendre sa Place
1025	ITV	Christmas Cooks Challenge
1055	S4C	Deal or No Deal x2
1100	CITV	Jungle Run
1100	CBBC	Hider in the House
1130	C5	World's Strongest Man
1335	S4C	One Last Consonant Please Carol
1410	S4C	Countdown
1500	S4C	Come Dine With Me
1529	TV5M	Questions pour un Champion
1530	C4	Come Dine With Me Extra Portions x4
1645	BBC2	Ready Steady Cook
1715	CBBC	Best of Friends
1723	TV5M	Pékin Express
1730	RCym	Bwletin 'Dolig
1730	CITV	Eliminator
1745	C4	Deal or No Deal
1800	ESP2	Viking
1815	S4C	Pen Campau'r Ser	Rhys Williams and Ysgol Bro Mogannwg v Lowri Morgan and Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr.
1825	CBBC	The Slammer
1900	ARTS	Mastermind
1930	ARTS	What the Dickens?	Germaine Greer, Richard Herring.
2000	WTCH	The Weakest Link: Singing and Dancing	Also 1500.
2025	S4C	Cyngerdd Ysgol Glanaethwy yn 18	The Last Choir Standing runners-up in an anniversary performance. Also Fri 1750.
2030	BBC4	The Book Quiz Christmas Special	Andrew Motion and (yes!) Jan Ravens v Charlie Higson and Joan Bakewell.
2130	BBC1	Have I Got News For You Christmas 2008	Alexander Armstrong will host, unless he's replaced by that bloke from the sports desk.
2300	CLAS	Classic Ephemera

Thursday 25

0415	VIR1	Takeshi's Castle	Also 0700.
0500	C4	Scrapheap Challenge
0600	VIR1	Millionaire
0700	VIR1	Takeshi's Castle
0830	BRVO	UK Strongest Man 2007 x5
0930	BBC1	The Slammer
0945	TV5M	Des Chiffres et des Lettres
1015	TV5M	Tout le Monde Veut Prendre sa Place
1025	ITV	Christmas Cooks Challenge
1045	S4C	Deal or No Deal x2
1100	CITV	Jungle Run
1100	CBBC	Hider in the House
1120	C5	World's Strongest Man
1130	Rad4	Strictly Come Brucie	Paul Morley talks with Bruce Forsyth.
1200	LIV2	America's Next Top Model x8
1200	BBC7	I'm Sorry I Haven't a Christmas Carol	Also 1900.
1305	BBCH	The Slammer
1500	C4	Deal or No Deal
1529	TV5M	Questions pour un Champion
1600	Rad5	The Movie Game	Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode.
1600	BRVO	UK Strongest Man 2008 x5
1730	CITV	Eliminator
1800	BBC2	Maestro - The Inside Story
1815	RCym	Talwrn: Y Ffeinal
1825	CBBC	The Slammer
1830	Rad4	Act Your Age
1830	ESP2	Viking x4
1900	BBC1	Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2008	Alesha Dixon, Kelly Brook, and Jill Halfpenny challenge this year's semi-finalists. Also BBC-HD, where it's repeated at 0015.
1900	RCym	Cystadleuaeth Corau Meibion: Y Ffeinal
2000	ITV	Dancing on Ice at Christmas	Six recent contestants join Torvill and Dean.
2000	S4C	Rhydian	A year in the life of last year's X-Factor winner.
2030	BBC2	Dragons' Den Around the World
2300	CLAS	Classic Ephemera

Friday 26

0015	BBC2	Have I Got a Bit More News For You
0415	VIR1	Takeshi's Castle	Also 0700.
0455	C4	Scrapheap Challenge
0600	VIR1	Millionaire
0700	VIR1	Takeshi's Castle
0800	CBBC	The Slammer
0925	ITV	Millionaire
0945	TV5M	Des Chiffres et des Lettres
0955	BBC1	Hider in the House x2
1000	Rad5	Fighting Talk: Old Chestnuts
1015	TV5M	Tout le Monde Veut Prendre sa Place
1025	ITV	Christmas Cooks Challenge
1100	CITV	Jungle Run
1125	S4C	Deal or No Deal
1130	RSco	Soundbiters
1200	DSCI	Scrapheap Challenge x11
1200	LIV2	America's Next Top Model x8
1200	BBCH	The Slammer x4
1500	WTCH	The Weakest Link: Dr Who
1529	TV5M	Questions pour un Champion
1535	C4	Come Dine With Me
1550	BBC2	Ready Steady Cook	Not Wales.
1630	CBBC	Best of Friends
1650	C4	Deal or No Deal
1730	CITV	Eliminator
1735	TV3	Antan Dec's Christmas Takeaway	Phone lines are now closed, but do call.
1825	CBBC	The Slammer
1900	WTCH	The Strictly Come Dancing Story
1930	BBC1	A Question of Sport
2000	C5	World's Strongest Man: 30 Years of Pain
2000	S4C	Y 7 Magnifico a Matthew Rhys	Seven S4C celebrities go to Arizona to become cowboys.
2030	BBC2	A Tribute to Bill Cotton	Wales 2100.
2100	BBC3	Britain's Missing Top Model
2100	DAVE	QI Night
2240	BBC2	The Generation Game 1973	Wales 2310.
2250	C4	8 Out of 10 Cats	S4C 2235 Sunday.
2300	CLAS	Classic Ephemera

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	Bullseye x2
2000	Family Fortunes x2
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.
1500	Celebrity Weakest Link x6	To 2100.

Monday

0000	8 Out of 10 Cats x2
0100	Gambling
0300	Take It or Leave It	To 0400.
0700	Fort Boyard
0800	Takeshi x2
0900	Ninja Warrior x2
1000	Unbeatable Banzuke
1100	The Crystal Maze
1200	Gladiators
1300	Strike it Rich x2
1400	Wipeout x2
1500	Bullseye x2
1600	Bruce's Price is Right x2
1700	Catchphrase x2
1800	Wipeout x2
1900	Family Fortunes x2
2000	One Versus One Hundred
2100	Celeb Millionaire
2200	Take It or Leave It
2300	Celeb Millionaire

Tuesday - Friday

As Monday except

0000	Take It or Leave It	To 0100.
0300	Take It or Leave It	To 0400.

The same schedule repeats in New Year Week

Shortcuts: Highlights | Christmas Week | New Year Week | Week of 3 January

New Year Week

• Saturday night is University Challenge Night on BBC2, beginning at 8pm with a documentary, and taking in a special edition from 2005, a movie, and a parody from the 1980s.
• Tuesday night is Shooting Stars Night, with a documentary and a new show. And, er, that's it.
• There are more brain games on Celebrity Mastermind (BBC1, Su - Th), and there's a Welsh-language edition on Tuesday night.
• For those after something more visual, iron is pumped on World's Strongest Man (C5, Su - Fr).
• Comedy quizzes had their time last week, but The Big Fat Quiz of 2008 takes its traditional spot on Sunday night (C4, 10pm).
• Some shows for the new year get in: In It to Win It returns on Saturday night, Celebrity Big Brother takes over Channel 4 from Friday, and ITV kicks off the new year with the first in a new run of The Krypton Factor (7.30 Th).

Saturday 27

0600	VIR1	Millionaire
0800	VIR1	Fort Boyard
0900	VIR1	Ninja Warrior
0910	BBC2	Help! Teach Is Coming to Stay	Also CBBC 1200.
1000	CBBC	Bamzooki
1000	VIR1	Fear Factor UK
1030	CBBC	Get Your Own Back	Also 1800.
1040	BBC2	Best of Friends: Sports Relief
1100	Rad5	Fighting Talk
1100	CBBC	50/50
1130	BBC1	Take On the Takeaway
1300	TV3	The All-Ireland County Quiz
1304	RWal	Jest a Minute
1529	TV5M	Questions pour un Champion
1555	S4C	Deal or No Deal
1630	CITV	Jungle Run
1635	BBC2	Ready Steady Cook	Lee Meads and his brother Casey.
1800	CBBC	Get Your Own Back
1850	BBC1	The Weakest Link	Strictly Come Dancing. We'll be watching for the tie-break in the final elimination.
1905	ITV	All-Star Family Fortunes	Hollyoaks v Emmerdale. They're not even related!
1950	BBC1	In It to Win It	First of a new series.
2000	BBC2	University Challenge: The Story So Far	A repeat. Part of University Challenge Night.
2015	RTE1	Winning Streak
2100	BBC2	Comic Relief Does University Challenge	From 2005: South (Fry, Grant, Alexander, Djalili) v North (Iannucci, Morrissey, Murray, Thomson), hosted by Angus Deayton.
2100	C4	Why I Love Celebrity Big Brother	Former contestants and others who owe Endemol a good turn.
2100	DAVE	HIGNFY Night
2200	BBC1	A Question of Sport Extra Time	The bits they can't show before the watershed.
2253	TV5M	Pékin Express
2300	BBC2	The Young Ones	Their take on University Challenge.
2300	Rad4	Brain of Britain

Sunday 28

0400	VIR1	Ninja Warrior x2
0440	C4	Scrapheap Challenge
0600	VIR1	Millionaire
0755	C4	Adrenalin Rush	The Intelligent Sports final, from Cyprus.
0800	DAVE	Full Metal Challenge
0800	VIR1	Fort Boyard	Also 0500.
0900	Mor4	Scrapheap Challenge x4
0900	VIR1	Ninja Warrior x2
1000	VIR1	Fear Factor UK
1200	CBBC	Hider in the House
1300	C4	Relentless
1345	ITV	Dancing on Ice at Christmas	TV3 1830.
1400	RWal	Jest a Minute
1600	Mor4	Come Dine With Me x5
1700	C4	Deal or No Deal
1745	TV3	All-Star Family Fortunes
1800	BBCH	Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special
1830	BBC1	Celebrity Mastermind	David Lammy, Dave Myers, Toyah Willcox, David Harewood.
1830	RTE1	Celebrity Bainisteoir	Defending champion Marty Whelan and his Maryland side take on Patrick Kielty and Tir Chonaill Gaels of London. CAUTION: oh, you noticed.
1900	DAVE	Dragons' Den
1950	S4C	Mastermind Plant Cymru	"Horrid Henry", William the Conquerer, "Doctor Who" 1965-6, British Second World War Aeroplanes.
2000	C5	World's Strongest Man	From Charleston, Virginia West. Heat 1.
2000	WTCH	The Weakest Link: Comedians
2100	C4	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year	S4C 2200 tomorrow.
2100	DAVE	Buzzcocks Night
2130	BBC2	Have I Got News For You
2200	BBC2	Have I Got News For You
2230	BBC2	Never Mind the Buzzcocks

Monday 29

0400	VIR1	Ninja Warrior x2
0500	VIR1	Fort Boyard
0520	C4	Scrapheap Challenge
0700	VIR1	Takeshi x2
0925	ITV	Dickinson's Real Deal
0930	CBBS	The Shiny Show	Also 1230.
0945	TV5	Des Chiffres et des Lettres
1015	TV5	Tout le Monde Veut Prendre Sa Place
1025	ITV	Celebrity Millionaire
1100	CITV	Jungle Run
1100	CBBC	Hider in the House
1200	BBCH	The Slammer x3
1205	C5	World's Strongest Man
1330	Rad4	Brain of Britain	(14/17) The second semi-final.
1515	S4C	Deal or No Deal
1530	TV5	Questions Pour un Champion
1615	C4	Deal or No Deal
1640	ITV2	The Xtra Factor x2	The series condensed.
1700	C4	Celebrity Come Dine With Me
1730	CITV	Eliminator
1825	CBBC	The Slammer
1830	Rad4	Just a Minute	Paul Merton, Charles Collingwood, Graham Norton, Shappi Khorsandi. First in a new series.
1830	BBC1	Celebrity Mastermind	Rav Wilding, Mark Chapman, Philippa Gregory, Jon Culshaw.
2000	C5	World's Strongest Man	Heat 2.
2030	ALBA	Cocaire nan Cocairean
2100	ITV	Who Wants to be a Millionaire?	Zac Purchase and Sarah Webb; Darren Kenny and Liz Johnson; Steve Williams and Christine Ohuruogu.

Tuesday 30

0500	C4	Scrapheap Challenge
0600	VIR1	Millionaire
0700	VIR1	Takeshi x2	Also 0415.
0930	BBC1	Gimme a Break
0930	CBBS	The Shiny Show	Also 1230.
0945	TV5	Des Chiffres et des Lettres
1015	TV5	Tout le Monde Veut Prendre Sa Place
1025	ITV	Dickinson's Real Deal
1100	CITV	Jungle Run
1125	ITV	Celebrity Millionaire
1200	BBCH	The Slammer x2	Another at 1440.
1225	C5	World's Strongest Man
1515	S4C	Deal or No Deal
1525	S4CD	Mastermind Plant Cymru
1530	TV5	Questions Pour un Champion
1615	BBC2	Ready Steady Cook	'Enry Cooper and Geoff Capes.
1615	C4	Deal or No Deal
1630	CBBC	Beat the Boss: Rocket
1645	ITV2	The Xtra Factor x2
1700	BBC1	The Weakest Link: Strictly Come Dancing
1700	C4	Celebrity Come Dine With Me
1700	S4CD	Mama Mia
1715	CBBC	Hider in the House
1730	CITV	Eliminator
1825	CBBC	The Slammer
1830	RTE1	Celebrity Showhouse	Decorating by the D-list.
1840	WTCH	Strictly Come Dancing: Christmas Champion of Champions	Winners from series 1 and 2.
1900	BBC1	Celebrity Mastermind	Bob Harris, John Sessions, Louise Minchin, Andrew Neil.
1900	BBC4	Young Musician of the Year: Concerto Final	The complete performances from May's event.
2000	C5	World's Strongest Man	Heat 3.
2025	S4C	Mastermind Cymru Nadolig	Yes! A celebrity edition! Dafydd Du (Llanberis FC), Elin Manahan Thomas (The Mabinogi), Aneurin Karadog ("Superman" films), Alex Jones (Madonna).
2100	BBC2	Shooting Stars: The Inside Story	A documentary about the late-90s cult show.
2200	BBC1	QI	NI 0000.
2200	BBC2	All New Shooting Stars	Vic, Bob, and Matt return with captains Ulrika-ka-ka-ka and (er) Jack Dee, with guests Peter Jones (3), Kate Garraway, Christine Walkden, Dizzee Rascal.

Wednesday 31

0600	VIR1	Millionaire
0700	VIR1	Takeshi x2	Also 0415.
0800	CBBC	The Slammer
0930	CBBS	The Shiny Show	Also 1230.
0945	TV5	Des Chiffres et des Lettres
1015	C4	Relentless	Last in the present series.
1015	TV5	Tout le Monde Veut Prendre Sa Place
1025	ITV	Torvill and Dean: Dancing on Ice
1100	CITV	Jungle Run
1120	C5	World's Strongest Man
1130	RSct	The Auld Grey Thistle Test	A mock Scottish citizenship exam.
1200	BBCH	Raven x2
1515	S4C	Deal or No Deal
1525	S4CD	Mastermind Plant Cymru
1530	TV5	Questions Pour un Champion
1615	C4	Deal or No Deal
1645	ITV2	The Xtra Factor x2
1700	C4	Celebrity Come Dine With Me
1725	TV5	Pékin Express
1730	CITV	Eliminator
1825	CBBC	The Slammer
1900	BBC1	Celebrity Mastermind	Sally Lindsay, Mick Hucknall, Summer Strallen, Mel Smith. Cor, two chart stars from 1991!
1900	Rad2	Showman and Star-Maker: A Tribute to Bill Cotton	Part 1; concludes tomorrow.
2000	BBC1	The Weakest Link	West End Special.
2000	C5	World's Strongest Man	Heat 4.
2000	DAVE	Dragons' Den Where Are They Now
2000	Rad5	Fighting Talk Old Chestnuts
2030	RTE1	Winning Streak	Dream Ticket Celebrity Special.
2100	C5	An Audience with Bruce Forsyth
2100	DAVE	Mock the Week
2130	ESP2	Viking
2140	DAVE	Buzzcocks
2200	C4	Big Fat Quiz of the Year
2210	C5	Bruce Forsyth's Comedy Heroes
2220	DAVE	QI
2300	DAVE	HIGNFY

Thursday 1

0450	C4	Scrapheap Challenge
0600	VIR1	Millionaire
0700	VIR1	Takeshi x2	Also 0415.
0930	CBBS	The Shiny Show	Also 1230.
0945	TV5	Des Chiffres et des Lettres
1000	BBC1	The Slammer
1015	TV5	Tout le Monde Veut Prendre Sa Place
1100	CBBC	Hider in the House
1100	CITV	Jungle Run
1200	Rad5	The PMQ Show	Andy Parsons hosts a battle between three would-be prime ministers. Repeated at 2100.
1230	C5	World's Strongest Man
1230	BBC7	I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue	March 1983. Also 1930.
1500	Mor4	Come Dine With Me x5
1525	S4CD	Mastermind Plant Cymru
1530	TV5	Questions Pour un Champion
1635	C4	Deal or No Deal
1730	CITV	Eliminator
1825	CBBC	The Slammer
1900	C4	Come Dine With Me	Glasgow.
1900	Rad2	Showman and Star-Maker: A Tribute to Bill Cotton	Part 2.
1915	S4C	Pen Campau'r Ser
1930	ITV	The Krypton Factor	First in a new series. Also TV3.
2000	BBC1	Celebrity Mastermind	Phil Daniels, the legendary Rick Wakeman, Ian Lavender, Tim Vine.
2000	C5	World's Strongest Man	Heat 5.
2005	WTCH	The Weakest Link: Paranormal
2100	DAVE	QI night
2200	C4	Why I Love Celebrity Big Brother
2300	BBC2	Shooting Stars: The Inside Story
2305	C4	8 Out of 10 Cats: Big Brother	Repeat from September 2008.

Friday 2

0000	BBC2	All New Shooting Stars	Repeat.
0505	C4	Scrapheap Challenge
0600	VIR1	Millionaire
0700	VIR1	Takeshi x2	Also 0415.
0930	CBBS	The Shiny Show	Also 1230.
0945	TV5	Des Chiffres et des Lettres
1015	TV5	Tout le Monde Veut Prendre Sa Place
1025	ITV	Dickinson's Real Deal
1100	CITV	Jungle Run
1125	ITV	Millionaire
1225	C5	World's Strongest Man
1330	S4C	Deal or No Deal x2
1525	S4CD	Mastermind Plant Cymru
1530	TV5	Questions Pour un Champion
1615	C4	Deal or No Deal	The More4 repeat begins at 1630, and finishes before the C4+1 repeat starts.
1700	C4	Celebrity Come Dine With Me
1700	CBBS	Kerwhizz
1730	CITV	Eliminator
1800	WTCH	The Weakest Link: Pub
1825	CBBC	The Slammer
1930	BBC1	A Question of Sport
2000	C5	World's Strongest Man	The final.
2100	C4	Celebrity Big Brother	Continues for the next few months. S4C 2230.
2100	DAVE	Buzzcocks Night
2200	BBC2	QI
2315	BBC2	Mock the Week

Challenge?

(This is exactly the same line-up as in Christmas week.)

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	Bullseye x2
2000	Family Fortunes x2
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.
1500	Celebrity Weakest Link x6	To 2100.

Monday

0000	8 Out of 10 Cats x2
0100	Gambling
0300	Take It or Leave It	To 0400.
0700	Fort Boyard
0800	Takeshi x2
0900	Ninja Warrior x2
1000	Unbeatable Banzuke
1100	The Crystal Maze
1200	Gladiators
1300	Strike it Rich x2
1400	Wipeout x2
1500	Bullseye x2
1600	Bruce's Price is Right x2
1700	Catchphrase x2
1800	Wipeout x2
1900	Family Fortunes x2
2000	One Versus One Hundred
2100	Celeb Millionaire
2200	Take It or Leave It
2300	Celeb Millionaire

Tuesday - Friday

As Monday except

0000	Take It or Leave It	To 0100.
0300	Take It or Leave It	To 0400.

Shortcuts: Highlights | Christmas Week | New Year Week | Week of 3 January

Week Three

• Andrew Lloyd Webber is in charge of selecting the BBC's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, and has been hob-nobbing with stars from Poland, Hungary, and President Poutine of Russia. Your Country Needs You begins at 7.10 on Saturday.
• Richard Hammond won the lucky dip at the Christmas party, and his prize is the BBC Luxury Mansion in the leafy woods of Sussex. Being the careful tenant, his one desire is to blow the place sky-high, and he'll do this with the assistance of some young scientists. Richard Hammond's Blast Lab is on BBC2 at 8.30am on Saturday.
• It's followed by Sam and Mark asking Who Wants to be a Superhero? (9am), and Richard pops up again on BBC1's Total Wipeout (6.10).
• Most of the usual shows return this week, though Countdown is still replaced by Come Dine with Me. So is Paul O'Grady.
• Celebrity Big Brother continues to bore the nation, and the zombie fantasy of Dead Set (Tuesday - Thursday) assumes the contestants have brains to begin with.
• S4C has Cwis Meddiant, a quiz for rugby clubs, hosted by Blue Peter hardman Gethin Jones.
• Challenge picks up Joe Pasquale's time on The Price is Right, beginning with five hour-long episodes.

Saturday 3

0505	C4	Scrapheap Challenge
0600	VIR1	Millionaire
0700	VIR1	The Krypton Factor x2
0800	VIR1	Fort Boyard
0800	WTCH	The Weakest Link x3
0830	BBC2	Richard Hammond's Blast Lab	Boom! Shake the room!
0900	BBC2	Who Wants to be a Superhero?	Sam and Mark encourage youngsters to claim super powers, like being the new JK and Joel.
0900	VIR1	Ninja Warrior
1000	C5	World's Strongest Man: 30 Years of Pain
1000	VIR1	Takeshi x2	Also 0400.
1100	C5	World's Strongest Man: Final
1100	CBBC	Best of Friends
1100	Rad5	Fighting Talk
1130	BBC1	Take On the Takeaway
1130	CBBC	Best the Boss
1304	RWal	Jest a Minute
1430	CBBC	Raven
1500	CBBC	Trapped!
1530	TV5	Questions Pour un Champion
1615	S4C	Deal or No Deal
1630	CITV	Jungle Run
1810	BBC1	Total Wipeout	Richard Hammond and Amanda Byram invite more contestants to give the eleven right answers. What, it's not Wipeout? Shame!
1900	WTCH	The Weakest Link: Sport
1910	BBC1	Your Country Needs You	Andrew Lloyd Webber goes hob-nobbing with Europe's nobility.
2000	TV5	Speciale Questions Pour un Champion: Juniors
2010	BBC1	In It to Win It
2020	ITV	All-Star Family Fortunes	Edwina Currie v Mark Durden-Smith and Judith Chalmers.
2100	C4	Celeb Big Brother	S4C 2350.
2105	ITV	Millionaire Celebrity	Dr. Hilary Jones and Andrea McLean; Jonathan Ansell and Connie Fisher.
2125	RTE1	Winning Streak
2300	Rad4	Brain of Britain

Sunday 4

0700	VIR1	The Krypton Factor x2
0800	VIR1	Fort Boyard	Also 0500.
0900	BBC2	Escape From Scorpion Island	(13/15) Crush Rush, in which JK and Joel run for their lives from their fans.
0900	VIR1	Ninja Warrior
0930	Mor4	Scrapheap Challenge x3
1000	VIR1	Takeshi x2
1100	FOOD	Celebrity Masterchef x4
1204	Rad4	Just a Minute
1403	RWal	Jest a Minute
1430	CBBC	Raven
1500	CBBC	Trapped!
1600	FIVR	World's Strongest Man x7
1630	BBC1	The Weakest Link: West End
1630	CITV	Jungle Run
1645	Mor4	Come Dine With Me
1655	C4	Deal or No Deal
1800	VIR1	Millionaire	Also 0600.
1800	SKY1	Gladiators
1830	RTE1	The All-Ireland Talent Show
1845	RCym	Y Talwrn
1950	S4C	Mastermind Plant Cymru	Tutankhamun, "Ally's World", Williams Edwards, Philip Pullman.
2030	RTE1	The Restaurant
2100	C4	Celebrity Big Brother	S4C 2200.
2345	BBC3	The Last Millionaire	Behind the scenes, and thanks to the BBC Press Office for revealing the loser many weeks in advance.

Weekdays

0350	VIR1	Casino Casino	Not Mo.
0600	VIR1	Millionaire
0700	VIR1	Takeshi x2	Also 0415, except Mo.
0800	DAVE	Dragons' Den
0900	CBBC	Best of Friends
0945	TV5	Des Chiffres et des Lettres
1015	TV5	Tout le Monde Veut Prendre Sa Place
1020	DAVE	A Question of Sport
1030	CBBC	Raven
1100	CBBC	Bamzooki
1130	CBBC	The Sorcerer's Apprentice
1200	CBBC	Brain-Jitsu
1215	BBC1	Bargain Hunt
1245	C5	Going for Gold	Also 1450.
1345	S4C	Deal or No Deal
1400	ITV	Dickinson's Real Deal
1500	STV	House Guest
1500	WTCH	Bargain Hunt
1505	C4	Come Dine With Me Extra Portions x2	Also 1700; S4C 1430 (1 ep) and 1700 (2 eps).
1530	TV5	Questions Pour un Champion
1610	C4	Deal or No Deal
1700	ITV	Golden Balls	STV 1530, not UTV.
1700	WTCH	Celebrity Masterchef
1715	BBC1	The Weakest Link
1800	WTCH	The Weakest Link
1800	DOCU	Mechannibals x2
2030	BBC2	Masterchef	Mo-We only; Th 2000, not Fr.
2100	C4	Celebrity Big Brother	Also 2305 Tu, 2235 Fr. S4C 2245 Mo, 2200 Tu-Fr.
2100	DAVE	QI
2140	DAVE	Buzzcocks	Not Mo.
2220	DAVE	Mock the Week
2300	DAVE	HIGNFY

Monday 5

0500	VIR1	Fort Boyard
1330	Rad4	Brain of Britain	(15/17)
1830	Rad4	Just a Minute	Paul Merton, Clement Freud, Helen Lederer, Julian Clary.
1830	S4C	Pen Campau	(17/31). First second round match - Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen (Caernarfon) v Ysgol Uwchradd Tregaron.
2000	BBC2	University Challenge	(24/31) Sheffield v Exeter. Scotland 2200.
2030	ALBA	Cocaire nan Cocairean

Tuesday 6

1630	CBBC	Hot Rods
1635	BBC1	Best of Friends
2200	C4	Dead Set	S4C 0040.
2235	ITV	The Krypton Factor

Wednesday 7

1635	BBC1	Best of Friends
1715	CBBC	Richard Hammond's Blast Lab
1900	DAVE	Dragons' Den
1900	ARTS	Mastermind 1980
1930	ARTS	What the Dickens
2025	S4C	Cwis Meddiant	A general knowledge quiz for rugby clubs, presented by Gethin Jones.
2200	C4	Dead Set	S4C 0005.

Thursday 8

1230	BBC7	I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue	March 1983. Also 1930.
1325	CBBC	Get Your Own Back
1715	CBBC	Beat the Boss
1930	ITV	The Krypton Factor
2000	BBC2	Masterchef
2200	C4	Dead Set	S4C 0020.

Friday 9

1715	CBBC	Trapped!
1810	RSco	Step Back in Time
1830	Rad4	The News Quiz	Jeremy Hardy, Fred MacAulay, Phill Jupitus.
1930	BBC1	A Question of Sport
2100	BBC1	QI
2200	BBC2	Shooting Stars

Challenge

Saturday

0000	Take It or Leave It
0100	Gambling
0300	Eggheads x2	To 0400.
0700	Stake Out x2
0800	The Moment of Truth
0900	You Bet!
1000	Takeshi x2
1100	Gladiators
1200	The Crystal Maze
1300	Take It or Leave It x2
1500	Bullseye x3
1630	Wipeout x3
1800	Bruce's Price is Right x3
1930	Family Fortunes x3
2100	Take It or Leave It x2
2300	8 Out of 10 Cats

Sunday

As Saturday except

0000	Endurance UK x2	To 0100
1700	Britain's Worst x3	To 2000

Monday

0000	Endurance UK x2
0100	Gambling
0300	Eggheads x2	To 0400.
0700	Fort Boyard
0800	The Crystal Maze
0900	Supermarket Sweep x2
1000	Wheel of Fortune x2
1100	Wipeout x2
1200	Family Fortunes x2
1300	Catchphrase x2
1400	Family Fortunes x6
1700	Takeshi x2
1800	You Bet!
1900	The Biggest Loser UK
2000	Joe Pasquale's Price is Right Special
2100	Take It or Leave It
2200	Millionaire
2300	Bullseye x2

Tuesday

As Monday except

0000	Ninja Warrior
0030	Takeshi	To 0100
1300	Pasquale's Price
1400	Wipeout x6	To 1700

Wednesday - Friday

As Tuesday except for the 1400 slot

Weds	Catchphrase x6
Thur	Millionaire x3
Fri	One Versus One Hundred x4

And if you've read through all three weeks of this, we heartily congratulate you on your patience. May you and all our readers find rewarding viewing over the coming weeks, and very best wishes for the season.

Shortcuts: Highlights | Christmas Week | New Year Week | Week of 3 January

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