TV Guide This Week
We're faced with a choice. Do we follow the lead of the Rusty Old Radio Times and deem the "Christmas Double Issue" to be 18-31 December, aware that that's only an excuse to get people to shell out for the 1-7 January number to find out all the new year highlights? Do we put up a three-week hugemungous special edition, wearing ourselves out and compromising our write-ups of the Countdown final (they've been really good so far)? Do we really want to interrupt our holiday and post listings on 30 December? No, we're giving a one-week guide for 18-24 December, and the Christmas Double Issue follows that. And yah boo sucks to the other listings mags.
The week before Christmas is a quiet time of year. There are finals for One Man and His Dog (BBC2, 4.30 Saturday and 1.45 Sunday), Mission 2110 (CBBC, 5.35 Sat), Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1, 7pm Sat), Drop Zone (BBC1, 2.25 Sun; 11am BBC2 in Scotland), Quiz is Anfield (LFC TV, 8.30 Sun), The Apprentice (BBC1, 9pm Sun), and Chris Moyles' Quiz Night (C4, 10pm Wed). There are celebrity editions of Eggheads (BBC2, weekdays), Come Dine with Me (C4, 9pm Wed), and The Cube (ITV, 7pm Sat), and special editions of The Weakest Link (BBC1, Mo-We). Who Wants to be a Millionaire tries a live episode (ITV, 9pm Thu), and there's an 8 Out of 10 Cats special (C4, 10pm Thu).
Shortcuts: Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri
Contents |
Saturday
| 0900 | CBBC | Hole in the Wall New! | Anton du Beke's show reaches its spiritual home. |
| 0930 | ITV | The X Factor | Repeating last week's final. |
| 1005 | CBBC | Total Wipeout | Celebrity special, as seen on BBC1 last week. |
| 1100 | Rad5 | Fighting Talk | |
| 1135 | CBBC | Copycats | |
| 1200 | NICK | Brain Surge x4 | |
| 1305 | RWal | Sibling Rivalry | Derek Brockway. |
| 1420 | BBC2 | Bargain Hunt | Not Scotland. |
| 1525 | C4 | RTS Daytime Programme of the Year Come Dine With Me x9 | |
| 1530 | TV5 | Questions Pour un Champion | |
| 1540 | BBCH | Mission 2110 | |
| 1600 | ITV2 | The Xtra Factor x6 | HD. |
| 1630 | BBC2 | One Man and His Dog New! | Scotland 1600. |
| 1630 | CITV | Jungle Run | |
| 1730 | BBC1 | Total Wipeout | Celebrity special, with Joe Pasquale, Sally Gunnell, Cleo Rocos. |
| 1735 | CBBC | Mission 2110 | It's the grand final. Caleb and Cybelle -v- Neuros for the Futuregate Cup. |
| 1900 | BBC1 | Strictly Come Dancing | It's the grand final. Concludes 2105. HD. |
| 1900 | ITV | The Cube | Joe Swash and Kelly Osbourne. |
| 1940 | DAVE | Genius | |
| 2000 | ITV | Take Me Out | Also TV3. HD. |
| 2002 | RTR1 | Buille Faoi Thuairim | |
| 2020 | DAVE | Have I Got News for You | |
| 2025 | RTE1 | Winning Streak | |
| 2030 | LFC | Quiz is Anfield | |
| 2100 | DAVE | QI Night | |
| 2115 | BBC2 | Have I Got a Bit More 2010 for You | Best of the year. |
| 2200 | BBC2 | QI XL | Not NI. BBC-HD 2330. |
| 2205 | C4 | The Million Pound Drop Live | |
| 2205 | E4 | Meet the Parents x6 | With a new episode at 0045. |
| 2300 | Rad4 | Brain of Britain | |
| 2320 | UTV | Celebrity Juice | Also ITV2 2355. |
Sunday
| 0105 | BBC1 | The Apprentice | HD. |
| 0900 | CBBC | Hole in the Wall | |
| 1000 | Mor4 | Scrapheap Challenge x4 | |
| 1005 | CBBC | Total Wipeout | |
| 1135 | CBBC | Copycats | |
| 1200 | LFC | Quiz is Anfield x8 | All the shows in a row. |
| 1204 | Rad4 | Just a Minute | |
| 1205 | RTE1 | Winning Streak | |
| 1345 | BBC2 | One Man and His Dog | |
| 1425 | BBC1 | Drop Zone x2 | Thailand, then Vietnam. HD. Scotland 1130 BBC2. |
| 1440 | BBCH | The Slammer | Also 1705. |
| 1630 | CITV | Jungle Run | |
| 1640 | C4 | Deal or No Deal | AudioD. |
| 1655 | CBBC | The Slammer | |
| 1705 | Mor4 | Come Dine With Me x5 | |
| 1800 | WTCH | Total Wipe Us Out | |
| 1830 | RTE1 | The All-Ireland Talent Show | |
| 1915 | TV3 | Family Fortunes | |
| 1915 | TG4 | An Jig Gig | |
| 1940 | DAVE | Have I Got News For You | |
| 2015 | TG4 | Ceist GAA le Hector | |
| 2030 | LFC | Quiz is Anfield | The final. |
| 2100 | Mor4 | Come Dine With Me Christmas Special | |
| 2100 | BBC1 | The Apprentice | The final. Followed by The Apprentice You're Hired. Also BBC-HD 2345. |
| 2130 | ITV2 | The Xtra Factor | HD. Also TV3. |
| 2300 | BBCH | QI XL |
Shortcuts: Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri
Weekdays
| 0900 | CBBC | Hole in the Wall | |
| 0925 | ITV2 | Family Fortunes | |
| 1100 | DAVE | Total Wipe Us Out x2 | |
| 1215 | BBC1 | Bargain Hunt | Mo-We only. |
| 1415 | BBC2 | Ready Steady Cook | |
| 1525 | TV5 | Questions Pour un Champion | |
| 1610 | C4 | Deal or No Deal | AudioD. |
| 1635 | BBC2 | Pointless | Mo-We only. Mo 1630. Wednesday is a new edition. |
| 1640 | S4C | Cofiwch y Stwffin | |
| 1700 | C4 | RTS Daytime Show of the Year Celebrity Come Dine With Me | HD. |
| 1715 | BBC1 | The Weakest Link | Themed editions - Mon pensioners, Tu tribute bands, We beauty. Not Th, Fr. HD. |
| 1840 | DAVE | Have I Got News for You | |
| 1920 | DAVE | QI |
Monday
| 0040 | BBC2 | Never Mind the Buzzcocks | Not Scotland. |
| 1305 | TV5 | Mission Millennium | |
| 1330 | Rad4 | Brain of Britain | Four from the bottom. |
| 1400 | ITV | House Gift | |
| 1600 | BBCH | Copycats | |
| 1620 | S4C | Diwedd y Byd | |
| 1630 | BBCH | The Slammer | |
| 1730 | S4C | Busnes-a | |
| 1800 | BBC2 | Celebrity Eggheads | Doctor Who. Also BBC-HD |
| 1930 | BBC2 | Mastermind | Wales only. |
| 2000 | BBC2 | University Challenge | Newnham Cambridge -v- Bristol. |
| 2000 | LIV | 3 Fat Brides, 1 Thin Dress | |
| 2030 | BBC4 | Only Connect | Wrights -v- Alesmen. |
| 2030 | ALBA | Cocaire nan Cocairean | |
| 2100 | 4MUS | Your Face or Mine | |
| 2100 | LIV | America's Next Top Model | Last in the present series. |
| 2100 | BBCH | QI x2 | |
| 2140 | BBC2 | Have I Got News for You | NI 0015. |
| 2235 | ITV2 | Celebrity Juice | The Jls. |
| 2235 | BBC1 | A Question of Sport | Colin Jackson and CAUTION Patrick Kielty. Scotland 2305. |
| 2355 | BBC1 | The Apprentice | Scotland 0020. |
Shortcuts: Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri
Tuesday
| 0200 | BBC1 | The Apprentice x2 | Signed. Scotland at 0300 only. |
| 1720 | BBC2 | Celebrity Eggheads | Radio 1. BBC-HD 1800. |
| 1930 | C5 | Street Market Chefs | |
| 1930 | RTE2 | Masterchef: The Professionals | |
| 2100 | 4MUS | Your Face or Mine | |
| 2100 | LIV | Celebrity Four Weddings | Featuring Spencer Smith. You remember, from Big Brother 3. No, the one who sat around and did nothing. |
| 2105 | TG4 | Survivor | The final. |
| 2205 | BBC2 | Mock the Week | NI 2235. |
| 2235 | BBC2 | Never Mind the Buzzcocks | Not NI. |
| 2305 | TV5 | Mission Millennium | |
| 2305 | BBC2 | Have I Got Old News for You | |
| 2350 | BBCH | QI x2 |
Wednesday
| 0215 | BBC1 | The Apprentice: Why I Fired Them | Signed. Not Wales. |
| 1230 | ITV2 | Family Fortunes | |
| 1635 | BBCH | The Slammer | |
| 1705 | S4C | Diwedd y Byd | |
| 1805 | BBC2 | Celebrity Eggheads | BBC Sports Personalities of the Year. Also BBC-HD. |
| 2000 | LIV | Four Weddings | Celebrities. |
| 2100 | C4 | Come Dine With Me | Goldie, Tony Christie, Janet Ellis, Susie Amy. HD. |
| 2100 | 4MUS | Your Face or Mine | |
| 2100 | DAVE | Have I Got News for You Night | |
| 2200 | C4 | Chris Moyles' Quiz Night | Pamela Anderson, Kelly Osbourne, Paddy McGuinness. |
| 2250 | BBCH | QI x2 | |
| 1900 | BBC3 | Total Wipeout |
Thursday
| 1800 | BBC2 | Celebrity Eggheads | Women journalists and broadcasters. Also BBC-HD. |
| 1900 | DAVE | Have I Got News For You | |
| 1930 | C5 | Street Market Chefs | |
| 1940 | DAVE | QI | Also 2100. |
| 2100 | MOR4 | Come Dine With Me | |
| 2100 | S4C | Only Men Aloud | |
| 2100 | ITV | Who Wants to be a Millionaire Live | Cliff Evans and James Martin; Gok Wan and Carol Vorderman. |
| 2200 | ITV2 | Celebrity Juice x3 | |
| 2315 | UTV | Celebrity Juice | |
| 2350 | BBCH | QI x2 | |
| 2200 | C4 | 8 Out of 10 Cats New! | Jack Dee, Lorraine Kelly, Josie Long, Dame Christopher Biggins. HD. |
Christmas Eve
| 0930 | BBC1 | The Slammer | Christmas. |
| 1000 | LIV | Four Weddings Day | |
| 1300 | DAVE | Genuis | |
| 1730 | RTE2 | Super Crew | |
| 1745 | BBC2 | Celebrity Eggheads | Voice-over people. Also BBC-HD. |
| 1800 | MOR4 | Come Dine With Me x5 | |
| 1900 | DAVE | Have I Got News For You | |
| 1940 | DAVE | QI | |
| 2100 | DAVE | Mock the Week Night | |
| 2130 | BBC1 | QI | Hocus-Pocus. HD; also BBC-HD 2200. |
| 2200 | BBC1 | Have I Got News For You | Christmas. |
| 2200 | ITV2 | Celebrity Juice x3 | |
| 2350 | C4 | Chris Moyles' Quiz Night | |
| 2355 | BBCH | QI x2 | |
| 2425 | BBC1 | The Apprentice | Signed. Scotland only. |
Shortcuts: Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri
Channel abbreviations
| 4MUS | 4 Music |
| ABSR | Absolute Radio |
| ALBA | BBC Alba |
| ARTS | Sky Arts |
| BBC1 | BBC1 (Network unless otherwise noted) |
| BBC2 | BBC2 (Network unless otherwise noted) |
| BBC3 | BBC3 |
| BBC4 | BBC4 |
| BBCH | BBC-HD |
| BOOM | Boomerang |
| BORD | Border (ITV in Cumbria and south-west Scotland) |
| BRVO | Bravo |
| C4 | Channel 4 |
| C5 | Channel 5 |
| CBBC | CBBC |
| CBBS | Cbeebies |
| CHA1 | Channel One |
| CLAS | Classic FM (Radio) |
| COMC | Comedy Central |
| COMX | Comedy Central Extra |
| DAVE | Dave |
| DISC | Discovery |
| DISN | Disney Channel |
| DMAX | D-MAX |
| DRT | Discovery Real Time |
| DSCI | Discovery Science |
| EDEN | Eden |
| ESPC | ESPN Classic |
| ESPT | Eurosport |
| ESP2 | Eurosport 2 |
| FIVR | Fiver |
| FOOD | UKTV Good Food |
| GOLD | UKTV Gold |
| HOME | UKTV Home |
| HTV | HTV (ITV in Wales; Wales only unless noted) |
| ITV | ITV1 (Network unless otherwise noted) |
| ITV2 | ITV2 |
| ITV3 | ITV3 |
| ITV4 | ITV4 |
| LIV | UK Living TV |
| LIV2 | UK Living TV It |
| LFC | LFC TV |
| MOR4 | More 4 |
| NICK | Nickelodeon |
| Rad1 | BBC Radio 1 |
| Rad2 | BBC Radio 2 |
| Rad3 | BBC Radio 3 |
| Rad4 | BBC Radio 4 |
| Rad5 | BBC Radio 5 |
| Rad7 | BBC Radio 7 |
| RCym | BBC Radio Cymru |
| RSct | BBC Radio Scotland |
| RUls | BBC Radio Ulster |
| RWal | BBC Radio Wales |
| RLLY | UKTV Really |
| RTE1 | RTE1 (Irish) |
| RTE2 | RTE2 (Irish) |
| RTR1 | RTE Radio 1 (Irish) |
| S4CD | S4C Digidol |
| SK3D | Sky-3D |
| SKY1 | Sky1 |
| SKY2 | Sky2 |
| SKY3 | Sky3 |
| STV | STV (ITV1 in North and Central Scotland) |
| TLKS | Talk Sport (radio) |
| TV3 | TV3 (Irish) |
| TV5M | TV5 Monde (Europe) |
| TG4 | TG 4 (Irish) |
| UNIV | Universal Channel |
| UTV | Ulster Television (ITV1 in Northern Ireland) |
| WTCH | Watch |
AudioD - Audio Description for the blind.
HD - Also shown in high-definition.
Signed - in-vision British Sign Language translation.
