TV Guide 2021-12-18

Saturday: The final of Strictly Come Dancing is preceded by a revival of The Weakest Link (BBC1). There are specials for Rolling in It and Saturday Night Line Up (ITV).

Sunday: Junior Eurovision Song Contest (TG4 and online) and Sitting on a Fortune celebrities (ITV).

Monday: The very last Quote... Unquote (Radio 4) and a tribute (Radio 4 Extra). A reflection on Bullseye and a changing society (Radio 4). Along the intellectual spectrum, Christmas University Challenge and QI (BBC2) and The Big Quiz (2) (ITV).

Tuesday: Celebrity Masterchef Cook Off (BBC1) sees five celebrities return. You won't see Joey Essex and Su Pollard in any other room! Another ep on Thursday.

Wednesday: Festive editions of Sewing Bee (BBC1), Scotland's Home of the Year (BBC Scotland), and Dinner Date (ITVBe). Pointless Celebrities is in the teatime slot.

Thursday: Celebrity editions of The Weakest Link and The Wall (BBC1), The Cube (ITV). Christmas edition of The Price is Right (ITV). Countdown final (C4), Scotland's Best Dog final (BBC Scotland).

Christmas Eve: Tipping Point Lucky Stars and The Chase Celebrity Special (ITV). The Greatest Snowman (C4) feels like a title-before-format programme. I Can See Your Voice (BBC1) and Catsdown (C4) return. Un Cwestiwn (S4C) has a celebrity edition.

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Schedules are accurate at the time of publication; check against EPG for late changes.

The Weakest Link

Contents

Saturday 18 December

  • Swashbuckle (Cbeebies, 10.30) Today is the big day! Not that anyone can remember what the big day is about...
  • Fighting Talk (Radio 5, 11am).
  • Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 1.15).
  • The Chase The Bloopers (ITV, 3.55) Repeat.

Primetime

  • Rolling in It (ITV, 6pm) Stephen Mulhern invites Anton du Beke, Ranvir Singh, and Catherine Tyldesley to play.
  • The Weakest Link (BBC1, 6.10) Romesh Ranganathan has a revival of the classic quiz, with a Strictly Come Dancing special. Contestants: Anton Du Beke, Janette Manrara, Dr Ranj Singh, Emma Barton, Clara Amfo, Hrvy, Ore Oduba, and Catherine Tyldesley who manages to appear on both channels at once!
  • Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1, 7pm) The grand final.
  • The Cube (VM1, 7.30) Seen on ITV some weeks ago.
  • Moneyball (ITV, 7.30; VM1, 8.25).
  • The Chase Celebrity Special (ITV, 8.30; VM1, 8pm Sun) Mark Chapman, Gillian Joseph, Ryan Sidebottom, Fred MacAulay.
  • The Wheel (BBC1, 9.05) Gemma Collins, Dara Ó Briain, Fred Sirieix, Rochelle Humes, Lorraine Kelly, Jordan Banjo, Liam Charles.
  • Saturday Night Line Up (ITV, 9.30) A festive special with Joan Collins, Paddy McGuinness, Sunetra Sarker, Julian Clary.

Weekend repeats

Saturday

  • Breaking the News (Radio Scotland, 11.30am) From Thursday.
  • Quote... Unquote (R4, 11pm) From Monday.

Sunday

  • I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (Radio 4, 12.04) From Monday.

Moneybags

Sunday 19 December

  • Swashbuckle (Cbeebies, 10.30) Yogaarrr: how Captain Captain learns to relax.
  • Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 12.30; Scot 1.50).
  • Moneybags (C4, 2.35) The episode they lost behind the coffee machine on 3 December.
  • Junior Eurovision (TG4 and youtube.com/jesc, 3pm) Live from Paris, 19 competitors imagine that they'll sing their hearts out to an appreciative audience.
  • Sitting on a Fortune (ITV, 6.15; VM1, 7pm) Celebrities, with Chris Kamara, Sam Quek, Joe Pasquale, Nina Wadia, Colson Smith, Kate Bottley.
  • Réalta Agus Gaolta (TG4, 8.30) The second semi-final.

Weekday Daytimes (Mon-Thu only)

  • Supermarket Sweep (ITV, 10am); In for a Penny (ITV, 11am) Repeats.
  • Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 12.15; Scot 11.15 Th).
  • Countdown (C4, 2.10) Richard Coles plays the keyboards in Finals Week. The grand final is on Thursday.
  • Swashbuckle (Cbeebies, 3.15) More new episodes.
  • Tipping Point (ITV, 4pm) Repeats.
  • NBC The Voice (ITV2, 4.35 Mo, 3.50 Tu) The live finals.
  • The Chase (ITV, 5pm) Repeats.
  • Pointless (BBC1, 5.15; Mo, Tu only) Repeats.

Would I Lie to You?

Monday 20 December

  • Quote... Unquote (Radio 4 Extra, 9am and 4pm) Ahead of its final transmission this afternoon, Nigel Rees selects some of his favourite moments from the 45 year history.
  • Quote... Unquote (Radio 4, 3pm) Georgie Morrell, Lissa Evans, Daliso Chaponda. Last in the series.
  • I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (Radio 4, 6.30) Marcus Brigstocke, Rory Bremner, Pippa Evans, Andy Hamilton, from the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham. Squatting in the host's chair is Jack Dee.
  • Mastermind (BBC2, 7.30) Eric Cantona, Black Mirror, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, John Steinbeck.
  • Only Connect (BBC2, 8pm) Data Wizards vs Discothèques in the fourth quarter-final.
  • Look at What You Could have Won (Radio 4, 8pm) James McMahon reflects on Bullseye, the passing of time, and a changing society.
  • Would I Lie to You? at Christmas 2021 (BBC1, 8.30) Jim Broadbent, Angela Rippon, Rose Matafeo, Ardal O'Hanlon.
  • Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 8.30) The series begins with Edinburgh (Miles Jupp) and Leicester (Dallas Campbell).
  • QI (BBC2, 9pm) Seasonal Subjects, with Bonnie Langford, Joe Lycett, and Sally Phillips.
  • The Big Quiz (2) (ITV, 9pm; VM1, 9pm Wed) The tenth anniversary edition of Coronation Street vs Emmerdale Farm.
  • Quizzy Mondays (youtube.com/allthingsquiz, 9.05) Gareth and guests look back at recent quizzing action.

Masterchef Goes Large

Tuesday 21 December

  • Quote... Unquote (Radio 4 Extra, 9am and 4pm) A classic episode from 1982 with Alan Bennett, Janet Suzman, Leslie Thomas, and Wynford Vaughan Thomas.
  • Celebrity Masterchef Christmas Cook-Off (BBC1, 8pm) Oti Mabuse, Joey Essex, Neil Ruddock, Judi Love, and Su Pollard return to the kitchen.
  • Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 8.30) Winchester (Shappi Khorsandi) vs Bradford (Martin Roberts).
  • Have I Got a Bit More News for You (BBC1, 11.35; Wal 11.55, NI 12.05am) Extended repeat from Friday.

The Great British Sewing Bee

Wednesday 22 December

  • Quote... Unquote (Radio 4 Extra, 9am and 4pm) A classic episode from 1992 with Bernard Bresslaw, Patrick Garland, Gemma O'Connor, Peter Ustinov.
  • Pointless Celebrities (BBC1, 5.15) Christmas, with Jaymi Hemsley, Lesley Joseph, Amelle Berrabah, Louie Spence, Myra Dubois, Amelia Lily, Chizzy Akudolu, and Joe Pasquale.
  • Europe's Strongest Man (C5, 7pm) From Leeds.
  • Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 7.30) Bristol (Aasmah Mir) and King's Cambridge (Tom Shakespeare).
  • Sewing Bee (BBC1, 8pm) Celebrities: Kate Bottley, Anneka Rice, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Antony Cotton. New host: Sara Pascoe.
  • Scotland's Home of the Year (BBC Scotland, 8pm) A festive special.
  • Dinner Date (ITVBe, 8pm) A festive special.

The Wall

Thursday 23 December

  • The Wheel (BBC1, 12.30am) Repeat from last Saturday.
  • Quote... Unquote (Radio 4 Extra, 9am and 4pm) A classic episode from 2010 with Mary Beard, Marcel Theroux, Arthur Smith, Ariel Leve.
  • Countdown (C4, 2.10) The grand final.
  • The Weakest Link (BBC1, 6.30) Christmas, with Kym Marsh, Gemma Collins, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Christopher Biggins, Kate Bottley, Bonnie Langford, Olly Smith, Danny John-Jules.
  • The Wall (BBC1, 7.15) Maddy Hill and James Bye from Eastenders take on the big towering lunk. And the Wall.
  • Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 7.30) LSE (Oliver Cook) vs Hertford Oxford (Soweto Kinch).
  • World's Strongest Man (C5, 7pm) Glasgow.
  • Scotland's Best Dog (BBC Scotland, 8pm) The grand final.
  • Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow (ITV, 8pm; VM1 9pm Fri) The Christmas Price is Right.
  • Celebrity Masterchef Christmas Cook-Off (BBC1, 9pm) Gemma Collins, Joe Swash, Les Dennis, Mica Paris, Richard Coles.
  • The Cube (ITV, 9pm; VM1, 7.30 Fri) Celebrities: Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely; Lorraine Kelly and Rosie Smith.
  • I Literally Just Told You (C4, 10pm) A normal, non-celebrity episode.

The Greatest Snowman

Friday 24 December - Christmas Eve

  • The Chase Marathon (Challenge, 7am) To 11pm, bar one hour of Pointless at 7pm.
  • Quote... Unquote (Radio 4 Extra, 9am and 4pm) A classic episode from 2018 with Paul Mayhew-Archer, Francine Stock, and Phil Wang.
  • Bargain Hunt (BBC2, 12.15) Now on Two.
  • Breaking the News (Radio Scotland, 1.30) The best of the year.
  • Swashbuckle (Cbeebies, 3.15) Seaweed arrives on deck playing a new console game: Sandcastle Squish.
  • Tipping Point Lucky Stars (ITV, 3.55) Anton du Beke, Scarlett Moffatt, Bobby Norris.
  • The Chase Celebrity Special (ITV, 5.30) Lesley Joseph, Judge Jules, Jenni Falconer, Patrick Kielty.
  • Un Cwestiwn (S4C, 5.30) Selebs, a celebrity edition.

Primetime

  • Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 7.30) Corpus Christi Cambridge (Helen Oyeyemi) vs St Anne's Oxford (John Robins).
  • The Greatest Snowman (C4, 8pm) Johnny Vegas, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Dani Dyer, Liam Charles, and Cherry Healey go to the Alps. They try to make snow and ice sculptures.
  • There's Something About Movies (Pick, 9pm); Duck Quacks Don't Echo (Pick, 10pm) Freeview viewers get to see these vintage episodes.
  • I Can See Your Voice (BBC1, 9.30) Gabby Logan and Leona Lewis guest on this week's guessing game.
  • 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (C4, 9.30) Jon Richardson and Sarah Millican play Lee Mack and Jason Manford, with Nick Mohammed and Joe Wilkinson appearing.

Sign language interpretation

  • Lingo (ITV, 5.05am Sat, Sun).
  • Dress to Impress (ITV2, 8.20am Sat) Two episodes.
  • Tipping Point (ITV, 5.05am Mon-Fri).
  • Masterchef The Professionals (BBC2, 6.10am Tue, 3.15am and 4.15am Thu).
  • Caru Siopa (S4C, 12.05 Wed).
  • Home Advantage (RTE1, 1.55am Thu).
  • Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1, 3.40am Fri).
  • Moneyball (ITV, 2.45am Sat) Start your Christmas Day wrong.

International

Deutsche television. Schlag den Star (Pro7 and bothersbar.co.uk) features Ruth Moschner and Alexander Hermann. The Ninja Warrior final fills four hours on RTL's Saturday night, and The Voice of Holland of Germany fills Sat.1's Sunday night. Wer wird Millionär? has its Weihnachtspecial (RTL, Mon). Joko & Klass gegen ProSieben on Ice is on Tuesday: the billing doesn't say if the host will be clinging to a stuffed polar bear for dear life. ZDF gives us Bares für Rares on Wednesday, while RTL asks comedians about 2021 in Die Abrechnung des Jahres. Lego Masters - Fröhliche Weihnachten is on RTL Thursday, celebrities build festive creations from little bricks.

Français emissions. District Z meanders back (TF1, Sat). Concours Eurovision de la chanson junior is Direct à Paris (France 2, Sun). They're marking 20 years of Koh-Lanta La Grande Adventure (TF1, Tue); RTBF marks 10 years of The Voice of Holland Belgique (Tue). The final of La France a un Incroyable Talent (M6, Wed).

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