TV Guide 2016-12-24
Head-to-head combat on Christmas Eve, as Blankety Blank (ITV) goes up against new Pointless Celebrities (BBC1). Later, new episodes of Catsdown (C4), A League of Their Own (The Satellite Channel), and Through the Keyhole (ITV)
Two of BBC1's biggest hits on Christmas Day, with The Great Christmas Bake Off and Strictly Come Dancing. On the radio, Nicholas Parsons hosts Just a Minute Does Panto (Radio 4).
The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (C4) is on Boxing Day, and Channel 5 brings out Battlebots (from Tue 27). On Wednesday 28, Robot Wars Battle of the Stars (BBC2) and Pop Quiz The Comeback (BBC4). Thursday and Friday may be brightened up by new Pointless (BBC1).
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Schedules are accurate at the time of publication; check against EPG for late changes.
Contents |
Saturday 24 December - Christmas Eve
- Family Fortunes Morning (Challenge, 9am) Eight episodes, up to 1.20.
- The Chase (ITV, 9.50).
- Robot Wars (BBC2, 10am) Series final.
- Fighting Talk (Radio 5, 11am).
- The Great Irish Bake Off Christmas Special (TV3, 12.15) How did Anna Nolan control celebrities in 2014?
- Catchphrase Afternoon (Challenge, 1.20) Eleven episodes, to 7.45.
- Top Class (CBBC, 3pm); Junior Bake Off; Taking The Next Step; Got What It Takes? (CBBC, from 4.30) All repeats, all great shows.
Primetime
- Pointless Celebrities (BBC1, 6.30) Christmas. Lesley Joseph and Duncan James, Faye Tozer and Bobby Davro, Joe Pasquale and Wendi Peters, Natasha Hamilton and Keith Chegwin.
- Blankety Blank (ITV, 6.30; TV3 9pm) David Walliams, a microphone on a coat-hanger, and the Chuckle Brothers. What could possibly go wrong? Also on the panel: Anne Robinson, Louis Walsh, Joe Lycett, Lesley Joseph, Brooke Vincent.
- Bullseye All Night (Challenge, 7.45) More episodes than we care to count, to 6am.
- 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (C4, 9pm) Sean Lock and Kathy Burke play Jon Richardson and Russell Howard. Joe Lycett has the anecdote.
- A League of Their Own Xmas (The Satellite Channel, 9pm) With Dennis Taylor and Gary Barlobe.
- Through the Keyhole (ITV, 10.30) Shayne Ward, Kelly Brook, and Johnny Vegas.
Sunday 25 December - Christmas Day
- All-Star Mr and Mrs Christmas Special (ITV, 12.40am) Kids can't sleep? This might help.
- The Chase Day (Challenge, 6am) Is that a Beast in your stocking? Has Shaun been writing the jokes for crackers? To 8pm.
- Just a Minute Does Panto! (Radio 4, 1.15) Nicholas Parsons hares off in pursuit of the Golden Whistle, ahead of next week's 50th anniversary.
- Top Class (CBBC, 3.10pm); The Dog Ate My Homework (CBBC, 4.40); Copycats (5.10) Festive specials of all the shows.
- The Great Christmas Bake Off (BBC1, 4.45) With Mary-Anne, Ali, Cathryn, and Norman.
Primetime
- Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1, 6.45; RTE2 6.30 Tu) Ainsley Harriott, Pamela Stephenson, Gethin Jones, Denise Lewis, Future Star Melvin Odoom, Frankie Bridge. Plus a song from Matt Goss.
- Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 6.45) Magdalene Cambridge (Clemency Burton-Hill, Mike Newell) vs St Hilda's Oxford (Val McDermid, Daisy Dunn).
- Bullseye All Night (Challenge, 7.45) To 6am.
- QI XL (BBC2, 10.30) Noel.
- Would I Lie to You? (BBC1, 11.50).
Monday 26 December - Boxing Day
- Have I Got a Bit More 2016 News for You (BBC1, 12.20am; Scotland 12.55am).
- Pointless Celebrities Day (Challenge, 6am) 11 episodes, to 6pm.
- Just a Minute (Radio 4 Extra, 9am and 4pm) Classic episodes from 2010.
- Tout Le Monde Veut Prendre Sa Place (TV5, 10.43) No stopping the red chair game.
- The Great Christmas Bake Off (BBC1, 11.30) Another chance to see last night's show.
- World's Strongest Man 2016 (Spike, 2pm) Catchup on the first episodes.
- Questions Pour un Champion (TV5, 3.29) Round Britain Quiz has moved to Wednesday.
Primetime
- World's Strongest Man 2016 (Spike, 6pm; C5, 7pm) European final.
- University Challenge (BBC2, 6.20; Scotland 7pm) Last of the heats: Bristol (Will Hutton, Kate Quilton) play Nottingham (Nick Miller, David Florence).
- Know the Score (RTE1, 6.20) Sonia O'Sullivan, Michael Darragh Macaulay, Jason McAteer.
- The Great Christmas Bake Off (BBC1, 7pm) Chetna, Howard, James M, Janet.
- Strongmen: Sacrifice and Glory (Spike, 8pm) Behind the scenes at World's Strongest Man.
- Big Fat Quiz of the Year (C4, 9pm) With Richard Ayoade, Rob Delaney, Mel Giedroyc, Sarah Millican, celebrity husband David Mitchell, Romesh Ranganathan.
- Bob Monkhouse The Last Stand (BBC4, 9pm) A live performance from summer 2003, just a few months before his death.
Tuesday 27 December - Christmas Day For The Banker
- The Chase Day (Challenge, 6am) 12 episodes, to 6pm.
- Tout Le Monde Veut Prendre Sa Place (TV5, 10.43).
- Tipping Point (ITV, 12.05).
- Airmageddon (CBBC, 1.05) Dadmageddon Christmas.
- Questions Pour un Champion (TV5, 3.29).
- Junior Bake Off (CBBC, 4.30).
- Taking The Next Step (CBBC, 5pm).
- Pointless (BBC1, 5.15) Repeats.
- Got What it Takes? (CBBC, 5.30).
Primetime
- Battlebots World Championship (C5, 6.15) Part one.
- Celebrity Mastermind (BBC1, 7pm) Graeme Swann (Star Wars), Kate Bottley (Adrian Mole), Janice Long (Echo and the Bunnymen), Paul Carrack (Sheffield Wednesday).
- World's Strongest Man 2016 (C5, 7pm) Heat one of the finals, from Botswana.
- University Challenge (BBC2, 7.30) Semi-final 1.
- The Crystal Maze Celebrity Special (E4, 8pm) Another chance to see Channel 4's biggest game show of the year.
- Time Commanders (BBC4, 9pm) Atilla the Hun and his crack kickboxers wage war on Rome. But the Romans have a secret weapon: karate champions!
- Virtually Famous New Year Special (E4, 10pm) With Joey Essex and Clara Amfo. The series continues next week.
Wednesday 28 December
- Robot Wars Extreme Day (Challenge, 6am) 12 episodes, to 6pm.
- Tout Le Monde Veut Prendre Sa Place (TV5, 10.43).
- The Write Stuff (Radio 4, 11.30) A repeat.
- Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 11.50).
- Questions Pour un Champion (TV5, 3.29).
- Round Britain Quiz (Radio 4, 3.30) Northern Ireland play the Midlands.
- Junior Bake Off (CBBC, 4.30).
- Taking The Next Step (CBBC, 5pm).
- Pointless (BBC1, 5.15).
- Blankety Blank (ITV, 5.30).
- Got What it Takes? (CBBC, 5.30).
Primetime
- Battlebots World Championship (C5, 6.10) Part two.
- World's Strongest Man 2016 (C5, 7pm) The finals, part two.
- University Challenge (BBC2, 7.30) Semi-final 2.
- Robot Wars Battle of the Stars (BBC2, 8pm) Brownlee brothers, Scott Mills, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Suzi Perry.
- Dragons' Den (BBC2, 9pm) The post-Christmas special.
- Pop Quiz The Comeback (BBC4, 9.30) With Toyah Willcox, Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins), Andy McCluskey (OMD), Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet), Mari Wilson, Leee John (Imagination). Shame they couldn't get Chris Tarrant back to host, eh.
- Celwydd Noeth (S4C, 10pm) Celebrities play the lie-spotting game. Repeated from last year.
- The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (C4, 11pm) Repeated from Boxing Day.
Thursday 29 December
- Pointless Day (Challenge, 6am) 11 episodes, to 6pm.
- Tout Le Monde Veut Prendre Sa Place (TV5, 10.43).
- Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 12.10).
- Questions Pour un Champion (TV5, 3.29).
- Junior Bake Off (CBBC, 4.30).
- Y Gemau Gwyllt (S4C, 5pm) Highlights from the series.
- Got What it Takes? (CBBC, 5.30).
Primetime
- Pointless (BBC1, 5.45) This may be a new episode.
- Battlebots World Championship (C5, 6.10) Part three.
- Celebrity Mastermind (BBC1, 7pm) Michelle Ackerley (Columbo), Joe Fattorini (2 degrees west), Danny Clarke (Garfield Sobers), John Finnemore (Ghost stories of M R James).
- World's Strongest Man 2016 (C5, 7pm) Heat three.
- University Challenge (BBC2, 7.30) The final.
- Robot Wars Battle of the Stars (BBC2, 8pm) Kadeena Cox, Robbie Savage, Neil Oliver, Jordan Stephens.
- Celebrity Juice (ITV2, 10.15) "Bestest Unseenest Bits", a clip show.
Friday 30 December
- The Crystal Maze Day (Challenge, 6am) 13 episodes, to 7pm.
- Masterchef Junior Morning (W, 7.45am) Seven episodes, to 2.25. Concluding the re-runs, which began on 22 December.
- Bake Off Day (Really, 10am) The 2014 series in one day. 10 episodes, to 8pm.
- Tout Le Monde Veut Prendre Sa Place (TV5, 10.43).
- Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 12.10).
- Famous Family Fortunes (ITV, 1.05) Keith Duffy and Jennie McAlpine bring back The Door.
- Questions Pour un Champion (TV5, 3.29).
- Junior Bake Off (CBBC, 4.30).
- Taking The Next Step (CBBC, 5pm).
- Got What it Takes? (CBBC, 5.30).
Primetime
- Pointless (BBC1, 5.45) Another new episode?
- Battlebots World Championship (C5, 6.10) Part four.
- Celebrity Mastermind (BBC1, 7pm) Tyger Drew-Honey (The Office), Tom Ravenscroft (Warp Records), Maria McErlane (Unity Mitford), Terry Deary (Father Brown stories).
- Noel's Sell or Swap Live (C4, 7pm) The former Deal or No Deal host tries to get rid of some old tat. Unlikely to be a game show as we know it.
- World's Strongest Man 2016 (C5, 7pm) Heat four.
- A Question of Sport (BBC1, 7.30; NI 11.30).
- QI (BBC2, 10pm) Nature and Nurturism, with Ross Noble, Cariad Lloyd, David Baddiel.
Sign language interpretation
- Great British Menu (BBC2, 7.10am Wed, 7.15am Thu, 7.25 and 7.55am Fri).
- The Great Christmas Bake Off (BBC2, 1.30am Fri).
