TV Guide 2021-12-25
Christmas Day: Strictly Come Dancing, The Wheel, Blankety Blank return to BBC1, The Masked Singalong on ITV, Bake Off on C4.
St Stephen's Sunday: The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (C4) goes up against All Star Musicals (ITV). Richard Osman takes a trip (Radio 4).
Boxing Day Monday: The Voice Kids starts its three-night romp (ITV). Only Connect has the first of four festive specials (BBC2). Am Dro! has celebrities taking a walk (S4C). New In for a Penny (ITV), and a new series of Counterpoint (Radio 4).
Tue-Thu: Lingo makes a move into just-about-primetime (ITV, from Tue). More editions of The Weakest Link (BBC1, from Tue). Mock the Week looks back at the year (BBC2, Tue). Celebrity turns on Quizness (C4, Wed) and I Literally Just Told You (C4, Thu). Harry Potter Colon Hogwarts Tournament of Houses is a thing (The Satellite Channel, Wed and Thu).
New Year's Eve: Masterchef Champion of Champions (BBC1), the Christmas University Challenge final (BBC2), and news reviews from Breaking the News (Radio Scotland), The News Quiz (Radio 4), and Have I Got News for You (BBC1); Radio Wales has What Just Happened on Thursday.
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Schedules are accurate at the time of publication; check against EPG for late changes.
Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
- Celebrity Christmas Come Dine with Me (E4, 6am) Five episodes from last year.
- The Chase Marathon (Challenge, 7am) To 11pm.
- Quote... Unquote (Radio 4 Extra, 8am); Un Cwestiwn (S4C, 9.25) Repeats from last week.
- Swashbuckle (Cbeebies, 10.30) Buccaneer Cheer. Sandy and Seaweed and Captain Captain write songs of their very own. It's (gasp!) a new show that (shock!) isn't festive! At all!!
Primetime
- Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1, 5.10) The festive edition, with Jay Blades, Fred Sirieix, Mel Giedroyc, Moira Stuart, Anne-Marie, and Adrian Chiles.
- The Masked Singalong (ITV, 6pm) Joel Dommett with some of the best performances from the singing show.
- The Wheel (BBC1, 6.25) Contestants: Danny Dyer, Zoe Ball, David Walliams. Experts: Gareth Malone, Martine McCutcheon, Jason Manford, Tameka Empson, Julian Clary, Gregg Wallace, Alex Scott.
- Blankety Blank (BBC1, 7.25) Angela Rippon, Richard E Grant, Tom Allen, Sarah Millican, Mel B, Danny Jones.
- Christmas Bake Off (C4, 8pm) Stars of It's a Sin: Olly Alexander, Nathaniel Curtis, Lydia West, Shaun Dooley.
- A League of Their Own (Pick, 9pm); Duck Quacks Don't Echo (Pick, 10pm) Raiding the cupboard for new-to-Freeview episodes.
- Celebrity Juice (ITV2, 10pm) Another chance to see the Christmas edition, first shown on 16 December.
- Quote... Unquote (Radio 4, 11pm) Your very final chance to miss Nigel Rees' quotations quiz.
Sunday 26 December - St Stephen's Day
- Would I Lie to You? At Christmas 2021 (BBC1, 1.45am); I Can See Your Voice (BBC1, 2.15am) Repeats from last week.
- The Chase 24 (Challenge, 7am) To 6am.
- Swashbuckle (Cbeebies, 10.30) Smart Parrot.
- Wipeout Afternoon (4Music, 12 noon) Six episodes of the big red balls show.
- I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (Radio 4, 12.04) Repeat from last Monday.
- The Chase Celebrity Special (ITV, 5pm) Kate Silverton, Ruthie Henshall, The Fabulous Iain Stirling, Richard Coles.
- Lego Masters Down Under (E4, 5pm) "A whole new world" New series.
Primetime
- Celebrity Catchphrase (ITV, 6pm) Perri Kiely, Anne Hegerty, Rob Brydon.
- World's Strongest Man (C5, 7pm) From the exotic surroundings of Sheffield.
- Quote... Unquote (Radio 4, 7.15) Some of the most memorable moments. Repeat from Radio 4 Extra last Monday.
- All Star Musicals (VM1 and ITV, 8pm) Stealing the show: Fern Britton, Ben Miller, Gyles Brandreth, Anita Rani, Catherine Tyldesley, Radzi Chinyanganya.
- The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (C4, 9pm) Guests include Sarah Millican, James Acaster, Jonathan Ross, Judi Love, Guz Khan, and Sara Pascoe.
- A League of Their Own (Pick, 9pm) New to Freeview.
Bonus feature
- Desert Island Discs (Radio 4, 11am) Richard Osman, from Space Cadets and Beat the Nation, picks eight records, a book, and a luxury to take to a desert island. Lauren Laverne asks why this choice.
Monday 27 December - Boxing Day
- The Chase All Day (Challenge, 7am) To 11pm.
- It's Your Round (Radio 4 Extra, 9am and 4pm) From 2012.
- In for a Penny (ITV, 10am) Bath, repeat.
- Ninja Warrior (ITV, 10.45) Second semi-final of the 2019 series.
- Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 12.15) That's not very festive.
- Dickinson's Biggest Deals (ITV, 1.45) Clips show.
- Counterpoint (Radio 4, 3pm) The music quiz returns with a Christmas music edition.
- Swashbuckle (Cbeebies, 3.15) "Wing It Now", a delivery service using carrier seagull.
- Bake Off (C4, 4.05) Repeat from Christmas night.
- In for a Penny (ITV, 5.15; VM1, 6.15) Chelmsford, a new episode.
Primetime
- Family Fortunes (ITV, 6pm) Greens of Birmingham play Traceys of Plymouth.
- I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (Radio 4, 6.30) From the Lyric Theatre in Salford, it's Jon Culshaw, Milton Jones, John Finnemore, Vicki Pepperdine. The host is still Jack Dee.
- World's Strongest Man (C5, 7pm) From the exotic climes of Sacramento in California.
- The Voice Kids (ITV, 7.30) The spinning chairs are back!
- Only Connect (BBC2, 8pm) First of four festive specials pit the Turophiles against the Corkscrews.
- Masterchef The Professionals (BBC1, 8pm) Four previous finalists return for a one-off special.
- Am Dro! Selebs (S4C, 8pm) Walks with the stars: Jason Mohammad in the Taff valley, Gareth Wyn Jones in the Carneddau, Non Parry near Newport, Alex Humphreys in Flintshire.
- Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 8.30) Birkbeck London (Jolyon Maugham) and Portsmouth (Nira Chamberlain).
- A League of Their Own (Pick, 9pm).
- 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (C4, 10pm) Repeat from Christmas Eve.
Bonus feature
- Sondheim Night (BBC4, from 7pm) The man who popularised the cryptic crossword also wrote some hit musicals. There's a repeat of the Prom from 2010, and then a compilation of people performing his songs. Never a cross word.
Tuesday 28 December - Bankers' Christmas Holiday Type Day
- The Food Quiz (Radio 4 Extra, 9am) Christmas 2005.
- Celebrity Supermarket Sweep (ITV, 10.05); In for a Penny (ITV, 11.05); Ninja Warrior (ITV, 11.35) Repeats.
- Breaking the News (Radio Scotland, 12 noon) Repeat from Christmas Eve.
- Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 12.15).
- Dickinson's Biggest and Best Deals (ITV, 2.30).
- Swashbuckle (Cbeebies, 3.15) "Headscarf calamity".
- Tipping Point (ITV, 3.30); The Chase (ITV, 4.30) New episodes.
- The 3rd Degree (Radio 4 Extra, 4pm) Edinburgh; repeat from 2013.
- Pointless Celebrities (BBC1, 5.15) Children's tv, repeated.
Primetime
- Lingo (ITV, 5.30) They're trying something new in primetime.
- The Weakest Link (BBC1, 6.30) Journalists, with such luminaries as Sarah Smith, Vanessa Feltz, Jennie Bond, and Matt Allwright.
- World's Strongest Man (C5, 7pm) A second heat.
- The Voice Kids (ITV, 7.30) More auditions.
- Only Connect (BBC2, 8pm) Birdwatchers vs Beekeepers.
- Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 8.30) Kent (Yolanda Brown) vs Goldsmiths (Mark Wallinger).
- Mock the Week (BBC2, 10pm; NI 11pm) Review of the year and some out-takes.
Wednesday 29 December
- Sewing Bee (1.05am) Repeat from last week.
- The Write Stuff (Radio 4 Extra, 9am and 4pm) Miles Kington, a great fantasy writer.
- Celebrity Supermarket Sweep (ITV, 10am); In for a Penny (ITV, 11am); Ninja Warrior (ITV, 11.30) Repeats.
- Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 12.15) A music special, repeat.
- Dickinson's Biggest and Best Deals (ITV, 2.30).
- Swashbuckle (Cbeebies, 3.15) Captain Captain's Classic Clips, a "best-of" show.
- Tipping Point (ITV, 3.30); The Chase (ITV, 4.30) New episodes.
- Pointless Celebrities (BBC1, 5.15) Families, repeated.
Primetime
- Lingo (ITV, 5.30).
- The Weakest Link (BBC1, 6.30) Celebrities: Russell Kane, Kriss Akabusi, Maisie Adam, Dan Snow, Nina Wadia, Lesley Joseph, Judy Murray, and Georgia Toffolo.
- World's Strongest Man (C5, 7pm) Heat 3.
- Harry Potter Colon Hogwarts Tournament of Houses (The Satellite Channel, 7pm) Opinions of Helen Mirren and KYTV can go down as well as up. Two episodes of this imported series to miss.
- Only Connect (BBC2, 8pm) Cold: Nørdiphiles vs Après-Skiers.
- The Voice Kids (ITV, 8pm) The finals.
- Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 8.30) Semi-final 1.
- Quizness (C4, 10pm) A celebrity edition, with Siobhán McSweeney, Jo Brand, Robert Rinder, and AJ Odudu.
Bonus feature
- Huw Edwards at 60 (S4C, 9pm) A profile and celebration of the newsreader.
Thursday 30 December
- Blankety Blank (BBC1, 12.20am) Repeat from BLANK Day.
- Mock the Week (BBC2, 12.20am) Repeat from last night.
- Many a Slip (Radio 4 Extra, 9am and 4pm) From 1967, as Isobel Barnett, David Nixon, Eleanor Summerfield, and Paul Jennings spot the errors.
- Celebrity Supermarket Sweep (ITV, 10am); In for a Penny (ITV, 11am); Ninja Warrior (ITV, 11.30) Repeats.
- Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 12.15) Top scores show.
- Dickinson's Biggest and Best Deals (ITV, 2.30).
- Swashbuckle (Cbeebies, 3.15) Pirate jumble sale: Sandy and Seaweed rummage about in the Scarlet Squid for memories.
- Tipping Point (ITV, 3.30); The Chase (ITV, 4.30) New episodes.
- Pointless Celebrities (BBC1, 5.15) Food, repeated.
Primetime
- Lingo (ITV, 5.30).
- The Weakest Link (BBC1, 6.25) Celebrities: Dick and Dom, Chris Packham, Michelle Collins, Gemma Cairney, Nikki Fox, Clair Norris, Dev Griffin.
- What Just Happened (Radio Wales, 6.30) Kiri Pritchard-McLean asks team captains (Robin Morgan and Priya Hall) about events of the year gone by.
- Harry Potter Colon Hogwarts Tournament of Houses (The Satellite Channel, 7pm) Two more episodes of this imported series to miss.
- World's Strongest Man (C5, 8pm) Heat 4.
- Only Connect (BBC2, 8pm) Champions: 007s play Puzzle Hunters. Can we declare a 45-45 draw and be done with it?
- Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 8.30) Semi-final 2.
- Sewing Bee (BBC1, 9pm) A celebrity edition, with Lawrence Chaney, Rose Matafeo, Claire Richards From Steps, and Kirsty Wark.
- I Literally Just Told You (C4, 10pm) An abnormal celebrity episode with Lorraine Kelly, Alex Horne, Aisling Bea, and Asim Chaudhry.
Bonus feature
- Wogan: Now You're Talking (C5, 9pm) A profile and celebration of Terry Wogan.
Friday 31 December - New Year's Eve
- The Chase-a-thon (Challenge, 7am) To 11pm, except for an hour of Pointless at 7pm.
- Funny You Should Ask (Radio 4 Extra, 9am and 4pm) Peter Jones (1) asks about comedy. With Ben Travers, Ray Cooney, Leslie Phillips.
- Celebrity Supermarket Sweep (ITV, 10am); In for a Penny (ITV, 11am); Ninja Warrior (ITV, 11.30) Repeats.
- Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 12.15) Top scores show.
- Breaking the News (Radio Scotland, 1.30) "37% still needs improvement." That was the review of the year.
- Dickinson's Biggest and Best Deals (ITV, 2.30).
- Swashbuckle (Cbeebies, 3.15) Gem's Jewels: the stowaway host picks her favourite moments.
- Tipping Point (ITV, 3.30); The Chase (ITV, 4.30) New episodes.
Primetime
- Lingo (ITV, 5.30).
- Un Cwestiwn (S4C, 5.50) Another celebrity episode, with the stars of Stwnsh.
- The Weakest Link (BBC1, 6.25) Celebrities: Esme Young, Patrick Grant, Dave Gorman, Karim Zeroual, Kaz Kamwi, Candice Brown, The Vivienne, and television's most-seen person this festive season, Rev. Richard Coles!
- The News Quiz (Radio 4, 6.30) Zaltz looks back at the highs and lows of the year.
- A Question of Sport (BBC1, 8pm) Ellie Simmonds, Stephen Hendry, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Lee McKenzie.
- World's Strongest Man (C5, 8pm) Heat 5.
- Masterchef Champion of Champions (BBC1, 8.30) Tim Anderson (2011), Ping Coombes (2014), Saliha Mahmood-Ahmed (2017), Kenny Tutt (2018), Irini Tzortzoglou (2019).
- Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 8.30) The grand final with - oh, that's spoiled things.
- Have I Got News for You (BBC1, 9.30) Paul Merton, Ian Hislop, and other contributor/presenters.
Sign language interpretation
- Rolling in It (ITV, 4.25am Sun).
- Strictly Come Dancing (BBC2, 2.50am Mon).
- Tipping Point (ITV, 5.05am Tue-Fri).
- Masterchef The Professionals (BBC2, 6.45am Tue, 3.50am Thu, 4.15am Fri).
- Caru Siopa (S4C, 12.05 Wed).
- Home Advantage (RTE1, 4.15am Thu).
- Moneyball (ITV, 4.15am Sat) Start your new year wrong.
International
Deutsche sprachen? The Masked Singer Die rätselhafte Weinachtshow does exactly what it says on the tin, clips for Sunday (Pro7). 2021 Das Quiz (ARD, Tue) is closer in style to So You Think... You Remember Last Tuesday than The Big Fat Quiz of the Year. Another primetime edition of Wer weiß denn sowas XXL on Wednesday (ARD).
Parlez français? TF1 marks the festive season with the oh-so-seasonal District Z, a zombie escape show without so much as a sprig of holly in sight. France 3 goes with Questions pour un Super Champion, the occasional superstar match. Lego Masters starts a new series on Tuesday (M6), and The Voice of Holland Belgique returns (RTBF la une). It's the final of Le Meilleur Pätissier (M6, Thu).
