TV HIGHLIGHTS
SUNDAY
Doctor Who, BBC1, 6.25pm
Jodie Whittaker’s first series as the Time Lord comes to an end this evening — don’t worry, she’ll be back to ring in 2019 with a New Year’s special — and in dramatic fashion. The Doctor and her companions have had some wild adventures this time around, but this one may be the most chilling, as they arrive on the planet of Ranskoor Av Kolos, where a brutal battle was fought. They quickly get to work answering a number of distress calls, but something far more sinister is lurking nearby. Care, BBC1, 9pm Sheridan Smith returns to our screens with this emotional oneoff drama. It revolves around single mother Jenny, who has to fight to keep her family afloat as it is. However, things take a shocking turn when her mother Mary suffers a devastating stroke and ends up developing dementia. Now Jenny has some huge decisions to make over Mary’s care, ones that will affect not only her life, but that of those closest to her. Alison Steadman and Sinead Keenan also star in Jimmy McGovern and Gillian Juckes’s moving story.
I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Virgin Media 1, 9pm Declan Donnelly and Holly
Willoughby have proven a force to be reckoned with as the cohosts of the latest series of the competition. Excitement is high tonight, as they announce the winner of this year’s contest. The remaining celebrities gather to find out which of them is the new king or queen of the jungle, but always expect there to be a few more surprises in store for them before it’s all said and done.
Taken Down, RTE1, 9.30pm The first series of this crime drama from Love/Hate creator
Stuart Carolan wraps up. Abeni has some big decisions to make, knowing that her choices will affect those closest to her. Meanwhile, forensics uncover a breakthrough for Jen’s team, as the truth finally comes out.
MONDAY
Tastes Like Home, RTE1, 7.30pm It’s the end of Catherine Fulvio’s travels, as she meets one more family who want to reconnect over their shared love of one particular dish. This time the chef is in Cavan, picking up the recipe of a seafood dish cooked in a coconut broth, served with a basil and truffle mash with crisp green vegetables from Felicity and husband Peter. From there she heads to Melbourne in Australia, where she shares the meal with the couple’s son, Eoin.
Nadiya’s Asian Odyssey, BBC1, 9pm
Nadiya Hussain concludes her personal pilgrimage around Asia, beginning in Nepal. She is taken to a supper club run by local foodies in the capital city of Kathmandu, before heading on to Bhaktapur to meet a local potter, then travelling to Marpha to cook up a buffalo BBQ dish.
Death and Nightingales, RTE1, 9.35pm
The period drama, starring Matthew Rhys, Jamie Dornan and Ann Skelly, concludes. Beth reflects on the fateful day when Billy told her about her mother’s death. Later, she comes across Billy’s will, and is a little surprised at what she sees. This drives her to flee, but not before she helps herself to the gold in Billy’s safe. Will she get away, or is she doomed to fall short? Undercover in the Alt-Right, RTE1, 11.45pm This nerve-wracking special follows Patrik Hermansson as he infiltrates a number of farright networks based in both the UK and America. He wants to uncover the truth behind these organisations, a journey that leads him to the horrifying events that took place in Charlottesville in August 2017. TUESDAY Ar Son Na Poblachta, RTE1, 7pm This evening’s instalment of the eye-opening documentary series concludes its examination of the events surrounding Bloody Sunday, 1920. We hear about the tactics utilised by both sides, from the propaganda they put out to the questionable measures they resorted to — in same cases going as far as using torture.
Celebrity Lego Masters at Christmas, Channel 4, 8pm
This festive special sees famous faces paired with past contestants from the show’s previous two seasons, as these newly-forged duos compete to make some of the most wonderful wintery builds out of the much-loved construction toy. Joining past participants Jack, Guy and Abraham, Izzy, Jayden and Harry are comedian Rob Beckett, actor Joe Swash, comedian Joel Dommett, TV personality Spencer Matthews, Tattoo Fixer star Alice Perrin and actor Warwick Davis. Home Rescue, RTE1, 8.30pm Architect Róisín Murphy, builder Peter Finn and their team embark on their final challenge of the series, as they head to Laytown, Co Meath, to help couple Trudie and Dan, and their sons Ciaran and Connor, restore some much-needed order to their three-bedroom house.
WEDNESDAY
Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds: Christmas, Channel 4, 9pm
The subjects of the latest series of the eye-opening documentary are reunited for this one-off special. There’s plenty to smile about, as the senior citizens and their younger companions get to share the festive cheer together, taking on a variety of tasks and challenges to see how they work together to overcome them. There’s also a surprise appearance by singer Alfie Boe.
Steroid Ireland , RTE1, 9.35pm
This RTE Investigates special examines the use of illegal anabolic steroids across Ireland, investigating the lengths that some people will go to in order to get what they think is the perfect body. The team leave no stone unturned as they attempt to expose those who illegally sell on the dangerous drug. Teenagers vs Cancer: A User’s Guide, RTE2, 11.30pm Eleven teenagers get to share their personal accounts of what it is like living and dealing with cancer. Covering everything from their diagnosis to their treatment and beyond, these brave young people don’t hold back when it comes to sharing their struggles.
THURSDAY
Amazing Spaces Winter Wonderland, Channel 4, 8pm It has become something of a Christmas tradition for George Clarke and Will Hardie to set off on a winter adventure, with this evening’s special taking them through the Swiss, French and Italian Alps to see some of the most remarkable builds that the area has to offer. This includes a tree house shaped like an acorn and a ski lodge that has been designed to look like a boulder.
Billionaire B&B, RTE2, 9.30pm
Yasmine Akram embarks on a globe-trotting adventure in this brand new series, as she checks out some of the most remarkable — and expensive —places to stay around the world. This opener begins her trip in Los Angeles, with other stops including Barbados, Ibiza and Mallorca.
FRIDAY
Bernard Dunne’s Mythical Heroes, RTE2, 5.05pm
The former boxing star-turnedhost finishes his historical series with a look at one more mighty myth from Ireland’s past. This time he and his team bring to life the tale of Diarmuid and Grainne. They were madly in love with each other, but found their union threatened by her father, King Cormac Mac Airt. He had already promised her hand in marriage to Fionn MacCumhaill, the leader of the Fianna. However, the pair refused to let their love go silently, and decided that they should run away together. Election, RTE1, 7pm Co-hosts David McCullagh and Sinead O’Carroll present this very special show, which takes an interesting approach to marking the centenary of the 32-county general election that took place in Ireland back in 1918. Covered as though the events from 100 years ago were actually unfolding on the night, the team offer analysis and breakdowns on everything as they happen, helped by historical experts and re-enactments. Have I Got News for You, BBC1, 9pm Paul Merton and Ian Hislop bring another series of the much-loved satirical quiz show to an end, as they are joined by comedians Tom Allen and Ayesha Hazarika, and special guest host Gary Lineker to tear apart the biggest news stories of the week.
SATURDAY
Strictly Come Dancing: The Final, BBC1, 6.30pm Weeks and weeks of phenomenal performances have led to this, as the final four dancing duos take part in the competition’s grand final. Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly return for the last show of the series, and look on as each pair performs three different dances — one picked by the judges, their showdance, and their own favourite routine from the series. It’s then down to the voting public to decide who walks away as the big winners. If that all sounds a little too tense, singer Michael Bublé is also there to perform. The RTÉ Sports Awards, RTE1, 9.20pm Darragh Maloney and Joanne Cantwell present this year’s glitzy affair, as they and an invited audience of Irish sportsmen and women find out who has been this year’s big winners from a variety of sporting disciplines.
The Graham Norton Show, Virgin Media 1, 11.05pm
The host chats to Jason Momoa, who returns to the big screen in DC’s superhero action flick Aquaman. Comedian Bill Bailey also joins in the fun, as he discusses his new show, Larks in Transit. Finally, pop group Little Mix perform Think About Us.