TV PICKS OF THE WEEK
TERRY PRATCHETT’S THE ABOMINABLE SNOWBABY
Christmas Day, Channel 4, 7.30pm
Dame Julie Walters and Hugh Dancy star in the animated adaptation of Sir Terry Pratchett’s short story, narrated by David Harewood.
In this charming, festive tale of friendship, love and the best of the Christmas spirit, a small quintessentially English town is thrown into disarray by a huge snowfall and the unexpected appearance of a 14-foot-tall ‘snow monster’. The creature is rescued by Granny (Walters) and her grandson Albert (Dancy), who shower their new pet with love and affection.
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Boxing Day, BBC1, 5.50pm
David Tennant plays Phileas Fogg in this eight-part adaptation of Jules Verne’s adventure, which begins tonight with a double bill. In 1870s London, Phileas, who has never been abroad before, is goaded into making a bet than he can circumvent the globe in just 80 days. So, with Jean Passepartout (Ibrahim Koma) and Abigail ‘Fix’ Fortescue (Leonie
Benesch) in tow, he sets out on the first leg, which takes him to Paris.
There, Passepartout meets up with his revolutionary brother, who leads him and Fix into the unrest, while Phileas is left wondering if he’s really cut out for globe-trotting adventure.
THE VOICE KIDS Monday, ITV, 7.30pm
The singing competition is back for a new run, hosted by Emma Willis. While judges and mentors Danny Jones and will.i.am will be out to pick a winner over last year’s victor, Pixie Lott, who guided Jess Folley to the final, all eyes will be on the latest addition to the panel.
Former Spice Girl Melanie C will be taking a seat in one of the red chairs, as an array of singers, aged seven to 14, take to the stage.
“I’ve always been a huge fan of The Voice so I am super excited to be a coach on The Voice Kids this year,” said Melanie. “I can’t wait to get in one of those big red chairs and Spice things up!”
WORZEL GUMMIDGE: TWITCHERS
Tuesday, BBC1, 7.15pm
We’re being treated to two episodes of the family show this festive season. One of them will
guest star Bill Bailey, and you might think it’s this one.
As a long-standing bird-watcher, he should be a shoo-in for an edition entitled Twitchers, but instead, he’s popping up as a fairground owner called Mr Peregrine in Calliope Jane, which airs on Wednesday. Instead, the focus here is on a flock of rare choughs that turn up at Scatterbrook Farm. Worzel is thrilled by the prospect of scaring them, but before he can do so, a group of twitchers arrive. Mackenzie Crook once again stars and directs.
CELEBRITY QUIZNESS Wednesday, Channel 4, 10pm
This festive edition of the rib-tickling quiz show sees Derry Girls actor Siobhan McSweeney, veteran comedian Jo Brand, TV judge Robert Rinder and presenter AJ Odudu go head-to-head in a bid to win up to £25,000 for their chosen charity.
However, as regular viewers will know, if they want to win, the celebrities must prove their brains by looking daft, with fiendish questions on anything from Richard III to Big Bird. Tom Allen oversees what should be a brilliant blend of comedy and chaos.
ATTENBOROUGH AND THE MAMMOTH GRAVEYARD Thursday, BBC1, 8pm
Amateur palaeontologists Nevillle and Sally Hollingworth unearthed the largest find of Jurassic echinoderms in the Cotswolds. Four years ago, they also spotted the fossilised leg bone of a mammoth – it turned out to be one of many.
Now Sir David learns more about the find.
JOOLS’ ANNUAL HOOTENANNY New Year’s Eve, BBC2, 11.25pm
It wouldn’t be New Year’s Eve without Jools Holland. This year he’s joined in the studio by the all-conquering Ed Sheeran, who will be performing tracks from his latest album, as well as one of his favourite songs with help from Jools and his orchestra.
Gregory Porter, Lulu, Joy Crookes, Rag’n’Bone Man, Yola, Vic Reeves, Ruby Turner and the Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards are also dropping by.