TV PICKS OF THE WEEK
STRICTLY COME DANCING: THE FINAL Tonight, BBC1, 7pm
It’s time to find out which celebrity will follow in Bill Bailey’s footsteps and lift the glitterball trophy.
Eastenders star Rose Ayling-ellis and Giovanni Pernice will go up against Bake Off star John Whaite and Johannes Radebe. Sadly AJ Odudu and her partner Kai Widdrington were forced to pull out of the final yesterday after the presenter injured her ankle.
Anton Du Beke, Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse will give their scores but ultimately the viewers will decide who wins as the couples perform three routines.
BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2021 Tomorrow, BBC1, 6.45pm
Gary Lineker, Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott host the annual ceremony at Salford’s Mediacity.
“With sporting events getting back to some normality and our teams and athletes achieving great things, this year has been one of the most memorable for many reasons,” says Barbara Slater, the BBC’S director of
sport. Among those expected to be in the running are tennis star Emma Raducanu, diver Tom Daley, boxer Tyson Fury and motor racing legend Lewis Hamilton.
MARY BERRY’S FESTIVE FEASTS Monday, BBC1, 7.05pm
Can three truly hapless cooks create a fantastic Christmas feast? Dame Mary Berry thinks so and invites a trio of kitchen novices into her home to tell her all about the deserving person they want to spoil with a festive
banquet. Mary will demonstrate tricky techniques and give her pupils some pointers. But once they wave goodbye and head home, it’s up to them to practice in their own kitchens.
CELEBRITY MASTERCHEF CHRISTMAS COOK-OFF Tuesday, BBC1, 8pm
It’s Christmas – the time to get together with some old friends. So deck the halls and break out the Christmas fizz, as 10 of the most memorable celebrities from past series
return to the world-famous Masterchef kitchen for two festivethemed specials.
Tonight, judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode welcome the first five competitors back. They are Oti Mabuse, Joey Essex, Neil Ruddock, Judi Love and Su Pollard.
LIVE: JOE LYCETT – MUMMY’S BIG CHRISTMAS DO! Wednesday, Channel 4, 10pm
The comedian gets the yuletide party started in sparkling style complete with a large dose of his trademark wit and a side order of tinsel.
Among those dropping by are Lorraine Kelly, John Whaite, Rosie
Jones, drag stars Bimini Bon Boulash, Tayce, Baga Chipz and Jodie Harsh, and Kim Woodburn. Before the epic finale we’ll also see someone take a trip into Mummy’s Pleasure Dungeon.
NOT GOING OUT
Thursday, BBC1, 10pm
Fans of funnyman Lee Mack know he possesses the quickest of wits and is brilliant at dishing out cutting asides. Expect an avalanche of them for this seasonal edition of the award-winning comedy drama, which takes the panto theme and runs with it.
Despite the ring of jingle bells in
the air, the sight of holly everywhere and being up to his eyeballs in festive cheer, Lee is definitely not getting into the Christmas spirit.
His other half Lucy (Sally Bretton) had booked tickets to the panto, but the star of the show is Lucy’s teenage crush, Aussie Jason
Donovan. What can possibly go wrong?
ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Christmas Eve, Channel 5, 9pm
We join the community of Darrowby on Christmas Day, where James and Helen are in a bit of a pickle: they never agreed where they would eat on the big day and they’re expected both at Skeldale by Hrs Hall and at Heston Grange by Jenny.
Sadly, their dilemma throws up awkward questions about their future, and a card from James’ father doesn’t help.