THIS WEEK’S TOP TV PICKS
COMEDY Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Christmas Fishing Sunday, BBC2, 8.10pm
Our favourite angling apprentice is s on a journey back to his home region with his own personal lord of the line in a welcome seasonal special of the fishing series, one of the most surprising – and delightful – ratings hits on television in recent years. Bob Mortimer returns to explore his childhood in and around Middlesbrough, in the company of comedy pal and expert angler Paul Whitehouse (above left with Mortimer and Chris Rea, centre). As the duo cast into the Esk and the Tees rivers to find out if the fish are biting, it is the anecdotes, banter and philosophical musings on the meaning of life they exchange that are the real catch for viewers.
TRIBUTE Des O’Connor: The Ultimate Entertainer Sunday, ITV, 9pm
He was one of the true titans ns of showbiz in 20th Century Britain, an all-round entertainer whose shows s were watched ed by millions over several decades, while his singles and albums sold in extraordinary numbers worldwide. Now, after his death last month at the age of 88, crooning singer and familyfriendly comedian Des O’Connor (above) is celebrated in a tribute featuring the memories of his widow Jodie, along with Melanie Sykes, Jonathan Ross, Jimmy Tarbuck, Bradley Walsh and US talk-show star Jay Leno. As well as new footage of the man himself, look out for wonderful clips of the repeated put-downs when Morecambe and Wise made O’Connor – ever the good sport – the butt of their jokes.
REALITY The Real Full Monty On Ice
Monday & Tuesday, ITV, 9pm
You Yo would think hink it would be intimidating in enough en to have ha to strip off of in public. But B a dozen celebrities ce doing do a ‘Full Monty’ M in the fine fi cause of promoting cancer education have been set a further challenge this year: they’re having to bare their all while gliding around on ice at the same time – and to add to the fun, half the stars are having to learn to skate from scratch. Ashley Banjo is leading the squad of brave, if possibly foolhardy, volunteers, and among those hoping to stay ice-cool under pressure are Woman’s Hour legend Dame Jenni Murray (above), former glamour model Linda Lusardi, former rugby player Gareth Thomas, doctor and broadcaster Zoe Williams and former jockey Bob Champion.
ENTERTAINMENT Strictly Come Dancing Saturday, BBC1, 6pm
It started in October wi with a dozen ce celebrities an and their pr professional pa partners st stepping out on to the da dancefloor in the hope of f gl glory. But now, w, af after nine weeks, eeks, we’re down to the four pairs left standing and doing all they can to claim the glitterball trophy in the grand final. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman (above) host this last ballroom battle of the 2020 series, with three rounds – the first routine is one picked by the judges, the last one a favourite chosen by the contestants, and in between these there’s a showdance – and music provided by Robbie Williams. While judges Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel Horwood reveal their scores, it’s down to the viewing public at home to decide on this year’s champions of the ballroom.
DOCUMENTARY My Generation Saturday, BBC2, 9.20pm
Growing Gr up the he son of a fish porter er and an a char lady, lad Maurice e Micklewhite M was wa expected d to stick to their working-class wo s traditions tra in the th drab Britain ain of the post-war ar period. But the freedom of the 1960s allowed the renamed Michael Caine (above) to break the strictures of class and fulfil his ambition to become the first film superstar with a cockney accent. Now he looks back to the crucial decade that changed the country and the world as ‘for the first time, young people were shaping the future’. Dazzling archive footage recreates the brilliant colour of those eventful years when The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Twiggy, Mary Quant, David Hockney and Caine himself led the cultural and social transformation.