Tom rises to challenge
COMEDIAN Tom Allen slips into Noel Fielding’s shoes tonight, but wisely not into one of his shirts, for THE GREAT CHRISTMAS BAKE OFF ( C4, 7.40pm). Not because Noel’s spending Christmas with the pixies – not this year, they’re self- isolating – but because he was off on paternity leave when this festive special was recorded.
Tom’s the obvious choice as a stand- in, of course.
He’s already a regular on Extra Slice, the spin- off hosted by Jo Brand, where he’s consistently, fabulously rude with his six- foot whisk. On top of which he co- hosts the professional sister- show, Bake Off: The Not Very Interesting Version Where You Wish To God Someone Would Liven Things Up By Tripping And Falling Face- First In Their Croquembouche.
So yes, you could say Tom is a choux- in. But obviously I’d rather you didn’t.
Competing for the title of Christmas Star Baker, which isn’t that big a deal but it’ll have to do, are four contestants from previous Bake Off series. What, you want me to tell you their names? Even though you’ve long forgotten these people? Oh fine, if I must. Honestly.
It’s 2019’ s Jamie Finn and Rosie Brandreth- Poynter, 2018’ s Ruby Bhogal and 2017’ s James Hillery. Ring any bells? See. Told you. Oh, and Alexandra Burke turns up. Not to bake, but to sing Silent Night. So that’s nice.
As soon as that’s done and dusted and the credits have rolled, Channel 4 brings us something almost entirely different, in the form of ONE NIGHT IN
HAMLEYS ( 9pm), a bit of festive fluff which finds three comics locked inside the world’s most famous toy store.
One of them is Rob Beckett, one of them is Romesh Ranganathan and one of them ( here’s why I said it was “almost” entirely different) is Tom Allen.
Earlier, Mackenzie Crook is back as TV’s best- loved scarecrow ( with the possible exception of James May), in WORZEL GUMMIDGE: SAUCY NANCY
( BBC1, 5.55pm).
It’s every bit as sweet and charming as last year’s double helping, with Worzel and the kids setting off this time for the seaside on a mission to help a strange old pal.
Elsewhere, if you’re looking for something traditionally light entertainmenty, ALAN CARR’S EPIC GAME SHOW ( ITV, 8.15pm) is reviving The Price Is Right on an unprecedented scale.
Less conventionally, Miranda Hart hosts MIRANDA’S GAMES WITH SHOWBIZ NAMES ( BBC1, 9.45pm), where Shirley Ballas, Jermaine Jenas, Robbie Williams and their respective partners and friends compete in a series of daft- but- hey- it’s- Christmas-you’d- be- amazed- the- sort- of- stuff-people- will- watch challenges.