PICK OF THE WEEK

Grizzly Bear Cubs and Me (BBC2, 9pm)

Gordon Buchanan joins the Pazhetnovs, a pioneering family of biologists in Russia, as they try to rehab bear cub orphans. There are more than 100,000 grizzlies in Russia and as humans encroach further into this wilderness, conflict is increasing. The Pazhetnovs have been rescuing orphaned cubs for nearly three decades and have successfully returned more than 200 of them back to the wild. Gordon arrives in February when six cubs have just been rescued.

Cameras catch up with some familiar faces and follow their plans to spend the festive season with their loved ones. For some, love has blossomed. For others, it’s still a case of waiting for Cupid to strike. As Lizzie and Joseph prepare to host their first Christmas party, Ray and Christine opt for an intimate meal for two. While Charlotte hopes that Santa will bring her a boyfriend, Richard, a self-confessed Scrooge, sees the advantages of being single at this time of year.

Is it possible to rustle up a sumptuous Christmas Day feast in just minutes rather than spending hours slaving over a hot stove? According to Jamie Oliver, the answer is yes. He puts his money where his mouth is during the programme by demonstrating some of his short-cuts. He claims that flavours will not be sacrificed for speed, despite the fact that each recipe will be quick to cook or easy to remember, focusing on combinations of just five key ingredients. Oliver also gets his family involved, proving that it doesn’t have to be the adults who take centre stage in the kitchen.

Some families like to keep things simple when it comes to Christmas dinner, but this festive documentary meets the people who like to push the gravy boat out. They include Nasa astronaut Anne McClain, who will be spending Christmas day on the International Space Station and meets the food technicians in advance to ensure she has a festive feast that tastes good in zero gravity. But while she’s having a space-age lunch, food historians Marc Meltonville and Adrian Warrell are preparing Tudor favourite cockenthrice: half a pig and half a turkey, stuffed and sewn together.

Insert Name Here: Christmas Special (BBC2, 10pm)

Sue Perkins kicks off a new series with a festive edition of the game show, so should we expect to see the likes of Holly and Noel cropping up among the names being discussed? What we do know is that Chris Packham, Suzannah Lipscomb, Carol Vorderman and James Acaster are joining team captains Josh Widdicombe and Richard Osman. The contestants have to battle it out, answering questions and competing to earn the right to decide the greatest ever bearer of that week’s name.

Celebrity Call Centre at Christmas (C4, 10pm)

In partnership with Age UK, the Celebrity Call Centre

It’s all over bar the shouting for this year’s