The Great British Sewing Bee: Celebrity Christmas Special

BBC1, 7.45pm There’s a Strictly flavour to the first of two festive editions – former competitors Dr Ranj Singh and Denise Van Outen take part alongside head judge Shirley Ballas. Let’s hope the fourth contestant, Sara Pascoe, doesn’t feel out of place if they start discussing heel turns and the like.

Ballas will get to know how it feels to be on the other end of a TV critique, but years of altering her own dance costumes means she starts as the favourite to win.

Patrick Grant and Esme Young (right, with host Joe Lycett as Santa) judge the quartet’s efforts to make festive pyjama bottoms, a fancy-dress costume for a dog and a perfectly fitted made-to-measure dress.

The second episode airs on New Year's Eve and will see The Vivienne, Sally Phillips, Lesley Joseph and Sabrina Grant tackle three more challenges.