Top TV Picks
The Happy Prince
BBC Two, Friday
Biographical drama about the final years of Oscar Wilde. After his release from Reading prison for gross indecency, the once celebrated and now notorious playwright lives out his final years in self-imposed exile in France. He is visited by loyal friends and lovers, but none seems able to divert him from resuming the destructive relationship with Alfred ‘Bosie’ Douglas.
Celebrity Gogglebox
Channel 4, Friday
A chance to catch-up with some of the best moments from this year’s episodes, featuring some of the country’s favourite celebrities.
Home Alone: Britain’s Favourite Christmas Movie
Channel 5, Saturday
Documentary celebrating the 1990 festive classic written by John Hughes. It’s a movie that turned its then-nine-year-old star, Macaulay Culkin, into the biggest child actor since Shirley Temple. Featuring interviews with film critics, fans, stuntmen and even a reformed burglar, who assesses the home security at the Home Alone house.
My Generation
BBC Two, Saturday
Michael Caine narrates and stars in his own personal journey through 1960s London. Based on personal accounts and archive footage, this documentary sees Caine travel back through time to talk to the Beatles, Twiggy, David Bailey, Mary Quant, the Rolling Stones, David Hockney and other star names. The film has been assembled over the last six years by Caine working with producer Simon Fuller, writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and director David Batty, to tell the story of the birth of pop culture in London through the eyes of the young Michael Caine
Sports Personality of the Year
BBC One, Sunday
Coverage of the ceremony live from Media City UK in Salford, as the year’s key sporting moments are reviewed and the successor to Ben Stokes is crowned following a public vote. The likes of WBC Heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury and seven-time Formula One title-winner Lewis Hamilton are expected to be in contention for the main reward in a year that saw a number of fine performances despite the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic
The Death of Stalin
BBC Two, Sunday
Moscow,1953 – after being in power for nearly 30 years, Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin dies after an inconveniently brief illness. Amid the shock, the members of the Council of Ministers engage in a chaotic bid for power. Armando Iannucci’s political satire, starring Andrea Riseborough, Jason Isaacs, Rupert Friend, Simon Russell
Beale, Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor and Michael Palin
Celebrity Masterchef Christmas Cook Off
BBC One, Monday
John Torode and Gregg Wallace return for the first of two festive specials as they invite memorable celebrities from previous series back to the MasterChef kitchen. Broadcaster and journalist Janet StreetPorter, actor Christopher Biggins, radio presenter Dev Griffin and TV personality Vicky Pattison compete against each other to see who can take home the title of Christmas champion.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
BBC One, Tuesday
Peter Parker balances life as an ordinary high-school student with his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man, while waiting in vain to join his mentor Iron Man on a worldsaving mission.