Christmas and New Year TV and Puzzle Guide 2019

The best of Christmas TV A day-by-day selection of festive television viewing

Saturday, December 21 The Chase Celebrity Christmas Special (ITV, 6.25pm)

Nolan is paired with property manager Kevin and Made in Chelsea star Miles Nazaire is matched with foodie and fitness vlogger Steph. Ashley Banjo presents. Coronation Street at Christmas (ITV, 8.30pm) A look at Weatherfield’s archive and the stories that have entertained millions over the festive season for almost six decades. Sue Johnston narrates. A Merry Tudor Christmas with Lucy Worsley (BBC2, 9pm) A journey back to the reign of Henry VIII to learn how the Tudors celebrated the festive period. Ball & Boe: a very merry Christmas (ITV, 9.30pm) The singers are joined by actor Luke Evans, singer-songwriter Gregory Porter and Dame Shirley Bassey.

Dr Ranj Singh, Made in Chelsea’s Georgia ‘Toff ’ Toffolo, comedian Ed Byrne and Rev Kate Bottley pit their wits against the Chaser. Michael McIntyre’s Big Show (BBC1, 8.15pm) Robbie Williams surprises karaoke-singing members of the audience. Ian Wright hands over his phone for Send To All and three young brothers find themselves the Unexpected Stars of the Show. Jane McDonald’s Christmas Spectacular (Channel 5, 9.20pm) Celebrity guests Lee Ryan, Aled Jones and Russell Watson join Jane McDonald to perform favourite festive numbers, accompanied by a live band. Robbie Williams: Radio 2 in concert (BBC2, 10.25pm) Robbie Williams takes to the stage at the BBC Radio Theatre in London, performing festive songs from his new album The Christmas Present . Sunday, December 22 Pride of Britain: Celebrating 20 years (ITV, 5pm) Carol Vorderman visit some of the ceremony’s winners over its two-decade history. In Torbay, she catches up with winners of the Emergency Services award – six of the seven crew of the RNLI who risked their lives to save eight stranded seamen. She also meets Rachel Edwards, who aged seven collected a Child of Courage award in 2001.

Thursday, December 19 MasterChef: The Professionals (BBC2, 8pm) The three finalists are given three hours to cook something spectacular for judges Marcus Wareing, Monica Galetti and Gregg Wallace. The Big Soap Quiz: Coronation Street v Emmerdale (ITV, 9pm) Teams from Weatherfield and the Dales go head to head. Stephen Mulhern is quizmaster. Heston’s Marvellous Menu: Back to the noughties (BBC2, 9pm) Giles Coren challenges chef Heston Blumenthal to recreate a 2001 tasting menu from his restaurant, The Fat Duck. The Cure (Channel 4, 9pm) One-off drama, based on the true story of Julie Bailey whose elderly mum Bella was admitted to Stafford Hospital with a treatable hernia condition, but eight weeks later she was dead. Julie went on to launch a campaign called Cure the NHS. Sian Brooke and Sue Johnston star. Friday, December 20 Celebrity Flirty Dancing for Stand up to Cancer (Channel 4, 8pm) Loose Women presenter Coleen The Cure (December 19, Channel 4, 9pm)

Dancing on Ice at Christmas (ITV, 7pm) Launch show before the competition – line-up includes comedian Michael Barrymore, Ian ‘H from Steps’ Watkins, Coronation Street’ s Lisa George, Paralympic sprinter Libby Clegg and Diversity’s Perri Kiely. The Christmas Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan (BBC2, 9pm) Romesh Ranganathan journeys from Marrakesh in Morocco through the Sahara to the ocean in Western Sahara, 700 miles further south. A Christmas Carol (BBC1, 9pm) A new three-part version with Guy Pearce as Ebenezer Scrooge. The supporting cast includes Andy Serkis as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Stephen Graham as Jacob Marley and Joe Alwyn as Bob Cratchit. A Christmas Carol (December 22, BBC1, 9pm)

Ball & Boe: A Very Merry Christmas (December 20, ITV, 9.30pm)

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