TV Picks: 9–15 December 2019
By: Dan Owen
Tags: Listings, Television, UK, Tv Picks, TV

— MONDAY 9th —

★ THE X-FACTOR: THE BAND — ITV, 8.30PM.

New spin-off concentrating on groups who could become the next One Direction or Little Mix. Hosted by Dermot O’Leary with judges Simon Cowell & Nicole Scherzinger. Continues nightly. (1/4)

Also watch:

The Best Christmas Food Ever — BBC2, 1.30pm . New series looking at festive recipes. Hosted by Catherine Fulvio & Paul Ainsworth with guest Martine McCutcheon. (1/11)

. New series looking at festive recipes. Hosted by Catherine Fulvio & Paul Ainsworth with guest Martine McCutcheon. (1/11) Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman — BBC2, 2.15pm . Series 2 of the show where Strictly Come Dancing’s former head judge interviews celebrities, focusing on their memories of childhood holidays. Featuring Carol Kirkwood, Anton Du Beke, Dion Dublin, Lisa Riley & Pam St Clement over the run. (1/25)

. Series 2 of the show where Strictly Come Dancing’s former head judge interviews celebrities, focusing on their memories of childhood holidays. Featuring Carol Kirkwood, Anton Du Beke, Dion Dublin, Lisa Riley & Pam St Clement over the run. (1/25) The Case of Sally Challen — BBC2, 9pm . Documentary about a Surrey mother-of-two who was jailed for bludgeoning her husband to death as he was eating lunch, who is now appealing on grounds she was the victim of his psychological abuse.

. Documentary about a Surrey mother-of-two who was jailed for bludgeoning her husband to death as he was eating lunch, who is now appealing on grounds she was the victim of his psychological abuse. Lucy Worsley’s Christmas Carol Odyssey — BBC4, 9pm . Special looking at the history of festive hymns.

. Special looking at the history of festive hymns. Traces — Alibi, 9pm. New crime drama about a woman who returns to Dundee to solve the case of her mother’s murder. Starring Molly Windsor, Laura Fraser, Jennifer Spence & Martin Compston. (1/6)

— TUESDAY 10th —

★ THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE — ITV, 7.30PM.

Annual variety entertainment show, recorded live from the London Palladium. Hosted by Rob Beckett & Romesh Ranganathan. Attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Acts include Robbie Williams, Jamie Cullum, Emeli Sande, Lewis Capaldi, the Kanneh Masons and Mabel, Britain’s Got Talent winner Colin Thackery, Frank Skinner, Kerry Godliman, West End shows Groan Ups, Mary Poppins, and Come from Away, and Zurcaroh & Cirque du Soleil.

Also watch:

Kirstie’s Homemade Christmas — Channel 4, 8pm . Special of the craft show focusing on Christmas time.

. Special of the craft show focusing on Christmas time. George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces: Northern Lights Adventure — Channel 4, 9pm . New series heading to Finland for architectural wonders.

. New series heading to Finland for architectural wonders. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — Sky Witness, 10pm . Season 21 of the US legal and crime drama.

. Season 21 of the US legal and crime drama. The Apprentice: The Final Five — BBC1, 10.45pm . Profiles of the last six wannabe apprentices for Series 15.

. Profiles of the last six wannabe apprentices for Series 15. Angels of the North — BBC1, 11.45pm. New documentary series following the work of a Newcastle salon. Continues twice nightly until Friday. (1&2/8)

— WEDNESDAY 11th —

★ GUY MARTIN’S GREAT ESCAPE — CHANNEL 4, 9PM.

Special aiming to recreate the famous motorcycle stunt from WWII movie The Great Escape, where Steve McQueen’s prisoner jumped over two border fences into Switzerland. Hosted by Guy Martin.

— THURSDAY 12th —

★ FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL — STARZPLAY.

Miniseries remake of the Richard Curtis rom-com about four American friends who reunite in London for a wedding. Starring Nathalie Emmanuel, Nikesh Patel, Rebecca Rittenhouse, John Reynolds, Brandon Mychal Smith, Zoe Boyle, Sophia La Porta, Harish Patel & Guz Khan. (All 10 episodes available).

Also watch:

I’m a Celebrity: Coming Out Special — ITV, 9pm . Special episode showing what happened to each of this year’s celebrities when they left the Australian jungle.

. Special episode showing what happened to each of this year’s celebrities when they left the Australian jungle. Christmas at Chatsworth House — Channel 4, 9pm . Documentary about the stately home at Christmas, when it expects to see 200,000 visitors.

. Documentary about the stately home at Christmas, when it expects to see 200,000 visitors. Make a Wish at Christmas — Channel 5, 9pm . Two-part documentary looking at the experiences of children with life-threatening conditions who are given once-in-a-lifetime treats by the Make-A-Wish UK charity. (1/2)

. Two-part documentary looking at the experiences of children with life-threatening conditions who are given once-in-a-lifetime treats by the Make-A-Wish UK charity. (1/2) Channel 4’s Alternative Election Night — Channel 4, 9.55pm . Live offbeat reaction to the General Election. Hosted by Krishnan Guru-Murphy, Katherine Ryan, Rylan Clark-Neal & Clare Balding. Guests include Rob Rinder, ex-Home Secretary Amber Rudd, former Labour Deputy Leader Tom Watson, comedians Tez Ilyas and Sophie Willan, and Channel 4 News’ Political Editor Gary Gibbon.

. Live offbeat reaction to the General Election. Hosted by Krishnan Guru-Murphy, Katherine Ryan, Rylan Clark-Neal & Clare Balding. Guests include Rob Rinder, ex-Home Secretary Amber Rudd, former Labour Deputy Leader Tom Watson, comedians Tez Ilyas and Sophie Willan, and Channel 4 News’ Political Editor Gary Gibbon. Election 2019 — BBC1, 9.55pm . Live reaction to the General Election results. Hosted by Huw Edwards with Laura Kuenssberg, Katya Adler, Faisal Islam, Amol Rajan, Professor John Curtice, Sophie Raworth, Sarah Smith, Kirsty Wark, Naga Munchetty, Andrew Marr, Martha Kearney, Nick Robinson & Lucy Manning.

. Live reaction to the General Election results. Hosted by Huw Edwards with Laura Kuenssberg, Katya Adler, Faisal Islam, Amol Rajan, Professor John Curtice, Sophie Raworth, Sarah Smith, Kirsty Wark, Naga Munchetty, Andrew Marr, Martha Kearney, Nick Robinson & Lucy Manning. Election 2019 Live — ITV, 9.55pm. Live reaction to the General Election results. Hosted by Tom Bradby with Professor Jane Green & Professor Colin Rallings.

— FRIDAY 13th —

★ ADAM HILLS: TAKE HIS LEGS — CHANNEL 4, 11.30PM.

Documentary about the Last Leg host as he attempts to make a dream come true: to play competitive rugby league despite a missing appendage.

Also watch:

Inside the World’s Greatest Hotels — Channel 5, 8pm . New series looking at iconic hotels, beginning with Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

. New series looking at iconic hotels, beginning with Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Celebrity 5: Christmas in Lapland — Channel 5, 10pm. Five famous faces travel to Lapland and live together in a lodge: Christopher Biggins, Joe Pasquale, Reverend Richard Coles, Rustie Lee & Sue Holderness.

— SATURDAY 14th —

★ ROD STEWART LIVE AT HYDE PARK — BBC2, 11.05PM.

Concert recorded live from Hyde Park for Radio 2’s Festival in a Field back in 2015.

— SUNDAY 15th —

★ STAR TREK: DISCOVERY — E4, 8PM.

Season 1 of the Star Trek prequel set a decade before the time of Captain Kirk and Spock, about a First Officer (Sonequa Martin-Green) who triggers a war with the Klingons. Terrestrial UK premiere, having already premiered on Netflix a few years ago. (1/15)

Also watch: