TV Guide 2025-12-20

Rather than highlights for the week, we're giving day-by-day highlights.

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Schedules are accurate at the time of publication; check against EPG for late changes.

Strictly Come Dancing final, and Blankety Blank special (both BBC1).

• Fighting Talk (Radio 5, 11am).
• Masterchef The Professionals (RTÉ1, 12.05).
• Alan Carr's Picture Slam (BBC1, 5.35).
• World's Strongest Man (C5, 6.10) From Leeds.
• Blankety Blank Christmas Special (BBC1, 6.20) Hoping not to pull a turkey are Alex Brooker, Charlotte Church, Daniel Mays, Jack Dee, Motsi Mabuse, and Stephanie Beacham.
• Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1, 7pm) The grand final. Signed on the Red Button.
• The Wheel (BBC1, 9.10) Celebrities are Jason Manford, Chris McCausland, Ellie Taylor, Tony Bellew, George Clarke, Judi Love, Kelly Cates.
• The 1% Club (ITV, 9.10; not HTV Wales) Repeat of last year's Christmas special.

• Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 1pm).
• The Great Christmas Bake Off 2024 (C4, 5.30).

Game of Wool has its final, and The Chase has its annual out-takes show.

• Alan Carr's 12 Stars of Christmas (That's TV, 2.05am; three episodes) Another chance to see the shouty quiz show about the events of 2010. That's TV has something of a reputation for not airing billed episodes on time or even at all.
• The Chase The Bloopers (ITV, 6.05) This year's compilation of goofs, gaffs, errors and the rest.
• Larry Grayson's The Generation Game (BBC4, 8pm) Christmas Day 1979.
• Game of Wool (C4, 8pm) The grand final, where they yarn-bomb a post box.

• The Royal Variety Performance (ITV, 7.05) Jason Manford from First & Last hosts the gala evening, featuring an appearance by the winner of Got Talent. (Who won Got Talent this year? That's showbiz!)

The Taskmaster championship of champions (C4), and a new run of The Unbelievable Truth (Radio 4).

• Boom Bang! (S4C, 5.35) How much sugar in sweets?
• World's Strongest Man (C5, 6pm) From London.
• The Unbelievable Truth (Radio 4, 6.30) Ed Byrne (comedian), Ian Smith, Maisie Adam, Lucy Porter in the fact-smuggling challenge.
• House of Games (BBC2, 7pm) Festive players Matthew Baynton, Mel Giedroyc, Harriet Kemsley, Charles Venn are here all week.
• Celebrity Mastermind (BBC2, 7.30) Maryam Moshiri, Chesney Hawkes, Desiree Burch, Danny Robins.
• Celebrity Masterchef Goes Large Christmas Cook-Off 2024 (BBC1, 8pm) GK Barry, Kola Bokinni, Nikki Fox, and The Fabulous Iain Stirling.
• Only Connect (2) (BBC2, 8pm) Quarter-final 3: Pitchers vs Sorcerers.
• Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 8.30) They're inviting back teams representing each of the distinct winners of the festive series. Tonight: Durham vs Manchester.
• Taskmaster Champion of Champions (C4, 9pm) Sam Campbell, John Robins, Andy Zaltzman, Mathew Baynton, and the most recent champion.

• Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 12 noon)
• Just a Minute (Radio 4 Extra, 2pm and 8pm)
• Tipping Point Lucky Stars (ITV, 4.50); The Chase Celebrity Special (ITV, 5.55).

Channel 5's got World's Strongest Man almost every evening, and throws in one of Sally Lindsay's Quiz Nights.

• One Person Found This Helpful (Radio 4, 6.30) A Whiff of Xmas, with Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Sunil Patel, Simon Evans, Ania Magliano.
• House of Games (BBC2, 7pm).
• World's Strongest Man (C5, 7pm) From Birmingham.
• Celebrity Mastermind (BBC2, 7.30) Sally Ann Matthews, Yinka Bokinni, Felicity Ward, Michael Bradley.
• Only Connect (2) (BBC2, 8pm) Pub quiz: Hopsters vs Taverners.
• Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 8.30) UCL vs Leeds.
• QI XL (BBC2, 9pm) Winter Wonderland, with Julian Clary, Fatiha El-Ghorri, but Jimmy Carr.
• Sally Lindsay's Christmas Quiz Night (2) (C5, 10pm) Vintage and classic telly, with John Thomson, Debbie McGee, Stephen Bailey, Christopher Biggins, Lesley Joseph, Shappi Khorsandi.

• Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 12 noon)
• Genius Christmas Special (Radio 4 Extra, 2pm and 8pm) Dave Gorman and Lee Mack.
• The Radio Wales Christmas Quiz (Radio Wales, 2pm) Look, if you will air it at 2am at the start of the month, we will list it as a repeat.
• Celebrity Lingo (ITV, 3.20); Tipping Point Lucky Stars (ITV, 4.25); The Chase Celebrity Special (ITV, 5.30).
• Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (BBC2, 6pm) Anne Hegerty and Shaun Wallace.

We know where we are with 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (C4). Something new: I Don't Do… With Julian Clary (Radio 4).

• The Chase Celebrity Special (ITV, 5.55) Fancy dress special, with Lucy Porter, Colin Murray, Tommy Blaize from Strictly, and Asim Chaudhry.
• World's Strongest Man (C5, 6pm) From Glasgow.
• The Annual BBC Radio Ulster Christmas Quiz (Radio Ulster, 6.05) Cecilia Daly, David Maxwell, Declan Harvey, and Anne Marie Wallace. The narrator is Hugo Duncan, the role of Krampus is played by Julian Simmons, and the Christmas fairy is Stephen Nolan. Your hosts are Vinny Hurrell and Cate Conway.
• I Don't Do... With Julian Clary (Radio 4, 6.30) A sort-of panel game, with Jo Brand, Glenn Moore, Fatiha El-Ghorri, and Gareth Malone.
• House of Games (BBC2, 7pm).
• Sewing Bee Christmas Special (BBC1, 7.25) Anton Du Beke, Lucy Beaumont, Susan Wokoma, Tom Wilson (Hammer from Gladiators) make present sacks and Twelve Days outfits.
• Celebrity Mastermind (BBC2, 7.30) Gareth Malone (again!), Gamba Cole, Yewande Biala, Lucy Beaumont (again!).
• Only Connect (2) (BBC2, 8pm) Families: Whitcombes vs Gardners.
• Y Deis (S4C, 8pm) A regular people edition.
• Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 8.30) Keble Oxford vs Hull.
• 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (C4, 9pm) Jon Richardson and Daisy May Cooper play Rob Beckett and Judi Love, with help from Katie Norris.

• Bargain Hunt (BBC2, 12 noon)
• Genius Christmas Special (Radio 4 Extra, 2pm and 8pm) Dave Gorman and Lee Mack.
• Popmaster tv celebrity specials (More4, 9pm) Two episodes repeated from last year.

Very pleasant scheduling from the main channels: BBC1 crams its highlights into the afternoon (Gladiators, Weakest Link, Strictly, and The Wheel); then ITV offers Bullseye and The 1% Club.

• Fighting Talk Favourites (Radio 5, 12.30 and 3.30).
• Newshour Christmas Quiz (BBC World Service, 2pm and 9pm). Test your knowledge of the year, or your ability to retune the radio and hear Alexander Armstrong play Top of the Carols.
• Celebrity Gladiators (BBC1, 3.35) Joe Wicks plays Sam Thompson, and Nicola Adams against Vogue Williams. Also signed on the Red Button.
• The Weakest Link Christmas Special (BBC1, 4.45) Lou Sanders, Martine McCutcheon, David O'Doherty, Ade Adepitan, Ross King, Jess Wright, Eddi Kadi, Blu Hydrangea.
• Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1, 5.30) Tess and Claudia's swansong, with Scarlett Moffatt, Melanie Blatt, Brian McFadden, Babatunde Aléshé, Nicholas Bailey, and Jodie Ounsley (Fury from Gladiators). Also signed on the Red Button.
• Unspeakable (Radio 4, 6.30) Matt Lucas, Nick Mohammed, and Sara Pascoe come up with new words.
• The Wheel (BBC1, 6.45) Contestants: Richard Osman, Mel Giedroyc, Paddy McGuinness. Wheelers: Gyles Brandreth, Josie Gibson, Big Narstie, Tim Vine, Zara McDermott, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, the combo of Joanna Page and Matthew Horne. Also signed on the Red Button.
• Bake Off (C4, 8pm) Stars of Peep Show: Olivia Colman, celebrity husband David Mitchell, Isy Suttie, Matt King, Sophie Winkleman.
• Y Deis Nadolig (S4C, 8pm) Famous faces play the dice game.
• Bullseye (ITV, 8.15) Guest for the Christmas special is Michael van Gerwen.
• The 1% Club (ITV, 9.15) More Christmas pudding for the question setters? Don't mind if we do.
• Parents' Evening (ITV, 10.15) Larry Lamb and his son George, Motsi Mabuse and mother Dudu, Josh Widdicombe and dad Tom. Caution: may contain George Lamb.

All the regular irregulars are present and correct: Would I Lie to You (BBC1), The Masked Singer (ITV), and Big Fat Quiz of the Year (C4).

• Breaking the News (Radio Scotland, 1.30) The Best of Unbroadcast.
• 2fm Christmas Quiz (RTÉ 2fm, 3pm) This was a right hoot last year, surely worth digging out.
• World's Strongest Man (C5, 6pm) The finals begin in Sacramento. Subject to delay if snooker goes to extra pots.
• Would I Lie to You? (BBC1, 7pm) Jools Holland, Swarzy Shire, Helen George, David Walliams.
• House of Games (BBC2, 7.30).
• The Masked Singer (ITV, 7.30; VM1, 7.35) Four famous faces battle it out in the most guessing game of all.
• The Great Pottery Throw Down (C4, 7.45) Amber Gill, Colin Murray, Sarah Hadland, Tim Vine try to make a North Pole scene.
• Celebrity Mastermind (BBC2, 8pm) Will Best, Laura Smyth, Nikita Kuzmin, Jayne Wisener.
• Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 9pm) Trinity Cambridge vs Bristol.
• The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (C4, 9pm) Jonathan Ross, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Ryan, Nick Mohammed, Roisin Conaty, Lou Sanders face questions from Jimmy Carr and a cast of thousands.

• Bargain Hunt (BBC2, 1.10).
• Bullseye (ITV, 3pm) From last evening.
• Bake Off (C4, 5.15) From last evening.
• Only Connect (2) (BBC2, 8.30) Sport: Wrestlers vs Arrowheads.

• Lingo (ITV Quiz, 9am every day).
• Get Set Galactic (Cbeebies, 2.20pm Sat, Sun).
• Strictly Come Dancing (BBC Red Button, 7pm Sat) Live with BBC1.
• Bullseye (ITV, 3am Sun).
• Christmas Bake Off (C4, 12.15am Mon and Tue).
• Celebrity Lego Masters (C4, 1.25am Mon).
• Celebrity Masterchef (BBC2, 2.50am and 3.50am Mon, 4.40am Tue) Last week's episodes.
• Scotland's Home of the Year (BBC Scotland, 3pm Mon) From last week.
• Game of Wool (C4, 4.05am Wed).
• Celebrity Masterchef (BBC2, 4am Thu) Christmas cook-off.
• Gladiators (BBC Red Button, 3.35pm Thu), Strictly Come Dancing (BBC Red Button, 5.30pm Thu; also 3.05am Fri on BBC2), The Wheel (BBC Red Button, 6.45pm Thu) Live with BBC1.

7am The Chase 9am Total Wipeout 12 noon Tenable 2pm Blankety Blank 3.20 Family Fortunes 4pm The Chase 11pm Bullseye 2am The Chase 3am The Bidding Room 4am The Chase

7am The Chase 11am Tenable 1pm The Chase 2pm Total Wipeout 4pm The Chase 6pm Tenable 8pm The Chase 10pm Tenable 11pm Bullseye 12 midnight The Chase 3am The Bidding Room 4am Bob's Full House 4.50am Bullseye

As Monday except in the following hours:

2pm The Crystal Maze 3.10 Family Fortunes 3.55 Bob's Full House 4.45 Bruce Forsyth's Generation Game 6pm Supermarket Sweek 6.30 Bullseye

As Monday except in the following hours:

10am Strike it Lucky 10.40 Supermarket Sweep 11.20 Bullseye 12 noon Tenable 1pm The Chase 2pm Pointless Celebrities 3pm Family Fortunes 4pm Bob's Full House 4.45 Bruce Forsyth's Generation Game 6pm Bullseye 7pm The Chase 9pm Who Wants to be a Millionaire 10pm Bullseye 11pm The Chase 12 midnight The Crystal Maze

7am The Chase 11am Tenable 1pm The Chase 10pm Bullseye 12 midnight The Chase 4am Bob's Full House 4.50am Bullseye

9am Lingo 11am Wheel of Fortune 12 noon Tipping Point 3pm Tenable 4pm Deal or No Deal 6pm Lingo 7pm Limitless Win 8pm Epic Gameshow 9pm Parents' Evening 10pm Millionaire 11pm Tipping Point 11.55 Deal or No Deal 12.50am Parents' Evening

9am Lingo 10am Tenable 11am Wheel of Fortune 12 noon Millionaire 1pm Limitless Win 2pm Tipping Point 3pm Tenable 4pm Deal or No Deal 6pm Lingo 7pm Limitless Win 8pm Epic Gameshow 9pm Millionaire 11pm Tipping Point 11.55 Deal or No Deal 12.50am Parents' Evening

9am Lingo 10am Tenable 11am Millionaire 1pm Limitless Win 2pm Tipping Point 3pm Tenable 4pm Deal or No Deal 6.10 Lingo 7.10 Limitless Win 8.10 The Chase Celebrity Special 9.10 Millionaire 11.10 Tipping Point 12.05am Deal or No Deal 1.05am Parents' Evening

This is a channel debut for The Chase.

As Monday until

5pm Epic Gameshow 6pm Lingo 7.05 Limitless Win 8.05 Wheel of Fortune 9.05 Millionaire 11.05 Tipping Point 12 mdnt Wheel of Fortune 12.55am Parents' Evening

As Monday until

4pm Celebrity Catchphrase 5pm Epic Gameshow 6pm Lingo 7pm Limitless Win 8pm Millionaire 9.05 The Chase Celebrity Special 11.05 Tipping Point 12 mdnt Millionaire 12.55am Bullseye

9am Lingo 10am Tenable 11am Millionaire 12 noon Beat the Chasers 1pm Limitless Win 2pm Tipping Point 3pm Tenable 4pm Deal or No Deal 5pm Wheel of Fortune 6pm Lingo 7pm Limitless Win 8.05 Bullseye 9.05 Parents' Evening 10.05 The Chase Celebrity Special 11.05 Tipping Point 12mdnt Bullseye 12.55am Wheel of Fortune