TV Guide 2022-12-17

Saturday: Strictly Come Dancing final, The Weakest Link and That's My Jam (BBC1). ITV has Celebrity Catchphrase and Tipping Point Lucky Stars.

Sunday: The Great Big Tiny Design Challenge (C4) makes big fun from small things. We've also a new ep of Epic Game Show: Child's Play and Got Talent: Magicians (both ITV).

Monday: Christmas House of Games (3) and Christmas University Challenge start (both BBC2). Scotland's Home of the Year has a Christmas special (BBC1 Scotland).

Tuesday: World's Strongest Man kicks off with Giants Live (C5).

Wednesday: A celebrity edition of Portrait Artist (Artsworld).

Thursday: End of the line for The Traitors (BBC1), and a celeb Sewing Bee (BBC1).

Friday: Finals day for Countdown (C4). Pointless Celebrities and The Weakest Link have Christmas specials (BBC1). Masterchef has celebrities (BBC1), and more from Only Connect (2) (BBC2) and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (C4).

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

Contents 1 Saturday 17 December 1.1 Primetime 2 Weekend repeats 2.1 Saturday 2.2 Sunday 3 Sunday 18 December 4 Weekday Daytimes 5 Monday 19 December 6 Tuesday 20 December 6.1 Bonus feature 7 Wednesday 21 December 8 Thursday 22 December 9 Friday 23 December 10 Sign language interpretation 11 Challenge 11.1 Saturday 11.2 Sunday 11.3 Monday

Saturday 17 December

• Fighting Talk (Radio 5, 11am).
• Couples Come Dine with Me (C4, 11.10) Essex.
• Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 1.15).
• Four in a Bed (C4, 1.55) Five episodes.
• The Great Festive Bake Off (E4, 5.05) Another chance to see an episode from last year.

Primetime

• Stephen Mulhern's Celebrity Catchphrase with Stephen Mulhern (ITV, 5.30) Joining Stephen Mulhern are Fern Britton, Dominic Brunt, and Kelle Bryan. Replaced by a repeat of The Big Quiz (2).
• The Hit List (BBC1, 5.35) Christmas special, with Arielle Free, Paul Young, Fiona and Eilish O'Carroll, Gary Davies, and Richie Anderson. Subject to delay if the shove ha'penny goes to extra pushes.
• The Weakest Link (BBC1, 6.20) A Strictly Come Dancing special.
• Tipping Point Lucky Stars (VM1 and ITV, 7pm) Len Goodman, Josie Gibson, and Mr. Motivator.
• Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1, 7.05) The grand final. Who wins? Georgia, probably.
• That's My Jam (BBC1, 9.35) Mo Gilligan preserves fruit in sugar, with Alesha Dixon, Michelle Visage, Kevin McHale, and Jenna Ushkowitz.

Weekend repeats

Saturday

• Breaking the News (Radio Scotland, 11.30) From Friday.
• Survivor (TG4, 2.55) From Wednesday. Ireland only.
• Outsiders (Dave, 10pm) From Wednesday.

Sunday

• I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (Radio 4, 12.04) From Monday.
• QI (BBC2, 12.10am) From Friday.

Sunday 18 December

• Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 12 noon).
• The Great Festive Bake Off (C4, 1.30) From 2020.
• The Chase for Soccer Aid (ITV, 5.30) A classic episode. As we feared, cancelled because of the on-field activities.
• Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (BBC2, 7pm) Peter Gunn and Melanie Hill.
• The Great Big Tiny Design Challenge (C4, 7pm) Christmas special.
• Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow (sic) (ITV, 7pm; VM1, 8pm) Child's Play celebrities, with Judi Love, Joe Swash, David James, Samia Longchambon. Also cancelled because of the football.
• Tipping Point: Best Ever Finals (ITV, 7.30) A late substitution.
• Got Talent: The Ultimate Magician (ITV, 8pm) Stephen Mulhern hosts a magic special.
• Réalta Agus Gaolta (TG4, 8.30) The grand final.
• Canada's Drag Race vs The World (BBC3, 9pm) Spy queens.
• Am Dro! (S4C, 11pm) Celebrities, repeated: Jason Mohammad, Gareth Wyn Jones, Non Parry, Alex Humphreys.

Weekday Daytimes

• Popmaster (Radio 2, 10.30am) It's championship week, and this year's big scorers come back for the chance to win a trophy.
• Bridge of Lies (RTÉ1, about 10.40am) Irish viewers get to see the Ross Kemp masterpiece.
• Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 12.15).
• Celebrity Eggheads (BBC2, 1pm) Repeats.
• Countdown (C4, 2.10) Colin Murray and Neil Delamere, steering us through finals week.
• The Chase (ITV, 5pm) Repeats.
• Pointless Celebrities (BBC1, 5.15) Repeats; new ep on Fr.
• House of Games (3) (BBC2, 7pm; Tu 6.30, Fr 7.30) Christmas week 1, with Clare Balding, Ivo Graham, Ugo Monye, Su Pollard. And note how this is on LATER!
• Dress to Impress (ITV2, 7pm).
• Battlebots (ITV4, 7pm).

Monday 19 December

• Counterpoint (Radio 4 Extra, 8.30am, 1.30, 6.30) A Christmas special, with Tim Rice, Julian Lloyd Webber, and Suzy Klein.
• In for a Penny (ITV, 2pm) A classic episode with Stephen Mulhern.
• Un Cwestiwn (S4C, 5.35) Repeats.
• I'm Sorry, I Haven't a Clue (Radio 4, 6.30) From Theatre Royal Newcastle, with John Finnemore, Pippa Evans, Fred Macaulay, Rory Bremner. Last in the series.
• Mastermind (BBC2, 7.30) Tudor rebellions, Christina Aguilera, space shuttles, James Parkinson.
• Scotland's Christmas Home of the Year (BBC1 Scot, 8pm) With guest judge Banjo Beale.
• Only Connect (BBC2, 8pm) Last-chance match: Strigiformes vs Cryptics.
• Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 8.30) 1: SOAS London play Balliol Oxford.
• QI XL (BBC2, 9pm) Toys, Tinsel, and Turkeys, with Aisling Bea, Chris McCausland, Gyles Brandreth.
• Fboy Island (BBC3, 9pm) "Kiss that yoghurt" The Kiwi dating show continues.
• Love at First Lie (MTV, 9pm) The American version of True Love or True Lies.
• The Traitors (BBC3, 9.40) Last week's three episodes back-to-back.

Tuesday 20 December

• Who Goes There? (Radio 4 Extra, 9am, 2pm and 7pm) Biographical quiz from 1998.
• Ninja Warrior (ITV, 2pm) Repeats of the recent series.
• Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (BBC2, 4.45) Jo Brand and Kerry Godliman. New episode.
• World's Strongest Man Giants (C5, 7pm) The global qualifiers begin here. Next ep on Thursday.
• Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 7.30) 2: University Oxford vs Glasgow.
• The Traitors (BBC1, 9pm) Oh my, it's the laser opdracht.
• Fboy Island (BBC3, 9pm) "Tom's journal".
• 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (C4, 10pm) Last year's Christmas special.
• I Literally Just Told You (C4, 11.05) Another chance to see a celebrity special.

Bonus feature

• Got Talent The Performances (ITV, 8pm) A routine by this year's winner of Got Talent, and some other talented celebrities, and Gary Barlow.

Wednesday 21 December

• The Write Stuff (Radio 4 Extra, 9am, 2pm and 7pm).
• In for a Penny (ITV, 2pm) Another classic episode with Stephen Mulhern.
• Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (BBC2, 5pm) Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch.
• Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 7.30) 3: Durham vs York, featuring local hero Tom Scott of The Internet.
• Portrait Artist of the Year (Artsworld, 8pm) A celebrity edition, where they paint Noddy Holder, Lewrence Llewelyn-Bowen, and Mica Paris.
• Dinner Date (ITVBe, 8pm) A new episode.
• The Traitors (BBC1, 9pm) Tears at breakfast, as the remaining players throw peppers and peel onions when faced with Claudia's latest grotesque jumper. Subject to delay if Sports Review of the Year over-runs.
• Fboy Island (BBC3, 9pm) "Man-cision".
• The Big Fat Quiz of Everything 2022 (C4, 10pm) Repeat.
• Outsiders (Dave, 10pm) This week, the squirrels earn their funeral badge.
• Beauty and the Geek (Really, 10pm) All good things come to an end, as does this series.
• The Challenge (MTV, 11pm) Deep web.

Thursday 22 December

• The Unbelievable Truth (Radio 4 Extra, 9am, 2pm and 7pm) This week, the squirrels earn their Germany badges.
• Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (BBC2, 5.15) Megan McKenna and James Argent.
• A Question of Sport (BBC1, 6.30) Kai Widdrington, Chris Hughes (Love Island), David James, Sarah Storey.
• Strongest Man Giants (C5, 7pm) The global qualifiers begin here. Next ep Friday.
• Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 7.30) 4: Exeter Oxford vs Queen Mary London
• Sewing Bee (BBC1, 8pm; Wales on BBC2) A celebrity special, with Johannes Radebe, Natalie Cassidy, Rosie Ramsey, and Penny Lancaster.
• The Traitors (BBC1, 9pm) The final.
• Fboy Island (BBC3, 9pm) "The men have no idea". Last in the series.

Friday 23 December

• Breaking the News (Radio Scotland, 1.30).
• Ninja Warrior (ITV, 2.25) Repeat.
• The Annual Radio Ulster Christmas Quiz (Radio Ulster, 4.04) Vinny Hurrell asks the questions of Jugo Duncan, Declan Harvey, Lynette Fay, Gemma Bradley, Nicola Weir, and Cecilia Daly.
• Pointless Celebrities (BBC1, 5.15) Christmas special, with Jamie Laing, James Argent, Griff Rhys Jones, Nina Wadia, Lee Latchford Evans, Claire Richards, Sindhu Vee, and Tiff Stevenson.
• Strongest Man Giants (C5, 6.30) The global qualifiers begin here. Next ep on Boxing Day.
• Celebrity Masterchef (BBC1, 8pm; NI 8.30) First of two specials with Bez, Iwan Thomas (sprinter), Josh Cuthbert, Lesley Garrett.
• Only Connect (2) (BBC2, 8pm) A Christmas special: Polyhymnians vs Channel Islanders.
• Christmas University Challenge (BBC2, 8.30) 5: Hull vs West of England.
• 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (C4, 9pm) Christmas special: Jon Richardson and Jack Dee vs lee Mack and Rose Matafeo.
• QI (BBC2, 10pm) Tricks and Treats, with Ria Lina, Eshaan Akbar, Jimmy Carr.

Sign language interpretation

• Tenable (ITV, 5.05am Sat).
• Dress to Impress (ITV2, 10.25am Sat).
• Am Dro! (S4C, 2.30 Sat).
• Yn y Ffram (S4C, 3.30 Sat).
• Couples Come Dine with Me (C4, 2.15am Sun).
• Loggerheads (BBC Scotland, 3pm Mon) Two episodes.
• Taskmaster (C4, 1.10am Tue).
• Come Dine with Me (C4, 2.55am Tue).
• Cooking with the Stars (ITV, 3am Tue).
• The Cube (ITV, 5.05am Tue).
• Masterchef The Professionals (BBC2, 7.50am Tue, 8am Wed, 6.10am Fri).
• Got Talent The Ultimate Magician (ITV, 4.20am Thu).
• Strictly Come Dancing (BBC2, 2.05am Fri).
• Game of Talents (ITV, 3am Fri).
• Come Dine with Me (C4, 4am Fri).

Challenge

Saturday

• The Chase 7am; Scrapheap Challenge 9am; Family Fortunes 10am; All Star Family Fortunes 2pm; Strike it Lucky 3.20; Tenable 4pm; The Chase 5pm; Bullseye 11pm; The Chase 3am.

Sunday

• The Chase 7am; Family Fortunes 9am; Play Your Cards Right 1.30; Blankety Blank 3pm; Scrapheap Challenge 5pm; The Chase 7pm.

Monday

• The Chase 7am; Blockbusters 9am; The Chase 12 noon; Family Fortunes 3pm; Bullseye 4pm; Cash Trapped 6pm; The Chase 7pm; Who Wants to be a Millionaire 10pm; Bullseye 11pm; The Chase 1am; Scrapheap Challenge 4am; Bullseye 5am.

Changes in the 9am-12 noon slot later in the week: Tuesday Supermarket Sweep, Wednesday Wheel of Fortune, Thursday Family Fortunes, Friday Play Your Cards Right.