TV Guide 2014-12-20

Highlights include finals of Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1, Sat), The Apprentice (BBC1, Sun), and Masterchef The Professionals (BBC2, Tue).

Christmas specials of Pointless (BBC1, Sat) and Celebrity Squares (ITV, Sat), University Challenge (BBC2, from Sat), World's Strongest Man (C5, from Sat), Celebrity Mastermind (BBC1, from Sun), Fifteen-to-One (C4, Tue), and Fighting Talk (Radio 5, Thu).

Strictly Come Dancing is at 5pm on Christmas night, The Big Fat Quiz of the Year is at 9pm on Boxing Day.

Two new series on the wireless: Britain Versus the World (Radio 4 Extra, Mon), and Brain of Britain starts with Brain of Brains (Radio 4, Mon).

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Contents 1 Saturday 20 December 1.1 PRIMETIME 2 Sunday 21 December 2.1 PRIMETIME 3 Monday 22 December 3.1 PRIMETIME 4 Tuesday 23 December 4.1 PRIMETIME 5 Wednesday 24 December 5.1 PRIMETIME 6 Thursday 25 December 6.1 PRIMETIME 7 Friday 26 December 7.1 PRIMETIME 7.2 Sign language interpretation

Saturday 20 December

• Junior Masterchef (BBC2, 8.30) Three episodes including the final.
• May the Best Christmas House Win (ITVBe, 9am).
• Swashbuckle! (Cbeebies, 11am) Three Wishes.
• Fighting Talk (Radio 5, 11am) Josh Widdicombe.
• The Cube (ITV2, 11.20) Celebrities.
• Come Dine with Me (More4, 11.25) Christmas in SE London. There's no afternoon of shows on Channel 4.
• World's Strongest Man (C5, 11.45am).
• Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 1pm).
• Fort Boyard Ultimate Challenge (CITV, 5pm).

PRIMETIME

• Pointless Celebrities (BBC1 5.40) Christmas: Christopher Biggins and Lorraine Chase, Joe Pasquale and Ann Widdecombe, Mark Little and Liz McClarnon, Ashleigh Butler (and Pudsey) and Bob Carolgees (and Spit the Dog).
• Celebrity Squares (ITV, 6pm) Ashley Roberts, David Haye, Reece Shearsmith, Andi Peters, Dame Sandi Toksvig, Stewart Francis, Bridget Christie.
• Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1, 6.30). This week's theme: "The final". Continues 8.50, and Zoe Ball is backstage on the Red Button at 9.55.
• Mastermind (BBC2 Wales, 6.30) Held over from last night.
• Winning Streak (RTE1, 8.30).
• University Challenge at Christmas (BBC2 Scotland 7.35, elsewhere 8.35) Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford v Warwick.
• 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (More4, 9pm) 2 episodes.
• QI XL (BBC2, 9.05; Wales 12.15) "Kris Kringle".

Sunday 21 December

• Swashbuckle! (Cbeebies, 11am) Horrible Hiccups.
• Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 11.30).
• Tipping Point Lucky Stars (ITV, 2.50).
• The Chase (ITV, 3.50).
• Fort Boyard Ultimate Challenge (CITV, 5pm).
• Come Dine with Me (More4, 5.20) Christmas celebrities.

PRIMETIME

• Girlfri3nds (ITVBe, 6pm) A repeat from 2012.
• Celebrity Mastermind (BBC1, 6.30) Emma Barton, Tony Marshall, Zoe Lyons, Jamie Baulch.
• The Great British Bake Off (Really, 7pm) Desserts.
• Celebrity Christmas Dinner Date (ITVBe, 8pm). Hugo Taylor from Chelsea.
• An Jig Gig (TG4, 8.30).
• The Apprentice The Final and You're Hired (BBC1, 9pm) Alan Sugar invites the last three to launch themselves while Dara Ó Briain lights the blue touchpaper and retires.
• QI XL (BBC2 9.40; NI 12.30, Wales 1.15am Friday night / Saturday morning) "Lumped Together".
• Have I Got 2014 for You (BBC1, 11.25).

Monday 22 December

• Catchphrase Day (Challenge, 9am) To 7pm.
• Britain Versus the World (Radio 4 Extra, 9.30) A team of British comedians take on comics from overseas. The ref is Ed Byrne (comedian) (Irish).
• Dickinson's Real Deal (ITV, 10.20).
• Tipping Point (ITV, 11.20).
• Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 12 noon).
• Big Star's Little Star (ITV, 1.55).
• Brain of Brains 2014 (Radio 4, 3pm) The last three champions and (gasp!) the highest-scoring final loser play for the triennial title.
• Countdown (C4, 3.10) A special: Priscilla Munday v Eileen Taylor.
• Deal or No Deal (C4, 4pm) Merry Christmas, says the Banker.
• The 4 O'Clock Show (Radio 4 Extra, 4pm).
• The Cube (ITV, 5pm) Celebrities.
• Come Dine with Me (C4, 5pm) Jona Lewie, Maizie Williams from Boney M, VV Brown, Toby Anstis.
• Pointless Celebrities (BBC1, 5.15) 1970s.

PRIMETIME

• Eggheads (BBC2, 6pm).
• I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (Radio 4, 6.30) From Canterbury with Susan Calman and Tony Hawks but guest host Jack Dee.
• World's Strongest Man (C5, 6.55).
• Celebrity Mastermind (BBC1, 7pm) Ore Oduba, Lizzy Yarnold, Alex Riley, Ken Dodd.
• A Question of Sport Christmas Special (BBC1, 7.30; Scotland 11.05).
• Would I Lie to You? (BBC1, 8.30) Ray Winstone, Josh Widdicombe, Rachel Riley, Ricky Tomlinson.
• Never Mind the Buzzcocks (BBC2, 10pm; not NI) Louis Walsh, Glen Matlock, Lloyd Langford, Melissa Steel.
• News Quiz Extra (Radio 4 Extra, 11pm).

Tuesday 23 December

• Wheel of Fortune Day (Challenge, 9am) To 8pm.
• The Great British Bake Off Day (Really, 10am) To 6pm.
• Dickinson's Real Deal (ITV, 10.20).
• Tipping Point (ITV, 11.20).
• Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 12 noon).
• Big Star's Little Star (ITV, 12.25).
• We Love Bobby Lockwood Afternoon (CBBC, 12 noon) Includes the reigning Tumble champ on The Dog Ate My Homework (1pm), Ultimate Brain (1.25), Jedward's Big Adventure (1.55).
• Countdown (C4, 3.10) A special.
• Deal or No Deal (C4, 4pm) Merry Christmas, says the Banker.
• The 4 O'Clock Show (Radio 4 Extra, 4pm).
• The Chase (ITV, 5pm).
• Come Dine with Me (C4, 5pm) Celebrities in London, repeated.
• Pointless Celebrities (BBC1, 5.10) Christmas, from Saturday.

PRIMETIME

• World's Strongest Man 2014 (C5, 6pm).
• Celebrity Mastermind (BBC1, 7pm) In a change to the original billing, it's Mary Anne Hobbs, Neil Fitzmaurice, Katie Thistleton, and Johnny Ball. The episode with Tim Key, Andy McConnell, Amy MacDonald, and Richard Stilgoe is postponed because a contender took Joe Cocker, who died yesterday.
• University Challenge at Christmas (BBC2, 7.30) Hull (Dane Jenni Murray, Rosie Millard) v Newcastle (Kate Adie, Giles Fraser).
• Masterchef The Professionals (BBC2, 8pm) The grand final.
• Fifteen-to-One The Celebrity Edition (C4, 8pm) Johnny Vegas, Rufus Hound, Phill Jupitus, Jenny Eclair, Shappi Khorsandi, John Thomson, Mariella Frostrup, Mark Foster, Spencer Matthews, Sunetra Sarker, Iwan Thomas (runner), Katherine Ryan, Kym Marsh, Roisin Conarty.
• Five Gold Rings (BBC1 NI, 9pm) "A festive evening of games, music and surprises". Stephen Nolan hosts, so try not to panic.
• 8 Out of 10 Cats (C4, 9pm) Jonathan Ross, Freddie Flintoff, Ricky Wilson, Roisin Conarty.
• Mock the Week (BBC2, 10pm) Outtakes.
• The Apprentice (BBC1, 10.35; Wales 11.40, NI 12.10am) The Final.

Wednesday 24 December

• Four Weddings Us Day (UK Living 2, 7am) To 9pm.
• The Chase Day (Challenge, 9am) To 7pm.
• Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (BBC2, 9.55).
• The 4 O'Clock Show (Radio 4 Extra, 4pm).
• Famous Family Fortunes (ITV2, 5.05).

PRIMETIME

• University Challenge at Christmas (BBC2, 8pm) King's Cambridge (Martin Bell, David Walker) v Royal Holloway (Francis Wheen, Valerie Vaz).
• A League of Their Own (The Satellite Channel, 9pm) Christmas Party.

Thursday 25 December

• Celebrity Who Wants to be a Millionaire Day (Challenge, 9.15) To 11pm.
• The 4 O'Clock Show (Radio 4 Extra, 4pm).

PRIMETIME

• Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special (BBC1, 5pm) It's panto season as the panel dress up as their favourite Chasers. With Chris Hollins, Louis Smith, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Rachel Stevens, Russell Grant, and Lisa Riley.
• Fighting Talk (Radio 5, 5.30) Georgie Thompson pulls a cracker.
• University Challenge at Christmas (BBC2, 7.15) Edinburgh (Philippa Gregory, Allan Little) v Leeds (James Mates, Jacqui Oatley).
• QI (BBC2, 10.30) No L, with Carrie Fisher, Bill Bailey, Jimmy Carr.
• 8 Out of 10 Cats (C4, 11pm).
• Fonn Fonn Fonn (BBC Alba, 11.30) Innes Strachen, Ramsay MacMahon, Cristin Mackenzie, Ceitlin Smith.

Friday 26 December

• Bullseye Day (Challenge, 9am) To 9pm.
• Dinner Date Australia (ITV, 9.25).
• Celebrity Squares (ITV, 10.25).
• CBBC Appalong Afternoon (CBBC, 12 noon) Gory Games and Ludus. To 2.30.
• The Chase Christmas Special (ITV, 12.45).
• The 4 O'Clock Show (Radio 4 Extra, 4pm) Last episode of Keep It in the Family (2).

PRIMETIME

• University Challenge at Christmas (BBC2, 6.45; NI 5.30 next Sunday) Trinity Hall Cambridge (Dan Starkey, Tom James) v Balliol Oxford (Charlotte Higgins, Alan Beith).
• The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (C4, 9pm) Richard Ayoade, David Mitchell, Mel B, Micky Flanagan, Sarah Millican, Kevin Bridges.
• Through the Keyhole (ITV, 9.30) Jonathan Ross, Louis Walsh, Kym Marsh go snooping.

Sign language interpretation

• The Apprentice (BBC2, 1.45am Tue; Scotland 2.15).