What to watch on TV this week: 18th - 24th December
The Beyond Paradise Christmas special and The Great Christmas Bake Off 2023 are among our picks for what to watch on TV this week.
Can you hear those sleigh bells ringing? In the run-up to Christmas, this week is packed full of specials and other festive fare, including Channel 4 animation Mog's Christmas and The Great Christmas Bake Off 2023.
Other specials arriving this week include ones for Beyond Paradise and Not Going Out, as well as All Creatures Great and Small and Brassic.
Meanwhile, fans of Mark Gatiss's Ghost Stories for Christmas are in luck, as he's got a new one arriving on Christmas Eve, based on a story by Arthur Conan Doyle and starring Kit Harington.
Marvel's What If...? also seems to be taking a turn for the festive in its second season, which is arriving on Disney Plus and is chock full of new multiversal stories.
However, if you're looking for something a bit different from all the Christmas fare, there are plenty of other options this week, from Vanishing Act to The Winter King and Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
This year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year is also set to be announced, with Alex Scott, Gabby Logan, Gary Lineker and Clare Balding presenting the award.
To help you decide what to watch, check out our curated selection of top picks for this week. Watch the video above or read on for our full choice of what to watch.
Vanishing Act
Release date: Monday 18th December, 9pm, ITV1
This Australian drama series starring Kate Atkinson, which debuted on ITVX earlier this year, tells the true story surrounding the disappearance of Melissa Caddick, after she was confronted by authorities for her alleged multi-million dollar misappropriation. It portrays the mystery that surrounded Caddick's fate, after her disembodied foot was discovered inside her running shoe.
BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023
Release date: Tuesday 19th December, 7pm, BBC One
Alex Scott, Gabby Logan, Gary Lineker and Clare Balding will present this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, with the shortlist of contenders including cricketer Stuart Broad, jockey Frankie Dettori, footballer Mary Earps, wheelchair tennis player Alfie Hewett, athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and golfer Rory McIlroy.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Release date: Wednesday 20th December, Disney Plus
This new series adaptation, based on Rick Riordan's book series, sees demigod Percy Jackson, played by Walker Scobell, attempting to prove himself and confront his origins, as he pursues enemies in search of the Underworld. The series also stars Leah Sava Jeffries and Aryan Simhadri, while guest stars include Lin-Manuel Miranda and Toby Stephens.
The Winter King
Release date: Thursday 21st December, ITVX
Iain De Caestecker, Eddie Marsan and Nathaniel Martello-White star in this revisionist take on the Arthurian Legends, based on the book series by Bernard Cornwell. The series follows Arthur Pendragon as he evolves from outcast to legendary warrior and leader, and is set in a Britain which is full of warring factions and tribes.
All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special
Release date: Thursday 21st December, 9pm, Channel 5
This year's All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special finds James away at the RAF base and hoping to get home for Christmas, while Helen is now heavily pregnant. If you're looking for more All Creatures content, there is also a crossover programme with The Yorkshire Vet airing an hour before, at 8pm on Thursday 21st December.
A Very Brassic Christmas
Release date: Thursday 21st December, 10pm, Sky Max & NOW
Greg Davies and Imelda Staunton guest star in this first ever Christmas special for the Sky comedy series. In the special, Vinnie, Erin, Tommo, Cardi, Carol, Ashley and JJ will attempt to help save Christmas the Brassic way, after Dr Chris's aunt finds herself in crisis and a robbery at Tyler's school looks set to ruin his nativity.
What If…? Season 2
Release date: Friday 22nd December, Disney Plus
This new season of What If...? is releasing a new episode every day, with the final one set to drop on 30th December. The second run will feature nine fresh multiversal adventures, focusing on fan favourite characters like Nebula, Hela and Happy Hogan, with a number of MCU actors reprising their roles as voices in the season.
More like this
Mog’s Christmas
Release date: Sunday 24th December, 7:45pm, Channel 4
This animated short film, based on the book by Judith Kerr, features an all-star voice cast, including Adjoa Andoh, Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy, Miriam Margolyes, Maggie Steed, Charlie Higson and Zawe Ashton. It follows housecat Mog as she struggles to deal with the upheaval caused by the Christmas period.
The Great Christmas Bake Off 2023
Release date: Sunday 24th December, 8:15pm, Channel 4
Bake Off returns for another Christmas special, with hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond and judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith all back. This special will see familiar Bake Off faces returning to the tent, including George (season 12), Sophie (season 8), Dan (season 9), Amelia (season 10), Linda (season 11) and Carole (season 13).
Beyond Paradise Christmas special
Release date: Sunday 24th December, 9pm, BBC One
This first Christmas special for the Death in Paradise spin-off sees Humphrey and his team struggling to solve a set of reverse burglaries, where items are left behind rather than taken. Kris Marshall, Sally Bretton and the rest of the cast return to the Devon-set detective series.
Not Going Out: Wilfred
Release date: Sunday 24th December, 10pm, BBC One
In this 100th episode of Lee Mack's sitcom, Lee tries to create the perfect Christmas for his family by agreeing to Lucy's wish and doing something charitable. They invite a lonely pensioner from a care home to join them for Christmas dinner, but discover that he's not allowed to drink alcohol.
A Ghost Story for Christmas: Lot No. 249
Release date: Sunday 24th December, 10pm, BBC Two
This year's ghost story from writer and director Mark Gatiss stars Kit Harington, Freddie Fox and Colin Ryan, and is based on Lot No. 249 by Arthur Conan Doyle. Set in 1881, it sees three academics staying at Oxford, one of whom has been researching ancient Egypt and experimenting at bringing the breath of life to a horrifying bag of bones.
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