What to watch on TV this week: 3 – 12 December

Ready for another jam-packed week of telly treats? The start of December means plenty of festive fare with Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas, Jamie’s Cook-Ahead Christmas and Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake Christmas Special. Elsewhere, you’ll find Doctor Who spin-off The War Between The Land And The Sea and outrageous wrestling event Clash Of The Comics. Happy viewing!

With all this plus our usual sport and movie picks of the week, there’s something for all tastes across the service. And don’t forget, with Virgin TV Go, you can take your TV with you on the move.

There’s so much good stuff on this week that we’ve compiled a list of the best TV shows to watch. Bookmark this page to keep up to date with the latest changes.

Pick of the day: Britain’s Lost Battlefields With Rob Bell
9pm, SKY HISTORY HD (CH 131)

History buffs, this one’s for you. Rob Bell travels back in time to bring to life some of the most famous battles in British history by retracing the steps of kings, dukes, cavalry and infantry to learn the stories of six important battles that changed the course of history forever: Bannockburn, Hastings, Bosworth Field, Naseby, Boudicca’s Rebellion AKA the Battle of Watling Street and Kett’s Revolt in Norfolk. With each conflict re-enacted on screen in spellbinding detail, this six-part series is a history lesson that you don’t want to miss.

What else to watch:

• Shetland – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Prisoner 951: The Hostages’ Story – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• The Sycamore Gap Mystery – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• A League Of Their Own – 9pm, Sky Showcase HD (CH 109) + Sky Max HD (CH 111)

Pick of the day: Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas
8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

If you’re looking for some Christmas inspo then there’s no need to doom-scroll Instagram or TikTok for hours on end. Instead, snuggle up on the sofa and let craft queen Kirstie Allsopp take charge as she shares some of her favourite festive tips and tricks. From creating unique handmade decorations to personalising the presents under the tree, Kirstie and her crafting experts are on hand to help you make this year extra special. Lovely stuff.

What else to watch:

• Celebrity Race Across The World – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• The Man In The Mask: An Orkney Murder – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• The Sycamore Gap Mystery – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Play For Today: A Knock At The Door – 9pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

Pick of the day: Clash Of The Comics
9pm, U&Dave HD (CH 127)

Comedians are swapping the stand-up stage for the wrestling ring and trading blows instead of barbed quips in this outrageous event. Don’t miss a minute of the action as Joe “The CE-Joe” Lycett oversees clashes between funnymen Ed Gamble and Phil Wang, new Taskmaster star Maisie Adam and champion wrestler Nina Samuels, and James Acaster up against anyone brave enough to take him on. What could possibly go wrong?!

What else to watch:

• Batch From Scratch Christmas – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• World’s Biggest Christmas Markets – 8pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

• I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Gogglebox – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Daddy Issues – 9.35pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

Pick of the day: Nick Cave’s Veiled World
9pm, Sky Arts HD (CH 123)

Don’t miss this fascinating one-off documentary that explores the cultural legacy of one of the world’s most influential artists. Across 90 minutes, the film examines Cave’s impact on modern music, literature, film and visual art, as told through those who know him best including musicians Florence Welch, Colin Greenwood and Warren Ellis, designer Bella Freud, film-maker Wim Wenders and writer Irvine Welsh.

What else to watch:

• Strictly Come Dancing – 6.50pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Sandi Toksvig’s Great Riviera Rail Trip – 8.05pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Red Dwarf – 8.15pm, 9pm + 9.35pm, U&Dave HD (CH 127)

• I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Wild Cherry – 9.05pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

Pick of the day: The War Between The Land And The Sea
8.30pm + 9.15pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

This new instalment of the Whoniverse, created by series supremo Russell T Davies, will knock fans’ socks off. The five-part Doctor Who spin-off follows a low-level UNIT staff member (played by Russell Tovey, Years And Years), whose life is changed when he becomes humanity’s ambassador to a mysterious ancient species known as the Sea Devils. Will he be able to stop a war between man and monster? Who series regular Jemma Redgrave also stars alongside Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Misbehaviour), Madeley (Nightsleeper) and Colin McFarlane (The Dark Knight).

What else to watch:

• The Great Escapers – 7pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Celebrity Catchphrase Christmas Special – 8pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Game Of Wool: Britain’s Best Knitter – 8.30pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Final – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Benetton Formula – 9pm, Sky Documentaries HD (CH 188)

Pick of the day: Jamie’s Cook-Ahead Christmas
8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

Jamie Oliver is back with another cracker of a cooking countdown just in time for Christmas. Tune in as the erstwhile Naked Chef shares his tried-and-tested tips to get you ready for the big day ahead of schedule, with mouth-watering recipes including an incredible potato and fennel al forno, homemade ice cream that can be whipped up into a dazzling dessert at a moment’s notice and three types of sumptuous butter to upgrade any dish such as a mouth-tingling Prosecco, orange and cumin number. Save us a plate!

What else to watch:

• The 1% Club Rollover – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• The Only Way Is Essexmas 2025 – 9pm, ITV2 HD (CH 116)

• Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake Christmas Special – 9pm, U&W HD (CH 125)

• Troy Story – 9pm, Sky HISTORY HD (CH 131)

• Mammoth – 10pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

Pick of the day: Dark Winds
9pm, U&Alibi HD (CH 114)

From the mind of Graham Roland (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan) comes this critically acclaimed US thriller that returns to screens for a third season. This time, Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon, Fargo) and his deputy Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon, The Twilight Saga) investigate the disappearance of two boys with only an abandoned bicycle and a blood-stained patch of ground for clues. Look out for guest appearances from executive producers George RR Martin and the late Robert Redford.

What else to watch:

• Our Girls: The Southport Families – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• A Very British Christmas: Howard Castle – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Cooper & Fry – 8pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

• What’s The Monarchy For? – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Rob & Romesh Vs – 9pm, Sky Max HD (CH 111)

Pick of the day: Winter On The Farm
8pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

Helen Skelton and Jules Hudson are back at Cannon Hall Farm in South Yorkshire to shine a light on the challenges that British farmers face during the year’s harshest conditions. Things are off to an adorable start with a group of young Highland cattle being halter-trained for the end-of-year show in Carlisle, while the farm welcomes some new pygmy goat arrivals and JB Gill checks on Cannon Hall’s growing flock of Dutch Spotted sheep. All together now… Aw!

What else to watch:

• See No Evil – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• The Yorkshire Vet: A Decade In The Moors And Dales – 9pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

• Mega Metro – 9pm, U&Yesterday HD (CH 129)

• Britain’s Lost Battlefields With Rob Bell – 9pm, Sky HISTORY HD (CH 131)

• Ellie Taylor: Palavering! – 10pm, Sky Comedy HD (CH 112)

Pick of the day: See No Evil
9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

This eye-opening two-part documentary investigates one of the most shocking scandals in Church of England history – the case of Christian lay minister and prolific abuser John Smyth, who spent decades targeting boys and young men while evading justice. The second episode explores the new life Smyth built in Zimbabwe, where he set up Christian summer camps to gain access to new victims while senior church officials continued to cover up his crimes. For the first time ever, Smyth’s widow Anne speaks out about her husband’s horrifying crimes.

What else to watch:

• Celebrity Race Across The World: The Final – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Winter On The Farm – 8pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

• The Man In The Mask: An Orkney Murder – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• Play For Today: Special Measures – 9pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

• Allegiance – 9pm, U&Alibi HD (CH 114)

Pick of the day: The Cancer Clinic
8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

As part of Stand Up To Cancer night on Channel 4, Davina McCall is live from a one-off cancer clinic at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. The one-hour special offers offering unprecedented access to the world of cancer care, from screening to diagnosis to treatment, and shows how spotting the signs early can make all the difference – as well as how advances in technology are transforming outcomes. Followed by Celebrity Gogglebox For Stand Up To Cancer at 9pm, charity gala Stand Up To Cancer: The Big Bash at 10pm and The Last Leg Of SU2C at 11.05pm.

What else to watch:

• Return To Paradise – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Batch From Scratch At Christmas – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Inside The Four Seasons At Christmas – 9pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

• Safe Home – 9pm, More4 HD (CH 147)

• Daddy Issues – 9.35pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

Motorsport: Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Sunday 7 December, 11.30am, Sky Sports F1®/HD (CH 516/506)

It was all looking so rosy for Lando Norris after São Paulo. He’d just won his second consecutive Grand Prix to establish a 34-point lead in the battle for the F1 drivers’ championship. With three races still to go, the British driver was in a strong position – and as he crossed the finish line in second place in Las Vegas, he could surely visualise himself getting his hands on the trophy sooner rather than later.

That was before the officials got a look at the rear skid wear on the McLaren cars and promptly disqualified both Norris and his team-mate Oscar Piastri, allowing four-time champ Max Verstappen to close the gap. Then in Qatar, the team decided not to pit their drivers under safety-car conditions – an error that ultimately meant Verstappen took the chequered flag again. Norris finished fourth; that 34-point lead was down to 12.

So it’s all on the line as the teams line up at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. Norris knows that he simply has to finish in the top three to be crowned champion. But will those last two races be playing on his mind? If he doesn’t make the podium, Verstappen’s recent form makes him the title favourite. But anything can happen at 200mph on a Formula One track. Piastri is still in with a chance too: he needs to finish first or second and hope everything goes wrong for the other two.

Whatever happens, we’re in for a thrilling race, and potentially a new British champion. Don’t miss the action on Sky Sports.

What else to watch:

Looking for more sport this week? We can help with that.

• All the best live sport you can watch on TV this week

• Got a Sky Sports subscription? Check out our monthly guide

• If you’ve got TNT Sports, your monthly guide is here

Knives Out
Saturday 6 December, 10.05pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

With Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery in select cinemas across the UK this week and coming to Netflix on Friday 12 December, find out where it all began with the original Knives Out movie. The whodunnit stars Daniel Craig (No Time To Die) as famed private detective Benoit Blanc, who’s tasked with solving the mysterious murder of wealthy crime author Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer, The Sound Of Music). With a whopping 97% Rotten Tomatoes rating and an ensemble cast including Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis and Toni Collette to name a few, this is one murder mystery that will have you glued to your sofa.

What else to watch:

Looking for more movies this week? We can help with that.

• Our monthly Sky Cinema guide featuring the best movies this month

• Looking for something on Netflix? Try our monthly guide to new releases

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