Pick Of The Week: "Britain's Got An Extra PopFactor... And Then Some" (Fri, Channel 4, 9pm)
My pick of the week's best, new television shows airing in the UK this week:
MONDAY 15th
- Nothing yet. Don't blame me, it's all being stored up for the weekend's explosion of festive programming.
TUESDAY 16th
- Horizon: Where's My Robot? (BBC2, 9pm) Comedian Danny Wallace investigates the world's top laboratories involved in robotics.
- Sleepwalkers: Secrets Of The Night (Channel 4, 9pm) Documentary looking at various sleepwalkers with unusual nocturnal traits, including: a nine-year-old, a husband who pesters his wife for sex, a man draws pictures, and a woman who cooks meals!
WEDNESDAY 17th
- The Royal Variety Performance 2008 (BBC1, 7.30pm) 80th anniversary of the annual variety show from the London Palladium, with Take That, Leona Lewis, Duffy, The Pussycat Dolls, Zorro, The Lion King, Brian May, Peter Kay, Jimmy Carr, Michael McIntyre, and many more.
- Christmas At River Cottage (Channel 4, 8pm) Seasonal special with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.
THURSDAY 18th
- Jamie Cooks Christmas (Channel 4, 9pm) Festive special from the crusading chef.
- The Real Hustle Special: Best Ever Cons (BBC3, 10.30pm) The tricksters present an hour of their most memorable cons over six series.
FRIDAY 19th
- Britain's Got An Extra Pop Factor... And Then Some (Channel 4, 9pm) Follow-up special to Peter Kay's talent show spoof, following the winner Geraldine as she prepares to launch her Christmas single.
- Eddie Izzard: Circle (Channel 4, 10.35pm) Live stand-up with the comedian.
SATURDAY 20th
- Britannia High: Behind The Scenes (ITV1, 4.30pm) A peek into the making of the flop ITV musical.
- Britannia High - Live Finale (ITV1, 5.30pm) The flop ITV musical reaches a crescendo.
- All Star Mr & Mrs (ITV1, 7.55pm) Christmas edition of the classic gameshow hosted by Philip Schofield and Fern Britten; with Ronan Keating, Terry Venables and Tamzin Outhwaite.
- For One Night Only (ITV1, 8.55pm) A host of stars perform, such as Il Divo, Cerys Matthews, Tom Jones, Myleene Klass, Milton Jones & Will Smith.
SUNDAY 21st
- Noel's Christmas Presents (Sky1, 7pm) Noel Edmonds makes more festive dreams come true.
- After You've Gone Christmas Special (BBC1, 6.05pm) Festive episode of the sitcom about a man and his interfering mother-in-law.
- Alan Titchmarsh At Christmas (ITV1, 6.30pm) Guests include Will Young, Andrea Bocelli & Julie Walters
- Gladiators: The Legends Strike Back (Sky1, 7.30pm) The new gladiators compete against the original '90s gladiators.
- Lark Rise To Candleford (BBC1, 7.45pm) A Christmas special kicks off the first of a new, eleven-part series.
- All-Star Don't Forget The Lyrics (Sky1, 9pm) Shane Richie presents a celebrity special of the music gameshow.
- Clash Of The Santas (ITV1, 9pm) Bickering best friends Colin and Howie return from the City Lights series, travelling to Lithuania to take part in the World Santa Championships.
- The Sunday Night Christmas Project (Channel 4, 9pm) Simon Pegg guest-hosts this festive special.
- The Charlotte Church Nutcracking Christmas Special (Channel 4, 10pm) Guests include James Corden, Ronni Corbett, Ruth Jones, Jeremy Edwards, Rhydian & Jo Brand.
