Below are my picks of the most notable new shows, returning or premiering on UK screens over the next 7 days...
MONDAY 8th
Oxford Street Revealed (BBC1, 11.30am) Documentary on Europe's busiest shopping street. (1/10)Christmas Kitchen with James Martin (BBC1, 3.40pm) Series 2 of the seasonal culinary show. Continues weekdaily. (1/10)
★ The Royal Variety Performance 2014 (ITV, 7.30pm) Annual variety show, with Prince William in attendance. Hosted by Michael McIntyre. Guests include Alfie Boe, Shirley Bassey, Demi Lovato, Ed Sheeran, Ellie Gouldng, Jack Whitehall, McBusted, One Direction, Sarah Millican, Stephen Mulhern, Trevor Noah, Russell Kane, and more.
Jamie's Cracking Christmas (Channel 4, 8pm) Festive culinary special where chef Jamie Oliver creates Christmas meals.
Castles: Britain's Fortified History (BBC4, 10pm) History series looking at the UK's castles and their roles. Presented by Sam Willis. Continues Thursday. (1/3)
TUESDAY 9th
Kirstie's Handmade Christmas (Channel 4, 8pm) Seasonal celebration of classic ans modern crafts. Hosted by Kirstie Allsopp.My Big Fat Gypsy Christmas: Tinsel & Tiaras (Channel 4, 9pm) Christmas special following an Irish travelling community as they prepare for a festive wedding.
Kid's Hospital at Christmas (Channel 5, 9pm) Documentary going behind the scenes of the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. (1/3)
Our War: Goodbye Afghanistan (BBC3, 9pm) Documentary looking back at the war in Afghanistan.
The Secrets of Quantum Physics (BBC4, 9pm) Science documentary series on the theory of quantum physics. Presented by Jim Al-Khalili. (1/2)
★ Brian Pern: A Life in Rock (BBC2, 10pm) Series 2 of the spoof documentary about the frontman of a prog rock band. Starring Simon Day, Michael Kitchen, Paul Whitehouse, Nigel Havers, Al Murray & Philip Pope. (1/3)
WEDNESDAY 10th
I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here: Coming Out (ITV, 8pm) Catchup with the celebs who left the jungle this year.★ The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies (ITV, 9pm) Two-part real-life drama about the wrongful arrest of a retired teacher in 2010, after his young tenant went missing. Starring Jason Watkins, Ben Chaplin, Shaun Parkes, Nathalie Armin & James Lailey. Concludes tomorrow.(1/2)
Bear's Wild Weekend with Ben Stiller (Channel 4, 9pm) The survivalist travels to the Isle of Skye with U.S actor Ben Stiller.
How Safe Are My Drugs? (BBC3, 9pm) Documentary about drug users and dealers in the UK and Ibiza. Hosted by Radio 1 DJ B Traits.
America's Fugitive Family (Channel 4, 10pm) Documentary about the Gray family's controversial way of life, after patriarch John Joe Grey skipped bail in 1999 and took his family to a Texan compound armed for a shootout with the police.
My Crazy Christmas Obsession (Channel 5, 10pm) Documentary two-parter about four U.S households who take festive decorations to an extreme level. (1/2)
A&E in a War Zone (Channel 4, 11pm) Documentary about helping the injured in the Syrian war zone.
THURSDAY 11th
★ The BBC Music Awards (BBC1, 8pm) Inaugural music awards show. Hosted by Chris Evans & Fearne Cotton from London's Earls Court. Performances from One Direction, Ed Sheeran, Paloma Faith, Coldplay, Calvin Harris, Clean Bandit, Take That, George Ezra, Ella Henderson, Labrinth, and more.FRIDAY 12th
Mary Berry's Absolute Christmas Favourites (BBC2, 8.30pm) Two-part culinary series where Mary Berry shares her cookery knowledge with a festive angle. (1/2)★ A Night in with Olly Murs (ITV, 9pm) Music special filmed live. Guests are John Bishop, Caroline Flack, Shane Richie & Nicole Scherzinger.
SATURDAY 13th
Nothing.SUNDAY 14th
★ Sports Personality of the Year (BBC1, 8pm) Annual awards ceremony. Hosted by Gary Lineker, Gabby Logan & Clare Balding.For a look at what the rest of the year's going to bring,
why not read and bookmark my TV Calendar?
