Below are my TV picks of the most notable television shows debuting in the UK between 17-23 December, which primarily consists of season treats and specials in the run-up to Christmas...
MONDAY 17th
Nigellisima: An Italian Inspired Christmas (BBC2, 8pm) Festive special where Nigella Lawson travels to Venice for an Italian-themed Christmas party.Olympics 2012: 50 Greatest Moments (BBC3, 8.30pm) A retrospective of last summer's Olympics.
Panorama: Britain's Secret Terror Squad (BBC1, 9pm) Documentary about an undercover Army squad that hunted enemies of the state in the 1970s.
PICK OF THE DAY Bad Santas (Channel 4, 9pm) Documentary about unemployed men training to be Santa. (1/2)
TUESDAY 18th
The Great British Bake-Off Christmas Masterclass (BBC2, 8pm) Food writer Mary Berry and baker Paul Hollywood demonstrate how to make various festive treats.PICK OF THE DAY Wartime Farm At Christmas (BBC2, 9pm) Historical special where historian Ruth Goodman and archaeologist Peter Ginn recreate the conditions of rural Britain during Christmas 1944.
Don't Tell The Bride: Christmas On Ice (BBC3, 9pm) Festive special of the show, where a groom is given £12,000 to create a winter wonderland wedding for his bride.
WEDNESDAY 19th
PICK OF THE DAY Snow Babies (BBC1, 8pm) Documentary about animals born in cold and harsh environments.Kirstie's Vintage Christmas (Channel 4, 8pm) Festive special of the show where Kirstie Allsopp tries to create the perfect homespun Christmas.
The Christmas No1 Story (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary looking back at 60 years of the traditional Christmas Number One song in the UK.
The Twins Who Share A Body (Channel 4, 10pm) Documentary about Indian conjoined twins.
THURSDAY 20th
George Clarke's Amazing Spaces At Christmas (Channel 4, 8pm) Festive special of the small-build project, focusing on turning a 1970s caravan into a holiday retreat.PICK OF THE DAY Live Celebrity Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (ITV1, 9pm) Live edition of the popular quiz show.
Michael Grade's History Of The Pantomime Dame (BBC4, 9pm) Documentary looking at the historical tradition of the pantomime dame. Presented by Michael Grade.
Adam Hills Stands Up Live (Channel 4, 10pm) Stand-up comedy recorded live at the Lyric Theatre in the West End of London.
FRIDAY 21st
PICK OF THE DAY Text Santa (ITV1, 8pm) Festive charity special raising money for six causes. Presented by Ant n' Dec, Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield, Christine Bleakley & Paddy McGuinness.The Hoarder Next Door Christmas Special (Channel 4, 9pm) Festive special of the series about people with the compulsion to hoard items.
Slade Night (BBC4, 9pm) An evening of programmes celebrating the music of glam rockers Slade.
SATURDAY 22nd
A Very JLS Christmas (Sky1, 6pm) Festive music special with the boy band at a magical winter wonderland with 400 lucky fans.The Nation's Favourite Christmas Song (ITV1, 6.30pm) Documentary counting down the top 20 Christmassy songs.
Paddy's 2012 Show & Telly (ITV1, 8pm) Celebrity quiz about the television offerings of 2012. Hosted by Paddy McGuinness. Featuring Denise Van Outen, Nicky Byrne, Kate Garroway, Nicholas Owen, Antony Cotton & Chris Fountain.
PICK OF THE DAY The Jonathan Ross Show (ITV1, 9pm) Christmas special of the chat show, with guests Michael McIntyre, Sheridan Smith, Ellie Simmonds, Jonnie Peacock, Jamie Oliver, Sienna Miller, Charlotte Church & Slava's Snowshow.
SUNDAY 23rd
PICK OF THE DAY Mr Stink (BBC1, 6.30pm) Adaptation of David Walliams' best-selling children's book about a tramp living in a little girl's shed. Starring Hugh Bonneville, Sheridan Smith, Johnny Vegas, Nell Tiger Free & Harish Patel.Ade's Christmas Crackers (ITV1, 7pm) Archival footage of Christmas shows from the past 60 years. Hosted by Adrian Edmondson.
The Cube (ITV1, 8pm) Celebrity special of the physical gameshow, featuring Melanie Sykes & Ashley Banjo. Presented by Phillip Schofield.
Loving Miss Hatto (BBC1, 8.30pm) Drama about classical pianist Joyce Hatto, written by Victoria Wood. Starring Alfred Molina, Francesca Annis, Rory Kinnear, Maimie McCoy & Phoebe Nicholls.
Dragons' Den Christmas Special (BBC2, 8.30pm) Festive special of the business show, focusing exclusively on Christmas ideas.
Joanna Lumley: The Search For Noah's Ark (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary exploring the truth behind the Noah's Ark myth. Presented by Joanna Lumley.
James May's Toy Stories: Flight Club (BBC2, 9.30pm) James May investigates the enduring appeal of model aeroplanes.
The Sarah Millican Television Programme (BBC2, 10.30pm) Christmas special of the chat show, with guests Hugh Bonneville & Shane Richie.
