Below are my picks of New Year's most notable shows, returning/premiering on UK screens...
MONDAY 30th
Gok Does Panto (Channel 4, 7.05pm) Behind-the-scenes documentary as fashionista Gok Wan prepared for his pantomime debut.Jamie's Festive Feast (Channel 4, 8pm) Culinary special where the chef prepares some dishes that are ideal for the period between Christmas and New Year.
The Sacred Wonders of Britain (BBC2, 8.30pm) New historical series where Neil Oliver looks at the many hallowed sites of Ancient Britain. (1/3)
Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles (Sky Atlantic, 9pm) Stand-up comedy recorded live at the Largo club in Los Angeles.
Mrs Brown's Boys (BBC1, 9.30pm) New Year's special of the family sitcom.
PICK OF THE DAY The Thirteenth Tale (BBC2, 9.30pm) Psychological mystery drama about a biographer asked to document the life of a terminally ill author. Starring Vanessa Redgrave, Olivia Colman, Alexandra Roach, Robert Pugh & Steven Mackintosh.
Twit of the Year (Channel 4, 10pm) Various celebrity comedians on Twitter choose some of the funniest and ridiculous tweets of the year.
NEW YEAR'S EVE
Nature's Weirdest Events (BBC2, 8pm) Series 3 of the wildlife show. Presented by Chris Packham. (1/3)Celebrity Fifteen to One (Channel 4, 8pm) Special revival of the classic quiz show with a celebrity slant. Hosted by Adam Hills. Contestants are Jo Brand, Fern Britton, Alex Brooker, Dawn Harper, Eamonn Holmes, Konnie Huq, Jonathan Ross & Stephen Mangan.
Two Doors Down (BBC1, 9pm) One-off comedy about a Scottish couple throwing a Hogmanay party for friends and family. Starring Alex Norton, Arabella Weir, Daniela Nardini, Greg McHugh & Doon Mackichan.
Alan Carr's New Year Specstacular (Channel 4, 9pm) End of the year entertainment extravaganza, with guests James Corden, Keith Lemon, Ben Cohen, Abbey Clancy, Emma Willis, Seann Walsh, Katy B & Tinie Tempah.
PICK OF THE DAY The Graham Norton Show (BBC1, 10.15pm) New Year's Eve special of the chat show, with guests Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rud, Christina Applegate, David Koechner, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Joan Collins, Jackie Collins, Frank Skinner & Michael Buble.
2013: A Funny Old Year (ITV, 10.15pm) Comedy retrospective on the year, hosted by Jason Manford.
Dara O'Briain: Craic Dealer (BBC2, 10.30pm) Stand-up comedy recorded live at the Edinburgh Playhouse in 2012.
Gary Barlow's Big Ben Bash (BBC1, 11.15pm) New Year music special from the lead singer of Take That.
Jools' Annual Hootenanny (BBC2, 11.30pm) Annual music special with guests Ray Davies, Lisa Stansfield, The Proclaimers, Mel C, Dawn Penn, Lee Thompson, Rudimental, The Lumineers, Charlie Wilson, Haim, Ruby Turner & Laura Mvula.
NEW YEAR'S DAY
PICK OF THE DAY Sherlock (BBC1, 9pm) Series 3 of the murder-mystery drama, updating Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's characters to modern-day London. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Una Stubbs, Rupert Graves, Mark Gatiss, Louise Brealey & Amanda Abbington. Episode 2 debuts on 5 January. (1/3)Glasgow Big Night Out (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary on the city of Glasgow, narrated by the late Stanley Baxter.
David Blaine: Real or Magic (Channel 4, 9pm) Street magic special with guests Will Smith, Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz, Jamie Foxx, Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Olivia Wilde, Ricky Gervais & Stephen Hawking.
THURSDAY 2nd
Dolphins: Spy in the Pod (BBC1, 8pm) Documentary series where submersibles capture life amongst a pod of dolphins. Narrated by David Tennant. (1/2)The Restoration Man (Channel 4, 8pm) Series 4 of the architecture show presented by George Clarke. (1/7)
PICK OF THE DAY Birds of a Feather (ITV, 8.30pm) Revival of the '90s sitcom. Starring Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson & Lesley Joseph. (1/8)
Silent Witness (BBC1, 9pm) Series 17 of the crime drama. Starring Emilia Fox, David Caves, Richard Lintern, Liz Carr & Elliot Levey. Continues tomorrow. (1/10)
Benidorm (ITV, 9pm) Series 6 of the comedy set in a Spanish resort full of British expats. (1/7)
My Big Fat Gypsy Holiday (Channel 4, 9pm) One-off special following a bride-to-be planning a honeymoon in Mexico.
Rab C. Nesbitt (BBC2, 10pm) Special of the Scottish comedy about a Glaswegian layabout. Starring Gregor Fisher & Elaine C Smith.
Fake Reaction (ITV2, 10pm) Series 2 of the comedy panel show involving painful endurance. Hosted by Matt Edmondson with team captains Joe Swash & Ellie Taylor. Guests are Helen Flanagan, Brian McFadden & Marlon Davis. (1/10)
FRIDAY 3rd
The Martin Lewis Money Show (ITV, 8pm) Series 3 of the consumer affairs show. (1/6)Robson's Extreme Fishing Challenge (Channel 5, 8pm) Series 3 of the angling show. (1/4)
James May's Toy Stories: The Motorcycle Diary (BBC2, 9pm) Return of the occasional series, where James May constructs a motorcycle and sidecar using Meccano to complete a lap of the Isle of Man TT circuit.
Piers Morgan's Life Stories (ITV, 9pm) Return of the chat show, opening with June Brown. (1/7)
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4, 9pm) Series 3 of the gameshow mash-up, putting a comical spin on Countdown with the team from 8 Out of 10 Cats. Guests are Rhod Gilbert, Kevin Bridges & Josie Long. (1/4)
PICK OF THE DAY Celebrity Big Brother: Live Launch (Channel 5, 9m) Series 13 of the reality show. Hosted by Emma Willis.
SATURDAY 4th
Splash! (ITV, 7.20pm) Series 2 of the diving challenge show. Hosted by Vernon Kaye & Gabby Logan with mentor Tom Daley. (1/7)Take Me Out (ITV, 8.50pm) Series 6 of the bawdy dating show. Hosted by Paddy McGuinness. (1/8)
The Bridge (BBC4, 9pm) Series 2 of the Scandinavian crime drama. (1/10)
Catherine Tate's Nan (BBC1, 9.30pm) Comedy special based on Catherine Tate's popular sketch show character, a foul-mouthed old age pensioner. Starring Mathew Horne, Ami Metcalf, Niky Wardley & Adlyn Ross.
SUNDAY 5th
PICK OF THE DAY Dancing on Ice: All Stars (ITV, 6.15pm) Final series of the skating show, featuring contestants from the previous 8 series. Hosted by Phillip Schofield & Christine Bleakley. Skaters are Suzanne Shaw, Beth Tweddle, Ray Quinn, Hayley Tamaddon, Kyran Bracken and Sam Attwater, and show favourites David Seaman, Gareth Gates, Joe Pasquale, Bonnie Langford, Jorgie Porter, Todd Carty, Gary Lucy & Zaraah Abrahams. (1/10)Shipping Wars (Channel 4, 7pm) Documentary about the explosion in courier and delivery business, to cope with the demand now that 50,000 items are shipped across the UK every day.
Operation Grand Canyon with Dan Snow (BBC2, 9pm) New series where Dan Snow joins a team recreating a 280-mile journey through the Grand Canyon, undertaken by John Wesley Powell in 1869.
It'll Be Alright on the Night (ITV, 9pm) New compilation of goofs, gaffes and bloopers from the world of TV. Hosted by Griff Rhys Jones.
The Magaluf Weekender (ITV2, 9pm) Series 3 of the show following the antics of six holidaymakers and their reps on the resort of Magaluf.
