Below are my picks of the week's most notable shows, premiering/returning to UK screens...
MONDAY 16th
World's Strongest Man 2013 (Channel 5, 7pm) New series covering the annual strongman competition.Kirstie's Crafty Christmas (Channel 4, 8pm) Festive guide to creating the perfect Christmas using arts and crafts. Presented by Kirstie Allsopp.
Tom Kerridge Cooks Christmas (BBC2, 8.30pm) Culinary Christmas special where the chef puts his unique spin on festive grub.
PICK OF THE DAY A Night of Heroes – The Military Awards (ITV, 9pm) Annual awards ceremony honouring the bravery and courage of the UK's armed forces. Hosted by Philip Schofield & Amanda Holden.
TUESDAY 17th
Pothole Britain – Drivers Beware! (Channel 5, 8pm) Documentary on the issue of potholes across the UK's roads, which costs £370m a year to repair.The Great British Bake Off (BBC2, 8pm) Christmas special of the baking show.
PICK OF THE DAY The Call Centre (BBC3, 9pm) Christmas edition of the fly-on-the-wall documentary series set in a Swansea's third largest call centre. Narrated by Kimberley Nixon.
Bad Education (BBC3, 9pm) Christmas special of the school-set sitcom. Starring Jack Whitehall.
WEDNESDAY 18th
Wartime Farm (BBC2, 7pm) Festive edition of the show where historians recreate the conditions of rural Britain during 1944.Food & Drink (BBC2, 8pm) Christmas special of the programme. Presented by Michel Roux Jr & Kate Goodman with guests Mary Berry & Glynn Purnell.
PICK OF THE DAY The Great Train Robbery (BBC1, 8pm) Drama retelling of the famous 1962 train heist. Starring Luke Evans, Paul Anderson, Martin Compston, Neil Maskel & Jack Roth. Written by Chris Chibnall. (1/2)
Britain's Craziest Christmas Lights (Channel 5, 9pm) Documentary about four home-owners who always decorate their houses in thousands of lights and decorations.
THURSDAY 19th
Hairy Bikers' Christmas Party (BBC2, 7pm) Festive special where Si King and Dave Myers plan a Christmas party for some of the people they've met during their TV travels.Alex Polizzi's Christmas Fix (BBC2, 8pm) Christmas guide to entertaining from hotelier Alex Polizzi.
The 12 Drinks of Christmas (BBC2, 9pm) Festive special where brothers-in-law Alexander Armstrong and Giles Coren sample a dozen of the best Christmas tipples.
PICK OF THE DAY Educating Yorkshire (Channel 4, 9pm) Christmas edition of the documentary looking at the pupils and teachers of Thornhill Community Academy.
Don't Tell the Bride (BBC3, 9pm) Festive edition of the show where a groom organises his wedding, keeping it a secret from the bride.
MC Hammer's Big Shot Academy (ITV2, 9pm) Tips to become a musician from the '90s rapper, featuring covers of his worldwide hit U Can't Touch This.
FRIDAY 20th
Gordon Ramsay's Festive Home Cooking (Channel 4, 8pm) Christmas special where the chef cooks festive treats in both his restaurant and at home.PICK OF THE DAY Text Santa (ITV, 8pm) Annual awards ceremony hosted by Ant n' Dec. Featuring Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield, Paddy McGuinness, Christine Bleakley, Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Shane MacGowan, The Big Reunion groups, and more.
2013: Moments in Time (BBC2, 9pm) Retrospective of the year.
Big Fat Gypsy Weddings (Channel 4, 9pm) Christmas special of the documentary looking at members of the travelling community.
SATURDAY 21st
The World's Most Expensive Stolen Paintings (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary looking into the world of art theft. Presented by Alastair Sooke.PICK OF THE DAY The Illusionists (ITV, 9.10pm) Six of the world's best magicians perform at London's Hammersmith Apollo. Hosted by Stephen Mulhern, with Andrew Basso, Jeff Hobson, Kevin James, Mark Kalin, Jinger Leigh & Dan Sperry.
SUNDAY 22nd
PICK OF THE DAY The Whale (BBC1, 9pm) Drama about the sinking of a Nantucket whaling ship in 1820, which left the crew stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Starring Martin Sheen, Jonas Armstrong, Adam Raynor, Charles Furness & John Boyega.The Sarah Millican Television Programme (BBC2, 10pm) Christmas special with guests Phillip Schofield, Judy Parfitt & Helen George.
