Below are my picks of the most notable new shows, returning or premiering on UK screens over the next 7 days...
MONDAY 14th
★ Back in Time for Christmas Dinner (BBC2, 9pm) New series where a family experience Christmas from the 1940s, '50s, and '60s. Presented by Giles Coren. (1/2)Our Guy in Latvia (Channel 4, 9pm) Documentary where Guy Martin travels to the Baltics to uncover the truth about his Latvian grandfather Walter Kidals.
TUESDAY 15th
★ Luther (BBC1, 9pm) Series 4 of the dark crime thriller. Starring Idris Elba, Dermot Crowley, Michael Smiley, Rose Leslie, Darren Boyd & Laura Haddock. (1/2)The World's Most Expensive Christmas (Channel 4, 9pm) Documentary about suppliers for the super-rich.
WEDNESDAY 16th
★ You Saw Them Here First (ITV, 8pm) Special uncovering celebrity's early beginnings on-screen. Narrated by John Thomson.Love You to Death: A Year of Domestic Violence (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary about abuse in the home, and the awful statistic that seven women are killed each month by their own husbands in the UK.
THURSDAY 17th
The Secret Life of Children at Christmas (Channel 4, 8pm) Festive special of the documentary series, focusing on a group of 4-year-olds appearing in their school's nativity play.★ The Great British Bake Off Christmas Masterclass (BBC2, 9pm) Festive special where Bake Off judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood provide step-by-step recipes for Christmas grub.
The Nation's Favourite Bond Song (ITV, 9pm) Countdown of the UK's 20 best-loved Bond songs, including Wings, Duran Duran, a-Ha, and Adele.
First Dates at Christmas (Channel 4, 9pm) Festive special of the fly-on-the-wall dating show.
Very British Problems at Christmas (Channel 4, 10pm) Special edition of the lighthearted show were famous people tell anecdotes about the various things that frustrate Brits at Christmas.
FRIDAY 18th
★ Text Santa 2015 (ITV, 8pm) Annual charity telethon. Hosted by Phillip Schofield, Holly Willoughby, Amanda Holden, Caroline Flack, Alesha Dixon, Christine Bleakley, Olly Murs & Paddy McGuinness. Featuring celebrity Ninja Warrior, a Downton Abbey sketch, and the Coronation Street cast.Queen: From Rags to Rhapsody (BBC4, 10pm) Documentary on the British rock band's early years.
SATURDAY 19th
★ Keep it in the Family: Christmas Special (ITV, 5.35pm) Festive special of the family gameshow, featuring celebrities Jack P. Shepherd, Jane Danson, Wendi Peters, Louie Spence, Paul Sinha & Shaun Wallace.SUNDAY 20th
Sports Personality of the Year (BBC1, 6.50pm) Annual sporting award ceremony. Nominees include Jessica Ennis-Hill, Mo Farah, Greg Rutherford, Andy Murray, Lucy Bronze, Tyson Fury, Chris Froome, Lizzie Armitstead, Adam Peaty, Max Whitlock & Kevin Sinfield. Hosted by Gary Lineker, Clare Balding & Gabby Logan.★ The Sound of Music: Live (ITV, 7.30pm) Stage musical version of the hit movie, broadcast live. Starring Kara Tointon, Julian Ovenden, Alexander Armstrong, Maria Friedman, Mel Giedroyc & Katherine Kelly.
Bear Goes Wild with Barack Obama (Channel 4, 8pm) Survivalist special with the President of the USA trekking across Alaskan wilderness.
Live at the Apollo: Christmas Special (BBC1, 10.10pm) A festive special ends this eleventh series of the stand-up show. Featuring Nina Conti, Tanyalee Davis, Hal Cruttenden & Josh Widdicombe.
For a look at what the rest of the year's going to bring,
why not read and bookmark my TV Calendar?
