Your festive TV highlights: what to watch, and when to watch
This year's Christmas TV schedule is a chocolate-box of treats, from the return of French and Saunders to Peter Capaldi's final appearance as Doctor Who. It's time to curl up on the sofa, help yourself to a mince pie, and savour the best seasonal offerings on British TV this season.
Boxing Day
Back to the Future (1985)
Channel 4, 6pm
Zemeckis's nostalgic time-travel trilogy is perfect for festive binge-watching. In this first instalment, with the help of his mad professor friend Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) teenager Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) goes back in time, accidentally meddles with his parents' love-lives, and has to set things right. In Back to the Future Part II (Channel 4, 4.30pm, Dec 27) Marty zooms ahead to the then-futuristic 2015, and in Part III (Channel 4, 4.20pm, Dec 28) Doc and Marty end up stranded in the Wild West.
Snow Bears
BBC One, 6.30pm
Cuddly polar bears trek 400 miles to reach the North Pole in this fluffy sub-Attenborough nature documentary, narrated by Kate Winslet (who lent her golden tones to 2015's equally cuddly Snow Chick: A Penguin's Tale, repeated this year on BBC One at 11.10am on Christmas Day).
Jurassic World (2015)
ITV, 6.40pm
The film that brought the dino-dodging theme park franchise back to life (after 2001's forgettable Jurassic Park III). The real stars here are the lavishly rendered CGI dinosaurs, while Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard as the humans trying not to become their next meal.
Little Women
BBC One, 8pm
There are petticoats aplenty in this three-part adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic American Civil War novel, adapted by Call the Midwife creator Heidi Thomas. With a cast including Angela Lansbury and Michael Gambon, it looks set to be a first-rate slice of period drama. It the next two episodes are on BBC One at 8pm on December 27 and 28.
Travel Man: 48 Hours in Hong Kong
Channel 4, 8pm
Mad Men's John Hamm joins comedian Richard Ayoade for a droll seasonal travelogue, sampling local street food and enjoying a night at the luxurious Peninsula Hotel.
The Miniaturist
BBC One, 9pm
This stylish-looking adaptation of Jessie Burton's blockbuster novel stars Anya Taylor-Joy as 18-year-old Nella, who marries a wealthy merchant in 17th century Amsterdam. As a wedding gift, she receives a mysterious doll's house. From there, things become increasingly peculiar. Oscar-winner Romola Garai co-stars. The next episode is at 9pm on December 27.
Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2017
Channel 4, 9pm
Jimmy Carr returns for the annual comedy quiz looking back at the past 12 months. He's joined by panellists Richard Ayoade, Noel Fielding, David Mitchell, Big Narstie, Roisin Conaty and Katherine Ryan.
Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2017: The Language of Life
BBC Four, 8.00pm
Neurolinguist Sophie Scott presents this year's series of three lectures, which aim to put a popular spin on the latest discoveries and developments in her field. The next two lectures are at 8pm on December 27 and 28.
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
Channel 4, 23.10pm
Hugh Grant stars as an easily flustered lovelorn gent (unsurprisingly) who falls for Andie MacDowell elegant American in Richard Curtis's definitive British romcom, which broke box-office records on its first release.
Wednesday December 27
Sunshine on Leith (2013)
Channel 4, 1.15pm
The Proclaimers got their own Mamma Mia! in this charming jukebox musical, which weaves their greatest hits (including 500 Miles) into the story two Scottish army veterans and their Edinburgh sweethearts. Starring Peter Mullan and Jane Horrocks.
Alan Partridge: Why, When, Where, How and Whom?
BBC Two, 9.00pm
It's 25 years since Alan Partridge was first given his own radio chat-show (with disastrous results). This documentary looks at the creation of Steve Coogan's egotistical and incompetent alter-ego, now widely celebrated as one of the funniest comic characters of the era.
Miranda Does Christmas
Channel 4, 9pm
Comedian Miranda Hart is joined by a gospel choir for this singing-and-dancing comedy special, with special guests including David Tennant, Sam Smith and Prue Leith.
Turtle, Eagle, Cheetah: A Slow Odyssey
BBC Four, 9pm
Another foray into Nordic-influenced "slow TV" for BBC Four, this programme invites viewers to see the world "through the eyes" of the titular animals, each of which is wearing a camera to capture their movements.
