The Hairy Bikers: Coming Home for Christmas
9pm, BBC Two
Last year, one half of the bikers – Dave Myers – was diagnosed with cancer. This bittersweet programme follows his story from undergoing chemotherapy to reuniting with Si King and ultimately getting back to what he loves and does best – serving scrumptious feasts, specifically a banquet for all those who have helped Dave on his journey. It’s not really about the food, but there’s plenty of recipe inspiration anyway. Hollie Richardson
BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023
7pm, BBC One
A break with tradition as this year’s Spoty takes place on a Tuesday evening. Otherwise, it’s business as usual as Gabby Logan, Gary Lineker, Alex Scott and Clare Balding present from MediaCityUK in Salford. Sweary goalkeeping Lioness Mary Earps is the bookies’ favourite, but cricketer Stuart Broad and athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson are also strong contenders. Phil Harrison
Dickens in Italy With David Harewood
8pm, Sky Arts
Is it even Christmas without a helping of Dickens? Taking a slightly non-traditional approach this time, David Harewood retraces the great novelist’s footsteps in Italy – through Venice, Naples, Genoa and Rome. He discovers the country’s influence, in terms of writing style, political belief and his personal life. HR
Sister Boniface Mysteries: Christmas Special
8pm, Drama
A crisp and frosty feature-length special with not one but three cases to solve. The titular Catholic crime-solver (Lorna Watson) is onboard a train stranded in the sparkling snow, with both a murderer and a jewel thief waiting to be unmasked among the passengers. Back at home, a naked man has been found dead in a shed. A light, often funny slice of retro escapism. Jack Seale
Inside McVitie’s at Christmas
9pm, Channel 4
Have you tried a white chocolate digestive biscuit yet? This very important investigation into McVitie’s run-up to Christmas – and how they stay ahead of their rivals – shows us the creative process behind this new biccy. There’s also a twist on the Penguin bar, but is messing with such classics a step too far? HR
Never Mind the Buzzcocks Christmas Special
9pm, Sky Max
“I’ve Drunk a Pint of Baileys and Now I Hate Myself” is the title of host Greg Davies’s no doubt catchy but as yet unreleased Christmas chart-topper. Perhaps he can get some pointers from pop star guests Kaiser Chiefs’ Ricky Wilson and Leigh-Anne from Little Mix? There’s also some Harry Hill dad-dancing and a ribald anecdote involving drunk Noddy Holder and a donkey. Ellen E Jones
Film choice
Our Ladies (Michael Caton-Jones, 2019), 9pm, Film4
This boisterous screen treatment of Alan Warner’s novel The Sopranos follows five Catholic girls from Fort William on a school choir day trip to Edinburgh in 1996. But singing comes a distant second to illicit drinking and trying to get laid in a frank, funny drama packed with coming-of-age poignancy. In lesser hands, the teenage friends could be reduced to stereotypes, but director Michael Caton-Jones and his superb young cast (particularly Abigail Lawrie and Tallulah Greive) stretch our expectations and make the quintet all too believable. Simon Wardell
Cyrano (Joe Wright, 2021), 10pm, BBC Two
Joe Wright’s glowing adaptation of the stage musical centres on a masterly performance by Peter Dinklage in the title role. The poet-swordsman’s long nose from the original tale is replaced by a focus on his small stature, which prevents the otherwise eloquent Cyrano from expressing his love for Roxanne (Haley Bennett). Instead, he lends the handsome but simple Christian (Kelvin Harrison Jr) his “wit” to woo her. The songs by the National’s Dessner brothers aren’t that memorable, but Dinklage – swashbuckling, quick-witted, lovesick – is heartbreakingly good. SW
