Christmas_TV_Guide

career and, of course, performs some of the songs that turned her into an icon. Sunday, December 25 The Great Christmas Bake Off (BBC1, 4.45pm) When Candice Brown lifted the trophy, that marked the end of the series proper on the Beeb, but two Christmas specials had already been made before its makers decided to jump ship and move to Channel 4. As a result, all four members of the presenting team will be in attendance. Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry will challenge four bakers from previ- ous series to tackle three festive challenges. Will any of them get the famed Hollywood handshake Christmas special of the period drama, which catches up with the nurses and midwives of Nonna- tus House in 1962. They receive a letter from a doctor running a mission clinic on the Eastern Cape of South Africa, who is in desperate need of their help to save her urgently needed hospital from closure. The nurses head to Africa to lend a hand, finding the clinic understaffed, underfunded and with a poor water supply, but overwhelmed with patients who need their help more than anyone ever has before. Sinéad Cusack guest stars. or a Berry wink? Call the Midwife (BBC1, 8pm)

girlfriend. Tracey is convinced something terrible has happened to him so she heads off to Tangier to track him down and bring him back home for Christmas, accompanied by Sharon and Dorien. Festive special of the comedy, starring Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph, with Martin Kemp. David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey (BBC1, 9pm) Dame Shirley Bassey turns 80 in January, and to celebrate that landmark, she shares the stage with Walliams, one of her biggest fans. She discusses her life and David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey (December 24, BBC1, 9pm)

Call the Midwife (Christmas Day, BBC1, 8pm)

Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas Special (BBC1, 10.30pm) The daft-but-doting Irish mother returns in the first of two festive episodes. Monday, December 26 Revolting Rhymes (BBC1, 6.30pm) Various events have taken place to mark the centenary of Roald Dahl’s birth, including a variety of TV tributes. Now the BBC has breathed new life into his much-loved 1982 poetry collection Revolting Rhymes . What’s more, it’s rather brilliantly used

festive disguise to avoid a different kind of relationship trouble. David Jason, Tim Healy, James Baxter and Stephanie Cole star in a festive instalment of the shopkeeping comedy. The Entire Universe (BBC2, 9.30pm) Professor Brian Cox and Eric Idle star in this comedy musical telling the story of the creation of all things in just one hour. Brian arrives at a TV studio with the impression he is going to be giving a lecture on the birth of the universe, only to find that Eric has reinvented it as an all-singing,

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Revolting Rhymes (December 26, BBC1, 6.30pm)

Quentin Blake’s original illustra- tions as its inspiration. This two- part animation throws together the age-old fairy tales Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs , gives them a mischievous twist and comes up with something that the entire family will love. Dominic West, David Walliams, Rob Brydon and Tamsin Greig are among the vocal cast. Still Open All Hours (BBC1, 8.30pm) Granville and Gastric find themselves playing marriage counsellors, while Leroy adopts a

all-dancing extravaganza with Noel Fielding, Warwick Davis, Hannah Waddingham and Robin Ince on hand to tell the story of the cosmos. Guest appearances by astronaut Tim Peake and Professor Stephen Hawking. Tuesday, December 27 Inside No 9 – The Devil of Christmas (BBC2, 10pm) Jessica Raine and Rula Lenska appear alongside Steve Pemberton and Reece Shear- smith. The story focuses on the Devonshire family – dad Julian, his pregnant wife Kathy, mother- in-law Celia and son Toby. They

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