What's on TV tonight – highlights for Sunday December 21 include the Beyond Paradise Christmas Special and Amadeus
The Royal Variety Performance also airsChristmas TV really gets going tonight, as BBC highlights include the Beyond Paradise Christmas Special and ITV rolls out The Royal Variety Performance.
Yes, it’s time for another festive visit to Shipton Abbott as DI Humphrey Goodman has some suitably barmy cases to crack in Beyond Paradise – and might he finally be getting married? The promo pictures are a BIG clue to that!
Beyond Paradise Christmas Special (BBC One, 9pm)
Only Beyond Paradise could have a plot involving a party-goer stuck in a snowman’s outfit. That’s just one of the challenges Humphrey (Kris Marshall) has to deal with in this hour-long episode. Meanwhile, fans have been waiting forever for Humphrey and Martha to get married. And it appears the big day has finally arrived in the Beyond Paradise Christmas special – read more secrets here.
Martha (Sally Bretton) is planning on surprising Humphrey with a Christmas wedding. Moreover, she even has a secret guest lined up, but what will Humphrey say?
On a more serious note, a man with no memory (played by guest star Adrian Edmondson) is found on the footsteps of the police station holding a photo of Humphrey. So, is he member of Humphrey’s family?
Humphrey also has to investigate a theft at a wine bar, where mysterious Terry (guest star James Lance) works. When is this poor man supposed to be eating his Christmas dinner?! We’re presuming they won’t be having duck as that would offend their pet duck Selwyn.
Meanwhile, Esther (Zahra Ahmadi) comes face to face with Archie after their break-up. Also back for the festive outing are regulars Kelby (Dylan Llewellyn), Margo (Felicity Montagu) and Anne (Barbara Flynn).
Death in Paradise fans, have no fear, the Death in Paradise Christmas special airs next Sunday (December 28).
Sunday December 21 TV highlights: The Royal Variety Performance (ITV1, 7.05 pm)
The Royal Variety Performance is a genuine Christmas TV tradition. It began in 1912 and was first televised in 1960. Jason Manford hosts this year’s event from London’s Royal Albert Hall. Among the stars performing in front of the Prince and Princess of Wales are the ‘man band’ Westlife, ahead of their 25th anniversary reunion tour next year.
Jessie J, who was successfully treated for breast cancer earlier this year, sings I’ll Never Know Why from her upcoming album. Plus, William and Catherine get to meet Paddington Bear ahead of the eagerly anticipated musical adaptation.
Also, Japanese dance group Airfootworks and BGT-winning magician Harry Moulding take to the stage. And opera star Katherine Jenkins leads the national anthem.
Finally, 400 performers including Michael Ball, Matt Lucas and Katy Secombe, along with the current West End cast, perform a medley to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Les Misérables.
Wild Horses, the Rockies and Me (BBC Two, 7pm)
Wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan ventures deep into the Canadian Rockies in search of wild horses. The creatures fascinate horse lover Gordon, and he observes that scientists have largely ignored their wild lives.
But at first he can’t get anywhere near the beasts. As Gordon learns to mimic their behaviour, he slowly gets closer to the herd.
He discovers the main threat to the animals isn’t predators but culling. But Gordon also must be careful. There are grizzly bears lurking in the wilderness who don’t take well to surprise encounters. And he must be respectful of the horses because one well-placed kick could be fatal.
It’s a stunning one-hour wildlife documentary.
Amadeus (Sky Atlantic, 9pm)
The White Lotus’ Will Sharpe stars as musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in this five-part drama. At the heart of the story, set in 18th century Vienna, is a bitter battle between Mozart and rival composer Antonio Salieri (Paul Bettany).
Mozart’s seemingly divine talent torments Salieri, driving the deeply religious composer to doubt his belief in God. “This repulsive creature played so exquisitely,” he sniffs about Mozart.
The lavish period drama reimagines Peter Shaffer’s play, later turned into an Oscar-winning movie. Rory Kinnear also stars as Mozart fan, Emperor Joseph II.
Celebrity Escape to the Country (BBC One, 6.05 pm)
This series has been a huge hit for the BBC as people love watching famous faces struggling to find their dream homes across the UK. Now, it’s back for a new six-part run opening with ex-football star Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock and his wife Leah. They are after an idyllic home in rural Kent, but can they find something in their budget?
Meanwhile, later in the series Loose Women’s Janet Street-Porter searches for a peaceful property in Suffolk.
Plus, we also follow choirmaster Gareth Malone, singer Chesney Hawkes, presenter Angellica Bell and Strictly Come Dancing professional Neil Jones on their searches.
Game of Wool: Britain’s Best Knitter – The Final (Channel 4, 8pm)
Tom Daley hosts the final of the knitting competition and it’s a tense affair! The three finalists take on their last group challenge which is a post box topper featuring wooly figurines of Tom and judges Di Gilpin and Sheila Greenwell.
The trio are then tasked with knitting showstopper hats which reflect something about them or their character.
But who will be crowned the winner of television’s first knitting reality show? It’s yet to be revealed if Channel 4 will order a second series.
Don’t forget we have guides to the best BBC Christmas TV shows and the best ITV Christmas shows where you can find everything on over the festive period. And you can read the ultimate Christmas TV Top 25 round-up too.
