It's confectionary heaven with Hotel Chocolat at Christmas, Martin Lewis shows How to Win at Board Games, there’s Live at the Apollo Christmas Special, and a documentary looking at The Heart of the Paris Games . . .
Pick of the Day
Hotel Chocolat at Christmas, 9.00pm, Channel 4
Christmas without chocolate seems unthinkable. So here’s lots of it.
This special goes behind the scenes with the staff at Hotel Chocolat as they prepare for the festive season. It’s the company’s first Christmas since being taken over by Mars.
New chocolatier Sammie is thrown in at the deep end, crafting new chocolates including her complicated three-layered cranberry treat.
Store manager Steph in Chelmsford takes on the task of turning the whole shop from Halloween to Christmas overnight.
The marketing team put together an immersive 3D advertisement and have photoshoots for advent calendars in July.
As Christmas approaches, the team take the 'chocmobile' on the road to one of the country's best light shows to tempt cold visitors with samples of their limited-edition alcoholic mint-chocolate drink.
New or Returning Shows
Martin Lewis: How to Win at Board Games, 8.00pm, UTV
He usually offers tips on how to be smart with your finances, but here Martin Lewis looks at that common Christmas night habit of playing board games.
The money-saving expert shares his favourite hobby and reveals the hidden tips, tactics and strategies that help him come out victorious when he plays board games.
He then follows that by taking on a world champion in his favourite game, Scrabble.
Live at the Apollo Christmas Special, 9.45pm, BBC Two
Season 19 of this long-running comedy series begins with some festive fun.
Judi Love introduces comedians Dan Tiernan and John Kearns to perform their comedy stand-up routines on London's Hammersmith Apollo stage.
The Heart of the Paris Games, 10.00pm, BBC Four
Here’s a two-parter about the hugely successful Olympics in Paris.
With access to the Paris 2024 organising committee, French film-makers Jules and Gedeon Naudet document the behind-the-scenes preparation for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Cameras track committee president Tony Estanguet, technicians, athletes, engineers, officials, security details, volunteers and creatives as they prepare to host 28 days of competition in front of millions of spectators and billions of television viewers.
Gino & Fred: Emission Impossible, 9.00pm, Virgin Media One
If you've missed this last night on UTV (the second and final episode is on tonight), Gino D'Acampo (below) and Fred Sirieix go on an eco-friendly trip to explore the cuisine and culture of Austria and Croatia.
They start their journey in the Zillertal Alps.
Despite Austrian beef being some of the most sustainable in the world, one of the biggest factors of climate change is the production of meat and Gino and Fred go on a quest to find alternatives that ends in the Austrian capital of Vienna.
Don’t Miss
Strike: The Ink Black Heart, 9.00pm, BBC One
The drama continues from last night’s opener.
While undercover as Jessica Robins, Robin takes a tour of Highgate Cemetery and what she finds leads her to think Anomie murdered Edie Ledwell.
Strike then receives an unexpected and unwelcome visitor and Barclay lands in danger.
Porridge Christmas Special, 8.00pm, BBC Four
Festive edition of the classic comedy from 1976, starring Ronnie Barker and Fulton Mackay (below, right and left).
Fletch plans to bring a bit of Christmas spirit to Slade Prison in the form of his own home-made booze.
But when Mackay and Barrowclough uncover the stash in his and Godber's cell, the crafty con seems in danger of spending the yuletide period in solitary confinement.
Followed at 8.45pm by The Two Ronnies: Christmas Show, originally broadcast December 25 1982.
Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett host a Christmas show of sketches, jokes and songs, joined by their guest David Essex.
20 Feet from Stardom, 10.30pm, TG4
This is a fascinating, Oscar-winning documentary from 2013 exploring the lives and careers of backing singers.
Performers from various genres and eras share their personal accounts of working in the shadows of famous artists and the rewards and sacrifices that their role brings.
With contributions from singers including Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen. And the lesser-known singers who make them sound better.
New to Stream
Aaron Rodgers: Enigma
This sports series follows Aaron Rodgers’ comeback after tearing his Achilles, while also exploring his life and career through the intimate and difficult parts that made him a household name on and off the field in the USA.
Sport
Sports Personality of The Year, 7.00pm, BBC One
After Sunday’s Irish sports awards, here’s the UK version.
Gabby Logan, Alex Scott and Clare Balding present coverage of the ceremony live from MediaCityUK in Salford, as the year's key sporting moments are reviewed from a British perspective.
Ultimately, the successor to Mary Earps is crowned following a public vote. Goalkeeper Earps won the award last year after helping England reach the World Cup final.
This time around the nominees are Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson as well as teenage darts sensation Luke Littler - what a great story!
There’s also Euro 2024 finalist Jude Bellingham (above), England cricket star Joe Root, Paralympic great Sarah Storey and triathlon gold medallist in the Paris Games Alex Yee.
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