Mary Berry Saves Christmas (BBC1, 6.30pm)
MOST of us love eating Christmas food, but some people feel daunted by the idea of preparing it. Thankfully the ever-reliable Mary Berry is on hand to help three such members of the public get to grips with festive feasts by showing them how to make delicious yet fuss-free dishes that really epitomise the season. Lending them a hand are three celebrity sous chefs – The Repair Shop’s foreman Jay Blades, TV presenter Angela Scanlon and comedian Tom Allen.
The Magical World of Julia Donaldson (BBC2, 7.30pm)
ZOG, The Highway Rat, Stick Man and, of course, The Gruffalo – Julia Donaldson has created some of Britain’s best-loved and best-selling children’s books. Now, using interviews, home movies and animated drawings from her long-term illustrator Axel Scheffler, this documentary brings Julia’s own story to life. The film uncovers the surprising inspirations behind her most famous characters and explores how her books have appealed to children and adults alike by covering serious themes in a subtle way.
Motherland Christmas Special (BBC2, 9pm)
THE sitcom that explores the cut-throat world of school-gate politics is coming back for a third series, but until then we’ve got a Christmas special to tide us over. Alpha mum Amanda (Lucy Punch) is throwing her annual season soiree, which has a dress code (Tinsel and Tiaras), a 30ft Christmas tree, an Evil Santa and strict rules about when you can and can’t drink mulled wine. Meg (Tanya Moodie) is the only one of the gang to get an official invite, but she has decided to bring Julia (Anna Maxwell Martin), Kevin (Paul Ready) and Liz (Diane Morgan) along.
Jennifer Saunders’ Memory Lane (STV, 9pm)
JENNIFER Saunders takes, as the title suggests, a trip down memory lane with fellow There’s Something About Movies team captain Michael Sheen. She gets behind the wheel of a classic E-Type Jag while he regales her with tales of growing up in Port Talbot. He also shows her old family photographs and shares memories of growing up in the industrial town, which also spawned his fellow actors Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins.
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