| What's on Now & Next (2025-12-21) | |||
| RTE One
[101] [HD:135] |
17:50 | RTÉ News | National and international news. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 | The Angelus | A reflective minute, where people of all faiths and none may, if they choose, take time out | |
| RTE2
[102] |
17:00 | Earth | Today, Earth is home to eight billion people and counting, with humans now having a greater effect in shaping Earth's surface than many natural processes. Chris Packham explores how dramatic twists in Earth's story enabled humans to go from being part of nature to controlling it and what can be learnt from this epic tale before it's too late |
| 18:00 | Ottoman Empire by Train with Alice Roberts | Alice is on the train to Ankara for the second installment of her Ottoman adventure. She visits the tomb of Kemal Ataturk, who saw out the end of the Ottoman Empire. She enters the historic citadel. And she also learns about the exceptional wool from a special breed of goats that made the Ottomans a small fortune. Next, a train to Bursa brings Alice to the tomb of Osman, the empire's founder | |
| Virgin Media One
[103] |
17:30 | News at 5.30 | The latest national and international news stories from the Virgin Media News team |
| 18:00 | Midsomer Murders | A booby-trapped cuckoo clock kills a guest at an engagement party, sending the detectives through a maze of family secrets. Detective drama set in a picturesque rural county where death lurks around every corner. Mystery drama, starring Neil Dudgeon, with Nick Hendrix, Annette Badland and Fiona Dolman | |
| TG4
[104] |
17:25 | Hit the Wall | Documentary about GAA Handball, an ancient game that was once a stalwart of Irish life. Fifty years ago it was hugely popular, almost every town or village had an alley, but it has since fallen into obscurity. Today only 10,000 people still play. In the landscape of Irish sport, Handball is an island within an island. However, in certain parts of the country it remains a source of immense pride and fierce competition |
| 18:00 | Buildings Beo | Carrie Crowley visits the seaside village of Monkstown in Co Dublin, where the local Church of Ireland rector has embarked on a remarkable project of transforming an old schoolhouse into a vibrant community hub. Carrie discovers how this refurbished schoolhouse will serve as a gathering place for the local art group and Tidy District group, offering a space for community activities and creativity to flourish | |
| Virgin Media Two
[105] |
17:00 | Think Tank | Bill Turnbull hosts as three more contestants compete to win a cash prize, aided or hindered by the answers of the regular cast of contributors known as the Think Tank |
| 18:00 | Yes Chef | Michelin-starred chef Nigel Haworth puts four home cooks through a series of culinary challenges, including how to make the perfect spinach a la creme. Sheree Murphy hosts | |
| Virgin Media Three
[106] |
17:00 | Doc Martin | The villagers throw the Ellinghams a farewell party and Ruth helps Mrs Tishell deal with the news and encourages her to attend, but it seems that Martin and Louisa aren't going to make it because a farmer has spotted their lost dog. Final regular episode of the long-running drama series. |
| 18:00 | Ed Finn's America | The travelling presenter arrives in Tennessee, enjoying nusic, hot chicken and honky-tonks in Nashville, then heading down to Memphis for Elvis, blues and a barbecue | |
| BBC One
[108] |
17:05 | Countryfile | Matt Baker, Anita Rani and Adam Henson uncover the magic of Cadgwith on the Cornish coast at Christmas. From tree deliveries to seasonal pasty-making and a pub full of sea shanties, they see how the community comes together at this special time of year - all building to the big switch-on that floods the cove with festive lights |
| 18:05 | Celebrity Escape to the Country | Nicki Chapman presents the first in a run of episodes in which famous faces decide whether to relocate to the countryside. Former England international Neil 'Razor' Ruddock find his softer side, as he and his wife Leah look for properties in rural Kent. Razor's tough guy persona is put to the test when a 15th-century thatched cottage causes him concern about spiders, while Leah has aspirations to rear some animals in their new country pad | |
| Channel 4
[111] [HD:142] |
16:50 | The Little Mermaid | A headstrong mermaid princess is fascinated with humans, in defiance of her father's mistrust of the surface dwellers. When she falls in love with a prince she rescues from a shipwreck, she makes a dangerous deal with an evil sea witch to be transformed into a human so she can pursue a life on land - at the cost of her voice. Live action remake of the Disney animated fantasy adventure, starring Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy and Javier Bardem |
| 19:15 | London Zoo at Christmas | A look into the daily goings-on of the world's oldest scientific zoo, revealing how keepers and other staff make the holiday magic happen. From complicated animal moves and meeting the zoo's newest and youngest additions, to medical check-ups and transforming the zoo into a magical winter wonderland, cameras are on hand to capture some truly unique moments | |
| E4
[112] [HD:162] |
17:25 | The Big Bang Theory | Penny gets fired from the movie, prompting her to take a serious look at her life. Raj receives advice from Sheldon after he sees Emily on a date with another man at the cinema, while Howard's mother breaks her leg. Comedy, starring Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco |
| 18:00 | The Big Bang Theory | Sheldon becomes upset about his career, the destruction of the comic-book store and Leonard and Penny's future living arrangements. Elsewhere, Howard is unable to keep hold of a carer for his mother. Comedy, staring Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco | |
| BBC Four
[117] |
03:05 | What We Were Watching | Grace Dent travels back in time through the BBC's archives for a light-hearted look at the TV schedules of 40 years ago. Things not going to plan on Noel Edmonds' Christmas Day Live, Live Breakfast Show, while BBC Breakfast had an epic pantomime that ran longer than most regular drama episodes. Soaps fans were looking forward to Dynasty's wedding of the year between Amanda Carrington and Prince Michael of Moldova, little realising that they were in for a bloodbath with the marriage turned into a massacre, while there are festive moments from Rik Mayall, Kenny Everett, Peter Cook and David Jason, whose Only Fools and Horses special was the most-watched show of the season |
| 19:00 | What We Were Watching | Grace Dent travels back in time through the BBC's archives for a light-hearted look at the TV schedules of 40 years ago. Things not going to plan on Noel Edmonds' Christmas Day Live, Live Breakfast Show, while BBC Breakfast had an epic pantomime that ran longer than most regular drama episodes. Soaps fans were looking forward to Dynasty's wedding of the year between Amanda Carrington and Prince Michael of Moldova, little realising that they were in for a bloodbath with the marriage turned into a massacre, while there are festive moments from Rik Mayall, Kenny Everett, Peter Cook and David Jason, whose Only Fools and Horses special was the most-watched show of the season | |
| More4
[118] [HD:168] |
17:45 | Come Dine with Me | On the final night in Bolton, exuberant financial advisor Louis offers a fancy fine-dining menu incorporating lamb Wellington and a dessert that bucks the week's cheesecake trend. His hope is that such 'posh nosh' will propel him to the top of the leaderboard, allowing him to claim the £1,000 prize |
| 18:15 | Four in a Bed | The first host of the week, Andy, is hoping his guests enjoy the seaside at Sefton Blackpool. His guests might be apprehensive about a classic British seaside getaway, but Andy's doubling down on the experience with a trip to the arcades and some ice cream on the beach. But a shocking discovery at breakfast leaves all of the B&Bers nonplussed | |