Dickensian, 7pm, BBC1
Tony Jordan has big fun with a cast of Charles Dickens characters from Oliver Twist to The Old Curiosity Shop. Inspired by the novelist’s tales of the haves and have-nots in Victorian society, this series is released in half-hour chunks of the next few weeks, just as Dickens ought to be. Jacob Marley sends a missive to Fagin while Jaggers settles the affairs of a brother and sister who’ve just buried their father. The Cratchetts try to scrape enough together for a cheerful Christmas while Nancy acquires a new client, much to Bill’s chagrin. Julia Raeside
Peter & Wendy, 8pm, ITV
The tale of the boy who wouldn’t grow up gets a makeover that begins with 12-year-old Lucy Rose awaiting treatment for a heart condition at Great Ormond Street. Reading JM Barrie, Lucy dreams herself to Neverland, where she takes on the role of Wendy Darling. Back in reality, Lucy’s mother, Julie, is scared of losing her daughter. Feature-length family fare with enough (crocodile) bite to keep everyone awake on the year’s most torpid day. The cast includes Stanley Tucci, Laura Fraser and, as Tinkerbell, Paloma Faith. Jonathan Wright
And Then There Were None, 9pm, BBC1
Menace lurks amid the heritage colours in this Agatha Christie yarn, as a group of disparate characters – a secretary, a “man in tinned goods”, a general, etc – are summoned to Soldier Island off the Cornish coast, for a weekend break. But where are the hosts? The cast is inevitably terrific, from the obligatory Miranda Richardson through to Charles Dance, Sam Neill and Noah Taylor, but the stately nature of the storytelling and the fragility of the civility at the gathering is ultimately what bowls you over. John Robinson
A Gert Lush Christmas, 9pm, BBC2
Once upon a time in the West Country… in this festive one-off, gangly stand-up Russell Howard attempts to cut the acting mustard as put-upon everyguy Dan Colman, escorting his new girlfriend back home for Christmas to meet his wacky Bristolian family. With a stacked supporting cast – including Neil Morrissey as his fitness freak dad and Greg Davies as a party-hearty uncle – it’s a carefully calibrated extension of the successful Howard brand, and even features his real-life sibling Kerry as Dan’s glam younger sis, Julie. Graeme Virtue
The Big Fat Quiz Of The Year 2015, 9pm, Channel 4
Now every bit as much of a festive tradition as hangovers, DFS adverts and running out of milk the second all the shops close, Channel 4’s holiday stalwart returns. In a year that saw such events as people arguing over The Dress, Taylor Swift biting chunks out of Apple or bewigged omnifarce Donald Trump being consistently terrible, there’s certainly plenty to cover, so it’s lucky that Rob Brydon, David Mitchell, Greg Davies and Jo Brand are on standby to cock their respective snooks at 2015’s most mockable stories. Mark Gibbings-Jones
Only Fools And Horses: From The Beginning, 4pm, Gold
When Only Fools And Horses began in 1981, it felt inauspicious, like a weak response to Minder, and featuring dubious references to the local “Paki shop”. As part of its broadcast of every single episode of OFAH, Gold takes us back to these very early episodes, which show hints of a series that would more than find its feet in the decades to come; plots involve the sale of a job lot of one-legged turkeys and young Rodney harbouring ambitions to work in Hong Kong. David Stubbs
André Rieu: Wonderful World – Live In Maastricht, 5pm, Sky Arts
An odd place, the light classical concert. Like a wedding reception without a ceremony, it’s a show where musicians, often in costume, perform familiar tunes to elderly couples drinking sparkling wine. Over the last 15 years or so, it has become a huge concern – and among the biggest performers is Rieu, a Dutch violinist with flowing hair who plays waltzes. Each year, he performs in his home town of Maastricht, and this is a record of his 2015 show, featuring his own Johann Strauss orchestra. JR
Film Choice
Oliver Twist (David Lean, 1948), 9.50am, More4
Classic screen Dickens, with wonderful larger-than-life characters lurking and chirping in a grimy workhouse London – hence Robert Newton’s black-hearted Sykes, Anthony Newley’s cheeky Dodger and John Howard Davies as an angelic, bit-too-plummy Oliver. Alec Guinness’s comic-caricature Fagin was denounced as antisemitic in the US, and much of his performance was lost in the cutting room. Paul Howlett
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (David Yates, 2011), 10.55am, 9pm, Sky Movies Greats
Harry Potter’s magical school years conclude in a tale of Dark Knight-like gloominess. The last battle – pitting Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson), Ron (Rupert Grint) and their Hogwarts mates against vile Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and his horrible hordes – is done on a truly epic scale, as if crossbred with Lord Of The Rings. PH
Fantastic Mr Fox (Wes Anderson, 2009), 11.25am, Channel 4
Roald Dahl always brought a bracing air of cruel realism to his children’s tales, and Anderson’s weird and funny adaptation often shows its claws. The story of the Fox family, who outwit dim agri-corporate cyphers Boggis, Bunce and Bean, is witty and wonderful, the stop-motion technique is masterful and Mr and Mrs Fox are warmly voiced by pure Hollywood royalty – George Clooney and Meryl Streep. PH
Avengers: Age Of Ultron (Joss Whedon, 2015), 2pm, 8pm, Sky Movies Premiere
Marvel’s Avengers assemble again, to tackle the Maximoff twins (Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen) but more pressingly to confront Ultron, an all-powerful android AI. It’s another city-trashing battle with a helping of Whedon wit, imagination and comic-book carnage. PH
Despicable Me (Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud, 2010), 6.40pm, ITV2
This laugh-out-loud animated adventure has Steve Carell as world’s baddest baddie Gru, whose status is challenged by up-and-coming supervillain Vector (Jason Segel). The stage is set for superb retro-sci-fi antics. PH
Skyfall (Sam Mendes, 2012), 8.30pm, ITV2
Mendes and Daniel Craig’s first Bond collaboration pits Craig’s haunted 007 against rogue agent Silva – played as a fey psychopath by Javier Bardem – whose actual target is M, played by the regal Judi Dench. There are spectacular stunts in Macau and Shanghai, but the powerful finale is back at brooding Skyfall, the Highlands pile of Bond’s youth. PH
Under The Skin (Jonathan Glazer, 2013), 1.10am, Film4
As creepy and disturbing a piece of sci-fi as you’re likely to see. Scarlett Johansson is a beautifully pallid, otherworldly presence as an alien in luscious human form who tours the mean streets of Glasgow in search of men. It’s eerie, erotic and deeply haunting. PH
Today’s best live sport
Test Cricket: South Africa v England 7.30am, Sky Sports 2
England’s latest series gets under way in Durban.
Premier League Football: Stoke City v Manchester United 12.30pm, Sky Sports 1
A tricky trip to the Britannia Stadium for United.
Premiership Rugby: London Irish v Northampton Saints 2pm, BT Sport 1
Coverage of the fixture from Madejski Stadium.
Championship Football: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Reading 5pm, Sky Sports 1
Action from Molineux.
