Back in Time for Christmas
9pm, BBC2
A lesson in festive nostalgia, as the Robshaw family step back in time to celebrate Christmas over six decades under the guidance of Giles Coren. They begin in 1940, with wartime austerity and Christmas dinner on the rationing list. Lionel Blair pops in to tell them stories of singing for people using the London Underground as an air-raid shelter. There is also a glimpse of 1950s optimism, followed by cocktail parties, carols and the arrival of the artificial Christmas tree in the 1960s. Concludes Tuesday with the 70s, 80s and 90s. Hannah Verdier
Our Guy in Latvia
9pm, Channel 4
Guy Martin is best known as a daredevil with a penchant for breaking land-speed records. Tonight, however, he undertakes a slower, more personal journey: back to the Baltics, to find out the truth about his late grandfather Walter Kidals. How did Walter make it from German-occupied Latvia to postwar Hull to marry Martin’s grandmother? The story involves stirring feats of Boy’s Own derring-do, including audacious prison camp escapes, that put even Martin’s own adventures in the shade. David Stubbs
Inside Einstein’s Mind: The Enigma of Space and Time
9pm, BBC4
A century ago last month, the 36-year-old physicist Albert Einstein published his theory of general relativity, embedding himself in popular culture as the cliche of the dishevelled boffin and dramatically expanding humankind’s understanding of the universe. This terrific film illuminates not only Einstein’s conclusions but also the means by which he arrived at them, adroitly negotiating that always‑difficult balance between bewildering and patronising the passing viewer to furnish an engrossing narrative. Andrew Mueller
Trollied
9pm, Sky1
It’s nearly Christmas at Valco and fruit-recognition training is in full swing, while a poisonous spider is on the loose. In the second of the double bill, the supermarket’s staff celebrate its birthday in 1960s fancy dress as the series bows out. There are some real gems in the ensemble cast, most notably Jason Watkins and Sarah Parish playing out Gavin’s bittersweet romance with rival supermarket manager Cheryl in the store’s freezer. Trollied is from the Stella school of comedy: not always hilarious, but gently watchable. HV
Dr Christmas
9pm, TLC
It’s time to deck the halls: unless you’re an American kajillionaire, that is, in which case you may have already outsourced decorative duties to Bob Pranga, AKA Dr Christmas. This schmaltzy one-off follows the Doc and his business partner Debi as they bring ice rinks, monster trees and giant gingerbread men to Beverly Hills. In this opening episode, the not-so-secret Santa lends a hand to a former Saved by the Bell star, a soap actor and a TV presenter. Garish, obviously, but likely to induce a gleeful “OMG” or five, too. Hannah J Davies
Fargo
10pm, Channel 4
After perhaps the most taut moment of an impressive second series, and with the seemingly bullet-proof Peggy and Ed (Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons) somehow managing to live another day, you can’t help but wonder whether the scene where they let the deadly assassin Hanzee escape could prove to be their eventual undoing. After arriving to save the day, Lou is now involved in jurisdictional politics, while Hanzee returns to the Gerhardt compound with news of recent events. That’ll be awkward, then. Ben Arnold
The Best of Bad TV: The 70s
10pm, Channel 5
As the Christmas schedules creep on to Britain’s EPGs, expect the annual parade of pundits pining for TV’s 1970s golden age. While there may have been Morecambe and Wise, Fawlty Towers and Porridge, there was also room for rampant racism, sickening sexism and competitive disco dancing on Britain’s three channels. Time for a showcase evening promoting the very worst the decade had to offer. Including interviews with Peter Purves, Valerie Singleton and Jane Rossington, AKA Jill from Crossroads. Mark Gibbings-Jones
Film Choice
Lawless (John Hillcoat, 2012) 11.10pm, Film4
More rough stuff from the director of the post-apocalyptic drama The Road and The Proposition. Apparently based on a true story, it’s set in 1931 Virginia, where brothers Tom Hardy and Shia LaBeouf lead the Bondurant clan in their illegal moonshine business. Which is all very well until a corrupt, sadistic Fed (Guy Pearce) starts muscling in. Relentlessly violent. Paul Howlett
The Truman Show (Peter Weir, 1998) 2.05pm, 9.50pm, Sky Movies Greats
Jim Carrey’s Truman Burbank lives in the peaceful town of Seahaven, unaware that he is the subject of a round-the-clock TV show, his friends and family merely actors playing roles. It’s an inspired idea and Weir plays it out brilliantly, with Ed Harris superb as the godlike show creator. PH
Today’s best live sport
International Premier Tennis League Micromax Indian Aces take on Japan Warriors before the Philippine Mavericks do battle with the UAE Royals. 12noon, Sky Sports 3
Premier League Football: Leicester City v Chelsea High-flying Foxes take on relegation-threatened Chelsea. 7pm, Sky Sports 1
Championship Football: Blackburn Rovers v Nottingham Forest Mid-table clash. 7.30pm, Sky Sports 5
American Football: Miami Dolphins v New York Giants NFL action. 1am, Sky Sports 1
