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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Ammar Kalia, Hannah Verdier, Ali Catterall, Hannah J Davies and Paul Howlett

New Year's Eve TV: the stars align for end-of-year revelry

Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse, who will be appearing on Graham Norton’s New Year’s Eve show.
Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse, who will be appearing on Graham Norton’s New Year’s Eve show. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC

New Year’s Eve on BBC One
10.20pm, BBC One

The perfect accompaniment to the end-of-year revelry, this year’s BBC lineup is packed with starry turns. Graham Norton’s New Year’s Eve show sees him joined by Tom Hanks to talk about his upcoming film role as Fred Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, plus actor Stephen Graham, Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse and Spice Girl Mel C. Then the UKG stalwart Craig David is at (a scaffolding-covered) Big Ben performing his easily digestible hits before the barrage of fireworks kick in over the Thames. Welcome to 2020. Ammar Kalia

Jane & Friends: New Year’s Eve Special
8pm, Channel 5

She has cruised through Christmas and now Jane McDonald glides into New Year’s Eve. Warm up for the bagpipes with a dose of the Wakefield whirlwind’s warmth, but beware the worst musical lineup ever, including Heather Small, the Lighthouse Family and Chesney Hawkes. Hannah Verdier

The Last Leg of the Year
9pm, Channel 4

Adam Hills presents a special two-hour edition of the show, in which to bury this frankly rancid year in concentrated earth and try to move on. While Johnny Vegas pours the pints, Alex Brooker aims to become the first disabled man in history to complete a high-speed lap in a F4 racer at Donington Park. Ali Caterall

Ray Donovan
9pm, Sky Atlantic

Liev Schreiber as Ray Donovan in the dark US crime drama.
Liev Schreiber (front centre) as Ray Donovan in the dark US crime drama. Photograph: Showtime/TM & © 2016 CBS Studios Inc

This dark US crime drama helmed by Liev Schreiber is a rare thing: a show that’s now on its seventh series but still flying largely under the radar. There’s much here for Donofans, though, as the always intimidating Mickey (Jon Voight) learns the truth about the heist that sent him to jail. Hannah J Davies

Dame Edna Rules the Waves
9.05pm, BBC One

After 50 years in showbiz, Dame Edna hung up her ballgown and retired. It turns out she’s been travelling aboard a luxury yacht ever since and she now invites us on for this chatshow special with Sharon Osbourne, Judge Rinder and Emily Atack, subjecting them to her cheeky interviewing style. AK

Jools’ Annual Hootenanny
11.15pm, BBC Two

It’s a testament to Jools Holland that “hootenanny” has now become inextricable from his chaotic new year’s specials. No doubt he’ll be wandering the studio once more, introducing the likes of Stormzy, Stereophonics and La Roux to ring in the countdown. AK

Film choice

Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze in Point Break.
Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze in Point Break. Photograph: Allstar Collection/20th Century Fox

Point Break, 2am, BBC One

Kathryn Bigelow’s ferociously paced cult thriller (with a touch of zen) has Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze cresting the wave of stardom. Reeves is Fed Johnny Utah, infiltrating bank robbers the Ex-Presidents and bonding with charismatic leader-cum-surfboard guru Bodhi (Swayze). Paul Howlett

Live sport

Big Bash Cricket: Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Thunder 8am, BT Sport 1. More from the Aussie T20 competition at Adelaide Oval.

Skiing: World Cup 11.20am, Eurosport 1. Featuring the women’s 10km freestyle mass-start event.

Ski Jumping: The Four Hills 12.55pm, Eurosport 1. The qualifying session from Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

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