The Witcher
Henry Cavill swaps his Superman cape for a sword for this action-packed supernatural drama based on Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels about monster-hunter Geralt of Rivia. In a promising new dose of fantasy thrills for Game of Thrones fans, Cavill is also joined by love interest Anya Chalotra to take on this dangerous world.
From Friday 20 December, Netflix
Responsible Child
As much a cautionary tale on the age – just 10 – that constitutes adult criminality in England and Wales as it is a gripping drama, this feature-length one-off traces the motivations and aftermath of a 12-year-old boy’s murder of his mother’s abusive partner.
Monday 16 December, 9pm, BBC Two
Reality Check
Love Island 2019 girl-gang Amber, Yewande and Anna are launching their own podcast, tackling listeners’ questions from relationship issues to family Christmas planning, with their own three-way agony aunt spin. Expect unconventional advice, as well as gossip from the island.
Podcast
Strictly Come Dancing: The Final
Ready yourselves for the glitterball trophy to be held aloft once more, as – after another year of foxtrotting and tangoing, as well as questionable left-footing – it’s time for the Strictly final. The remaining couples have to perform three routines to win the hearts and minds of the public voters, while Taylor Swift provides the musical interlude.
Saturday 14 December, 7.05pm, BBC One
Soundtrack
What says Christmas more than an anthology series telling the stories of a group of disparate people living and loving in LA through the medium of spontaneous song? Netflix delivers the goods with this Christina Milian-starring show, guaranteed to make you cringe with its one-liners (“every song is a love song”) and perhaps weep at the heartbreak in an egg-nog induced stupor.
From Wednesday 18 December, Netflix
Watchmen
Damon Lindelof’s adaptation of Alan Moore’s cult graphic novel has been essential viewing this year, tackling US race relations with harrowing prescience in his alternate universe. In the finale, Regina King’s cop Angela seeks to tie up the many, bloody loose ends.
Monday 16 December, 9pm, Sky Atlantic
Blaps
All4’s series of comedy shorts returns with a new batch of sketches from Britain’s rising talents. Previous incarnations have included the beginnings of Stath Lets Flats, and this new collection sees high-school dramas from the Brad Boyz, workplace antics in The Tool, and small-village microagressions in Halfbreed.
From Monday 16 December, All4
Shrill
Based on journalist Lindy West’s memoir, this empowering comedy follows Annie through her tempestuous love life – including considering having a baby with her booty call – and trying to make it in the media. But it is her relationship with her friend Fran, played by Lolly Adefope, that’s the highlight.
From Sunday 15 December, BBC Three
A Fantastic Woman
Marina is a young transgender singer in Santiago, in a loving relationship with handsome divorcee Orlando – but when he dies, she is suspected of murder and subjected to a grotesque outpouring of prejudice from police, officials and his family. Daniela Vega is, indeed, fantastic as Marina in Sebastián Lelio’s drama.
Tuesday 17 December, 1.10am, Film4
The Cure
When massive care failings were exposed at Stafford Hospital in 2007 – including patients being left in soiled sheets for hours without hydration or pain relief – it was one of the biggest scandals to rock the NHS. This extraordinary drama tells the story of the ordinary woman, Julie Bailey, who exposed the failings after her mother died there.
Thursday 19 December, 9pm, Channel 4
