The Ballet Master: Sir Peter Wright At 90
7pm, BBC4
In his first major TV interview, Peter Wright candidly reflects on a dazzling career encompassing dance, choreography, teaching and TV directing. Under his supervision, the touring company of the Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet was transformed into the Birmingham Royal Ballet, while his Nutcracker has been cited as the greatest of all versions. This birthday tribute features contributions from colleagues and archive footage. Ali Catterall
The Real Marigold On Tour
9pm, BBC2
A quartet of famous pensioners – Bobby George, Miriam Margolyes, Rosemary Shrager and Wayne Sleep – explore ways of spending their twilight years. Following their India trip, tonight it’s Florida, and life in two gated communities. Unsurprisingly, the odd preconception is overturned – plus, the occasionally acrid vibe between Rosemary and Miriam is something to behold. Concludes Friday, when the gang are in Japan. John Robinson
Tattoo Fixers
9pm, E4
As per, the Fixers are on hand to help the victims of incapable inksmiths – or just those who regret their tats. Hapless romantic Karl needs Sketch’s skills following a misjudged tribute to his ex, while Christian convert Darren’s newly found faith proves incompatible with a devilish tattoo adorning his body. Meanwhile, Lucy Ann requires rectification on an unfortunate backside blunder, and a misjudged Game Of Thrones tribute requires Alice’s expertise. Mark Gibbings-Jones
Walliams & Friend Christmas Special
10pm, BBC1
David Walliams is joined by Hugh Bonneville for a Christmas special, with the Downton actor playing a grammar-obsessed vicar, a toothsome gameshow host and a yoga guru with anger issues. To his credit, he hurls himself into this sorry business with vim, but even with sketches featuring, in one case, the combined heft of Biggins, the Chuckle Brothers and Bob Carolgees, the material just isn’t up to snuff. Ben Arnold
Inside No 9: The Devil Of Christmas
10pm, BBC2
Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith’s twisted anthology comedy returns for a Christmas special, with Pemberton, Jessica Raine and Rula Lenska hamming it up gleefully as a family getting more than they bargained for while on an Alpine holiday. Initially, it’s a homage to 70s TV melodrama. But a voiceover – director’s commentary or something more sinister? – lends an uneasy undertone, and soon the spoofy chuckles are over. Phil Harrison
People Magazine Investigates
10pm, Investigation Discovery
“It’s the American Jack the Ripper story,” says one talking head in this efficient doc, “except I think it’s Jack the Rippers.” The Long Island serial killer – or maybe killers – is believed to have murdered between 10 and 17 sex workers over 20 years, and yet police still have no suspects. A sobering and fascinating instalment of the true-crime series, if – somewhat inevitably – the investigators don’t provide any real resolution to events. Luke Holland
Pompeii With Michael Buerk
10.45pm, ITV
Clad in relaxed hack-on-safari beige and surrounded by oozing CGI, Buerk hosts a one-off documentary “following in the footsteps of” the real inhabitants of the port destroyed by volcanic eruption. The fancy bits where surviving ruins morph into the complete buildings of the past don’t reveal much we don’t know from any other show set in Roman times, but interviews with experts on Pompeiian food, drink, sex and entertainment are illuminating. Jack Seale
Film choice
Raiders Of The Lost Ark (Steven Spielberg, 1981) 1.35pm, BBC1
“Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?” Nice Spielbergian touch to give his heroic adventurer Indiana Jones these little human fears and foibles. The first, fastest and funniest of the Jones movies, with Harrison Ford’s indestructible archaeologist chasing from Nepal to Cairo with sparky partner Karen Allen to whip the ark of the covenant from under Nazi noses. A tremendous upgrade of the old Saturday matinees. Paul Howlett
Mr Peabody & Sherman (Rob Minkoff, 2014) 3.50pm, BBC1
Even by the flexible laws of animated movies, this Pixar adventure is a wacky creation. Mr Peabody (Ty Burrell) is a big-brained beagle who adopts seven-year-old human Sherman (Max Charles) and decides to teach him some history via his homemade time machine. Their headspinning tour includes the Trojan horse, King Tut, Leonardo da Vinci, Marie Antoinette, and a rip in the space-time continuum. Whoops! PH
Skyfall (Sam Mendes, 2012) 8pm, ITV2
Mendes’s Skyfall marked the 50th anniversary of Bond and is probably the best yet. Daniel Craig’s edgy, haunted 007 is pitted against rogue former agent Silva, played entertainingly as a fey, dyed-blond psychopath by Javier Bardem. Silva’s target is in fact Judi Dench’s regal M, very much the belle of this ball. There are spectacular stunts in Macau and Shanghai, but this is a staunchly British affair, set largely in London before a barnstorming, unusually poignant showdown at Skyfall, the Highlands pile of Bond’s youth. PH
The Impossible (JA Bayona, 2012) 9pm, More4
The Boxing Day tsunami of 2004 killed 230,000 people in south-east Asia, and this gripping, thoroughly convincing film brings all the shock, horror and emotion of the disaster surging back. It’s based on the true-life story of a Spanish family who were separated in the chaos and struggled desperately to locate each other. Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts are excellent as the parents in an extraordinary tale of familial love and survival. PH
Live sport
World Darts Championship Coverage of day 10 at Ally Pally. 1pm, Sky Sports Darts
Premiership Rugby Union: Harlequins v Gloucester The top-flight sides drew one year ago today, but who will dominate this time around? 3.30pm, BT Sport 1
Premier League Football: Liverpool v Stoke City All the action from Anfield (kick-off 5.15pm). 5pm, Sky Sports 1
