A Christmas Carol
9pm, BBC One
The heartwarming Dickensian classic gets a gloomy, Peaky Blinders-style rework from writer Steven Knight in this three-part adaptation. Guy Pearce is excellent as the sallow-faced, obsessive Scrooge, purgatorially haunted by three ghosts of Christmas, until he repents for the death of his former partner Jacob Marley (a sweaty, frantic Stephen Graham). Knight paints a convincing and original hellscape, one different from the many previous TV versions, providing a dose of doom to accompany the festive cheer. Ammar Kalia
Pride of Britain: Celebrating 20 Years
5pm, ITV
Not all heroes wear capes: Carol Vorderman presents the show celebrating ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Here, she catches up with some of the winners from the past 20 years, including six of the seven crew of the RNLI who risked their lives to save stranded seamen. Ali Catterall
Les Misérables: 25th Anniversary
5.05pm, Sky Arts
October 2010 saw the 25th anniversary of the Cameron Mackintosh stage production of the 19th-century French revolution musical. To mark the occasion, two special performances were staged and filmed at the O2, featuring guest singers Nick Jonas and Alfie Boe. One for the singalong crowd. AK
His Dark Materials
8pm, BBC One
A suitably morose and, naturally, open-ended finale rounds off season one of the Beeb’s excellent Philip Pullman dramatisation. Amid more spectacular goings-on, Lyra (played by Dafne Keen) once again has to confront the truth that parents might not always be infallible guides through life. Jack Seale
The Christmas Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan
9pm, BBC Two
Romesh moaned about the cold all through last year’s Arctic-based Christmas special, so no doubt he’s delighted with this year’s destination: the Sahara desert. With local guide Bobo, the standup discovers a spectacular landscape and is tested to his limits. Ellen E Jones
Escape to the Chateau at Christmas
9pm, Channel 4
Dick and Angel mark the end of another hectic year at the chateau, which has included renovating the dilapidated coach house and river boat on their estate, with a well-deserved French Christmas feast, complete with homemade gifts for their friends and family. AK
Film choice
The BFG 5.15pm, BBC One
Steven Spielberg’s enchanting screening of Roald Dahl’s family favourite glows with a childlike sense of wonder. Newcomer Ruby Barnhill is orphan Sophie, who sets off with new friend the BFG. Mark Rylance’s very human performance shines through the superb motion-capture magic. Paul Howlett
Live sport
Premier League Football: Watford v Manchester United 2pm, Sky Sports Main Event. Live from Vicarage Road.
Premiership Rugby Union: London Irish v Bath Rugby 2.30pm, BT Sport 1. The sixth-round fixture from Madejski Stadium.
Premier League Football: Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea 4pm, Sky Sports Main Event. Spurs at home in a derby.
