The Cure
9pm, Channel 4
A gruelling true story from the writer Amanda Duke on the 2007 Stafford hospital care scandal, which exposed how patients were being left neglected in filthy wards. Sian Brooke is powerful as Julie Bailey, the ordinary woman who exposed the hospital’s shocking failings after her mother was admitted for a treatable hernia, only to die eight weeks later. A testament to Bailey’s tenacity and resilience with a strong moral message about the importance of advocating for those most in need. Ammar Kalia
Heston’s Marvellous Menu: Back to the Noughties
9pm, BBC Two
If you are not ready for a Christmas feast yet, this will whet your appetite (to a Michelin-starred degree). Giles Coren challenges the chef Heston Blumenthal to recreate the 2001 tasting menu from his restaurant the Fat Duck, documenting how he became one of British cooking’s brightest stars. AK
Freddie Mercury: A Christmas Story
9pm, Channel 5
Being the only musical act to land a Christmas No 1 twice with the same song (Bohemian Rhapsody) might be a tenuous connection to Christmas for Queen, but a connection it is. And so to this documentary about the band’s festivities, complete with some rarely seen footage of Freddie himself. Hannah J Davies
Don’t Tell the Bride: Christmas in the Snow
9pm, E4
As with every set-up in this glorious show, chilled groom Liam hasn’t the faintest idea what his bride, Georgia, wants from their E4-funded wedding. His idea is for a romantic winter white wedding, and hers for sun and sand in Portugal. Who will win out? My money is on the fake snow. AK
I’ll Get This
10pm, BBC Two
A festive return for this guiltily watchable nonsense in which five celebrities go for a meal and play daft games to decide who picks up the tab. Along the way, we learn that Gregg Wallace cannot resist a dad joke and Shirley Ballas can’t hold her drink. But who will need an extra Christmas panto gig to pay the hefty bill? Phil Harrison
Upright
10pm, Sky Atlantic
The end of the road for Lucky and Meg in the finale of Tim Minchin’s poignant comedy-drama. At last, we learn why that eponymous piano was schlepped across the outback. Lucky’s message to his niece sums the show up: “Sometimes when you make mistakes, you make something accidentally beautiful.” Ali Catterall
Film choice
The Importance of Being Earnest (Oliver Parker, 2002), 3pm, BBC Two
It lacks the panache of Oliver Parker’s first Wilde adaptation An Ideal Husband, but Rupert Everett is in his element as Algy and Colin Firth is a fine Jack, while Reese Witherspoon and Frances O’Connor are a bit lost as Cecily and Gwendolen; Judi Dench’s Lady Bracknell handbags them all. Paul Howlett
Live sport
T20 Cricket: Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Thunder 8am, BT Sport 1. Action from the GMHBA Stadium as the Aussie Big Bash league continues.
Darts: World Championship 12.30pm, Sky Sports Main Event. Arrows action from Ally Pally.
Biathlon: World Cup 1.05pm, Eurosport 1. From Le Grand-Bornand, featuring the men’s 10km sprint.
