A Merry Tudor Christmas With Lucy Worsley
9pm, BBC Two
Turns out Henry VIII didn’t just have a penchant for beheading wives; he also loved a Christmas feast – although not as we know it. As Lucy Worsley discovers, wealthy Tudors would celebrate for the entire 12 days of Christmas, there was no Santa mythology to contend with, and food included everything from stuffed boar’s head to sweet beef pies. Records also show how Henry would spend more than half the yearly budget for his household on Christmas extravagance. Ammar Kalia
Coronation Street at Christmas
8.30pm, ITV
The cobbles always deliver over the festive season, whether in the form of a surprise birth at the nativity play or Tracy Barlow going on a rampage. This delve into the storylines of Christmas past features contributions from stars including Barbara Knox, William Roache and the great Julie Goodyear. Hannah Verdier
Celebrity Gogglebox 2019
9pm, Channel 4
The celebrities are settling in once more to critique the year’s television. This year, they include Rylan Clark-Neal and his mum, Linda, on the scandals of Love Island, Chris Eubank and his son Chris Eubank Jr on Naked Attraction, and father and son Martin and Roman Kemp on First Dates. Worthy preparation for our own impending TV marathons. AK
It’s a Wild Christmas
9pm, Eden
Here are the usual frosty landscapes and snow hares that we expect from our winter wildlife documentary, but also a reminder that, in the southern hemisphere, the festive season falls at the height of summer. That is good news for 2m king penguins, who will be dining on fresh fish pulp this Christmas. Ellen E Jones
Ball & Boe: A Very Merry Christmas
9.30pm, ITV
Mums’ favourites Alfie Boe and Michael Ball are reuniting for that most hallowed of all crooning gigs: the Christmas musical special. Guests include the jazz star Gregory Porter, singing royalty Dame Shirley Bassey and the actor Luke Evans tackling everything from classic carols to the pair’s new material. AK
Country Music By Ken Burns
9.30pm, BBC Four
There is a lot of Garth Brooks flying around stadiums on wires in the final episode of Burns’s epic chronicle, as country evolved into something glossier in the 90s. But the stripped-back return of Johnny Cash and the rise of bluegrass confirmed the genre could also stay true to its roots. Graeme Virtue
Film choice
Peeping Tom, 10pm, Talking Pictures TV
After all the delightful dreamlands that Michael Powell created, this study of a serial killer (Karlheinz Böhm) is his late-career nightmare: a sardonic thriller that gives full rein to the dark side of Powell’s craft. The critics reacted with fear and loathing, and the director’s career was virtually ended. Paul Howlett
Live sport
Darts: the world championship 12.30pm, Sky Sports Main Event. Second-round ties at Ally Pally.
Premiership rugby union: Gloucester v Worcester Warriors 7pm, BT Sport 2. Coverage from Kingsholm Stadium.
Scottish Premiership football: Hibernian v Rangers 7.15pm, BT Sport 1. Top-flight action as Rangers travel to Easter Road.
