What to watch this CHRISTMAS

Our guide to what's on TV over the festive season

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The Royal Variety Performance ITV1

Jason Manford hosts this year's spectacular at London's Royal Albert Hall, where the star-studded lineup includes Jessie J, Laufey, Madness and BGT winner Harry Moulding. There's also a performance from the cast of Paddington: The Musical and a showstopping finale with 400 performers, including Michael Ball and Matt Lucas, performing a Les Misérables medley to celebrate the musical's 40th anniversary.

Tea with Dame Judi Sky Arts

Dame Judi Dench welcomes her friend and sometime collaborator Sir Kenneth Branagh to her beautiful country home for this one-off special which will see the actors talk candidly about their lives and careers, while sharing some amusing anecdotes and emotional insights along the way.

The Night Manager BBC1

The long-awaited sequel to the hit spy thriller based on the book by John le Carré sees Tom Hiddleston reprise his role as Jonathan Pine. Olivia Colman also returns for the six-parter.

Shaun the Sheep: Fleece Navidad CBBC

Our woolly hero is back for a seasonal adventure which finds the Farmer hoping to take his best Christmas-card photo yet. Shaun is only too pleased to help so he secretly knits some special jumpers to make the photo shoot look extra Christmassy.

Amanda and Alan's Spanish Christmas BBC1