Tonight's television lineup offers a festive twist on dinner planning and a celebrated actor stepping behind the camera. From preparing your Christmas spread in September to A-list interviews, here's your essential guide to this evening's viewing.
Festive Feasts Frozen in Time
Would you consider making your Christmas dinner in September? That's the bold premise of Channel 4's 'Batch from Scratch at Christmas', airing at 8pm. The show features Suzanne Mulholland, better known as 'The Batch Lady', who advocates for a fully frozen festive feast. She is joined by presenter Joe Swash as they help a family hosting Christmas for the very first time.
The programme, which has notable sponsorship from supermarket chain Lidl, promises to demonstrate how a complete holiday dinner can be whipped up in just 30 minutes by relying on pre-prepared, frozen components. The menu isn't limited to turkey and trimmings; the duo will also guide the family through creating lobster mac and cheese and a child-friendly tiramisu.
Prime Time Highlights and Season Finales
Elsewhere, Channel 5 offers a dose of festive overload with 'World's Biggest Christmas Market' at 8pm. Tom Read Wilson visits Cologne's famous Christmas markets on a mission to find gifts for his friends and family, with the potential obstacle of too much glühwein.
Over on Sky Max at 9pm, the European-set zombie drama 'The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon' reaches its season three climax. Norman Reedus's Daryl and Alexandra Masangkay's Paz go undercover for a rescue mission in Barcelona, while Melissa McBride's Carol follows a separate path.
Sky Atlantic hosts a different kind of tension at 9pm with 'All Her Fault'. The drama, starring Abby Elliott, sees a family's crisis over a kidnapped child interrupted by a shocking past revelation, leading to a major confrontation.
Late-Night Chat and a Directorial Debut
The evening's talk show highlight is 'The Graham Norton Show' on BBC One at 10.40pm. The main guest is Kate Winslet, who will discuss directing her first feature film, the Christmas-themed 'Goodbye June'. She is joined on the famous red sofa by former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, The Celebrity Traitors winner Alan Carr, and US talkshow host Seth Meyers. The episode will also feature a musical performance by Cat Burns.
In sitcom land, BBC One's 'Daddy Issues' continues at 9.35pm. Malcolm's surprise weekend break at a dismal caravan park takes a turn with the arrival of his estranged and dodgy father Jackie, played by Philip Jackson, who is trying to promote a questionable pyramid scheme.
For film fans, Netflix is highlighting a new release: 'Jay Kelly' (2025), directed by Noah Baumbach. The film, a meditation on celebrity, stars George Clooney in the lead role, supported by Adam Sandler and Laura Dern. Meanwhile, Film4 offers a late-night chance to revisit Lynne Ramsay's critically acclaimed 2017 thriller 'You Were Never Really Here', starring Joaquin Phoenix, in the early hours of Friday morning.
Sports viewers can tune into TNT Sports 1 at 7pm for FA Cup football, featuring the second-round clash between Salford City and Leyton Orient at Peninsula Stadium.
