What’s on telly tonight? Our pick of the best shows on Friday 29th December

By David Hollingsworth
( What's on TV )
published

Eric, Ernie and Me Friday 29th December
(Image credit: BBC/Objective Fiction/Bristol Fi)

TV Times tops picks for tonight

What’s on telly tonight? Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight the three best shows on Friday 29th December

Eric, Ernie & Me

Christmas isn’t complete without a helping of Morecambe and Wise repeats, but this year, a new one-off drama reveals the story of the famous duo’s long-serving writer, Eddie Braben. Played by Stephen Tompkinson, Eddie teamed up with Eric (Mark Bonnar) and Ernie (Neil Maskell) during their 1970s golden years, working tirelessly on every script and dreaming up fresh sketches for the iconic Christmas specials. The overwhelming success caused Eddie to have two breakdowns, yet his love for the boys kept him going. A touching and funny biopic, preceded by Eric & Ernie’s Home Movies at 8.00pm on BBC2. Rating: *****

Tim Vine Travels Through Time, 7.30pm, BBC1

Tim Vine Travels Through Time

Following a pilot in the summer, punmaster Tim Vine delivers another outing for his sitcom in which he stars as the time-travelling owner of an antiques shop. Former Spice Girl Emma Bunton needs Tim’s help to make an antique silver lion as good as new. With the help of his time-travelling grandfather clock, Tim goes back to Tudor England and straight into the festive celebrations of King Henry VIII and is mistaken for the court jester! Anne Boleyn (Emma) tries to impress Henry and Catherine of Aragon (Sally Phillips) by arranging a Christmas party. Danny John-Jules and Reverend Richard Coles also guest-star. Rating: ***

Vic & Bob’s Big Night Out, 9.00pm, BBC2

Bic and Bob's Big Night In

Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer revive their original telly format for the first time in 26 years in a gloriously silly special one-off edition. C4’s Big Night Out, adapted from their anarchic live act, introduced the world to the duo’s offbeat brand of surreal humour back in 1990, launching their career and influencing an entire generation of British comics. Tonight it’s back, on BBC2, as reassuringly wacky as ever. A fantastically crackers treat for hardcore fans, celebrating the best of the legendary partnership, it’s packed full of their trademark mix of manic slapstick, eccentric sketches, classic catchphrases and old favourites – including Novelty Island and the return of Graham Lister. They wouldn’t let it lie! Rating: *****

More previews tomorrow

David Hollingsworth
David Hollingsworth
Editor

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.


Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough. 


David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.


Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!