What’s On TV Tonight? Our Pick Of The Best Shows: Monday 4th December

Wayne Sleep in The Real Marigold On Tour Monday 4th December

(Image credit: BBC/Tw)

TV Times tops picks for tonight

What’s on telly tonight? Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight three of the best shows on telly tonight for Monday 4^th December

The Real Marigold on Tour, 9.00pm, BBC1 (10.45pm in Scotland)

Where else will you find Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes discussing bowel movements and chef Rosemary Shrager haggling for a non-stick wok? Yes, it’s the return of our favourite travel documentary, which sees the stars of previous series taking adventures in China, Cuba, Thailand and Iceland. This week, Miriam and Rosemary join dancer Wayne Sleep and darts legend Bobby George to sample retired life in the Chinese city of Chengdu, where exercising and socialising are top of the agenda. Miriam is less than impressed with the cuisine, though – "I don’t eat adventurously," she insists – but meeting giant pandas renders her speechless! Rating: *****

The Hairy Bikers Home for Christmas, 3.45pm, BBC1

If you’re tired of turkey and sick of stodgy Christmas pud, then never fear, Si and Dave are here with their fun weekday afternoon series to give you a few alternative ideas. Along with chatting to a different celebrity guest each day and finding out how they spend their holidays, the Hairy Bikers will be getting a few festive foodie gift ideas from some home cooks – forget about boring old socks, it’s all about edible (or even drinkable) gifts this year! As well as tips for the big day, the lads have also got some delicious ideas for using up leftovers and catering for those annoying ‘in-between’ days between Christmas and New Year. The Hairy Bikers have Christmas covered! Rating: ****

Hodges Half Dozen, 9.00pm, TLC

"We had always dreamed of having a big family," says Liz Hodges. It looks like her dream came true! Liz and her husband Daniel were desperate for a family, but after trying for a year they turned to fertility treatment to have their son, Rowan. When he was one, they started trying for a little brother or sister for Rowan, but were shocked when their doctor found five babies on the scan. Born at 26 weeks, they are "life-threateningly" premature so it’s touch and go while the quints spend their first few months of life in hospital. This emotional six-part series follows the Hodges as they adjust to life as a family of eight. Rating: ****

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!