What’s On TV Tonight? Our Pick Of The Best Shows: Tuesday 19th December

The Royal Variety Performance Tuesday 19th December
(Image credit: Matt Frost/ITV)

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 Tuesday 19th December

The Royal Variety Performance, 7.30pm, ITV

You know it’s nearly Christmas when a whole host of stars gather for a night of top-notch entertainment with Prince William and Kate Middleton in attendance. This year, queen of comedy Miranda Hart oversees proceedings at the iconic London Palladium. The line-up includes Frasier star Kelsey Grammer – who will be performing an exclusive number with the cast of the new musical Big Fish – plus Joan Collins, The Killers, Seal, Paloma Faith and Louis Tomlinson, and Britain’s Got Talent-winning pianist Tokio Myers. Also taking to the stage will be West End legends Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, plus the casts of musicals Annie and 42nd Street. Comedy comes from Jason Manford and Tom Allen. What a night! Rating: ****

Britain’s Favourite Biscuit, 9.00pm, C5

Britain’s Favourite Biscuit

Around 500 people a year require hospital treatment for ‘biscuit-related injuries’, mainly from getting scalded while dunking biscuits or choking on biscuit crumbs. That’s just one of the fun facts that comes up in this countdown programme sorting the Rich Tea from the Hobnobs and Jaffa Cakes. Rating: ****

Jamie’s Italian Christmas, 8.00pm, C4

Jamie’s Italian Christmas

It wouldn’t be Christmas without him, would it? But this year Jamie is doing things a bit differently. He’s headed to the hills, the Italian Alps to be precise, and he’s created a menu that is full of the seasonal classics but with an Italian twist. First up ishomemade pasta – a ravioli filled with roasted butternut squash and ricotta, served with a sage butter. For the main course he has two roasts, a turkey and an Italian favourite called porchetta – which is a big bit of pork stuffed with gorgeousness. Then, of course, there are the vegetables – delicious greens, balsamic-roasted potatoes and creamed spinach with a stunning tiramisu for pud. Buon Natale! Rating: ****

More previews tomorrow.

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!