TV tonight: our highlights for Boxing Day

The Masked Singer costumes Viking, Blob, Harlequin, Bushbaby, Grandfather Clock and Seahorse

The Masked Singer

(Image credit: ITV)

The Masked Singer is one of the gems for today...

The Masked Singer is back for another series, while The Repair Shop and The Great British Sewing Bee return for festive specials. Here's what you shouldn’t miss tonight. 

  • Our hand-selected recommendations for what's on TV tonight include three TV shows, a film and the latest trending need-to-binge-on-now box set 
  • Keep up to date with the latest soap spoiler storylines on TV tonight with our daily soap synopsis 
  • For more information about what’s on TV tonight see our TV Guide 

What's on TV tonight 

Our expert TV journalists have picked the best things on TV tonight... 

Best TV shows on TV tonight

The Masked Singer, 7pm, ITV

The Masked Singer costumes Alien, Robin, Badger, Swan, Dragon and Sausage

Alien, Robin, Badger, Swan, Dragon and Sausage are ready to take the stage (Photo: ITV) (Image credit: ITV)

One of our TV highlights of 2020 was watching an octopus perform ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ in The Masked Singer final and subsequently be revealed as classical singer Katherine Jenkins – a perfect microcosm of everything that’s joyful, bizarre and compelling about this unique show. We get to live that experience all over again tonight as Joel Dommett brings 12 new masked celebrities out for Davina McCall, Rita Ora, Jonathan Ross and new panellist Mo Gilligan to identify by voice alone. Six of them sing for the first time tonight: Alien, Robin, Badger, Swan, Dragon and Sausage…

★★★★ SP

The Repair Shop Christmas special, 6.45pm, BBC1

Christmas Repair Shop 2020 TV tonight

The Repair shop is back with a festive twist (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC/Ricochet)

Expect plenty of festive feel-good factor as this lovely show returns with a yuletide special. Tonight’s treasured items, or ‘family members’ as host Jay Blades likes to call them, brought to the barn for some TLC and a new lease of life include a vintage Christmas ornament gifted to Scottish PA Robert by his wealthy New York bosses in the 1970s, a toy truck made by World War Two engineers and a rocking horse with an incredibly moving story attached to it. Watch and marvel as the team works its magic.

★★★★★ TL

The Great British Sewing Bee, 7.45pm, BBC1

The Great British sewing bee TV tonight

How will the celebrities get on with with their festive challenges? (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon)

Denise Van Outen, Shirley Ballas, Dr Ranj Singh and Sara Pascoe join host Joe Lycett in this celebrity edition of the sewing show. Judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young get the stars going with the task of rustling up a pair of festive pyjama bottoms. After loungewear, it’s canine couture, as the celebs turn dog coats into festive fancy-dress outfits for man’s best friend… with hilarious results!

★★★★ JL

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Celebrity Special, 9.30pm, ITV

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Christmas celebrity special

Will anyone win a million for charity? (Picture: ITV)

On a twin-track with the regular ‘civilian’ edition of Millionaire, Jeremy Clarkson’s big-bucks quiz rolls out its celebrity version. Piers Morgan and Jordan Banjo are among those having a crack at the £1million prize tonight. No celeb has ever hit the jackpot, but, nonetheless, expectations remain high. And quizmaster Jeremy Clarkson is sure to be in the stars’ corner – aren’t you, Jeremy?

★★★★ SM

Best box set to watch on TV tonight

The Fall, BBC iPlayer, series 1 to 3

TV tonight The Fall

Jamie Dornan stars alongside Gillian Anderson in chilling BBC crime drama, The Fall (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC/Artists Studio/Steffan Hill)

If you're looking for a gripping new box set to get your teeth into this Christmas, then look no further than The Fall on BBC iPlayer. The series, set in Northern Ireland, sees DSI Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) called in to solve a grisly Belfast murder. The series also stars Jamie Doran, better known as Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades film series, who gives a chilling portrayal of killer Paul Spector.

Best film to watch on TV tonight

Cats, 11am & 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere, NOW TV

Go on, admit you’re interested in seeing if this film is as bad as its reputation. There’s actually plenty to enjoy, especially for fans of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s original musical. Famous people dressed up as cats include Taylor Swift, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, James Corden and Dame Judi Dench but the film focuses on newcomer Francesca Hayward as a cat making her mark with the streetwise Jellicles. ★★★ SM

Live sport

  • Premier League: Fulham v Southampton, 2.45pm (k-o 3pm), Sky Sports
  • Premier League: Arsenal v Chelsea, 5pm, (k-o 5.30pm), Sky Sports
  • Premier League: Leicester City v Manchester United, 11.30am, (k-o 12.30pm), BT Sport
  • Premier League: Manchester City v Newcastle United, 7.30pm, (k-o 8pm), BT Sport

Soaps on TV tonight

  • EastEnders, 8.45pm

If you watch just one thing on TV tonight… 

Don't miss the new series of The Masked Singer - it's so bonkers you can't help but get addicted.

Not found anything you want to watch on TV tonight? Check out our TV Guide. 

Happy viewing!

Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 

After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off

She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 

As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.