TV tonight: Our highlights for Friday, December 16 2022

The Graham Norton Show is always a delight. (Image credit: BBC)

On TV tonight, Graham Norton chats to Tom Hanks, there's a festive edition of Shakespeare and Hathaway, and it's the last episode of Strictly: It Takes Two. Here's what you shouldn't miss on TV Tonight.

Our hand-selected recommendations for what's on TV tonight include TV shows, a film, live sport 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 Graham Norton Show, 10.40 pm, BBC One

The nicest guy in Hollywood, aka Tom Hanks, is back on the red sofa to chat about A Man Called Otto, out in cinemas in January. Joining him are Suranne Jones, star of Sky’s festive comedy drama Christmas Carole, and Naomi Ackie, who’s playing Whitney Houston in the biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody showing on the big screen at the end of December. Plus music from Rina Sawayama who performs her single Hold the Girl. Graham, you are spoiling us.

★★★ NT

Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators, 2.15pm, BBC One

Shakespeare & Hathaway Season 4: Mark Benton and Jo Joyner in character as Frank Hathaway and Lu Shakespeare, standing in front of French windows, with Frank giving a quizzical aside glance — Shakespeare & Hathaway (Image credit: BBC)

A festive case for Lu Shakespeare (Jo Joyner) and Frank Hathaway (Mark Benton) in the shape of Arden’s Christmas celebrations, which council leader Elaine Davis (Angela Lonsdale) is rebranding as Winterval. Someone is not happy about it and has embarked on a sabotage campaign. Could it be Mr Christmas, a local who celebrates Christmas every day of the year? Meanwhile, Sebastian (Patrick Walshe McBride) has a solo mission. A sparkly, perfectly wrapped treat.

★★★★ SM

Strictly: It Takes Two, 6.30 pm, BBC Two

Janette Manrara and Rylan Clark-Neal. (Image credit: BBC)

Janette Manrara and Rylan present a bumper hour-long edition of Strictly’s sister show ahead of tomorrow night’s grand final on BBC One, with special guests, sneak peeks of the finalists’ dances and plenty of backstage gossip. But who will the Friday panel think is going to win this year’s glitterball trophy?

★★★★ JP

Best box set on TV tonight

Motherland, Netflix or BBC iPlayer

Motherland cast — Motherland is not to be missed! (Image credit: BBC)

With the Motherland Christmas special heading our way in a couple of weeks, it's the perfect time to re-watch or try the original series. The popular BBC comedy explores the trials and traumas of middle-class motherhood with plenty of hilarious and cringeworthy moments along the way.

What's more, it's got an all-star cast including Anna Maxwell Martin, Lucy Punch, Paul Ready, Philippa Dunne and Diane Morgan, who all brilliantly play a variety of parents trying to balance life, work and kids.

Best film on TV tonight

The Amazing Maurice, 8pm, Sky Premiere / Now TV

Terry Pratchett’s children’s novel The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, a satirical spin on the Pied Piper tale, is turned into an amazing animation with a starry British voice cast headed by Hugh Laurie. Talking cat Maurice (Laurie), with the help of flute-playing human Keith (Himesh Patel) and a clan of intelligent rats, rids towns of apparent rodent infestations in a money-making scam. But then the gang encounters a bookish teenager (Emilia Clarke) and a dangerous adversary… Witty and delightful.

★★★★ JB