PICKS OF THE WEEK: 01-07 DECEMBER, WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

Our picks of what to watch during the week ahead.

I'M A CELEBRITY GET ME OUT OF HERE!

Daily, ITV1

Whoever ends up in the legendary jungle camp will find themselves cut off from the outside world, and stuck on a diet of rice and beans. Their fate will be in the hands of viewers who have the power to decide whether they deserve to face a dreaded Bushtucker Trial. 

Last year’s highlights included GK Barry’s friendship with the Rev Richard Coles, the great storm of 2024, Coleen Rooney cracking the Junkyard mystery and Danny Jones being crowned King of the Jungle.

 MARVELLOUS MINIATURE WORKSHOP

Monday-Thursday, BBC One

Presented by TV presenter, author, podcaster and BBC Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox. Professional model makers will bring places, people and iconic moments in time back to life via miniature models. These special, one-off models, will not only celebrate cherished and emotional family stories, but also tap into our collective cultural heritage around events, design and fashions, or common themes.

Whether it is a life event, a snap-shot of mid-century design or a memory tied to trends of the past, these models will serve as tiny yet powerful windows into the way things were. To ensure the models are as authentic as possible, the miniaturists must embark on an investigative journey to uncover the personal stories behind each request, as well as dig into historical and cultural references to craft them as true and realistic as possible.

 THE FAMOUS FIVE

Monday, BBC iPlayer

The Five work together to discover the truth behind a mysterious plane crash.

When a Spitfire crashes near Kirrin Cottage, the Five must work together to save the injured pilot and find out the truth of what happened to him, before his enemies strike again.

 MAMMOTH

Monday, BBC Two

Mike Bubbins (Death Valley, The Socially Distant Sports Bar podcast) is Tony Mammoth, believed to have died in an avalanche during a school trip in 1979, attempting to restart his life after miraculously returning from the dead when his body is discovered frozen in time.

The first series drew critical and audience acclaim with its combination of innovative plot and laugh out loud comedy. Mammoth was the 4th highest-performing new comedy series across all BBC channels and platforms in 2024, based on its 28-day performance, outperforming the BBC Two Comedy primetime benchmark by +28%.

 WHAT'S THE MONARCHY FOR?

Tuesday, BBC One

Broadcaster David Dimbleby has reported on countless royal occasions – from weddings to funerals and jubilees. But often he feels his role has been to help the palace and the people inside it present themselves as they want to be seen. Now, as recent events put the family under the spotlight, Dimbleby probes politicians and royal insiders on fundamental questions about the institution at the heart of our national life.

 A KNOCK AT THE DOOR

Thursday, 5

On an affluent Hampstead street, Lenny Bray, a once-beloved comedian, and his wife Maggie are drawn into a nightmare when Ben, a bloodied and frantic young man, collapses at their doorstep. Against Maggie’s instincts, Lenny invites him inside.

What begins as an act of compassion twists into psychological terror as Ben’s story unravels. Trapped in their own home, Lenny and Maggie endure a tense standoff of manipulation, confessions, and shifting power.

 THE WAR BETWEEN THE LAND AND THE SEA

Sunday, BBC One

The War Between the Land and the Sea showcases how the world reacts when a fearsome and ancient species emerges from the ocean, dramatically revealing themselves to humanity and triggering an international crisis.

Barclay (Russell Tovey) is a low-level UNIT staff member whose ordinary life becomes a world of terror when an ancient species rises from the sea. He becomes humanity’s ambassador when the mysterious Salt (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) emerges from the Tank at a summit on the Thames. And UNIT, led by Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave), fights for control as humanity faces destruction.