Saturday's TV tips
It follows a pensioner motorbike enthusiast who travels from New Zealand to the salt flats of Utah to take a shot at breaking the world land-speed record on a vintage Indian Scout.
However, he encounters plenty of obstacles along the way as not everyone shares his passion and optimism.
Any film with Anthony Hopkins is bound to be great, and this is no exception. Based on a true story, he masters a New Zealand accent and puts in a convincing performance as Burt Munro.
Diane Ladd adds a touch of class to the supporting cast that also includes Paul Rodriguez, Iain Rea and Tessa Mitchell.
Anthony Hopkins, Diane Ladd, Paul Rodriguez, Iain Rea, Tessa Mitchell, Aaron Murphy, Tim Shadbott
It’s a good night for viewers who enjoy watching famous people doing quizzes. Pointless is treating us to a pantomime-themed edition over on BBC One (oh, yes they are!), and while University Challenge may be a little too-highbrow to use the word ’celebrity’ in the title, its run of Christmas specials kicks off this evening with contestants including Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman and actor Sam West.
But the pick of the bunch is this episode of Celebrity Squares, which arguably has the most eclectic line-up.
Warwick Davis is on hosting duties as former I’m a Celebrity contestants Ashley Roberts and David Haye, actor Reece Shearsmith, TV presenters Andi Peters and Sandi Toksvig, and comedians Stewart Francis and Bridget Christie are taking up their places in the grid alongside regulars Tim Vine and Joe Wilkinson, the bow-tied comedian who will also be ’assisting’ on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown over the festive period.
But can the celebrities give the contestants a Christmas to remember by winning them a cash prize?
The Final is when the couples traditionally perform their no-holds-barred show dances – and given that so far this series, we’ve already seen Jake performing possibly the world’s first Greek-themed Argentine tango, a green Frankie doing the tango to Defying Gravity, and Scott Mills samba-ing to Under the Sea while dressed as a crab, who knows what the professionals will come up with when they’re really allowed to let their imaginations run riot?
We’re about to find out as Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly host the first part of the live grand final and the four remaining contestants take to the floor. Judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Darcey Bussell will be giving their opinions, but it’s up to the viewers to decide who will get to ’kee-eeeep dancing’, when the results show is broadcast later this evening – and who will ultimately lift the glitterball trophy.
It’s Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts, and the evil Voldemort is growing ever more powerful.
Dumbledore believes the secret to defeating him may lie in the wicked wizard’s past, and recruits the teenager to find out what new potions teacher Professor Slughorn may know about Voldemort’s journey to the dark side.
However, Harry fears he’s not the only the pupil on a mission, as his arch-rival Malfoy is behaving increasingly oddly.
And for once, Ron and Hermione might not be much help either, as they’re caught up in a drama all of their own.
Newcomers to the Potter saga may feel a bit lost, but Harry fans will love it. Any murmurs about there being too much teen romance and not enough magic are silenced by the scene-stealing Jessie Cave, who is hilarious as Ron’s new love interest. And when the action does kick in, it’s genuinely creepy and even moving.
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, Alan Rickman, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Helena Bonham Carter
When it comes to making stunning fantasy adventures, the BBC are in a league of their own. Fans of the genre can look forward to a stunning adaptation of Susanna Clarke’s novel Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell in the new year, but for now there’s another helping of this glorious Greek saga.
Things are looking bleak for Ariadne (Aiysha Hart). While she’s on her death bed, a guilt-wracked Jason (Jack Donnelly) resolves to do all he can to save her, and begins a do-or-die mission into the unknown.
While battling against the hand of fate, emotions run high. Following a daring encounter with the ancient Grey Sisters, his mission comes full circle, and he crosses paths with Pasiphae (Sarah Parish) and Medea (Amy Manson) once more.
However, it remains to be seen whether he can resist their powerful magic and save the love of his life.
Forget the Queen’s speech, if you really want to gauge the nation’s festive mood, you should take a look at what’s at the top of the charts.
This documentary looks at the stories behind some of our Christmas favourites - and those seasonal novelties that some of us would rather forget.
From the heady days of 1973 when Slade and Wizzard battled it out to be number one, to the Pogues’ more downbeat Fairytale of New York to the songs on the John Lewis ads, it asks what it takes to get a festive hit.
As Nick Hornby’s novel About a Boy suggested, if you get it right, your song will be played year after year, earning you legendary status and a substantial pension. But when the public’s taste includes everything from Boney M’s brand of calypso disco to Mr Blobby, how can you possibly predict what will succeed?
Among the experts offering their opinions are East 17’s Tony Mortimer, Spice Girl Mel C, Midge Ure, Status Quo, Heaven 17 and Jona Lewie, while Slade and the Darkness join forces to explain why there’s always room for glam at Christmas.
John Travolta mangling her name at the Oscars aside, it’s been a remarkable year for Idina Menzel. The acclaimed Broadway star lent her impressive voice to Disney’s Frozen, belting out the show-stopping Let It Go, and kids across the world have been doing their own, less tuneful versions ever since.
Now, she caps off her 2014 with a guest appearance on Jonathan Ross’s show, along with a host of other celebrities with something to celebrate – Ed Sheeran was recently named the most streamed artist on a popular music site, and Lewis Hamilton is the current F1 World Champion.
They won’t have too long to tell us about their achievements though, as Jonathan also has to make time for veteran actress Barbara Windsor, 8 Out of 10 Cats host Jimmy Carr, and Britain’s Got Talent judge David Walliams, who will be talking about bringing his family comedy The Boy in the Dress to the screen for Christmas.
Sometimes, when celebrities pass away, few people are surprised. It’s not that their deaths were expected or predicted, just that it isn’t a shock for some reason.
But when Rik Mayall suddenly died on June 9 this year, pretty much everyone who had ever witnessed him in action was stunned – he had always seemed so very full of life.
Six months on, it still seems odd to refer to Mayall in the past tense, and you can tell that those who knew him, some of whom feature in this documentary, feel the same way.
The programme looks back at Mayall’s biggest career achievements, including such legendary comedy characters as Black Country nerd Kevin Turvey, The Young Ones’ Rik, MP Alan B’Stard, seedy loser Richie in Bottom and Blackadder’s Lord Flashheart.
Among those paying tribute are Michael Palin, Lenny Henry, Simon Pegg, Ruby Wax, Greg Davies and his Young Ones cohorts Ben Elton, Alexei Sayle and Christopher Ryan.
When a Manhattan resident loses his job, he and his wife decide to move out of the city and start a new life elsewhere.
With no plans whatsoever, they search for a suitable place and stumble upon a hippie commune which they hope will give them the peace they need to gather their thoughts.
However, neither of them is prepared for the hardships involved in living without the mod cons they’ve grown accustomed to.
It’s not a classic, but the charisma of stars Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd makes it a watchable and enjoyable movie. It may even make viewers think about their own reliance on gadgets.
Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd, Alan Alda, Justin Theroux, Malin Akerman.
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