Squid Game, Netflix
The second series of the deeply creepy smash hit Korean drama is available from today on Netflix. The first season saw 456 participants from all walks of life locked into a secret location where they played macabre games in order to win 45.6 billion won. It's now three years since Player 456 (Lee Jung-Jae) won the first battle to the death and he returns with a new resolution in mind as he once again enters another tournament of fiendish cruelty.
This glorious adaptation of the late John McGahern's final novel sees writer-director Pat Collins (Silence, Song of Granite) making his big move into straightforward drama. In a lakeside community of yesteryear, we watch blow-ins Joe and Kate Ruttledge (Barry Ward and Anna Bederke) as they return from the din of London to the tranquillity of rural Ireland and adjust to their new life. This is a gem of a movie. Read our review here.
Outnumbered Christmas Special, BBC One, 9.40pm
The Brockmans are back! Written and directed by the show’s creators, Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton, this Christmas special follows the chaos in the downsized home of Pete and Sue Brockman, as they grapple with the challenges of parenting kids who are now adults, with their own lives to lead. The stars of the original series are returning, including Hugh Dennis as dad Pete, Claire Skinner as mum Sue, Tyger Drew-Honey as eldest son Jake, Daniel Roche as the middle child Ben, and Ramona Marquez as daughter, Karen. In a moment of adversity, Sue and Pete gather all their offspring (including one grandchild) to try and celebrate a traditional family Christmas and share some unwelcome news with their children. But fate, neighbours, hyenas and bus replacement services get in their way.
The Masked Singer Christmas Special, Virgin Media One/UTV, 7.30pm
The zaniest show on telly returns with a festive special with four masked celebrities competing in two head-to-head sing-offs before a final clash for the overall win. The four characters are Star, Turkey Crown, Nutcracker and Christmas Cracker, but there’s also a surprise in store for host Joel Dommett – namely, himself! Mo Gilligan, Jonathan Ross, and Davina McCall are back on the panel, along with guest judges Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders.
In case you missed it last night on the Beeb, here’s another chance to watch the hotly anticipated finale of Gavin and Stacey. It’s five years since we left Nessa down on one knee declaring her love for Smithy and asking him to marry her. And a lot has happened in those five years. Stacey and Gavin are looking for new ways to spice up their seventeen-year marriage and Gwen is behaving very strangely. Nessa’s started a new business venture and Neil the Baby’s about to begin an apprenticeship with his dad. Join us on the journey to Barry and Billericay as we catch up with the Shipmans and the Wests for the very last time and maybe find out what exactly did happen on that fishing trip . . .
Full TV listings here
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