Ten Best Sacred Christmas Classics

BBC Four, 9.30pm

The formulaic title belies an absorbing hour that should mean something to absolutely everybody, drawing you back to your childhood with a compilation of ten of the finest pieces of Christmas music. As Billy Bragg – one of many esteemed contributors here – says, you will probably have “sung these songs with a tea towel on your head”.

Well, yes, in the case of Once in Royal David’s City and In the Bleak Midwinter, but probably not Vivaldi’s Laudamus te or In Dulci Jubilo – though you’ve definitely pranced about to Mike Oldfield’s uptempo 1975 remix of the latter. Handel’s Messiah, with its “70 Hallelujahs in the time it takes to boil an egg”, is at the top of a very fine pile indeed.

Live Premier League Football

Sky Sports 1, from 1pm

West Bromwich Albion are at home to Manchester City (kick-off 1.30pm), and Arsenaltake on Liverpool (kick-off 4pm).

Noel’s Christmas Presents

Sky1, 6pm

In what is fast becoming a Christmas telly tradition, Noel Edmonds delves into his sack to spread some Christmas joy. He visits a ten-year-old boy who suffers from a rare blood disorder, and lends a helping hand inMorpeth in Northumberland,which was ravaged by floods in September. Heart-warming stuff, but not one for cynics.

The Story of Allegri’s Miserere

BBC Four, 7.30pm

Simon Russell Beale presents this documentary on a piece of music once considered so sacred that Pope Urban VIII decreed that it couldonly be sung within the wallsof the Sistine Chapel. The programme features a full performance of the piece by the award-winning choir The Sixteen, conducted by Harry Christophers. Also starting tonight is the first in a series of six programmes of the Christmas Oratorio by J. S. Bach (7pm), continuing throughout the week.

Gladiators: The Legends Strike Back

Sky1, 8pm

The festive spirit has bypassed the Gladiators camp this year, as the new breed of warriors go head- to-head with the Goliaths of yesteryear for a bruising Christmas beatdown. Your living room will shudder when the Big Bad Wolf returns to the arena. Let the boos ring out . . .

The Simpsons

Sky1, 9.30pm

This is the first episode of the cartoon series to have to be shown after the watershed. It’s not really clear why. The content is slightly more risqué than usual – it spoofs Bonnie and Clyde, The Lady and the Tramp and the Sex Pistols – but kids could watch it without coming to any harm.

Family Guy

BBC Three, 9.35pm

A classic episode that exhibits the Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane’s extreme Star Wars geekdom as the Griffin family acts out scenes from Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.

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