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Unchained melodies … the intense strangeness of The Masked Singer.
Unchained melodies … the intense strangeness of The Masked Singer. Photograph: Vincent Dolman/Bandicoot TV/ITV/PA
Unchained melodies … the intense strangeness of The Masked Singer. Photograph: Vincent Dolman/Bandicoot TV/ITV/PA

TV tonight: The Masked Singer is back for more

This article is more than 3 years old

ITV’s surprise early evening hit gets a second series with new judge Mo Gilligan. Plus: a ballet gala and celebrities sewing and quizzing. Here’s what to watch this evening

The Masked Singer

7pm, ITV

The surrealist mascot singing contest returns to our screens for a second outing, hosted by Joel Dommett and with a new panellist – comedian Mo Gilligan – joining returning favourites Davina McCall, Rita Ora and Jonathan Ross. Over the next eight shows, we’ll be guessing which 12 celebrity singers are behind their outlandish outfits as they hope to make it through to the final, following in series one winner Nicola Roberts’s footsteps. First up is Robin v Alien, Swan v Dragon and, erm, Sausage v Badger. Ammar Kalia

The Repair Shop at Christmas

6.45pm, BBC One

The (fake) snow is falling at the Repair Shop barn, and Jay Blades and his team of expert craftspeople are ready to welcome a new intake of broken-down keepsakes. Vicar Steve and his wife Amanda bring a rocking horse that carries memories of their sadly departed daughter Tamsin. AK

Royal Ballet All-Star Gala

7pm, BBC Four

The dance event brings together the best of ballet, while guaranteeing royal box-standard views. Here’s a chance to see the great classical pas de deux from Don Quixote, performed by stars Marianela Nuñez and Vadim Muntagirov, plus the entire company in Scott Joplin’s Elite Syncopations. Ellen E Jones

The Great British Sewing Bee: Celebrity Christmas Special

7.45pm, BBC One

Joe Lycett hosts the first of two festive specials, with the second on New Year’s Eve. Denise Van Outen, Dr Ranj Singh and Sara Pascoe are the guests facing seasonal tasks that include making a pair of Christmas pyjama bottoms and a fancy dress outfit for a dog. AK

Christmas University Challenge

8.35pm, BBC Two

Distinguished alumni from UCLAN and Loughborough compete in this edition of the upmarket festive quiz. Look out for an appearance from England cricketer Monty Panesar, whose 2019 turn on Mastermind left everyone who saw it hiding behind the sofa. Good luck, Monty. Phil Harrison

Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2020

9.05pm, Channel 4

The inquisition returns to assess a fateful year in which not much actually happened. Host Jimmy Carr tries to outfox James Acaster, Stacey Solomon, David Mitchell, Maya Jama, Richard Ayoade and Joe Lycett, assisted by celebs, schoolkids and slightly wider team desks. Graeme Virtue

Film choice

Matthias Schoenaerts and Michelle Williams in Suite Francaise. Photograph: Allstar/The Weinstein Company

Suite Française 10.50pm, BBC Four

Saul Dibb and Matt Charman’s subtle adaptation of Irène Némirovsky’s memoir of life in occupied rural France paints a picture of conflicted loyalties, in which the German officer billeted on the austere Madame Angellier (Kristin Scott Thomas) turns out to be a piano-playing charmer (Matthias Schoenaerts). Paul Howlett

Live sport

Test Cricket: South Africa v Sri Lanka 7.55am, Sky Sports Cricket From Supersport Park, Centurion.

Premier League Football: Leicester City v Man United 11.30am, BT Sport 1 A big day of football starts at the King Power.

Premiership Rugby Union: Harlequins v Bristol Bears 1.30pm, BT Sport 2 League action from the Stoop.

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