TV tonight: Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh and a potty-mouthed parrot | television

Tea with Judi Dench

9pm, Sky Arts
I spent a very funny and moving hour with Judi Dench and her old friend Kenneth Branagh. They share a pot of tea at Dench’s country house (with a mop of “I’ve been expecting you, Mr Bond”), where one minute she’s introducing her mouthy parrot, the next reminiscing about her career, her beloved husband and her departed star friends. It has become even more poignant as the actress recently announced that she cannot work anymore due to worsening health issues. Holly Richardson

Celebrity Master Chef: Christmas Cook-Off

8pm, BBC One
The show, which was canceled last year to Greg Wallace fanfare, is back in a whole new look: Instead of the return of former contestants, this is more like a very special show where rookies have a one-time penchant for winning the golden whisk. Reality TV star JK Barry, actor Kola Puccini, presenter Nikki Fox and comedian Ian Stirling are competing. Jack Seale

Amanda and Alan Spanish Christmas

9pm, BBC One
Keep feeding us Alan Carr drip feed! The Hero of Traitors reunites with his best friend, Amanda Holden, at their Spanish renovation to throw a party for the locals. How bad are they fighting over tinsel? Will Amanda Nunn’s trivial affairs go well? Will they dare to swim skinny before Eid? Before all that, they started with a public performance of Velez Navidad. Human resources

Secrets of the complex

9pm on BBC Two

“Spondeo, voveo ac iuro…” This is a promise of strict secrecy by the 133 members of the Pontifical Congregation this year, which has led to the appearance of white smoke indicating the election of Pope Leo There is exclusive footage from inside the Vatican, where some of those involved talk about the operation. Human resources

Taskmaster: Champion of Champions 2025

9pm on Channel 4
There are now 20 comics that have a faded gold version of Greg Davies’ head in their toilets. In this special, five new winners will go one step further and prove themselves worthy of the title of Champion of Champions. Andy Zalzman, John Robins, Maisie Adam, Matthew Baynton and Sam Campbell are the contenders. Phil Harrison

Mammoth Christmas Special

10pm on BBC Two
Deer, oh Deer: This special episode of the nostalgia-filled comedy sees back-from-the-dead PE teacher Tony Mammoth (Mike Poppins) come under fire for his peppy rendition of “Deck the Halls.” He’s been suspended from his job and is about to ruin his first Christmas In the family Since his return home, can he turn things around? Hannah J. Davis

Choose a movie

United (Luca Guadagnino, 2024), 10.40pm, on BBC One

Set on and around the tennis court, director Luca Guadagnino’s love triangle drama builds excitement and suspense, and the game itself has never been so creatively depicted before. Zendaya plays the woman in the middle, Tashi, a former player who coaches her husband, Art (Mike Faist), to Grand Slam success. Josh O’Connor stars as Patrick, Art’s estranged best friend, who is more talented but less focused than his old partner. The Challenger Championship match offers them the chance to rekindle old entanglements and resolve old feuds as the temperature rises. Simon Wardle

Favorites (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2018), 11.05pm, movie 4
With Kinds of Kindness and now Bugonia, Yorgos Lanthimos seems intent on retreating to the more rational end of the filmmaking spectrum. However, The Favorite shows how much fun he has simply trying to be human. A dazzling pile of wigs, jealousies and rabbits, The Favourite is a frenetic retelling of Queen Anne’s court in the 18th century. Olivia Colman teeters on the verge of collapse all the time, while Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz vie for her attention. Historical dramas don’t get more lavish, sinister or ridiculous than this. Stuart Heritage