Presented by Sian Williams.
Including 6.00, 7.00, 8.00 news; 6.25, 7.25, 8.25 weather.

The High Andes to Patagonia
Screenwriter Buck Henry begins his train journey at an altitude of 14,000 feet in the extreme north-west of Argentina and travels south to the Patagonian city of Esquel.

Having entered the war confident that superior spiritual strength and discipline would prevail, by 1944 Japan was fighting for survival. After a series of massive defeats, a continuous campaign of Allied bombing kills 250,000 and leaves eight million homeless. (BW and Colour)

A look at the wild budgerigars of outback Australia, whose relatives are the world's most popular pet bird.

Live from the splendour of the Vienna Musikverein's Golden Hall, Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in a selection of polkas, waltzes and marches by the Strauss family. Including performances by the Kirov Ballet and Vienna's State Opera Ballet. With Brian Kay.
Repeated on BBC4 at 7pm

Double bill of vintage comedy. Thicker than Water. Stan persuades Ollie to withdraw all his savings to pay off a loan.
(BW)
12.55 Going Bye Bye. A man they put behind bars swears to get even with Stan and Ollie.
(BW)

First of two programmes in the Watching the Detectives strand. Columbo Goes to College Two criminology students contrive to ki ll their r professor while Columbo lectures the class.

Watching the Detectives continues with this
Agatha Christie mystery starring Joan Hickson as Miss Marple. A woman returns to England and buys a new house, only to find that it holds fearful memories for her.

Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell brings his talents to the kitchen in a bid to defeat his presenter wife
Beverley Turner.

Will nine Elvis look-a-likes be all shook up today when they face Anne Robinson in the elimination quiz?

Some of the best moments from the past year's wildlife output are recalled in an evening of programmes presented by Alan Titchmarsh from Bristol Zoo Gardens. The sequence concludes, at approximately 8.05pm, with a first showing for a Natural World film on the caracal.
Species and locations featured in excerpts taken from such series as Steve Leonard 's Extreme Animals, The
Blue Planet, Life of Mammals, Big Cat Diary and Andes to Amazon include 2.5 ton beachmaster elephant seals, meerkats in South Africa, tigers in India and, back on British soil, bats and badgers. In addition, experts such as David Attenborough reveal some of their favourite moments and how they were captured on camera.
Natural World Cats under Serengeti Stars. Documentary about a caracal and her three cubs in which Owen
Newman and Amanda Barrett use revolutionary infra-red cameras to capture these ancestors of domestic cats for the first time in the wild. Narrated by Charlotte Rampling. Producers Stephen Moss. Hugh Pearson ; Executive producer Fiona Pitcher
www.bbc.co.uk/nature BBC WILDLIFE MAGAZINE: L2.90. New issue on sale Christmas Eve

As a prelude to next April's 250th anniversary of London's British Museum, its top ten treasures -judged by a panel of experts - are revealed in this Meet the Ancestors special.
The exhibits include the Mold gold cape, the Snettisham treasure, the Mildenhall treasure, the Sutton Hoo burial ship, the Lewis chessmen and the Fishpool hoard.
Viewers have a chance to vote online for their favourite at www.bbc.co.uk/history. Presented by Adam Hart-Davis .
Producer Patricia Wheatley : Series producer Ian Potts BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE: price L3.25. New issue on sale 17 December

Oliver Stone's Oscar-winning war drama. Within days of his arrival in Vietnam, college dropout Chris is plunged into the hellish life of a GI -fear, exhaustion and brutality in a fight against an unseen enemy.
(Widescreen)
Review page 70.
(1986,15)

The office is awash with wackiness on Comic Relief Day with Keith squeezed into an Ali G costume and Sheila as Wonder Woman. Neil and Rachel stage an impressive dance sequence but David is desperate to outdo them.
For cast see Boxing Day and Saturday 28 December

Dead or Alive frontman Pete Burns, Xfm DJ Christian O'Connell, Ashley Taylor Dawson of Allstars and former Atomic Kitten Kerry McFadden join host Mark Lamarr and captains Phill Jupitus and Sean Hughes.

A concert featuring the music of legendary American singer Dionne Warwick recorded live in the TOTP studios. As well as performing some of her greatest hits, including Walk on By and Do You Know the Way to San Jose?, she talks about her long and distinguished career.
Producer Mark Hagen

A tribute to the King in the last of the series. Ronan Keating begins with In the Ghetto, the Flaming Lips play Suspicious Minds, Liberty X, Hound Dog, McAlmont and Butler, Burning Love and Darren Hayes , Can't Help Falling in Love.
First shown on BBC Choice