What’s On TV Tonight? Our Pick Of The Best Shows: Thursday 21st December

Thursday 21st December Looking for Fred Astaire Darcey

(Image credit: BBC)

TV Times tops picks for tonight

What’s on telly tonight? Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight the three best shows on Thursday 21^st December

Looking for Fred Astaire, 10.45pm, BBC1

She’s already retraced the steps of Audrey Hepburn and Margot Fonteyn, and in her new documentary Strictly judge Darcey Bussell looks back at the career of Hollywood dancer Fred Astaire. She begins in Omaha, Nebraska, where Fred was born to poor immigrant parents, later teaming up with his older sister Adele, a star in her own right. Once Adele left the world of showbiz to get married, Fred was determined to make it on his own. However, he was paired with another strong woman, Ginger Rogers – who he couldn’t stand! This fascinating film is full of surprises and, of course, lots of Fred’s iconic dance routines. Rating: ****

Absolutely Champers, 9.00pm, BBC2

It’s been 25 years since Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley introduced us to their chain-smoking, Champagne-swigging alter-egos Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone in the BBC comedy Absolutely Fabulous. To mark the occasion, the pair are reuniting for a fizz-filled tour of France’s Champagne region to find out how Eddy and Patsy’s favourite drink is made. Expect plenty of reminiscing and old clips as Jennifer and Joanna recall their Ab Fab highlights while visiting various vineyards, helping out with the grape harvest, and also touring the home of Eddy and Patsy’s preferred plonk, Bollinger, aka ‘Bolly, darling!’ Rating: ****

The Supervet at Christmas, 8.00pm, C4

We all know that Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick performs daily miracles on the dogs and cats that we usually see at his practice. But how will Noel’s innovative surgery techniques work when he is faced with a Humboldt penguin with a nasty limp? Wall-e is from Longleat Safari Park and would love to join the rest of the penguin colony in time for Christmas. Can Noel give him some happy feet? We also meet three-legged cat Ivor, who has a swelling in his remaining back leg. Finally, Botus, a rescue husky from Thailand, would like to experience his first Christmas in weather more suited to his breed. But why is Botus in pain? Rating: ****

More previews tomorrow

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David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough.

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!