Sunday, January 5, 2025

TV tonight: Brenda Blethyn says farewell to detective Vera Stanhope

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Vera, Farewell Pet

9pm, ITV1

Brenda Blethyn’s detective Vera Stanhope is hanging up her bucket hat after 14 well-loved series. The semi-retiring actor talks about her joyous time on the drama, along with castmates including David Leon (DS Joe Ashworth) and Jon Morrison (DC Kenny Lockhart). Fans also hear from acclaimed novelist Ann Cleeves, who created the sleuth. Hollie Richardson

The Great New Year Bake Off

7.40pm, Channel 4

It’s Hogmanay in the Bake Off tent! Scottish contestants from past series reunite for some themed bakes. There’s shortbread, obviously, and the showcase challenge is to create a celebratory cranachan (a traditional dessert using oats and whisky). Raise a dram. HR

Corfu: Jewel of the Med

8pm, Channel 5

Joanna Lumley’s narration adds an extra layer of warm luxury to a documentary series celebrating one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful islands. Olive oil is the focus this week, including a stop-off at a bar showcasing the finest examples. Plus, we look round Gerald Durrell’s old house. Jack Seale

Have I Got Sport for You

8.30pm, BBC One

Manford in charge. Photograph: Screengrab/BBC/Hat Trick

A fun spin on the HIGNFY formula, as Jason Manford chairs a satirical look at the sporting year with the help of captains Maisie Adam and Jon Richardson and panellists Eddie Hearn, Kadeena Cox, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Stuart Broad. Targets of sniggering include Erik ten Hag and Aussie breakdance sensation Raygun. Phil Harrison

Jack the Ripper: Lucy Worsley Investigates

9pm, BBC Two

Ripped from the headlines … Lucy Worsley. Photograph: Tom Hayward/BBC Studios

Did Jack the Ripper – and the media frenzy around the serial killer in 1888 – set the template for our modern-day true-crime obsession? Historian Lucy Worsley is back with a second series investigating notorious crime stories to re-examine evidence – starting here with Queen Victoria’s diaries… HR

Susan Calman’s Cruise of a Lifetime

9pm, Channel 5

With plenty of cruises under her belt, Calman is levelling up in her latest travelogue. It begins with a two-part trip up the Ganges, and it takes most of the opening episode just to reach her magnificent vessel. But the journey to Kolkata is full of colour, beauty and cheerful chaos. Graeme Virtue

Live sport

PGA Tour Golf, 11pm, Sky Sports Main Event
Day one in Hawaii.

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