TV Tonight: celebrating two of the best Christmas films ever

Classic Christmas Movies

8pm, Sky Arts
“No cheeses for us meeces.” The Muppet Christmas Carol, in which Michael Caine starred with a straight face opposite Kermit the Frog, and It’s a Wonderful Life, which bombed at the box office when it was first released in 1946, are the two greatest festive films of all time (no arguments, please). Author Ian Nathan delves into the stories of how they were created, to kickstart a seasonal series about perennial holiday classics. Hollie Richardson

Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas

8pm, Channel 4
It’s that time again: with the festive season upon us, here’s Kirstie Allsopp with a bunch of ideas for decorating your house and keeping your kids busy into the bargain. Kirstie gets stuck into table decor and visits a favourite antiques shop for some inspiration. Phil Harrison

The Man in the Mask:
An Orkney Murder

9pm, BBC Two
It was the first murder in Orkney in 25 years, but could police have been mistaken about the character of the prime suspect, 15-year-old Michael Ross? In this episode, reporter Hazel Martin looks into Ross’s background, and uncovers two alternative suspects with a link to the victim, restaurant waiter Shamsuddin Mahmood. Ellen E Jones

The Death of Bunny Munro

9pm, Sky Atlantic

Spinning out of control? … Matt Smith and Rafael Mathé in The Death of Bunny Munro. Photograph: Sky UK, Clerkenwell Films

Bunny and Junior’s road trip hits the buffers as this sweetly degenerate adaptation of Nick Cave’s novel continues. Bunny Jr is showing signs of following in his father’s footsteps as both a sales rep and a ladies’ man. But could their adventure be jeopardised by a brush with the social services? It might be for the best. PH

The Ridge

9.45pm, BBC Two
Despite the clammy rigours of opioid withdrawal, Scottish spitfire Mia (Lauren Lyle) is hellbent on learning the truth about her sister’s lethal tumble in New Zealand. This gasp-inducing finale sees her return to the vertiginous scene of the original accident. Graeme Virtue

Cancer Detectives: Finding the Cures

10pm, Channel 4
Lenny Henry narrates the final episode of this Cancer Research UK-backed series, as Prof Caroline Dive shares advances on using blood tests to detect cancer at its earliest stage. Such remarkable work is made possible by clinical trials and participants such as Lee, whose illness has mystified doctors for four years. Hannah J Davies

Live sport

Test Cricket, Australia v England, 3.30am, TNT Sports 1
The second day of the second Test from Brisbane.