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WHAT TO WATCH 9-15 December

This week's best telly includes a new drama starring Molly Windsor and Martin Compston, the final of Strictly Come Dancing and the penultimate episode of His Dark Materials.


Here are 7 shows you can’t miss this week...


1. Traces

Monday & Tuesday at 9pm on Alibi


Molly Windsor and Martin Compston star as Emma and Daniel in Alibi's new six-part thriller Traces which sees Emma return to Dundee to start her new job as a lab technician.


Events conspire to remind her of a painful past: the murder of her mother Marie, when Emma was seven. But why are Sarah Gordon, professor of chemistry, and Kathy Torrence, professor of forensic anthropology, using her mother’s murder as a teaching case, or is it just a coincidence?


As Emma re-connects with her dad Drew, her childhood friend Skye and Skye’s mum Izzy, while falling for the gentle and irresistible Daniel, her sleuthing takes her into dark corners, unpicking more and more secrets, and it becomes clear that she should trust no-one.


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2. The Royal Variety Performance 2019

Tuesday 10th December at 7.30pm on ITV


Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan host this year's Royal Variety Performance from The London Palladium, marking the first time in over thirty years two comedians have hosted together.

The show promises to be an unforgettable evening of the best UK and international musical performers, extraordinary theatre and brilliant comedy as well as a number of surprises along the away.


Stars singing on the night include Robbie Williams and Jamie Cullum, Rod Stewart, the West End cast of Mary Poppins, Emeli Sandé, Luke Evans, Harry Connick Jr. and this year's winner of Britain's Got Talent, Colin Thackery. Plus there's be live comedy from Kerry Godliman, Frank Skinner and Flo & Joan.


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3. Jack Whitehall: Christmas with my Father

Thursday 12th December on Netflix


Jack Whitehall attempts to get his notoriously stodgy father into the holiday spirit in this comedy-variety Christmas extravaganza filmed at the London Palladium.


Expect celebrity guests and a musical performance.


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4. Strictly Come Dancing

Saturday 14th December at 7.05pm on BBC One


After 13 sensational weeks of sparkle the wait is finally over as either Emma Barton, Karim Zeroual or Kelvin Fletcher will be lifting that glitterball trophy on Saturday night,


Each remaining couple will perform three routines each, one chosen by the judges, one showdance and one previous favourite from the series. And whilst the judges will still give their scores, this will only be for guidance as the power rests solely in the hands of the viewers at home.


And they've pulled out all the stops as global music phenomenon Taylor Swift will be performing a track from her new album Lover.


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5. Dial M for Middlesbrough

Saturday 14th December at 9.15pm on Gold


Following on from Murder on the Blackpool Express and Death On The Tyne, Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson (who have just won Best Comedy Partnership at the I Talk Telly Awards) return as Terry and Gemma for another murder mystery.


This time around, the coach breaks down and they are forced to take refuge in a sinister and dilapidated caravan park. During the unplanned stay, visitors and residents begin to be bumped off one by one under grizzly circumstances. Marooned at the caravan park after torrential rain cuts off all the roads, no one can escape and everyone is a potential suspect or victim.


Throughout all the horror, Terry and Gemma are keen to finalise their wedding plans but determined to investigate the crimes. Who is the murderer? Will they get away with their heinous crimes? Will our heroes make it out alive?


Also stars Sally Lindsay, Phil Davis, Joanna Page, Annette Crosbie, Mike Wozniak, Jason Forbes, Ambreen Razia and Jason Donovan!


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6. Shrill

Sunday 15th December on BBC Three


Aidy Bryant and Lolly Adefope star in hit US comedy Shrill which arrives in the UK this weekend as a boxset on BBC Three.


Aidy stars as Annie, an overweight young woman who wants to change her life, but not her body. Whilst Lolly Adefope plays her best friend and roommate Fran. We follow Annie as she tries to start her career while juggling bad boyfriends, a sick parent, and a perfectionist boss.


Along the way, Annie will weigh the pros and cons of having a child with her hook-up buddy and the decision-making process will force her, with help from her best friend Fran, to figure out who she is and what she wants from her life. She will also write her first article, and she will finally ask for more from the people in her life than she has before.


She hits a setback when an Internet troll appears and tries to drag her self-esteem back down where it started. But she will ultimately promote body positivity and explain exactly what it’s like to be a larger woman in today’s world.


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7. His Dark Materials

Sunday 16th December at 9pm on BBC One


In the penultimate episode of BBC One's epic adaptation of His Dark Materials, Lyra, Separated from her friends, must use all of her methods of deception to thwart a formidable foe.


Elsewhere, Mrs Coulter plots her next move.


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