What's On TV Tonight: Monday 15th December 2025

Monday night's got a bit of everything. Sky's investigation into that Salt Path controversy continues to unravel. Jamie Oliver's doing his usual Christmas finger-licking routine on Channel 4. And if you've ever wondered whether Corrie or Emmerdale cast members know more about their own shows, ITV has the answer. Football fans get Man United hosting Bournemouth at Old Trafford. Late night? Michelle Yeoh fighting across infinite universes. Decent spread, this.

Table of Contents

Quick Picks: Tonight's Best

• Salt Path: A Very British Scandal - Chloe Hadjimatheou's investigation into the bestselling memoir continues (9pm, Sky Documentaries) ⭐
• Jamie's Cook-Ahead Christmas - Part two with that famous turkey technique (8pm, Channel 4)
• First Dates Beach Club - Fred's matchmaking empire expands to Spain (9pm, Channel 4)
• Everything Everywhere All at Once - Oscar-winning multiverse chaos (11:10pm, Film4)

Early Evening (6pm - 10pm) (KICK-off at 20h00)

Live MNF: Manchester United v Bournemouth - Sky Sports Main Event, 6:30pm

Monday Night Football from Old Trafford. United hosting Bournemouth in what should be - in theory - a winnable game. Whether Ruben Amorim's had enough time to sort out whatever's been going wrong is another matter entirely. The Cherries have been solid this season, so don't expect a walkover.

Richard Osman's Festive House of Games - BBC Two, 6pm

Week one of the Christmas specials kicks off. Richard Osman's put together festive-themed games for celebrities who've agreed to embarrass themselves for our entertainment. First of five episodes this week. Harmless teatime fun.

EastEnders - BBC One, 7:30pm

Lauren and Peter plan Jimmy's christening, Lily's having a rough time at home, and Elaine opens Peacock Palace. The usual Walford chaos continues. If you've been keeping up with the weekly drama, you know the score.

Emmerdale - ITV1, 7:30pm

Ray's relieved about something, Ruby has a brainwave, and Sarah enlists Belle's help. Standard Dales fare for a Monday night. Sets things up nicely before the cast members appear in the Big Quiz later.

Prime Time (8pm onwards)

Jamie's Cook-Ahead Christmas - Channel 4, 8pm

Part two of Jamie's festive prep guide. The big reveal this week is his technique for prepping the turkey - removing the legs and slow-cooking them in advance. If that sounds like too much faff, he's also doing chicken liver parfait and, inevitably, Yorkshire puddings "the size of Yorkshire."

Look, Jamie Oliver divides opinion. But if you're cooking Christmas dinner for the first time or want to try something different, there are worse guides. That finger-licking thing still annoys me though.

Only Connect - BBC Two, 8pm

Knockout stage continues. Metrophiles versus Whitley Baes. Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts, the wall appears, brains get scrambled. If you can get three in the sequences round you're doing better than most.

Ghosts Christmas Special - BBC One, 8:30pm (Repeat)

A repeat of "It's Behind You" from Series 4. Mike and Alison head to Mike's parents' for Christmas, but Alison's left presents for the ghosts with strict instructions not to open them until Christmas Day. You know exactly how that's going to go.

The series ended in 2023, but these festive episodes hold up well for a rewatch. If you missed it first time round, the Button House gang remain excellent company.

University Challenge - BBC Two, 8:30pm

Lincoln versus UCL in the second round. Amol Rajan asks questions that make you feel inadequate about your own education. The starter for ten awaits.

Salt Path: A Very British Scandal - Sky Documentaries, 9pm ⭐

The literary scandal that rocked the book world. Chloe Hadjimatheou's Observer investigation alleged that Raynor Winn's bestselling memoir The Salt Path - the one about financial ruin, her husband Moth's terminal illness, and their healing walk along the South West Coast Path - wasn't entirely truthful.

Since the initial story broke, more people have come forward with their version of events. The book was made into a film. Millions of readers felt moved by the tale. Now those readers are asking questions.

This is compelling television if you followed the story. If you haven't, it's worth catching up on what's become one of the biggest publishing controversies in years.

The Big Quiz: Coronation Street v Emmerdale - ITV1, 9pm

Stephen Mulhern hosts the annual soap battle. Jack P Shepherd captains Team Corrie with Jodie Prenger, Sam Aston and Georgia Taylor. Mark Charnock leads Team Emmerdale with Lucy Pargeter, Bradley Riches and Shebz Miah.

Questions about the past year in soap. Who remembers what happened to whom. Probably some clips of dramatic moments. Classic end-of-year ITV fare - undemanding and mildly entertaining.

First Dates Beach Club - Channel 4, 9pm

Fred Sirieix expands his matchmaking empire to Spain. The format stays the same - hopeful singles, awkward first meetings, Merlin mixing drinks - but now there's a beach and better weather.

This opener has ex-bouncer Charlie hoping to show his softer side to Layla, and teacher Jessie feeling a connection with Darren. Whatever happens, at least they can go for a dip afterwards.

Celebrity MasterChef - BBC One, 9pm

Down to the final five. This week starts with a visit to Wedgwood pottery - presumably cooking rather than throwing pots, though you never know with this show. The contestants who've made it this far have clearly improved since episode one.

Never Mind the Buzzcocks - Sky Max, 9pm

Greg Davies hosts with Courtney Love standing in as captain for Daisy May Cooper. Joel Dommett, Abi Harding and Glen Matlock join Noel Fielding and Jamali Maddix for music-based comedy.

Courtney Love on a panel show could go either way. That's half the appeal.

The Menu - Film4, 9pm

Ralph Fiennes as a celebrity chef hosting a dinner party that becomes increasingly sinister. Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult are among the guests at an exclusive island restaurant where the tasting menu takes unexpected turns.

Dark comedy-horror that skewers fine dining culture. If you've ever been annoyed by a pretentious restaurant, this is for you. Just maybe don't watch while eating.

It: Welcome to Derry - Sky Atlantic, 9pm

Episode "Winter Fire" as the Stephen King prequel continues. Dense fog engulfs the town, General Shaw pushes ahead with his mission, and the Hanlons work with Rose, Dick and the kids to save Derry.

If you've been following this series - set before the Losers Club's encounters with Pennywise - this is building to something big. Not for the faint-hearted.

Late Night (10pm onwards)

Have I Got News for You - BBC One, 10:40pm

Martin Clunes guest hosts with Phil Wang joining Ian Hislop and Paul Merton. The week's headlines get the satirical treatment. Same format, new jokes, reliable Monday night viewing.

An Evening with Dua Lipa - ITV1, 10:45pm

Concert from the Royal Albert Hall. Dua performs with her band, a choir, and the Heritage Orchestra. Includes a duet with Elton John on "Cold Heart." If you like her stuff, this is a proper show - not just a few songs between chat.

Hell or High Water - BBC Two, 11pm

Chris Pine and Ben Foster as brothers robbing West Texas banks to save the family farm from foreclosure. Jeff Bridges plays the Texas Ranger on their trail. David Mackenzie's 2016 modern Western is lean, tense, and beautifully shot.

Four Oscar nominations including Best Picture. If you missed it, this is excellent late-night viewing.

Everything Everywhere All at Once - Film4, 11:10pm

Michelle Yeoh as a struggling laundromat owner thrown into increasingly surreal alternative universes to defeat a powerful version of her unhappy daughter. The Daniels' Oscar-winning sci-fi comedy action family drama thing is completely mental.

Hotdog fingers. The rock universe. Ke Huy Quan's comeback. Stephanie Hsu going full villain. Jamie Lee Curtis with googly eyes on her hands. It won seven Oscars including Best Picture - and somehow that still doesn't prepare you for how weird it gets.

Two hours plus of frenetic multiverse hopping. Late start means you won't finish until 1:45am. Worth it.

Bump: A Christmas Film - BBC One, 11:15pm

The Aussie family comedy decamps to Colombia - Rosa's home country - for a South American cruise. Oly and Santi now have their second baby, Angelo, at eight weeks old. Hopes for a festive cultural reunion start unravelling. That broken mirror doesn't bode well.

If you've followed the series about the teen parents who've now grown up, this is their Christmas special. Light-hearted family stuff for insomniacs.

If You'd Rather Watch Football

The main event is Manchester United v Bournemouth on Sky Sports Main Event from 6:30pm. If you don't have Sky, you'll need to find a pub or settle for Match of the Day 2 highlights tomorrow.

What's on Streaming

Disney+ continues with "Doctor Who" series catch-up if you want to prep for the new year. Netflix is pushing Christmas films hard. ITVX has Coronation Street and Emmerdale if you missed the teatime episodes.

The Viewing Schedule Table

Final Verdict

Monday's got layers. Salt Path: A Very British Scandal is the one to prioritise if you have Sky - the literary world doesn't get scandals like this often, and Chloe Hadjimatheou's investigation is riveting. For lighter fare, Jamie Oliver's Christmas prep continues on Channel 4, and First Dates Beach Club offers romance in the Spanish sun. Film fans should clear the schedule for Everything Everywhere All at Once on Film4 - it's long, it's late, but Michelle Yeoh's Oscar-winning performance is worth losing sleep for. Football heads get United at Old Trafford. Something for everyone, basically.

Nick Bain writes about television for TVRadar.co.uk