The Channel 4 Mash-Up | Armando's Tale of Charles Dickens | Endeavour | Weeds | American Horror Story | Funny or Die Presents
The Channel 4 Mash-Up
6.30pm, Channel 4
To mark its 30th anniversary, Channel 4 presents a one-off special evening in which the hosts from its most popular and familiar shows trade places with each other. And so, Phil Spencer takes the place of Davina McCall (reduced to the role of contestant) in The Million Pound Drop, Alan Carr has a bash at Location, Location, Location with assistance from Kirsty Allsopp, the 8 Out of 10 Cats team present an edition of Countdown, with Jimmy Carr hosting and Jon Richardson and Sean Lock assisting, while Channel 4 newsreaders, led by Jon Snow, turn their hands to River Cottage. David Stubbs
Armando's Tale of Charles Dickens
9pm, BBC2
Nearly two centuries after his birth, Charles Dickens is so famous he even has his own theme park. Yet have we forgotten why Dickens's prose matters? Yes, reckons Armando Iannucci, whose freewheeling documentary contends the novelist has much to tell us about our contemporary world. In particular, he worries away at the idea of Dickens the comedian, a man whose satire "still stings" because he rests his humour on serious themes such as the corrosive effects of debt. Jonathan Wright
Endeavour
9pm, ITV1
Set in 1965, this handsome, one-off Morse prequel ? although it looks like it's being made with a view to testing the water for a full series ? sees the young policeman in action, as he investigates the disappearance of a 15-year-old schoolgirl in, yes, Oxford. Full of nods to the original, and with a few nice touches in tribute to John Thaw, including a moving cameo from his daughter, Abigail, it's a well-crafted drama that's much darker than expected, and certainly works better than last week's BBC prequel, Young James Herriot. Rebecca Nicholson
Weeds
10.15pm, Sky Atlantic
Shortly after the end of season five, here's six, as we continue to play catch up with the States (where viewers are waiting for season eight to start). After Shane killed Pilar, the Botwins must go on the run ? again ? though Andy has doubts about leaving. That is, until he's broken up with Audra (Alanis Morissette), and the clan can move as one. It's not quite as focused or as funny as it used to be, but Mary-Louise Parker's excellent turn as the drug-dealing matriarch is enough to make it worth watching, still. RN
American Horror Story
10pm, FX
How will Vivien react to the revelation that the female house guest who seemed a little bit creepy actually died there more than 100 years ago? Not too well, as it happens, though handy maid Moira puts it down to pregnancy hormones ? obviously Vivien hasn't realised that, in being alive, she's in the minority here. There's another big reveal, as the identity of the Rubber Man is revealed, and it's predictably disturbing. Meanwhile Dead Hayden tried it on with Tate, and decides the best way to get to Ben is to have Vivien committed. Which, considering the way events are unfolding, is an easy ask. RN
Funny Or Die Presents
10.50pm, Sky Atlantic
The first outing of Funny Or Die Presents was something of a disappointment, failing to capture the energetic, scattergun quality of the website from which it takes its name. Perhaps though, with appearances from such comic luminaries as Kristen Wiig, John C Reilly and Ben Stiller, as well as website co-founder Will Ferrell, the second series will mark something of an improvement. This opening episode features former Batman star Adam West being a bit weird ? so that sounds promising enough. Gwilym Mumford
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2012/jan/01/mash-up-armandos-charles-dickens
Soap opera Robert Schumann Simon Barker European Union Ethical and green living Reality TV
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