Channel 4

As usual, the participants will seek to evade capture by former police, army and intelligence personnel. They’ll have to be sharp to do so. Whilst the authorities have an arsenal of real life law enforcing technologies to pinpoint the fugitives, the celebrities will have nothing but the clothes on their backs and each other’s company.

Former contestants have been forced to go completely off-grid in a bid to avoid the ‘Hunters’: avoiding using bank cards, sleeping in tents in rural areas and not trusting anyone along the way for a full 25 days.

The art of relaxation has always eluded me, which is probably why, in my plural life, chairing three boards and sitting on another three makes my diary resemble a detailed train timetable. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I have been looking forward to the CEO meeting of the Women’s Super League and Championship Clubs. It’s a chance to have a constructive, focused dialogue outside the board about our mission to be the most competitive and innovative leagues in the world.

Sixteen British civilians will enter the competition as equals but will soon be split into Rulers and Grafters. In a caricature of real-world power dynamics, the Grafters will complete a series of arduous activities, creating a prize fund that only the Rulers can win.

Whilst the Grafters inhabit a basement, the Rulers occupy a deluxe penthouse. The Rulers will have to encourage the Grafters to work harder for them, whilst also making choices that affect only the Grafters and not themselves.

When, at the beginning of November last year, Channel 4 celebrated its 40th anniversary with a lavish party, complete with a sit-down dinner, at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, many of those attending wondered if they were witnessing the end of an era.

Murray has guest hosted the UK’s longest running TV quiz show since summer 2022, becoming a favourite among fans.

Confirming the news on Steph’s Packed Lunch, Murray said: “It’s a career dream to be named as permanent anchor of one of television's most iconic programmes. I have been a fan since day one, been part of the family for over a decade, appearing on Dictionary Corner, and now I get the honour of guiding it into a fifth decade. However, I just don’t want Countdown to survive, I want it to thrive.

The Last Leg of the Year

Channel 4, 9pm

Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker ring in the new year with a Last Leg special looking at the good, the bad and the ugly of 2022.

Mayflies

BBC One, 9pm

Martin Compston stars as writer Jimmy, who receives a call from his oldest friend Tully (Tony Curran) with the life-changing news that he has terminal cancer and a final request that will test their 30 year strong friendship.    

TV host and Countdown veteran Carol Vorderman, Olympic champion Mo Farah, Radio 1 DJ Greg James, Chicken Shop Date's Amelia Dimoldenberg and singer Rebecca Lucy Taylor (aka Self Esteem) will compete in the third New Year's special of the comedy competition series. 

The celebrities will take on a series of obscure tasks to impress the Taskmaster, Greg Davies, and his assistant, Little Alex Horne, to be crowned the New Year Treat's champion and take home this year's trophy: Greg's Golden Eyebrows.

Session chair Amol Rajan: Did you interpret the new culture secretary saying that she is re-examining the business case for privatisation as implying that she and Prime Minister Liz Truss are not as committed to privatisation as their predecessors? 

Alex Mahon: We’re in discussion with the DCMS about where they want to end up and what the options are. I imagine they’ll look at the things that I like: facts, data and evidence. Then we’ll see what the coming weeks and months hold as they think about that.