The On-Screen Advent Calendar 2012: Day Twenty-One

TOP 5 POST-CHRISTMAS TV BROADCASTS
There's no denying that the coming few days leading into and indeed entailing Christmas Day are packed with brilliant television shows for viewers to hook into. That said, the days succeeding December 25th are equally important for couch potatoes, again heralding some exciting new instalments of telly and repeat broadcasts of films that those of us still reeling from the Christmas feast can relax with. Today, with just four days to go until the festivities truly begin, we've handpicked five engaging new shows and re-releases that you will not want to miss after the big day- read on and get your TV remote's record button at the ready...
5. MIRANDA- Personally, I've never been a massive fan of Miranda Hart's first-person comedy series on BBC1, yet I see the appeal for fans of the genre nevertheless. Miranda is back for its third full season of hilarious hi-jinks, and you can be sure that Hart's escapades will feature plenty of raunchy gags. (Boxing Day, New Year's Day On BBC1)
4. ALICE IN WONDERLAND- Mia Wasikowoska's turn as Lewis Carroll's rabbit-hole-plunging female protagonist was a strange one to say the very least. It's the other performances of Tim Burton's adaptation, then, that make it worth your time- Johnny Depp, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham-Carter and a host of other British stars all highlight a generally compelling motion picture production. (Boxing Day On BBC1)
3. WILD AT HEART- As hard as it is to believe it, Wild At Heart has run on iTV for eight years now, so the time is probably right for the show to reach its end. This breathtaking season finale puts Du Plessis in mortal danger, when a terminal disease threatens to finish his journeys in the wild forever, and Danny's family must deal with one final crisis. (December 30th On iTV1)
2. TOP OF THE POPS- Top Of The Pops remains one of my personal favourite music shows in current existence, and it's a tragedy we only ever get it back on this annual basis. All the same, having two new specials in the cult show is definitely a positive turn of events, and long may the festivities continue to reign on the mainstream BBC channel. (New Year's Day On BBC1)
1. THE LORD OF THE RINGS- You can catch the first instalment in Peter Jackson's rightly acclaimed trilogy of novel-to-film adaptations, The Fellowship Of The Ring, on Christmas Day. After that, The Two Towers and The Return Of The King will broadcast shortly, and you'd be well advised to check them out again if you want to recall just why The Hobbit has been such a major success! (Boxing Day, December 29th On Channel 4)