Radio Times review

Radio Times Top 40 TV Shows of 2015, #25:

It all ended this year, in true Peep Show style, with both a bang and a whimper. Never before has a programme's grand finale combined a kidnapping, urine-drinking, Delia Smith, and a jibe about overpriced coffee with such effortless pizzazz. Our heroes ended up alone, but together, and a fate any less dysfunctional wouldn't have rung true. Such was the joy of Peep Show: though Mark (David Mitchell) and Jez (Robert Webb) lived a life none of us would hope to emulate, from the bleakness emerged moments of familiarity. Who didn't recognise Mark's constant struggle - Kenneth Clark's Civilisation and sea bream, or Octopussy and a Twirl?

The sainted Delia Smith takes her place on the sofa tonight, just one ingredient in a rich mixture of guests. The Hollywood shimmer comes from Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton, who'll be talking about their new film, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.

Matt Lucas, now a bit of a film star after his turn in the hit Bridesmaids, is in comedy corner, where doubtless he'll want to talk about the return of his BBC1 series, The Matt Lucas Awards. Rita Ora is the musical guest.

Even devotees of BBC1's cute historical drama Lark Rise to Candleford would admit that it's deliciously spoofworthy, what with its myriad of quaint Victorian niceties and arch dialogue. So it will surprise no one that the masterly Victoria Wood presents Lark Pies to Cranchesterford as part of her much-anticipated Christmas special, telling the touching story of young Araminty, who leaves her rural hamlet for a job in the Post and Potato Office.

Midlife Christmas promises to be a real treat for anyone who thinks Wood has been away from television for too long. Yes, she did Housewife 49 (very successfully), but that was a drama and Wood is queen of the sharp, pitch-perfect sketch show.

Here she looks stern as Sir Alan Sugar's sidekick Margaret Mountford in an Apprentice send-up, and we revisit Bo Beaumont (Julie Walters), the pretentious actress who plays Mrs Overall in Acorn Antiques. Guests include Delia Smith, Torvill and Dean, Anton du Beke and Reece Shearsmith.

Now that our appetite has been whetted by Monday's retrospective, Victoria Wood - Seen on TV, here's the queen of comedy's brand new special in which she tries to help all those so shattered by the sheer slog of festive preparations. "Christmas is a stressful time," says Wood. "By compressing an evening's viewing into 60 minutes, we hope families will have more time for other festive traditions such as arguing with relatives and defrosting turkeys under the hot tap." Sketches, spoofs and silliness abound. Long-time collaborator Julie Walters is on hand to play the wonderful Bo Beaumont, the once-popular Acorn Antiques actress who believes she's still a star despite her reduced circumstances and innumerable failed attempts to get on every reality show from Strictly to Dancing on Ice. This scenario allows room for appearances from Anton du Beke, Torvill and Dean and Delia Smith. Then there's "Lark Pies to Cranchesterford", an affectionate spoof of just about every costume drama ever made, and "The 2009 Mid-Life Olympics" (events include 4 x 400 hedge trimming). All of which amounts to as entertaining yet reassuringly traditional an hour of fun as only Wood can serve up.

Victoria Wood does not appeal to everyone but she does have a large and devoted following - almost a cult - which includes my mother-in-law, whose enthusiasm is undimmed by dementia. "Christmas," says Wood, "can be a difficult time for those struggling with that bonnet-free wasteland between the last Lark Rise and the next Cranford" - and so she steps in to fill the gap with Lark Pies to Cranchesterford, the heartwarming story of a young girl who leaves her rural hamlet for a job in the Post and Potato Office. In among the sketches are personal-injury commercials, unlikely sporting events and a dance number in which the midriff bulge is given the Busby Berkeley treatment. She will be joined by long-time collaborator Julie Walters alongside Delia Smith and Torvill and Dean.

With Ant and Dec attempting to become ITV1's answer to Morecambe and Wise on Boxing Day, this is the nearest that the BBC comes to that inclusive festive family show of the bygone Eric and Ernie era. Giving a flavour of the gentle spoofs being cooked up by the "queen of comedy" (the BBC press notes) is a pastiche of costume dramas called "Lark Pies to Cranchesterford". Guest stars include Julie Walters (natch), Delia Smith and Anton du Beke.