Stephen Fry’s 21st Century Firsts (STV, 8.30pm)
ALMOST 21 years ago, some of us were looking forward to the start of a new century, while others fretted about the impact of the so-called millennium bug. Those born that year are now coming of age, while others who were 21 back then have discovered whether or not life really does begin at 40. Here Stephen Fry takes a look at some of the momentous events, landmarks and technological advances made during that time, including the launch of the first iPhone in 2007, the social media revolution and the Tinder app.
Not Going Out (BBC1, 9pm)
THE festive edition of Not Going Out has become a comedy highlight of the season and this year’s episode will be poignant because Bobby Ball, who plays Lee’s lovable but useless father Frank on the show, passed away in October. We meet up with Lee (Lee Mack) and Lucy (Sally Bretton) on New Year’s Eve. They’re joined by Frank, as well as Lucy’s mother and father and friends Toby (Hugh Dennis) and Anna (Abigail Cruttenden). Everything goes swimmingly until someone suggests a new parlour game in which they tell each other how they can improve their behaviour and what New Year’s resolutions they need to make.
Tom Allen Goes to Town (C4, 9pm)
COMEDIAN Tom Allen loves small-town Britain. In this show filmed in 2019, he champions one of these unsung places: Wakefield in West Yorkshire (which is, of course, a city rather than a town), Tom takes in one of the world’s biggest rhubarb crops, explores the beautiful cathedral and visits a drive-in fish and chip shop. He also buys a round of Wakefield’s famous steak pies and renovates the local Caribbean restaurant for the family he’s been staying with.
Pandemonium (BBC1, 9.45pm)
THIS new video diary comedy penned by After Life star and Plebs writer Tom Basden boasts a stellar cast including Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd), Jim Howick (Ghosts), Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey) and Tom Basen (After Life). The Jessops have seen their finances and plans devastated in 2020, and have had to abandon their holiday of a lifetime to California. With morale at an all-time low, they decide to have their summer holiday after all ... even if it means Margate in December.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here