Geek shows and movies on UK TV in the coming week

Comedy - and lots of it - is still the recommended remedy when days are shorter and wallets are lighter and the big prescription pad in the sky, thankfully, sends us succour.

It's almost comical to think that coming up geeks may know of Eddie Izzard more for his film career (Mystery Men, Valkyrie) and TV appearances (The Riches and upcoming The Day Of The Triffids) than his standup routines of the late nineties and early naughties. Tonight at 11:15pm on More4 we get more original Eddie Izzard, this time in Eddie Izzard: Dress To Kill. And yes, he does. Any admirers of Mr Izzard's thespian-only endeavours are in for an eye-opening and jaw ache. The recorded live show from 1999 is repeated on Saturday, the 12th, at 2:50am.

On Saturday night at 10:10pm on BBC2 the last episode of the current season of The Thick Of It airs. Can Malcolm work his foul-mouthed magic and make a miraculous return? Or is the potty spouter gone for good? There'll, no doubt, be Galting gun expletives and laughs flying, no matter what the outcome. The finale is repeated on BBC HD and BBC4 a little later in the week should you miss the F bombs and other capital initial missiles launch.

There's still more comedy on offer among the weekend's films and a bit beyond. And for those UK TV viewers reading about Mr John Lithgow's current idolisation in this season's Dexter Stateside, you can at least console yourself with his portrayal of Don Quixote, until season four makes our shores.

Please also note: the ordinal numbers for dates will help you scan through this simple list with your browser's search function. Enter '12th' in your browser's Find box or window to highlight and/or tab through all movies shown on Saturday. Enjoy!

Aliens
On: Film4    
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1)

Almost Famous
On: Sky Movies Indie  
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 09:00am (and 10:00pm)

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
On: FIVER
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 9:00pm

Being John Malkovich
On: Film4     
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 11:35pm (and 00:35am Film4+1, 1:20/2:20am 15th Dec Film4/+1)

Catch-22
On: Sky Movies Classics     
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 9:00pm

Cellular
On: Channel 4  
Date: Sunday 13th December
Time: 11:10pm (and 00:10am 4+1)

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
On: ITV2
Date: Sunday 13th December
Time: 11:15pm

Constantine
On: Five
Date: Sunday 13th December
Time: 9:30pm

Darkman
On: Sky Movies Action/Thriller   
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 01:10am

Defiance
On: Sky Movies Premiere   
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm Premiere+1, then daily at similar times through 18th Dec)

Demolition Man
On: Sky Movies Christmas    
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 11:25pm

Die Hard
On: Sky Movies Christmas   
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 8:00pm

Die Hard 2
On: Sky Movies Action/Thriller  
Date: Sunday 13th December
Time: 1:50pm (and 10:00pm)

Don Quixote
On: Five    
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 1:00pm (and noon 17th Dec)

Eddie Murphy: Raw
On: Sky Movies Modern Greats  
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 02:00am

Elf
On: Channel 4  
Date: Sunday 13th December
Time: 5:45pm (and 6:45pm 4+1)

Ferris Bueller's Day Off
On: Sky Movies Christmas    
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 6:15pm

Hard Target
On: ITV4
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm 16th Dec)

High Fidelity
On: Sky Movies Indie   
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 2:20pm (and 00:50am 13th Dec, 11:20am 15th Dec)

How The Grinch Stole Christmas
On: Sky Screen 1   
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 07:30am (and 3:35pm, 6:30 am & 1:10pm 13th Dec Sky Family)

Lethal Weapon 3
On: ITV4   
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 9:00pm

Mars Attacks!
On: ITV4   
Date: Sunday 13th December
Time: 8:00pm

National Lampoon's Vacation
On: Sky Movies Comedy  
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 06:10am (and 6:15pm)

National Lampoon's European Vacation
On: Sky Movies Comedy   
Date: Sunday 13th December
Time: 06:35am (and 6:20pm)

Passenger 57
On: ITV2     
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: midnight (and 10:00pm 15th Dec)

Role Models
On: Sky Movies Premiere    
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 10:00am (and 11:00am Premiere+1, 00:05/1:05am 12th Dec Premiere/+1)

Saw
On: Film4   
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: midnight (and 1:00am 13th Dec Film4+1)

Shrek
On: Sky Screen 1  
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 09:25am (and 4:45pm)

Sixteen Candles
On: Sky Movies Christmas    
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 1:10pm

Teen Wolf
On: Sky Movies Christmas   
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 8:00pm

The Abyss
On: Film4
Date: Sunday 13th December
Time: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1)

The Addams Family
On: Sky Movies Family   
Date: Sunday 13th December
Time: 6:15pm (and 1:30am 14th Dec)

The Addams Family Values
On: Sky Movies Family  
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 2:35pm

The Breakfast Club
On: Sky Movies Christmas  
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 2:45pm

The Dark Knight
On: Sky Movies Action/Thriller   
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 10:25am (and 9:00pm)

The Godfather
On: Sky Movies Modern Greats   
Date: Sunday 13th December
Time: 10:40am

The Godfather Part II
On: Sky Movies Modern Greats   
Date: Sunday 13th December
Time: 1:40pm

The Golden Child
On: Sky Movies Christmas
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 11:30am (and 9:40pm)

The Great Escape
On: Sky Movies Classics    
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 12:05pm (and 9:00pm)

The Green Mile
On: Five USA   
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 9:00pm (and 9:00pm 15th Dec)

The Island
On: ITV1  
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 10:35pm

The Italian Job
On: Sky Movies Action/Thriller  
Date: Sunday 13th December
Time: 07:50am (and 6:05pm)

The Last Of The Mohicans
On: Sky Movies Drama  
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 11:20am

The Last Samurai
On: ITV2  
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm 16th Dec)

The Mist
On: Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror   
Date: Sunday 13th December
Time: 08:00am (and 3:25pm)

The Monster Squad
On: Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror  
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 5:25pm

The Omega Man
On: Five  
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 5:05pm

The Shawshank Redemption
On: Channel 4   
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 9:30pm (and 10:30pm 4+1)

The Way Of The Gun
On: FX    
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: midnight (and 2:00am 17th Dec)

Trading Places
On: Sky Movies Christmas
Date: Sunday 13th December
Time: 00:15am (and 6:00pm 16th Dec)

Training Day
On: Sky Movies Premiere   
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm Premiere+1)

Tropic Thunder
On: Sky Screen 1  
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 11:20am (and 10:00pm)

Videodrome
On: Sky Movies Indie   
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 11:55pm

X-Men
On: Sky Movies Modern Greats  
Date: Saturday 12th December
Time: 11:10am (and 8:00pm)

Young Frankenstein
On: Sky Movies Modern Greats  
Date: Friday 11th December
Time: 08:30am (and 4:20pm)