David Walliams

The platform will include a wide range of both entertaining and educational series and films from the CBBC and CBeebies, as well as other suitable BBC programming.

To access the site, users simply have to select the monster shaped ‘children’ button when asked who’s watching.

The categories have also been simplified to make it easier for child viewers, who will find their favourite series divided into Trending, Drama, Funny and Cartoons. Live broadcasts of the CBBC and CBeebies channels can also be easily accessed.

Lucas will be joining Noel Fielding and judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood in the tent for the eleventh series.

He said: “I’m chuffed to bits to be joining the most delicious show on television. I can’t wait to break bread with Noel, Prue and Paul and meet the brilliant bakers.

“And bearing in mind my love of cake, I’ve already ordered some much larger trousers in anticipation.”

The three-part series follows Emily Verma (Dew), a 27-year-old living the high life in London after flying the nest from her seaside hometown, Sandylands.

When Emily hears her father Les Vegas (Bhaskar) is lost at sea, she returns to her childhood home and reconnects with her old best friend Tina (Harriet Webb) and quickly befriends her oddball next door neighbours Derek Swallows (Walliams) and his wife Jeannie (Sophie Thompson).

David Walliams will star in the adaptation of the gruesome Ratburger alongside Sheridan Smith (Gavin and Stacey) and Mark Benton (The Halcyon).

The story follows Zoe, a young girl who has a miserable time at the hands of her stepmother (played by Smith) and a bully named Tina Trotts.

She finds a baby rat in her bedroom that she names Armitage and he quickly becomes a firm friend. However Armitage is no ordinary rat; he’s a rat that can dance.

Father Brown: The Star of Jacob

BBC One, 1.45pm

An outbreak of laryngitis in the church choir, a missing donkey and a kidnapped baby are all threatening to spoil Kembleford's Christmas festivities this year.

Monday: David Blaine: Beyond Magic

Channel 4, 9pm

Following his critically acclaimed ratings for David Blaine: Real or Magic, Blaine returns with his most revealing performance yet. 

Magic meets documentary in the one-hour special, which has been two years in the making, as Blaine blows the minds of David Beckham, Johnny Depp and Patrick Stewart, along with others.

The 30-minute weeknight entertainment show will air at 10pm for five nights of the week, shifting ITV News at Ten to the later slot of 10.30pm in a move to draw a late night audience. 

The Nightly Show will incorporate aspects of the popular American talk show format mixed with British comedy panel shows and include a topical monologue, celebrity guests and studio games.

The show will have a variety of celebrity hosts for each week, with comedian and presenter David Walliams confirmed as the guest host for the first week of the series.

Monday: The Affair, Season 3

Sky Atlantic, 9pm

Roald Dahl’s Most Marvellous Book, hosted by David Walliams, will see Stephen Spielberg, Julie Walters, Richard Curtis and a host of other stars make the case for their favourite Dahl books.

The show will also have a competitive element – after hearing from the celebrities, the public will be called to vote for their favourite Dahl book via Twitter, with the winner announced at the end of the show.

The broadcaster has enlisted top comedians David Walliams, Adil Ray, and Kerry Howard, among others, to encourage school pupils aged 13 to 15 years to start writing original comedy material. Entered under one of three categories - Stand-up, Sketch, and Caption - the best material will be filmed and broadcast by the BBC later this year.