A BOLTON comic will be back on the nation's TV screens this Christmas, with her unique take on the festive period.

Farnworth-born Diane Morgan will be reprising her role as comedy character Philomena Cunk, originally created for Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe, in BBC2's Cunk On Christmas.

After the success of her investigation of Shakespeare earlier this year, which formed part of the BBC's celebration of the Bard's work 400 years after his death, Philomena will be trying to track down the true meaning of Christmas and giving her acerbic take on a variety of Yuletide traditions.

The comedy special will air at 10pm on Thursday, December 29, on BBC2, immediately after Charlie Brooker's 2016 Wipe — in which she will also appear to help make sense of the big news stories of 2016.

Diane is also to star in a full series of the sitcom Motherland, which aired as a BBC2 pilot in September. The comedy, which looks at the competitive and unromantic sides of parenting, was watched by 2 million viewers and received critical acclaim.

Bolton funnyman Paddy McGuinness will also be hitting screens over the festive period, taking a peek inside celebrity homes for a new series of Through the Keyhole.

Paddy will be among the panelists joining host Keith Lemon for series four of the ITV game show, which will have a Christmas special before the series continues in January.

It will see the host rummaging around the homes of three mystery celebrities to unearth clues to the identities of the famous homeowners.

His former Phoenix Nights co-star Peter Kay will be entertaining BBC Radio 2 listeners as he joins veteran broadcaster Johnnie Walker for a very special interview over the festive period.

The pair have conducted a two-way interview while playing music as they drive through Bolton and Manchester, a format inspired by Peter's hugely successful Car Share sitcom.

Johnnie Walker Meets... Peter Kay will air on December 30 at 5pm.