It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… which means it’s time to batten down the hatches, grab some snacks (and, this year, a blanket and hot water bottle) and settle down for some choice festive viewing.
Here are some of the gems heading soon to a screen near you…
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, BBC1
BBC1 is adapting Charlie Mackesy’s bestselling novel into an animated short film featuring the voices of big names including Idris Elba, Tom Hollander and Gabriel Byrne.
The story follows the unlikely friendship of a boy, a mole, a fox and a horse as they journey together in the boy’s search for home.
The author says he loves the idea of his tale being in the nation’s homes over Christmas, adding: “I really hope it helps bring comfort, love and laughter.” Perfect.
Doc Martin, ITV
Christmas is coming to Portwenn as Martin Clunes returns for the very last time as Doc Martin, with all the regular cast reprising their roles for this final outing.
The seaside town is full of festive fun, until the grumpy Doc has the grotto closed down because he fears Santa has something contagious…
His decision upsets the children, including his own son James, who decides to run away to find Santa himself. A plan to stage a lantern parade then goes awry and somewhere along the line the Doc hallucinates about his mother - prompting some concerns about his own parenting techniques.
Call the Midwife, BBC1
It’s a very snowy one in 1967 Poplar - which is not good news for one hard-up mum-to-be who’s been abandoned by her fiancé and chucked out by a heartless landlady.
In her nightie, poor thing. But there’s plenty of festive cheer to come in the form of Matthew finally popping the question to Trixie and in Fred Buckle’s fun talent contest Poplartunity Knocks - see what he did there? Look out for Miss Higgins on the recorder…
All Creatures Great and Small, Channel 5
It’s Christmas in Darrowby and everyone is trying to make the most of things while the world is at war. When Mrs. Pumphrey heralds the arrival of a kitten in need of special care, James knows just the person for the job.
Elsewhere Siegfried risks compromising everything he stands for over a horse - but Tristan is there to save the day - and Mrs Hall gets ready to reveal to Gerald how she really feels about him. Go on Mrs Hall!
Detectorists, BBC2
We haven’t seen Andy, Lance and the crew for five long years but - hallelujah - they’re back, and this time it’s a feature length special.
Mackenzie Crook and Toby Jones reprise their roles as the loveable metal detector enthusiasts, last seen finding some actual gold coins (thanks to the magpies).
Half a decade on and the Danebury Metal Detecting Club is under threat from developers who want to close the hall. When Lance manages to secure a permission to search ten acres of prime, undetected land things are looking up - until he breaks protocol and puts the whole future of the DMDC in jeopardy. Aaargh!
The Santa Clauses, DisneyPlus
There’s a load of fun coming up, including The Santa Clauses, a spin-off series starring Tim Allen as Scott Calvin who fancies giving up his job. Then changes his mind.
There’s more fun to be had in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, which sees the Guardians, who are on a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Quill, head to Earth in search of the perfect present. Which seems to be Kevin Bacon.
Ghosts, BBC1
In Button House, the Ghosts are touched by Alison’s thoughtful generosity and are desperate to give her a special Christmas present in return. The question is - what?
Mike’s loaded Tupperware comes in handy when their journey hits a bump in the road and Kitty gets her moment in the spotlight thanks to a much-needed pep talk from… someone unexpected.
Ho, ho, whoo-hooo (that’s a ghostly noise, in case you were wondering).
A Christmas Carole, Sky Max
A comedic take on the Dickens Christmas classic, with a modern twist.
Suranne Jones plays greedy online businesswoman Carole Mackay, who’s made her fortune selling all things festive. Her success hasn’t made her a better human being though - far from it..
Just like Scrooge, she’s no fan of Christmas but this year Carole’s past, present and future are about to collide.Will she be able to cheer up and turn over new leaf?
Motherland: Last Christmas, BBC1
School’s out for the festive season so the mums, and Kevin (of course) are busy prepping for the ultimate in blended celebrations.
At Julia’s, the grandparents are proving as demanding as ever and Kevin is there, because it’s better than eating turkey crisps from the vending machine with other divorced dads. Then Liz turns up after her ex lets her down on his first ever offer to host.
Meanwhile neighbour Meg gets really drunk which means she’s not much use when SOMETHING REALLY SHOCKING happens over he road at Julia’s. Eeeek.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Amazon Prime
Jack is back, in the much-anticipated third season of action-packed series starring John Krasinski in the title role.
The series will drop on Prime Video on December 21 with all eight episodes available. In the plot, Jack’s on the run having been wrongly implicated in a huge conspiracy. Wanted by both the CIA and an international rogue faction he’s uncovered, Jack is forced underground as he tries to stay alive, while preventing a massive global conflict. Hey, we’ve all been there.
Gone Fishing, BBC2
For the first time in Gone Fishing’s history, the angling duo of Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse leave the riverbanks of Britain behind and head off on a dream trip to Norway – the country where cod is God.
Neither has visited the Arctic Circle before and avid fisherman Paul is like a kid at Christmas. He is keen to try their luck at catching halibut, pollock, ling, trout, char and the hard-fighting coalfish. Check out the pair as they hunker down in some of the most remote locations they’ve every experienced.
The Great Festive Bake Off, Channel 4
We’re back in the tent this Christmas for festive fun and also to celebrate Channel 4 ’s 40th anniversary, with five famous faces from Channel 4 ’s history.
Joining judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, plus hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas, are The Big Breakfast’s Gaby Roslin, Time Team’s Sir Tony Robinson, Pop World’s Miquita Oliver, The Word’s Terry Christian and Brookside’s Claire Sweeney. Each of the stars of yesteryear are hoping to win Christmas Star Baker but who will actually achieve it?
Britain Get Singing, ITV
Britain Get Singing is a one-off festive extravaganza, which pits the stars of five of ITV ’s biggest shows against each other - karaoke style.
The groups consist of regulars from Love Island, The Chase, Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Loose Women, who each aim to deliver a show-stopping performance in front of the judges will.iam, Alesha Dixon, Adam Lambert and Jason Manford.
Ultimately the power lies with the studio audience as they vote for who has hit the high notes, and who has fallen horribly flat…
Get all the biggest showbiz news straight into your inbox. Sign up for the free Mirror Showbiz newsletter.
Happy Valley, BBC1
Also back for its third - and final - series is Happy Valley, starring Sarah Lancashire as Sergeant Catherine Cawood.
This time around she discovers the remains of a gangland murder victim that leads her straight back to - you guessed it - James Norton’s character Tommy Lee Royce.
Her grandson, Ryan, is now 16 and has ideas of his own about the kind of relationship he wants to have with the man Catherine refuses to acknowledge as his father. Let’s hope it ends well.
Scrooge: A Christmas Carol, Netflix
Charles Dickens’ classic tale is reborn from December 2 in a supernatural, time-travelling, musical adaptation of Scrooge: A Christmas Carol. This animated version is voiced by big stars including Luke Evans as the mean man himself and Olivia Colman as Past.
Another treat is The Witcher prequel Blood Origin, released as a festive treat on Christmas Day, and the third series of Emily in Paris, starring Lily Collins, launching on December 21. Also look out for Knives Out sequel Glass Onion, featuring Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc, on December 23.
The Smoos and the Smeds, BBC1
It wouldn’t be Christmas without an adaptation of a Julia Donaldson tale, brought to life by Axel Scheffler.
This year it’s the turn of The Smoos and the Smeds, in which the red Smeds and the blue Smoos must learn to overcome their differences and work together. And if you’re wondering if Rob Brydon’s in there again - he is!
This time he’s the voice of Uncle Smoo with Sally Hawkins as narrator and Bill Bailey as grandfather Smed.
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct at 0207 29 33033.
