Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
WhatToWatch
WhatToWatch
Entertainment
David Hollingsworth

BBC One's Christmas Day schedule revealed: Call the Midwife and Doctor Who lead line-up

The Call the Midwife cast sitting round a dinner table for the 2023 Christmas special .

The BBC One Christmas Day schedule has been revealed with the Call the Midwife and Doctor Who Christmas specials taking centre stage.

In a heavyweight Christmas Day line-up, the BBC will also broadcast the final ever episode of Ghosts, plus there's the traditional Strictly Come Dancing festive episode to enjoy.

The Doctor Who Christmas Special 2023 sees Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor and Millie Gibson's Ruby Sunday team up for their first adventure. 

While this year's Call the Midwife special sees Christmas 1968 getting underway but while newlyweds Matthew (Olly Rix) and Trixie Franklin (Helen George) are looking forward to their first Christmas together as a married couple, they are soon sprung with an unexpected visitor - Trixie's brother Geoffrey (Christopher Harper)! 

Other highlights include a special of The Wheel and a Christmas Day outing to Albert Square in EastEnders. Plus there's a Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas special to enjoy. 

The Christmas Day movies on BBC One are the 2015 version of Cinderella, The Addams Family 2 and Toy Story 4. Younger audiences will no doubt enjoy Tabby McTat, the latest festive animation by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffer. While The King's Christmas broadcast will go out at 3 pm.

We have our Christmas TV Guide with all the best shows on over Christmas and the New Year.

Here's BBC1's Christmas Day afternoon and evening schedule:

12:55 The Addams Family 2

14:20 BBC News

14:30 Weather

14:35 Tabby McTat

15:00 The King's Christmas Broadcast

15:10 Toy Story 4

16:40 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special

17:55 Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road

18:50 Michael McIntyre’s Christmas Wheel

19:45 Ghosts Christmas Special 2023

20:15 Call the Midwife Christmas special 2023

21:45 EastEnders

22:45 Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas Special

Ncuti Gatwa as the Time Lord in Doctor Who Christmas special (Image credit: BBC)

Meanwhile, ITV1's Christmas Day schedule features festive outings to Emmerdale and Coronation Street. Plus The Masked Singer Christmas special and a festive edition of the Lee Mack quiz The 1% Club

Here's ITV1's Christmas Day afternoon and evening schedule:

1200 JAMES MARTIN'S CHRISTMAS DAY

1400 AINSLEY'S FESTIVE FLAVOURS

1500 H M THE KING

1510 YOU'VE BEEN FRAMED! CHRISTMAS CRACKERS 

1540 ITV NEWS AND WEATHER

1545 IN FOR A PENNY: CHRISTMAS CRACKERS

1630 SING 2

1830 EMMERDALE

1900 CORONATION STREET

1930 THE MASKED SINGER: CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

2100 THE 1% CLUB CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

2200 BARRY HUMPHRIES: THE LAST LAUGH

Our TV Guide has full listings for the festive period.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.