Here's our Christmas TV guide, bringing you all the must-see shows so you don't miss a thing this festive season!
One of the best things about Christmas is spending time at home, unwinding in front of the television as you watch all the Christmas TV specials. But with so many shows on offer, it is hard to remember what is on, and when.
But fear not, because our UK Christmas TV Guide has got all the information you need in one place, so you can stop panicking about missing your favourite shows, and focus on the more important things, like cracking open the festive chocolates.
For more information about what is on over the festive break, see our TV Guide for full listings.
Everything you need to know about your favourite festive shows is in our UK Christmas TV Guide...
BBC
Call the Midwife Christmas specials, BBC One
It's a case of the Call the Midwife Christmas 2024 specials this year because there are two episodes before Call the Midwife season 14 arrives in 2025. We expect one of the two Call the Midwife Christmas specials to be on Christmas Day, with the other either on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day. Once we have a confirmed time and date we will add it to this guide.
As Poplar prepares for a carol concert, the neighborhood is gripped by the news of an escaped prisoner and fears grow that he may be in the local area after a spate of break-ins. Meanwhile, the Turner children are caught up in the fever surrounding the Blue Peter Christmas appeal to collect dinky cars and scrap metal, Trixie makes a fleeting visit to Nonnatus House and is delighted to see her brother Geoffrey, and Miss Higgins has her grandson Harry stay for Christmas. Also, Violet hosts a mince pie competition but the Buckles' preparations for Reggie's homecoming are thrown into turmoil.
Gavin and Stacey Christmas special, Christmas Day, BBC One
We are heading back to Barry for one last episode of Gavin and Stacey this Christmas, and we couldn't be more excited. The BBC's director of comedy Jon Petrie has described it as a "brilliant idea and a brilliant story", but what actually happens is being kept tightly under wraps. The last episode, also a Christmas special, went out nearly five years ago and ended on one hell of a cliffhanger where Nessa popped the question to Smithy. Quite where the story will pick up after that moment is unclear. Will Smithy and Nessa be a married couple? Or did Smithy turn her down?
Death in Paradise Christmas special 2024, BBC One
The Death in Paradise Christmas special 2024 sees Don Gilet's first murder case as Detective Inspector Mervin WiIson following Ralf Little's departure as DI Neville Parker at the end of Death in Paradise season 13.
The feature-length case sees Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson arrive on Saint Marie and he's not impressed! Quite why he isn't impressed isn't explained. Is he a Richard Poole (Ben Miller) type, who's unimpressed by the way the team operates? Or is he a Neville type, who has lots of allergies and finds everything a bit too much?
The festive special will likely air on Boxing Day on BBC One, however, this hasn’t been confirmed but Boxing Day is the normal slot for the show over Christmas.
Doctor Who Christmas special 2024, BBC One
The Doctor Who Christmas episode has been written by Steven Moffatt, the former Doctor Who showrunner who returned to pen an epsiode in Doctor Who season 14 after a seven-year break from the show.
The guest star in the special will be Bridgerton actor Nicola Coughlan, who it seems to be taking a one-off "guest companion" role in the episode, which showrunner Russell T Davies describes as “one of the maddest Christmas specials you'll ever see. It's epic, it goes to so many different places. And it's a great story of who the Doctor is when he's alone.”
The special traditionally airs on Christmas Day itself, but we will update this guide when the air date is announced.
Outnumbered Christmas special, BBC One
The Outnumbered Christmas special 2024 sees the first comedy outing for the Brockmans since 2016. The official synopsis from the BBC reveals we can expect the usual craziness: "In a moment of adversity, Sue and Pete gather all their offspring (including one grandchild) to try and celebrate a traditional family Christmas. But fate, neighbours, hyenas and bus replacement services get in their way."
We will update this guide when the official release date is announced.
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special, Christmas Day, BBC One
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special 2024 will see a new batch of celebrities take to the floor in a bid to be crowned Christmas champions 2024. Each of the six couples will perform a festive-inspired routine with the hope of impressing the judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas once again.
We now know comedian Josh Widdicombe will be paired with Karen Hauer, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Tayce will be dancing with Kai Widdrington, presenter Vogue Williams will be dancing with Carlos Gu, Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey or Nitro will be paired with Nancy Xu, actress Tamzin Outhwaite will be dancing with Nikita Kuzmin, and racing driver and TV presenter Billy Monger is with Nadiya Bychkova.
The Christmas special will follow shortly after Strictly Come Dancing 2024 wraps up, and once again the show will be hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Once we have a confirmed time and date we will add it to this guide.
Tiddler, BBC One
A festive adaptation from the UK’s number one picture book creators Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler has become a Christmas tradition, and this year we will see Tiddler arrive on BBC One — a story that follows a little fish with a big imagination.
Every day Tiddler tells a different story to his teacher and his friend Johnny Dory about why he’s late for school. His stories stretch from riding on seahorses or swimming around a shipwreck to being captured by a squid! His stories are so great that word of mouth helps them travel through the ocean and so, when Tiddler gets lost, he realises they may help him find a way home.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Christmas Day, BBC One
The evil penguin from The Wrong Trousers is back! This festive season will bring us a new Wallace and Gromit story for all the family to enjoy as Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl arrives on Christmas Day.
The movie follows Gromit's growing concern as Wallace becomes over-dependent on his inventions — which proves justified when Wallace invents a 'smart gnome' that seems to develop an evil mind of its own. But who or what could be the cause? As events begin to spiral out of control, it's up to Gromit to put aside his qualms and battle sinister forces, or Wallace may never be able to invent again!
Gladiators Celebrity Special, BBC One
CELEBRITIES.... READY! The Gladiators Celebrity Special is set to have us glued to our screens this Christmas as TV presenter Joel Dommett, actor and comedian Ellie Taylor, comedian Rob Beckett and broadcaster Louise Minchin face the Gladiators in a very exciting episode.
The four well-known faces will have their speed, strength and endurance tested when they take on the Gladiators in a series of challenges. They will then compete against each other in the gruelling obstacle course, the Eliminator. But who has got what it takes to be crowned the champion?
ITV
The Masked Singer Christmas special, ITV1
The Masked Singer Christmas special 2024 will get everyone in the festive spirit with a seasonal one-off of the nation's favourite guessing game. Once again we will see four well-known celebrities compete undercover in elaborate Christmas-themed costumes and keep their true identities hidden with all four famous faces unmasked in one episode. Hosted once again by Joel Dommett the show will see each celebrity perform to our superstar panel of detectives who are each trying to unwrap TV’s best-kept secret.
For The Love Of Dogs Christmas special, ITV1
It’s Christmas at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, but not everyone is feeling festive. Luckily, pantomime queen Alison Hammond is on hand to spread some seasonal magic and help give some of the animals of Battersea the ultimate Christmas present - a forever home. With the help of a very special Secret Santa, Alison will tell the stories of some of Battersea’s newest arrivals and follow the expert staff and volunteers as they prepare the good boys and girls for their potential new owners.
1% Club Christmas special, ITV1
The award-winning hit game show hosted by Lee Mack is back for a Christmas special full of festive questions. The show’s format sees 100 contestants begin every show, but to make it to the end and win the top prize of up to £100,000, contestants must correctly answer a question that only 1% of the country would get right. Contestants of all ages and backgrounds can take part because, unlike most quizzes, no swotting up on general knowledge is required to do well and logic and common sense are the key to success.
The Wheel of Fortune Christmas special, ITV1
The Wheel of Fortune is back with a celebrity Christmas Special and BAFTA winner Graham Norton as host as three celebrities spin to win money for their chosen charities. As always, the epic game show will once again be centered around a giant carnival wheel and the pressure is on as contestants pick a letter to solve the puzzle, but who has what it takes in this thrilling game of skill and luck?
Fletchers Family Farm at Christmas, ITV1
Kelvin, Liz and the family are back for a seasonal special where they venture to Finland and visit another family farm thriving in the harsh conditions of the Arctic Circle. It’s not all work, though, as the Fletchers dive into the magic of a Nordic winter by enjoying traditional activities and meeting the animals that flourish in this frosty wilderness to make their Finnish adventure one the family will never forget.
Channel 4
The Great British Bake Off festive specials, Channel 4
TV’s most famous tent will be decked out with tinsel and baubles, ready to welcome a group of brave celebrities who will whip up some Christmas classics for judges Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith. But who will be earning the Christmas Star Baker Crown or getting a Hollywood handshake? And who will wish they had stuck to eating Christmas cake on the sofa instead of baking it on national TV? As soon as a release date and celebrity lineup is announced we will update this guide.
Channel 5
All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special, Channel 5
The All Creatures Christmas special is always a festive treat and the main cast is all expected back for All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special 2024 with Nicholas Ralph as James, Rachel Shenton as Helen, Samuel West as Siegfried, Callum Woodhouse as Tristan and Anna Madeley as Mrs Hall. We don't have any official plot details yet, but we do know it will be baby Jimmy's first birthday. The plot is expected to continue from the end of All Creatures season 5, with both James and Tristan back from their war effort. Tristan has so far put on a brave face about his time in Egypt but could he be hiding something?
As soon as we have an official release date we will add it to this guide.
