Drama
Drama pick
Gavin & Stacey: The Finale
It’s time for one of Britain’s best-loved sitcoms to get the big send-off it deserves, with all the cast members returning for it. In the five years since we last visited our Barry and Billericay besties, some things have changed (Nessa’s feelings for Smithy?), but much has stayed reassuringly the same (Pam’s hosting skills, Neil the Baby’s nickname). So how will it all end up?
Christmas Day, 9pm, BBC One
State of Happiness
Season three of the absorbing Norwegian drama about a booming oil town wraps up with a final double bill. As the champagne-popping 1980s roll on, underwater automation is threatening to obliterate the local diving industry. Elsewhere, party girl Toril (Malene Wadel) struggles with her own existential crisis.
Saturday 14 December, 9pm, BBC Four
Moonflower Murders
This stylised country house mystery is high-end cosy crime, thanks to the neatly constructed plot within a plot and a superb cast including Lesley Manville and Daniel Mays. As the series concludes, Melissa James’s murder is revealed. Has the killer been hiding in plain sight all along?
Saturday 14 December, 9.25pm, BBC One
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light
Anyone who has read Hilary Mantel’s Tudor trilogy – or indeed listened in their history lessons – will know how Thomas Cromwell’s story ends here. But Mark Rylance’s incredible performance has taken us on an immersive journey to his downfall. Cromwell is sent to the Tower of London, where he awaits his fate … Sunday 15 December, 9pm, BBC One
Strike: The Ink Black Heart
Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger return as detective duo Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott for the sixth adaptation of JK Rowling’s brooding Strike books. A young woman comes to the office, desperate to find the identity behind the online troll of her popular cartoon series. Robin declines the case, but a few weeks later her body is found.
Monday 16 December, 9pm, BBC One
Dune: Prophecy
After publicly barbecuing the plotters behind a galactic power-grab, Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong) seems to be back on top. But as this enjoyably caustic space opera prequel reaches its penultimate episode, he must contend with the return of an old flame: the mysterious Sister Francesca (Indian star Tabu).
Monday 16 December, 9pm, Sky Atlantic/Now
Somebody Somewhere
Another lovely double bill of TV’s warmest hug of a show, which also manages to leave you in stitches of laughter. As Joel gets to grips with living with a partner, there’s potential for new romance in Sam’s life too (“He’s got such a deep voice, I can feel it in my tummy”).
Monday 16 December, 10pm, Sky Comedy
The Good Ship Murder: Christmas Special
Gently ridiculous seafaring sleuthing, as Shayne Ward’s singing detective Jack Grayling tackles the case of an impaled Santa Claus during the cruise ship’s stop in a very Christmassy Dubrovnik. And the passenger manifest is crawling with disgruntled, potentially vengeful travellers.
Wednesday 18 December, 9pm, Channel 5
My Brilliant Friend
The final double bill of this beautiful Elena Ferrante adaptation sees the Solara family searching for a missing child. Then comes the flawless finale, with a look at Elsa’s fate and the two women coming full circle as they glimpse a reminder of the early days of their friendship.
Wednesday 18 December, 9pm, Sky Atlantic/Now
Dark Winds
A grieving Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) races against time to interrogate a suspect linked to his son’s death, in the latest episode of the show whose title sounds rather like a number from Spinal Tap. Meanwhile, an undercover Chee infiltrates the mysterious People of Darkness cult and Bern faces life-changing choices.
Thursday 19 December, 10pm, U&Alibi
Return to Paradise
Neighbours legend Peter O’Brien (AKA Shane Ramsay) pops into the Australian-set detective show as the suave bad boy of the local lawn bowls scene, then pops out again when his character is shot, seemingly with an inoperable antique weapon. To solve the mystery, Mackenzie (Anna Samson) unpicks a family history loaded with shame.
Friday 20 December, 8pm, BBC One
Only Child
The warm comedy continues, and while trying to organise a surprise 75th birthday party for his dad Ken, Richard struggles to find many friends who are still alive to attend. Luckily, an old pal makes a reappearance, armed with sweet stories of the past – before actor Richard gets a potentially life-changing call.
Friday 20 December, 9pm, BBC One
The Young Offenders
For all that he’s an idiot, Conor always wants what’s best for his mum. So agreeing to mind a gun for a local character named Jack Hammer isn’t his smartest move, particularly in the run-up to Christmas. Lairy but fun, The Young Offenders remains a rough diamond with a heart of gold.
Friday 20 December, 9.30pm, BBC One
Casualty: All I Want for Christmas
An emotionally supercharged “format-breaking” special of the hospital drama, shining a light on blood donations. Patients are brought into the ward on Christmas Day when supplies are low, and the action is spliced with powerful real-life testimonials that helped inspire the storylines.
Saturday 21 December, 9.20pm, BBC One
Bad Tidings
A Christmas comedy caper starring Lee Mack and Chris McCausland as two warring suburban neighbours forced into a reluctant partnership when an escalating tit-for-tat row between them causes Neil (Mack) to blow up the street’s electricity mains. It’s up to the odd couple to save the day.
Sunday 22 December, 7.30pm, Sky Max
A Christmas Carol: The Read With Anne-Marie Duff
“Marley was dead: to begin with … ” Here’s an atmospheric hour-and-a-bit of the brilliant Anne-Marie Duff reading aloud the Charles Dickens classic about skinflint Ebenezer Scrooge and his visitation by three ghosts. A perfect winter warmer ahead of Christmas week.
Sunday 22 December, 7.45pm, BBC Four
Death in Paradise
This is up there with a new Doctor Who or Bake Off presenter: Don Gilet arrives in Saint-Marie as DI Mervyn Wilson, a fresh leading man for one of the nation’s favourite crime dramas. Wilson is more brusquely eccentric than his bumbling fish-out-of-water predecessors as he cracks a double Santa homicide.
Sunday 22 December, 8.30pm, BBC One
All Creatures Great and Small Christmas Special: All God’s Creatures
The cosy adaptation of James Herriot’s books reaches peak levels of twee for its Christmas edition, as all in Skeldale House prepare for the festivities and baby Jimmy’s first birthday. However, war is on the horizon and Mrs Hall (Anna Madeley) is taking the bleak outlook particularly hard.
Monday 23 December, 9pm, Channel 5
The Madame Blanc Mysteries: Christmas Special
In Saint Victoire, antiques expert and amateur sleuth Jean (Sally Lindsay) is called up to consult on a Christmas Eve assault involving a vintage Guignol hand puppet. Can she collar the right culprit while also keeping her fledgling romance with starry-eyed Dom (Steve Edge) under wraps?
Christmas Eve, 9.15pm, Channel 5
A Ghost Story for Christmas: Woman of Stone
Mark Gatiss brings another gothic festive fright from E Nesbit to the screen. Two newlyweds move to a quaint English village, but housekeeper Mrs Dorman stirs superstitions with the tale of two marble tomb effigies in the local church that are said to come to life every Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve, 10.15pm, BBC Two
The Serial Killer’s Wife
Swap the tinsel and good cheer for this juicy thriller adapted from Alice Hunter’s bestselling book. It follows seemingly perfect couple Beth (Annabel Scholey) and Tom (Jack Farthing), whose relationship is torn apart when the police come to arrest Tom for murder.
Boxing Day, 9.15pm, Channel 5
Outnumbered Christmas Special
The Brockmans are back, and you will spit out your Baileys when you see how grownup the kids now are. Sue and Peter (Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner, who are now a real-life couple) just want to get the family together again for Christmas – but it’s not as easy as that.
Boxing Day, 9.40pm, BBC One
Factual
Factual pick
The Heart of the Paris Games
Celine Dion’s triumphant return, literally on the Eiffel Tower. Super-swimmer Léon Marchand’s four gold medals. Raygun’s zero-point-scoring but internet-winning breakdancing. The Olympics provided the TV event of the summer. This two-part documentary by Jules and Gédéon Naudet invites us to relive the high drama, with behind-the-scenes footage of what went into making the 2024 games so special. Tuesday 17 December, 10pm, BBC Four
Jamie Cooks Christmas
Because it’s not a proper Christmas without some Jamie Oliver inspiration. The chef kicks off the kitchen action with a giant yorkshire pudding, served with smoked trout paté and red cabbage slaw. As well as a fresh take on the turkey main and his best ever roasties, Oliver creates a chestnut and brussels sprouts pie for the veggies. For dessert, it’s a mulled wine pear pavlova.
Out now, Channel 4
John Lewis at Christmas
All department stores gear up for Christmas, but John Lewis arguably more than any other – for many, their adverts have become an intrinsic part of the celebrations. This documentary covers the process behind the ads and much more; expect grottos, carefully sourced festive treats and decorations to die for.
Out now, Channel 4
The Horsemeat Scandal
It has been more than a decade since horse meat unfit for human consumption entered the supply chain, and supermarkets rushed to get products off their shelves. This documentary tells the stranger-than-fiction story of what happened, starting with detectives defrosting a warehouse of frozen “beef” to learn its real contents. Monday 16 December, 9pm, Sky Documentaries
Chernobyl, My Promised Land
“After all we’ve been through,” says Vadym, “I don’t mind a bit of radiation.” This fascinating, funny, poignant short documentary introduces the small and intrepid band of eastern Ukrainian refugees who have settled near Chornobyl. A story of struggle and resilience, shot through with large doses of pitch-black humour. Monday 16 December, 9.30pm, Sky Documentaries
Sports Personality of the Year
To Salford, where the BBC’s annual celebration of sport will be a Gary Lineker-free zone for the first time in years. Instead, Gabby Logan, Clare Balding and Alex Scott do the honours, to hand the award to one on a list that includes runner Keely Hodgkinson, darts prodigy Luke Littler and England’s leading Test run-scorer Joe Root.
Tuesday 17 December, 7pm, BBC One
Martin Lewis: How to Win at Board Games
Not satisfied with getting the nation more financially savvy, TV economics whiz Martin Lewis is now showing us all the ways to master family games night. A self-confessed board-game obsessive, Lewis will display the key tactics to win classics such as Connect 4 and Monopoly, with money lessons weaved in, too.
Tuesday 17 December, 8pm, ITV1
Hotel Chocolat at Christmas
There’s no such thing as “winding down for Christmas” for this luxury brand. Instead, as this documentary details, the seasonal aim is to sell some 50m individual chocolate products. This endeavour becomes most enchantingly Wonka-esque in the “inventing room”, where an alcoholic mint chocolate drink and a three-layered cranberry treat are among the temptations.
Tuesday 17 December, 9pm, Channel 4
Mary Makes Christmas
She turns 90 next year but Mary Berry is still at it with the help (or hindrance) of some celebrity friends. Oti Mabuse, Nick Grimshaw and Amanda Holden join the baker as she makes almond snowballs for Christmas cold-water swimmers, stocking-filler boozy apricots and ginger flapjacks that she takes to the RNLI carols celebration. Wednesday 18 December, 8pm, BBC One
Inside M&S at Christmas
Experimental Christmas sandwiches? This year, Marks & Spencer have got them. But how did it happen? This documentary goes behind the scenes of the high-street giant to explore the run-up to Christmas – there’s the opening of a brand new store, a snowing chocolate box and plenty of culinary research and development. Wednesday 18 December, 9pm, ITV1
The Dog House at Christmas
If you were wondering whether a show in which abandoned dogs are rehomed could become any more disgustingly cute then don’t worry: in festive circumstances, it very much can. Gigi the labrador meets the Griffiths family (including dad Dave, who is probably going to take some persuading). And Lady the spaniel who needs to overcome her shyness.
Wednesday 18 December, 9pm, Channel 4
Secrets of the Christmas Market
For the last two decades, no Christmas in Belfast has been complete without its impressive festive market at City Hall. For its 20th anniversary this year, the market is bigger than ever, and viewers can watch the well-trained team of 50 transform the empty grounds into a Dickensian winter wonderland in just a couple of weeks. Thursday 19 December, 8pm, Channel 4
For the Love of Dogs With Alison Hammond at Christmas
More cute canine action but, this time, wrapped in tinsel and Santa hats as Alison Hammond returns to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home to attend to further tales of doggy woe. Top of her to-do list is seven-month-old spaniel Holly, who arrived at the home seriously undernourished and in urgent need of an eye operation.
Thursday 19 December, 8.30pm, ITV1
Paul Simon: In Restless Dreams
One of the great American singer-songwriters welcomes director Alex Gibney into the studio during sessions for the 2023 album Seven Psalms. Those conversations punctuate an evocative biography otherwise woven from archive clips. Simon’s early years, meeting Art Garfunkel at school before becoming a jobbing writer and performer, are particularly rich.
Saturday 21 December, 9pm, Sky Documentaries
The Civil War
Ken Burns’s landmark documentary series was first released in the 1990s but it returns here in high definition, using more than 60,000 archival images, period art and newsreels to vividly tell the story of America’s conflict that cost 620,000 lives. First-hand accounts are brought to life by narrators.
Boxing Day, 1pm, PBS America
Expedition Killer Whale
A team of scientists visit Antarctica to learn more about killer whales – in particular, their mind-boggling hunting method of creating waves to wash seals off floating ice. In fact, the team have been keeping an eye out for one whale in particular they want to locate. And they’re hoping to find out so much more about the unexpectedly more sensitive side of orcas.
Boxing Day, 6pm, BBC Two
Entertainment
Entertainment pick
Wham! Last Christmas Unwrapped
Sorry to make you feel ancient but we’ve been sobbing into our mulled wines while swaying to Wham!’s Last Christmas for 40 years now. In this warming nostalgia-fest, Andrew Ridgeley heads on a pop pilgrimage to Switzerland and reunites with the team who helped make the hit, including Kathy Hill, the cold fish with the great perm who breaks George Michael’s heart in the video.
Out now, BBC iPlayer
Michael McIntyre’s 25th Year Stand-Up Special
Love him or loathe him, there’s no denying that McIntyre is one of our biggest comedians – he’s now been going at it for quarter of a decade! To celebrate, here is a recording of his latest standup show, Macnificent, in which one issue he takes up is how saying “sleep well” turns into “good luck” at bedtime after having kids. Saturday 14 December, 8.35pm, BBC One
Gino & Fred: Emission Impossible
Gino D’Acampo and Fred Sirieix are back in their first adventure sans the sweary chef, exploring eco-conscious travel amid the ominously melting glaciers of Austria and Croatia. They visit a snail farm and discover how meat production is contributing to the climate crisis.
Monday 16 December, 9pm, ITV1
Christmas on the Farm
Helen Skelton, JB Gill and Jules Hudson are back in South Yorkshire to shine a light on local festive traditions in food, crafts, music and more. Their Cannon Hall Farm hosts Rob and Dave Nicholson also return from a trip to Finland and decide to give the family tractor a seasonal glow-up.
Tuesday 17 December, 9pm, Channel 5
Live at the Apollo: Christmas Special
More standup fun as this late evening perennial continues. Dan Tiernan makes bracing comedy out of his sexuality and dyspraxia while John Kearns mines the everyday for humour and wonder, touching on everything from daytime TV to boiled potatoes. Judi Love is our compere for the night.
Tuesday 17 December, 9.45pm, BBC Two
Stacey Solomon’s Crafty Christmas
Festive hacks and money savers galore from the ever helpful and engaging Stacey Solomon. In this festive special, she’ll be creating a winter wonderland in her grandma Gwen’s residential home in order to give the residents a taste of Christmas, and viewers a few ideas about how to elevate their own small-ish spaces.
Wednesday 18 December, 9pm, BBC One
The Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas Special
Celebrities can’t generally bake, sing or survive in the jungle, but can they sew? Sara Pascoe puts four to the test – H from Steps, EastEnders’ Kellie Bright, comedian Fatiha El Ghorri and reality star Charlotte Crosby – with challenges including a cosy onesie. Thursday 19 December, 9pm, BBC One
First Dates at Christmas
Is it ever a good idea to wear a Christmas jumper on a first date? Judge for yourself as Fred Sirieix and his troupe of matchmakers strive to ensure things go smoothly for their anxious guests. The heartwarming highlights include a gift exchange turned saucy fashion show that makes hospitality-pro Cici blush.
Thursday 19 December, 9pm, Channel 4
Miracles
The magician known to his mum as Steven but to the world as Dynamo returns. It’s hard to know where he can go after last year’s terrifying stunt in which he was apparently buried alive. It seems the answer is back to his roots: he will be out and about, stunning passersby with his undeniably startling sleight-of-hand. But expect a death-defying finale.
Thursday 19 December, 9pm, Sky Max
Country Music Christmas
With its endless potential for everything to go stilts-up, Christmas lends itself perfectly to a genre marinated in heartbreak. Big country names belt out festive classics, including co-hosts Amy Grant and Trisha Yearwood’s Santa Claus Is Coming to Town in authentic Nashville style.
Friday 20 December, 9.05pm, BBC Four
Charlie Cooper’s Myth Country: Winter Solstice
A festive special with a decidedly pagan twist as This Country star Charlie Cooper embarks on another gentle but earnest investigation of the ancient myths and rituals that underpin Britain’s calendar. Charlie is a little disillusioned with modern attitudes to Christmas, so he explores everything from a barrel-burning festival in Devon to a morris dancing event in Surrey.
Friday 20 December, 10pm, BBC Three
The Graham Norton Show
It’s not just the individuals sitting on the sofa who matter, but how they interact. Look out for any rivalry between Hollywood heartthrobs Timothée Chalamet (playing Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown) and Andrew Garfield, promoting his new romantic drama We Live in Time. Plus, Icelandic artist Laufey performs her new single, Christmas Magic.
Friday 20 December, 10.40pm, BBC One
Katy Perry: Night of a Lifetime
An evening with Katy Perry is the gift nobody asked for following that massive stinker of a comeback single, Woman’s World, earlier this year. But there will still be some pop classics (Firework, Roar) as she takes to the stage at Central Hall Westminster. Saturday 21 December, 6.30pm, ITV1
Strictly Come Dancing: 20 Fabulous Years
From Natasha Kaplinsky’s first victory through to Ann Widdecombe’s unforgettable rumba and John Sergeant’s dragging paso doble, there’s no denying Strictly has provided some top telly moments over the last two decades. Now Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman celebrate their beloved show. Saturday 21 December, 7pm, BBC One
Eurythmics at the BBC
A rummage through the archives produces a good hour and a half of performances by Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, as a 1980s pop duo who ably balanced unit-shifting tunes with a splash of the avant garde. So begins a Lennox theme night that includes a whole 1989 edition of The Late Show.
Saturday 21 December, 8.25pm, BBC Two
Meet the Richardsons
When Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont announced their separation in April, it also meant the end of this oddball mockumentary. This two-parter takes us on a final visit to Hebden Bridge, with clips from the series interspersed with spoofy celebrity reflections and a few bloopers, before time is called for good at the Dog and Bastard. Saturday 21 December, 11pm, U&Dave
Alpine Train at Christmas
Hugh Bonneville narrates a seasonal Alpine journey from Chur in Switzerland to Tirano in Italy. Along the way, there are many glorious sights to see, including the majestic Morteratsch Glacier and the architectural miracle that is the Landwasser Viaduct.
Sunday 22 December, 7pm, Channel 4
Inside No 9: The Party’s Over
Now that it has finished, the world has realised what an astounding feat of sustained storytelling brilliance Inside No 9 was. Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton’s genius is unpacked at length in this enjoyable documentary, which speaks to some of the show’s many stars.
Sunday 22 December, 9pm, BBC Two
Christmas University Challenge
The traditional festive boffin wars commence as famous alumni from various British universities battle for supremacy. All corners of the academic landscape will face Amol Rajan’s grilling with familiar TV faces including Mobeen Azhar, Mark Urban and Emma Sidi.
Monday 23 December, 8.30pm, BBC Two
The Hairy Bikers: You’ll Never Ride Alone
In this heart-tugging documentary, Si King reflects on his best memories of fellow Hairy Biker Dave Myers, who died of cancer in February this year. We also follow the Dave Day tribute convoy he led in June for charity, which was King’s last ride as an HB after 20 years.
Monday 23 December, 9pm, BBC Two
The Big Quiz: Corrie v Emmerdale
The annual cobbles v cowpats grudge match has a new host: ex-Corrie star Sally Lindsay. Boisterous team captains Jack P Shepherd (now a 25-year Weatherfield veteran) and Mark Charnock (custodian of the fabled “Dingle Welly”) clearly enjoy amping up the rivalry.
Monday 23 December, 9pm, ITV1
The Great Christmas Bake Off
Traditionally, nobody does Christmas Day showstoppers like the soaps. So it makes perfect sense for EastEnders’ Natalie Cassidy and Dean Gaffney, Emmerdale’s Chris Bisson and Sheree Murphy, and Corrie’s Shobna Gulati to compete in the tent – while Paul Hollywood dons the Santa suit.
Christmas Eve, 8pm, Channel 4
The Repair Shop Christmas Special
A turbulent year for this BBC staple ends with some festive fix-ups. There’s a pair of huge fibre-glass puffins which have dominated the Christmas decorations of a children’s bookshop for years, and a magic lantern projector that has been at the heart of a family’s seasonal traditions.
Christmas Eve, 8.15pm, BBC One
Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Christmas Fishing
To picture-postcard south-west France, where the duo (and Ted the dog) fish for enormous carp and reflect on another year, amid some special video messages. And, within an already perfect show, one of the loveliest asides you’ll hear on TV all year: “It’s going to be a good day, Bob. Because it’s with you.”
Christmas Eve, 9.15pm, BBC Two
The Piano at Christmas
Claudia Winkleman invites standout stars from the heartfelt competition’s second series to grace the keys of the piano at Battersea Power Station. Along with winter classics such as Walking in the Air and O Holy Night, listen out for the Beatles as played by judges Mika and Lang Lang.
Christmas Day, 7.05pm, Channel 4
From Roger Moore With Love
A fun tribute to Alan Partridge’s favourite Bond is imbued with cheesy ripeness by Steve Coogan’s narration. As charmed as Moore’s life might seem – Joan Collins went “weak at the knees” upon meeting him – he experienced his share of setbacks, too. As Frank Sinatra put it: “One hell of a classy guy.”
Christmas Day, 9.05pm, BBC Two
Blankety Blank Christmas Special
A festive version of this cheerful reboot of the classic 70s gameshow, now presented by Bradley Walsh. The rubbish prizes are by now a standing joke (a pair of penny farthings?) and celebrity panellists include Oti Mabuse and Jonathan Ross.
Boxing Day, 9pm, BBC One
Family
Family pick
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
It’s the return of TV’s wickedest villain: Feathers McGraw, the penguin who was last seen being locked away for trying to steal a diamond in The Wrong Trousers. In this new Wallace and Gromit adventure, the inventor duo are trialling a “smart gnome” called Norbot. But when Feathers is released from jail and seeks revenge, Norbot suddenly starts causing some serious mischief in the village – so surely there is a connection? Peter Kay, Diane Morgan and Lenny Henry star.
Christmas Day, 6.10pm, BBC One
Matthew Bourne’s Edward Scissorhands
Tim Burton’s eccentric tale is in safe hands as renowned choreographer Matthew Bourne brings it to life on stage as a ballet. It features the original music of Danny Elfman, as the shy boy with scissors for hands is invited to live with a suburban family.
Sunday 22 December, 5pm, Sky Arts
Junior Taskmaster
Twenty-five kids have taken part in ludicrous challenges over five heats and two semis, and it’s all come down to this: the Junior Taskmaster grand final (and the chance to win a gold bust of Rose Matafeo’s head). Get ready for headless chickens and eating olives out of dustbins.
Monday 23 December, 7pm, Channel 4
Christmas at LaplandUK
It’s Christmas all year round for the Battle family, who’ve spent 15 years transforming their corner of a Berkshire forest into LaplandUK. Let this behind-the-scenes glimpse banish all thoughts of tinsel-adorned car parks and ciggie-smoking elves. This is elite Christmas entertainment!
Monday 23 December, 8pm, Channel 4
Doctor Who at the Proms 2024
A magical must-watch for Who fans: Catherine Tate introduces music from the show performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. The Prom also features a new short film by Russell T Davies, Pantheon of Discord, starring Ncuti Gatwa. Christmas Eve, 4.10pm, BBC Two
Tiddler
A delightful animated adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s underwater adventure about a little fish whose imagination runs wild. Hannah Waddingham leads a top cast including Rob Brydon, Lolly Adefope and Jayde Adams.
Christmas Day, 2.35pm, BBC One
Doctor Who: Joy to the World
Why is the 15th Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) bursting through random doorways throughout history trying to deliver a ham-and-cheese toastie with a pumpkin latte? The secrets of the mysterious Time Hotel will be revealed in this rollicking festive special co-starring Nicola Coughlan.
Christmas Day, 5.10pm, BBC One
The Masked Singer: Christmas Special
Nutcracker, Turkey Crown, Star and Cracker – that’s your Christmas serving of celebrities in fancy dress belting out tunes this year. Joel Dommett will host events, while Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders are the guest judges.
Boxing Day, 7.30pm, ITV1
