The ultimate Christmas 2024 TV guide
Christmas is a time to relax, unwind and – let’s be honest – watch quite a lot of telly. After all, with the Great British weather, there are few things more enticing over the festive period than snuggling up on the sofa with something great on the box.
That’s why we’ve compiled a Christmas TV guide of this year’s must-watch TV specials, so you can relax in the knowledge you're not missing anything. From regular favourites like Call the Midwife and Strictly Come Dancing to the year's most-anticipated sitcom return, prepare to be spoilt for choice…
If you’re after a laugh...
Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special
9pm, Christmas Day, BBC One
The final ever episode of James Corden and Ruth Jones’ iconic sitcom will pick up five years after the last special’s cliffhanger. Did Smithy accept Nessa’s proposal? How are Pam and Mick getting along now he’s retired? Are Pete and Dawn still bickering non stop? Expect plenty of giggles (and maybe a few tears) as we bid the gang goodbye.
Outnumbered Christmas Special
9:40pm, Boxing Day, BBC One
Another old favourite returns as we catch up with the Brockman family: Pete, Sue, and their three fully grown-up children. In a moment of adversity, the parents decide to get the whole brood (including one grandchild) back together for a traditional Christmas. But fate, neighbours, hyenas and bus replacement services mean, as always with the Brockman clan, the whole thing isn’t straightforward.
Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
6:10pm, Christmas Day, BBC One
Wallace & Gromit return in the franchise’s first new film in 16 years, which sees Wallace and his pre-programmed smart gnome, Norbot, suspected of stealing garden goods. While Wallace proclaims his innocence, it’s up to Gromit once again to battle sinister forces, or else Wallace will never invent again.
Cunk on Life
9pm, 30th December, BBC Two
Pioneering documentary-maker Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan) returns with her most ambitious quest to date: seeking to find the meaning of life. ‘As we cling to our dying planet,’ the synopsis reads, ‘working round the clock while we’re slowly being replaced by machines, now more than ever, people are desperately looking to make sense of their lives – before someone invents a computer that makes sense of it for them.’ Prepare for lots of silliness and LOLs.
If you’re feeling hungry...
Mary Makes Christmas
8pm, 18th December, BBC One
Everyone's favourite kitchen whizz Dame Mary Berry is joined by Amanda Holden, Oti Mabuse and Nick Grimshaw to create delicious gifts for family and friends this Christmas. Left gifts to the last minute? This is for you...
Great British Bake Off Christmas Special
8pm, Christmas Eve, Channel 4
Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood will return to the tent to judge a team of soap stars’ baking efforts. Eastenders’ Dean Gaffney and Natalie Cassidy, Emmerdale’s Sheree Murphy and Coronation Street’s Shobna Gulati and Chris Bisson will take on the signature, technical and showstopper challengers in an attempt to be named Christmas star baker.
If you fancy a classic...
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special
3:55pm, Christmas Day, BBC One
By Christmas, we’ll already know who’s lifted the regular glitterball, but you can whet your Strictly appetite once more with the annual Christmas special. This year’s line-up includes Tamzin Outhwaite, Vogue Williams and Josh Widdicombe, who’ll each compete with one of the pros in an effort to win the Christmas glitterball.
Gladiators Christmas Special
6pm, New Year's Day, BBC One
TV presenter Joel Dommett, comedians Rob Beckett and Ellie Taylor, and broadcaster Louise Minchin will face the Gladiators in a celebrity special. The famous four will first battle the 16 superhuman athletes, before finally taking on each other in the gruelling Eliminator obstacle course.
Call the Midwife Christmas Special
8pm, Christmas Day and 7:30pm, Boxing Day, BBC One
Call the Midwife is a Christmas staple, but this is the first year the special will be split across two 60-minute episodes, rather than the usual 90-minute format. Plot details are being kept firmly under wraps, but we do know Helen George hasn’t officially left the show, so Trixie may well return from New York for a surprise appearance.
Doctor Who Christmas Special
5:10pm, Christmas Day, BBC One
Ncuti Gatwa returns as doctor for this year’s Christmas special, which also stars Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan. Showrunner Russell T Davies says: ‘I can't give away much more but work has begun on it already, and it's mad, it's 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.’
7:30pm and 10:35pm, Christmas Day, BBC One
Every year, EastEnders writers save the big drama for the big day, and 2024's Christmas special is no exception. The shocking affair between Cindy Beale and her former stepson Junior Knight will be spectacularly exposed, and there’s more stress for Watford Square favourites Denise Cox and Phil Mitchell.
If you want a singalong...
Wham! Last Christmas Unwrapped
Streaming now on BBC iPlayer
Marking 40 years since Wham’s iconic Christmas track was released, this documentary will feature Andrew Ridgeley, Pepsi and Shirlie and archive footage of George Michael to reveal how the song and video came to be.
Mariah Meets Rylan
Streaming now on BBC iPlayer
Filmed in location in LA, Grammy-winning artist and Christmas queen Mariah Carey tells Rylan all about her life, career and (of course) the making of her classic hit All I Want for Christmas Is You, as it celebrates its 30th anniversary. Straight after, the channel will air a compilation of her performances, Mariah Carey at the BBC, so get your vocal chords ready.
If you want to test your brains..
The 1% Club Christmas Special
9pm, Boxing Day, ITV1
Lee Mack will return with his compulsive knowledge quiz, as 100 contestants compete to win up to £100,000. The festive twist? All the questions will have something to do with Christmas.
The Masked Singer Christmas Special
7:30pm, Christmas Day, ITV1
The Masked Singer returns with a seasonal one-off of everyone’s favourite guessing game, with four celebrities competing undercover in elaborate, Christmas themed outfits. Hosted once again by Joel Dommett, the panel of Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, Mo Gilligan and Maya Jama will be putting their detective skills to the test.
The Chase Celebrity Christmas Special
8pm, Christmas Day, ITV1
The Chase will air two Christmas specials this festive season, both seeing four celebs take on the iconic chasers (in fancy dress, of course). Will the famous faces manage to secure the cash for their chosen charities, or be sent home empty handed?
