What To Watch This Christmas
MONDAY 23RD
The Hairy Bikers: You’ll Never Ride Alone, BBC TWO
This heartfelt documentary sees Si King reflect on his fondest memories of longtime friend and fellow Hairy Biker Dave Myers, who passed away from cancer in February. It follows the lead-up to the emotional 'Dave Day' tribute convoy in June – King’s final ride as a Hairy Biker after 20 unforgettable years. With tales of great food, friendship and life on the open road, it’s a moving celebration of Dave’s legacy. The journey ends with Si and Dave’s wife, Lili Myers, completing the ride from London to Dave’s hometown of Barrow-in-Furness.
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CHRISTMAS EVE
A Ghost Story for Christmas: Woman of Stone, BBC TWO
Writer and actor Mark Gatiss (Sherlock) has adapted another gothic festive tale from E Nesbit. Newlyweds Jack and Laura move to a quaint English village, where housekeeper Mrs Dorman stirs up local superstitions with a chilling story. The legend claims two marble tomb effigies in the village church come to life every Christmas Eve, and now the fateful night is drawing near…
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The Great Christmas Bake Off, Channel 4
There’s a tasty treat on the horizon – this year’s Great Christmas Bake Off special. Hosted by Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond, with Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood back on judging duty, the festive edition will see five soap stars stepping into the tent. Swapping scripts for spatulas are EastEnders’ Dean Gaffney, Emmerdale’s and Hollyoaks’ Sheree Murphy and Coronation Street’s Shobna Gulati. Joining them are EastEnders’ Natalie Cassidy and Chris Bisson of Corrie and Emmerdale fame. Expect festive bakes, big laughs and plenty of Christmas chaos.
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CHRISTMAS DAY
Doctor Who: Joy To The World, BBC ONE
Joy to the World marks Steven Moffat’s 50th script for Doctor Who — and it’s set to be a cracker. When Joy stumbles upon a secret doorway to the Time Hotel, she’s thrown into a world of danger, dinosaurs and the Doctor. With a deadly plot threatening Earth just in time for Christmas, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Ncuti Gatwa returns as the Doctor, joined by girl-of-the-moment Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton, Derry Girls) as his new companion.
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Gavin & Stacey: The Final, BBC ONE
The comedy special fans have been waiting for – ever since the 2019 Gavin & Stacey Christmas episode – is finally here. The series will come to an end with one last 90-minute instalment, catching up with the much-loved characters. Set in the present day, it shows how married life is treating Gavin (Mathew Horne) and Stacey (Joanna Page), while we check in with their families in Billericay and Barry. Of course, the big question is what happened to Nessa (Ruth Jones) and Smithy (James Corden) after that cliffhanger...
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Tiddler
Looking for a sweet Christmas Day animation for the kids? You’re not alone. Last year’s Tabby McTat – the story of a busker and his cat – attracted 8.6 million viewers. This year, it’s Tiddler. Based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved book, this charming underwater adventure follows a little fish with a big imagination. The cast features Hannah Waddingham, Rob Brydon, Lolly Adefope and Jayde Adams. When Tiddler gets lost in the ocean, it’s his own storytelling that saves him.
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Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, BBC
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a Strictly special and a battle for the Silver Star trophy. Last year, EastEnders' Jamie Borthwick and Nancy Xu claimed victory, but this time, it’s anyone’s game. The full line-up for this year’s festive episode includes comedian Josh Widdicombe, EastEnders legend Tamzin Outhwaite, presenter Vogue Williams, drag star Tayce, Gladiators’ Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and racing driver Billy Monger.
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BOXING DAY
Squid Game Season Two, Netflix
Perfect for the Boxing Day slump, the long-awaited second series of Squid Game is finally here. Three years after the Korean phenomenon took the world by storm, the new season picks up where the explosive finale left off. A hardened Gi-Hun (Lee Jung-jae) – Player 456 – returns to the deadly arena with one goal: to bring down Squid Game for good. Standing in his way is the enigmatic Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), whose true motives remain as murky as ever.
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The Serial Killer’s Wife, Channel 5
If all the Christmas cheer gets a bit much, Channel 5’s gripping new thriller could be just the antidote. Based on Alice Hunter’s bestselling novel, it follows 'perfect' couple Beth (Annabel Scholey – The Split, Rivals) and Tom (Jack Farthing – Poldark, Spencer) as their world is shattered when Tom is arrested for murder.
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Outnumbered Christmas Special, BBC ONE
If you need a break from your own family this Christmas, why not drop in on the Brockmans? Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner are back, and the kids are all grown up (it’s been a while). This time, Pete and Sue are navigating the chaos of parenting adult children with lives of their own. But with fate, nosy neighbours, rogue hyenas and bus replacement services to contend with, things are far from smooth sailing.
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How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies
Thailand’s Oscar submission How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies has shattered attendance records across southeast Asia and won the Audience Award at New York’s Asian Film Festival. After his grandmother is diagnosed with cancer, a scheming young man moves in to care for her, hoping to secure her fortune. But winning Grandma’s favour proves far harder than he anticipated. Starring pop idol Putthipong ‘Billkin’ Assaratanakul alongside 78-year-old Usha ‘Taew’ Seamkhum, this poignant drama carries a timeless message about valuing those we love before it's too late.
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Better Man
Robbie Williams is 50 – a far cry from the 90s pop star who skyrocketed from Take That to solo fame. Instead of casting a younger actor for Better Man, director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) opts for something different: a CGI chimpanzee. Arriving this Boxing Day, Better Man offers a fresh take on the music biopic. Forget the usual rags-to-riches stories – this is a surreal, fact-meets-fantasy journey through Robbie’s unpredictable career. It’s an unexpected move, but one that feels fitting for a star who’s always done things his own way.
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SUNDAY 29TH
The Split, BBC
After a long wait, writer Abi Morgan's hit legal drama The Split is back with a sun-soaked two-part special. The entire cast returns, alongside some fresh faces, for a weekend full of reunions, romance, and perhaps a few break-ups, as Hannah (Nicola Walker) grapples with the idea of finding love again. Against the backdrop of a stunning destination wedding in Catalonia's wine region, themes of love, marriage and legacy take centre stage.
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NEW YEAR’S EVE
Jools’ Annual Hootenanny, BBC
Staying in this New Year’s Eve? Don’t miss Jools Holland’s Annual Hootenanny. Stay up late with a star-studded line-up, featuring Jools’ Rhythm and Blues Orchestra alongside Kathy Sledge, Roger Taylor, JADE, Paul Carrack, Marc Almond and The Boomtown Rats.
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Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s New Year’s Eve Disco, BBC
Looking for something livelier this New Year’s Eve? Pop queen Sophie Ellis-Bextor is bringing disco fever to BBC One with a one-off special. After a sensational year of sold-out tours, festival appearances and the viral return of ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’, Sophie is set to cap it all off with Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s New Year’s Eve Disco. Following in the footsteps of Rick Astley and past stars like Sam Ryder and Alicia Keys, Sophie will light up the night with energy and fun – and while her guests are still under wraps, we’re sure they’ll be epic.
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NEW YEAR’S DAY
Missing You, Netflix
If you’re a fan of mystery and thrillers, you’ll know Harlan Coben as the master of the genre. Following hit shows like Shelter, Fool Me Once, Safe and The Stranger, he’s back with a gripping new Netflix series, Missing You. The story follows Detective Kat Donovan, whose fiancé Josh – the love of her life – vanished without a trace 11 years ago. While scrolling a dating app, his face suddenly appears, turning her world upside down. As she searches for answers, Kat is drawn into the unresolved mystery of her father’s murder, unearthing secrets long buried. It stars Rosalind Eleazar (Slow Horses, Harlots), Ashley Walters (Top Boy, Bulletproof), Jessica Plummer (EastEnders, The Decameron) and Richard Armitage (Fool Me Once, Obsession).
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Don't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever, Netflix
As the New Year rolls in, many of us think about starting a health kick – but few take it as far as Bryan Johnson. How far would you go to live forever – or at least slow down ageing? Don't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever offers a fascinating glimpse into the extreme lengths one man will go to stay young. Directed by Chris Smith (Fyre, 100 Foot Wave), this documentary gives intimate access to Johnson’s controversial wellness regime, and explores the impact of his quest for eternal youth on himself and those around him.
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The Traitors, BBC
Great news – The Traitors returns for its third series on New Year's Day. Hosted by the ever-popular Claudia Winkleman, this thrilling, award-winning reality show brings together a fresh group of strangers, each vying for a shot at £120,000 in a game of lies, loyalty and betrayal. With new faces and even bigger twists, who will make it to the end?
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SAS: Rogue Heroes, BBC
SAS Rogue Heroes is back with a bang this New Year’s Day on BBC, and season two promises even more high-stakes action. With Jack O'Connell, Sex Education's Connor Swindells and The Crown's Dominic West leading the charge, the story heads to mainland Europe in spring 1943. Created by Peaky Blinders mastermind Steven Knight, this adrenaline-fuelled saga dives deeper into the fearless, reckless origins of the Special Forces unit forged in the chaos of WWII.
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THURSDAY 2nd
Lockerbie: A Search For Truth, SKY
Sky’s new drama Lockerbie: A Search for Truth revisits the 1988 tragedy through the eyes of Dr Jim Swire (Colin Firth), whose daughter Flora was among the 270 lives lost when Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed. Driven by grief, Jim becomes the voice of the UK victims’ families, leading a tireless quest for justice that pushes his family, faith and belief in the system to the brink. As political divides deepen and unsettling truths surface, his world is changed forever.
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