A full guide to this year’s Christmas TV

By Felicity Gardner, Second Year, Physics

With new adaptations of Watership Down and Les Misérables to look forward amidst the usual rabble of Christmas specials, the Christmas break is the perfect time to spend glued to your parents’ sofa.

December has arrived, and with it the Christmas season which means it’s time for garish decorations, Michael Buble, over eating, and - of course - a selection of the must see Christmas TV and films.

One of the joys of the TV season is the festive specials. On Christmas Day itself you can see a new episode of Call the Midwife at 7.45pm (BBC1), setting up the eighth series that will follow soon after. The episode will guest star Miriam Margolyes, as one of the sisters who appears in the Order’s headquarter, and is rumoured to appear later in the series.

You can follow this with family favourite Mrs Browns Boys at 10.15pm (BBC1). This year you can see Jodie Whittaker’s first Christmas as the Doctor, the episode airing on New Year’s Day rather than Christmas, for the first time since 2005.

If it’s reality TV you’re craving, you won’t be left unsatisfied. We’ve already seen the Love Island Christmas Special on ITV2. But your Christmas Day dreams will come true when a fairytale themed Strictly episode, featuring six former contestants including Ann Widdecombe, airs at 5.30pm on BBC1. On Channel 4 you can have some wholesome joy with an episode of First Dates at 9.15pm, with all the romance that Christmas brings. It is preceded by an episode of Great British Bake Off at 8pm, which also has a special episode on New Year’s Day.

If you’re looking for laughs in the build up to Christmas Not Going Out (BBC1) has a live show on December 21 and if you need any reason to watch, just read this quote from the star Lee Mack: ‘Live episode of a BBC1 sitcom… what could possibly go wrong? Loads. Which, let’s be honest, is why you sadists will be watching. So don’t miss out on seeing me end my career.’

A packed Christmas Day also sees David Mitchell in tights as Shakespeare and Sir Kenneth Branagh guest star in Upstart Crow at 8.35pm (BBC2), as they retell A Christmas Carol, which is sure to be hilarious.

A remake of the ‘60s comedy film Click and Collect will be making its way to BBC1 on December 23. Starring Stephen Merchant and Asim Chaudhry it’s sure to be fun and heartwarming, with the plot revolving around saving Christmas by finding the perfect toy in time.

Building up to Christmas, Mary Berry combines Christmas food with entertainment in two separate shows on BBC. In Mary Berry’s Christmas Party she cooks classic dishes with celebrity guests, including flirting with Huw Edwards from BBC News (available now on iPlayer after airing on December 18). In Country House at Christmas she will explore the history of stately homes across the UK through food. If you want to watch more food this Christmas, Bake Off star Nadiya Hussain shares her favourite party dishes on Nadiya’s Party Feast (available on iPlayer, originally aired December 17).

Around Christmas time, the BBC is also releasing some festive documentaries. The Spy in the... series continues with Spy in the Snow with hidden cameras capturing life in unforgiving frozen habitats. The episode is narrated by David Tennant and airs December 30. The Snow Wolf: A Winter's Tale will bring the joy of new life to Christmas, with a wolf travelling while giving birth to and protecting six of her children on December 27.

While real-life family drama is never fun at Christmas, watching drama on TV is. This year provides us with a non-musical adaptation of Les Misérables, written by Andrew Davies, the screenwriter behind adaptations of Pride and Prejudice (1995) and War and Peace (2016). With a star studded cast including Olivia Colman, David Oyelowo, Dominic West and Lily Collins this is not one to miss, it airs on December 30 on BBC1. Agatha Christie’s famous detective, Hercule Poirot will also feature on BBC1 in ABC Murders from December 26. The new series of Black Mirror will also be coming to Netflix on December 28.

What’s better than watching a family drama or a kids film with your younger siblings this Christmas? This year, BBC and Netflix have produced Watership Down with an incredible cast including - but in no way limited to - John Boyega, James McAvoy and Gemma Arterton. The series will premiere on BBC1 on December 22 and the full series will be on Netflix on Christmas Day. The BBC have also produced an animated film, Zog, a story about a princess who would much rather be a doctor (Christmas Day, 4.50pm, BBC1).

If it’s Christmas films you’re after then classics such as Arthur Christmas (2011), Nativity! (2009), Love Actually (2003) and more can be found on Netflix. Amazon Prime are reminding us they still exist this Christmas with offerings such as The Holiday (2006) and Nativity 3: Dude, Where’s My Donkey? (2014).

If you don’t buy into the subscription services then you can watch A Christmas Carol (2009) on BBC 1 (December 23, 1.30pm). Channel 4 have huge selection of family favourites including A Miracle on 34th Street (1994) on Christmas Eve, 6pm, and The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) on Christmas Day, 1.40pm. ITV don’t disappoint either with How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) being shown on Christmas Eve, 1.05pm, and Love Actually (2003) on Christmas Day, 11.15pm.

All in all it’s looking like a wonderful Christmas of TV festivities.

Featured Image: Facebook / Call the Midwife

What will you be watching Christmas Day?

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