Though our mileage with Christmas may vary (personally mine’s all the way to space and back, but you may well refuse to even back out of the car park), we can all agree on one good thing about this time of year: television. Not the deeply un-special Christmas specials in which Gregg Wallace walks around a mince pie factory with a bit of holly pinned to his lapel, but the actual good stuff: a brand new episode of Ghosts for example, a new Terry Pratchett family animation, a creepy M.R. James ghost story from Mark Gatiss…etcetera.
Below is a selection of our top five highlights plus a bunch of recommendations that will be updated as the Christmas TV schedules are confirmed. Get the central heating on and open a tin of Roses, ‘tis the season.
HIGHLIGHTS
1. Doctor Who New Year’s Day Special
The first of three Doctor Who specials airing in 2022, the New Year’s Day episode was written by Chris Chibnall and directed by Annetta Laufer and promises to see the Doctor “encounter friends and foes (new and old) in an action-packed, thrilling adventure”. Guest stars joining Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor this time around include Aisling Bea (This Way Up), Adjani Salmon (Dreaming Whilst Black), andPauline McLynn (Father Ted, Gameface).
Air date: Saturday 1st January 2022, BBC One.
2. Ghosts Christmas Special
Button House returns after last year’s gloriously cockle-warming festive special for another, which sees Alison, Mike and the ghosts at Christmastime dealing with a mysterious visitor to the grounds whom Kitty is convinced is more than he seems. Funny, daft, good-hearted and always a must-watch.
Air date: TBC, BBC One
3. The Mezzotint
Mark Gatiss continues his string of M.R. James ghost stories for Christmas adaptations with this 1920s tale of a university museum curator and the horrific story he sees unfolding in a 19th century mezzotint image. The cast is top, and includes Rory Kinnear (No Time to Die, Years & Years), Robert Bathurst (Doctor Who: Flux, Downton Abbey, Toast of London)and Doctor Who’s Frances Barber.
Air date: TBC, BBC Two
4. Terry Pratchett’s The Abominable Snow Baby
Now an annual treat, this year’s Channel 4 animation following on from The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Quentin Blake’s Clown is Terry Pratchett’s The Abominable Snow Baby. It’s adapted from Pratchett‘s collection of festive short stories for children, Father Christmas’ Fake Beard and tells the story of a 14-foot interloper to a small village which is taught to overcome its suspicion by the love and good sense of a little boy and his grandmother. Julie Walters, Hugh Dancy and David Harewood provide the voices.
Air date: TBC, Channel 4
5. Taskmaster Festive Special
At the time of writing, it’s unclear whether this is going to be the long-anticipated second Champion of Champions special episode (featuring the winners from series six to ten: Ed Gamble, Lou Sanders, Kerry Godliman, Liza Tarbuck and Richard Herring) OR the speculative second New Year Treat featuring five brand new famous faces. Whatever it turns out to be, it’s one of our highlights because few comedy shows are as reliably daft and enjoyable as Taskmaster.
Air date: TBC, Channel 4
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DRAMA
Around the World in Eighty Days
An eight-part adaptation of Jules Verne’s famous globe-trotting book starring David Tennant in the lead role. Air date: TBC, BBC One.
A Very British Scandal
Agatha Christie-adapter extraordinaire Sarah Phelps is behind this three-part drama starring Claire Foy and Paul Bettany, inspired by the true story of the scandalous divorce of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll. Air date: TBC, BBC One.
The Girl Before
Gugu Mbatha-Raw and David Oyelowo star in this four-part thriller adapted from a bestselling JP Delaney novel about a traumatised woman, a minimalist house and a creepy architect. Air date: TBC, BBC One.
The Tourist
Jamie Dornan plays an amnesiac in Australia in the latest thriller from Harry and Jack Williams, the creators of The Missing, Rellik and more. Air date: TBC, BBC One.
CHILDREN’S
A Boy Called Christmas
A film adaptation of Matt Haig’s festive bestseller featuring Dame Maggie Smith, Kristen Wiig, Jim Broadbent and more. Air date: Out now on Sky Cinema.
Beauty and the Beast: A Comic Relief Pantomime for Christmas
Last year, they did a star-studded version of Cinderella on Zoom, this year, it’s Beauty and the Beast. Air date: TBC, BBC Two.
Christmas Lectures from The Royal Institution
England’s Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van Tam and pals explain the science of viruses. Air date: TBC, BBC Four.
Hansel and Gretel: After Ever After
David Walliams is back with another Sky pantomime. Air date: TBC, Sky Max.
Robin Robin
A new half-hour special from Aardman Animations about a young robin raised by a family of mice. Air date: Out now on Netflix.
Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas
A festive edition of the Aardman series. Air date: December 3rd (Netflix), TBC (BBC)
Superworm
The Julia Donaldson/Axel Scheffler animations continue on the BBC, this one featuring Matt Smith, Olivia Colman and Rob Brydon in the voice cast. Air date: TBC, BBC One.
The Night Before Christmas
CBeebies’ festive show, featuring Justin Fletcher and more. Air date: TBC, BBC One.
Worzel Gummidge
Following the Bonfire Night special are two new episodes of Mackenzie Crook’s scarecrow stories, featuring guest star Bill Bailey. Air date: TBC, BBC One.
COMEDY
The Spitting Image Christmas Special
The satirical show returns fresh from its second series for a festive special including puppet-y takes on Prince Andrew, Tom Cruise, Keir Starmer, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Rishi Sunak. Air date: Thursday 2nd December (Britbox), TBC (ITV)
Not Going Out
Lee Mack’s sitcom delivers the latest in a long line of Christmas specials, this one panto-themed and featuring a guest appearance by Lucy’s teenage crush, Jason Donovan. Air date: TBC, BBC One
Ray and Gaynor
Gavin and Stacy’s Ruth Jones and Rob Brydon star in a one-off half-hour comedy special. Air date: TBC.
Two Doors Down Christmas Special
A pre-Christmas get-together on Latimer Crescent turns fraught in this BBC Two comedy. Air date: TBC.
We Wish You a Mandy Christmas
A new 16-minute festive instalment of Diane Morgan’s self-written and directed comedy. Air date: TBC, BBC iPlayer.
ENTERTAINMENT
A Christmas Number One
Freida Pinto and Iwan Rheon star in an original film about a musician whose seriously ill niece wishes for him to get a Christmas number one. Air date: TBC, Sky Cinema.
Last Train to Christmas
Michael Sheen, Nathalie Emmanuel and Cary Elwes star in an original festive fantasy about a music exec on a train home for Christmas that takes him through his past. Air date: 18th Dec, Sky Cinema
Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Christmas Fishing
More good-hearted, daft fun with Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse. Air date: TBC, BBC Two.
Never Mind the Buzzcocks Christmas Special
Greg Davies hosts the revamped music quiz, with Daisy May-Cooper and Jamali Maddix. Air date: TBC, Sky Max.
Only Connect Christmas Special
Torturously tough quizzing hosted by Victoria Coren-Mitchell. Air date: TBC, BBC Two.
QI Christmas Special
They’ve reached ‘S’ for Sandi Toksvig, Sally Phillips, Joe Ly-sett and er, Bonnie Langford. Air date: TBC, BBC Tw
The Great Christmas Bake-Off
The cast of It’s a Sin compete in a one-off special, followed by The Great Festive Bake-Off featuring four returning bakers from previous series. Air date: TBC, Channel 4
The Greatest Snowman
Sue Perkins hosts a celebrity snowman-building competition in an Alpine resort. Air date: TBC, Channel 4.
University Challenge Christmas Special Series
A new 10 episode series featuring celebrity alumni from the UK’s universities. Air date: TBC, BBC Two.
Would I Lie To You At Christmas?
David Mitchell, Lee Mack and Rob Brydon are joined by Jim Broadbent, Rose Matafeo, Angela Rippon and Ardal O’Hanlon. Air date: TBC, BBC One
All that, plus: Strictly, Call The Midwife, Mrs Brown’s Boys, The Larkins, All Creatures Great and Small, Death in Paradise, Quentin Blake: The Drawing of My Life; The Weakest Link, The Repair Shop, The Great British Sewing Bee, MasterChef and more.