Put on your PJs and prepare for a festive marathon; this is the Christmas TV we’re most looking forward to this season
Words Helen Brown
What’s Christmas without its host of cosy TV specials to keep us occupied between the shopping stress, hangovers and pigs in blankets? Make the most of your holiday viewing by cracking open the Quality Street and tuning in to our pick of the best on the box this festive period.
What not to miss from this year’s Christmas TV
SATURDAY 23rd DECEMBER
Feud: Bette and Joan
9:00pm, 9:50pm; BBC 2
Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon star in this drama series following the rivalry between Hollywood legends Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.
Miranda
8:55pm; BBC 1
Catch the final curtain call for Miranda and co in the last ever episode which sees her make one last attempt to find contentment.
Miranda: Morecambe and Wise and Me
10:55pm; ITV
Miranda Hart counts down the 20 most memorable skits from Eric and Ernie’s iconic shows as votes for by a panel of comedians.
Top of the Pops: Christmas Hits
10:00pm; BBC 4
A feast of vintage footage from festive editions of the pop show, featuring the very best Christmas-themed hits from the last six decades.
The Holiday
9:00pm; ITV2
Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet star in this festive-favourite that sees two women from opposite sides of the Atlantic find love after they swap homes over Christmas.
SUNDAY 24th DECEMBER
Mary, Mel and Sue’s Big Christmas Thank You
7:00pm; BBC 1
DIY SOS meets GBBO as Mary, Mel and Sure are reunited to bring festive magic to a group of people in South Wales who have rallied together to build a community centre in the struggling area.
Michael McIntyre’s Big Christmas Show
8:30pm; BBC 1
There are no holds barred for the festive edition of Michael McIntyre’s show which welcomes to the stage Ainsley Harriet, Alesha Dixon and an unsuspecting star from the audience.
The Great Gatsby
9:30pm; BBC 2
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel is brought to the small screen by director Baz Luhrmann.
MONDAY 25th DECEMBER
The Great Christmas Bake Off
7:40pm; Channel 4
GBBO is back with a sugarplum sprinkling of seasonal cheer. Four former contestants return to the tent for a packed show of tasty treats.
Call the Midwife
7:40pm; BBC 1
It’s pantomime time in Poplar as the ladies of Nonnatus House prepare for Jack and the Beanstalk.
Judi Dench: All the World’s Her Stage
10:00pm; BBC 2
The life and career of venerated actress, Judi Dench is celebrated by the praise, accolades and anecdotes from her friends and colleagues.
TUESDAY 26th DECEMBER
Little Women
8:00pm; BBC 1
Creator of Call the Midwife, Heidi Thomas brings Little Women to the screen in what promises to be a charming and lavish adaptation. (1/3; parts two and three continue on 27th December, 8 pm and 28th December, 8:30 pm)
Miranda Does Christmas
9:00pm; Channel 4
Miranda Hart readdresses the imbalance between an adult Christmas and a kids’ Christmas with some rosy-cheeked revelry and tinsel-strewn japes.
Sourced from the Radio Times Christmas TV guide
