For some of us, if the run-up to Christmas wasn’t already busy enough as it is, there’s often not a moment to breathe on the big day itself between presents being opened, travelling to see people, entertaining guests, slaving over a hot stove for hours, and eating plenty of food.
Sometimes though, you may find yourself twiddling your thumbs with some time to spare, and that’s why the distraction of festive television is so brilliant.
For others, sitting around to watch the TV is an important part of Christmas itself.
No matter what your situation is, there’s some cracking things to watch on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day this year – with classic seasonal films, to festive specials of our favourite shows, and a few family-friendly additions all on the agenda.
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2024 / Credit: BBC
We’ve all come to expect a Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special at this point, haven’t we? After the iconic ballroom dance competition programme has been bringing us smaller, festive editions of the show we all know and love since 2004, it’s back once again this Christmas Day.
Six celebrity contestants will be taking to the floor to impress judges the judges and battle it out for the Christmas glitter ball trophy.
You can catch Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One at 3:55pm on Christmas Day.
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Doctor Who Christmas Special
BBC One
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Christmas Day – 5:10pm
Doctor Who Christmas Special / Credit: BBC Studios
What would Christmas be without a Doctor Who special?
The long-running sci-fi series is back where it belongs with another festive episode on Christmas Day this year, and we can’t wait.
The episode introduces Joy, played by Nicola Coughlan, who checks into a London hotel in 2024, only to discover that her quiet stay is anything but ordinary. When Joy opens a secret doorway to the Time Hotel, she discovers danger, dinosaurs, and the Doctor… but a deadly plan is unfolding across Earth, just in time for Christmas.
You can catch the Doctor Who Christmas Special on BBC One at 5:10pm on Christmas Day.
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Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
BBC One
Christmas Day – 6:10pm
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl / Credit: BBC
Wallace & Gromit make their long-awaited return with a new feature-length adventure.
Wallace and his pre-programmed smart gnome, Norbot, are the main suspects after a recent crime wave of stolen garden goods across the region… but while Wallace proclaims his innocence, it’s up to Gromit once again to battle sinister forces, or Wallace will never invent again.
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Who could possibly be behind such evil actions? Rightfully behind bars after all this time, Feathers McGraw is back with vengeance.
Directed by Nick Park, Reece Shearsmith provides the voice of Norbot, and Peter Kay is Chief Inspector Macintosh, alongside other famous names such as Diane Morgan, Adjoa Andoh, and Lenny Henry.
You can watch Wallace & Gromit: Most Vengeance Fowl on BBC One at 6:10pm on Christmas Day.
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Gavin & Stacey: The Finale
BBC One
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Christmas Day – 9pm
Gavin & Stacey: The Finale / Credit: BBC
9pm. Christmas Day 2024. The end of an era is here.
It’s been five whole years since we left Nessa down on one knee declaring her love for Smithy and asking him to marry her… and a lot has happened in those five years.
This Christmas, fans of the long-running sitcome will be able to join on the journey to Barry and Billericay as we catch up with the Shipmans and the Wests for the very last time, and maybe find out what exactly did happen on that fishing trip.
You can watch Gavin and Stacey: The Finale on Christmas Day on BBC One at 9pm.
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Outnumbered
BBC One
Boxing Day – 9:40pm
Outnumbered / Credit: BBC
Our final long-awaited Christmas Special comeback is here… are you ready to be Outnumbered once again?
In a moment of adversity, Sue and Pete gather all their children – who are now adults, and have their own hurdles to navigate in the real world – and one grandchild to try to celebrate a traditional family Christmas.
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Their new house is smaller, the children are bigger, and within the chaos, an uninvited house guest overstays their welcome.
You can watch Outnumbered on Boxing Day on BBC One at 9:40pm.
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Fancy something extra?
If you’ve got even more time on your hands to kill, and you’re looking to get stuck into even more festive TV action, not just being newly released this year, then we’ve rounded up what we think are 10 of the best Christmas Specials of all time.
What’s your thoughts on this – do you agree? Or are we missing your favourite pick?
Featured Image – BBC
TV & Showbiz
Mancs willing to give rescue dogs a forever home needed for new Channel 4 series
Emily Sergeant
Could you give a rescue dog a second chance in life? Now’s your opportunity.
In just the past couple of weeks alone, TV casting directors have been looking for open-minded single Mancs to take part in the next series of Love Is Blind UK, and Mancs keen to test their music knowledge with the chance to win a whopping £10,000 cash prize… but now, it’s time for dog-lovers to step forward.
The next series of hit Channel 4 show The Dog House is currently in the works, and producers are on the lookout for people willing to give rescue dogs a forever home.
Channel 4 is looking for Mancs willing to give rescue dogs a forever home / Credit: Channel 4
Since first hitting our screens back in 2019, the award-winning series – which is currently in partnership with Woodgreen Pets Charity – has captured the hearts of viewers across the UK, sharing emotional stories of rescue dogs and the people hoping to give them a forever home.
Viewers get to watch incredible journeys of rescue dogs finding their perfect match.
But the show demonstrates that it’s not just the dogs who are being rescued, however, as many of their new owners also find their lives transformed in the process.
Casting for the next series of smash-hit TV series The Dog House is currently underway / Credit
“Once again, we’ll be following the expert team of dog-matchers, meeting this year’s rescue dogs, and of course, getting to the know the amazing people who are looking to offer them a lifelong home,” a casting call for the next series of The Dog House reads.
“We’d love to reach dog lovers in Manchester who may be considering welcoming a rescue dog into their lives.”
Does this sound like you? Channel 4 is keen to hear the reasons why you may be looking for a new canine companion, so anyone who fancies applying for the show is asked to fill out an application form online.
Stephen Graham sheds light on the ‘possibility’ of a second season of Adolescence
Danny Jones
Pretty much everyone has been getting through the incredible yet harrowing experience of watching Adolescence on Netflix this month, and though it may have seemed unlikely at first, series star Stephen Graham recently discussed the possibility of a second season.
For those who aren’t aware, it was never expected that the four-part limited series surrounding a young boy accused of a violent crime would be the global phenomenon it has been, nor was it hoping to secure a deal for another season: the whole point of the show was to tell a powerful but self-contained story.
However, with it becoming the most-watched thing on the platform in just four days – not to mention notching all manner of streaming records – it’s no surprise that the suggestion of capitalising on its smash hit success has come up.
Many feel the kind of narrative it tells is so important that the idea should at least be explored.
“You throw the stone into a pond and this ripple effect has been huge… But we never meant it to have this impact, we just wanted to tell a truthful and honest story.” Co-writer and actor Stephen Graham reflects on his powerful new Netflix series Adolescence, which explores… pic.twitter.com/aO3JKNYH16
Speaking in a recent interview with Variety, co-creator and lead Graham sat down with his wife Hannah Walters, who also helped write and produce the show, to discuss the reaction
When asked quite simply if any discussions have been had about an Adolescence season two, while it sounds like there’s nothing official yet, he didn’t dismiss the concept outright.
“Possibly, let’s see how the figures are, but yeah, there’s the possibility of developing another story”, says the 51-year-old from Kirkby.
It might not be much to go as yet; however, just knowing that there’s room to tell another chapter is good enough – especially given the “smirk” the 51-year-old is said to have responded with during his answer.
Many fans thought the chances of a second series had been dashed early doors after fellow co-creator Jack Thorne recently went on This Morning and dismissed the potential pretty much altogether.
In his words: “I don’t think we’re the right people to tell Katie’s story […] I think there are other makers out there that could tell beautiful dramas about Katie or girls like Katie [the victim in the show], and that those shows should be made.”
That being said, just because he doesn’t sound like he’d be involved will an Adolescence sequel, it doesn’t mean Graham might not be.
The impact of the show, especially here in the UK, cannot be overstated and not just because of the cross-generational viewing figures.
Fellow Adolescence actor Jo Hartley, who was born down the road in Oldham, joined countless celebrities in waxing lyrical over the importance of the show following what she called an “overwhelming” reaction in just the first few days.
In fact, the shockwaves it sent across Britain and beyond have been so strong that the writers have even been invited to Parliament to discuss the series’ themes and how to help tackle them better.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd December 2024 
