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
Greater Manchester claims I’m A Celeb title again as Salford YouTuber Angry Ginge crowned 2025 winner
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester has reigned supreme once again, as for the second year running, someone from our region has been crowned I’m A Celebrity champion.
And this year, the King of the Jungle is Salford YouTuber, Angry Ginge.
Millions of viewers from across the UK tuned in last night to see Morgan Burtwistle – who goes by the name Angry Ginge or just Ginge, based off his internet username – be crowned 2025’s winner of popular ITV reality competition, I’m A Celebrity..., and watched as last year’s champion, Bolton boyband member Danny Jones, handed over the crown to his fellow northerner.
After spending three gruelling weeks in the Australian camp, and creating plenty of memorable moments in the process, the 24-year-old social media star beat out TV personality Tom Read Wilson for the title.
Ginge became the winner of the show’s 25th series by also beating fellow contestants like ex-EastEnders star Shona McGarty, and fellow Mancunian, rapper Aitch.
The Salford lad was left speechless after hosts Ant and Dec called his name as the winner, and described it as an ‘amazing’ moment.
“Honestly, [it’s] a dream come true,” he added. “I didn’t think I’d go all this way, never mind win, so thank you to everyone who voted.”
As former McFly star Danny Jones came to hand over the crown to Ginge, he said: “There you go, all the way from Bolton to Manchester.”
For those who were unfamiliar with Ginge before his I’m A Celeb stardom, the 24-year-old had become known for his rants about football, especially about his team Manchester United – but in 2021, he exploded in popularity even further when he uploaded a skit video about struggling to get chips on a night out.
Since then, he has turned into one of the most popular streamers and internet personalities in the UK with 1.4 million followers.
And now, he can add King of the Jungle to those accolades.
This year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has been one of the most successful in recent years in terms of viewership.
The launch show in November attracted more than 10 million viewers, which ITV said was its biggest audience since Euro 2024.
Featured Image – ITV (Publicity Picture)
TV & Showbiz
Review | The Lion, The Witch and The Beaver* – sorry, Wardrobe
The Manc
What an enchanting evening at The Lowry as we were transported to Narnia to review the live stage adaptation of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in Media City as the production began its festive run in Greater Manchester.
As we entered the playing space, the atmosphere was set with a pianist on stage, slowly drowning out the noise of the outside world and settling the audience in for a night of magic.
Launching ‘Act One’ with a touching rendition of the British wartime classic, ‘We’ll Meet Again’ by Vera Lynne, we meet the large ensemble, multi-instrumentalist cast.
This talented ensemble pivots around multiple roles throughout the performance, creating a shape-shifting atmosphere with some impressive seamless transitions, allowing us to “open our minds” and be absorbed into the mythical world of Narnia alongside The Pevensies.
Sweetly played by Joanna Adaran, Jesse Dunbar, Kudzai Mangombe and Bunmi Osadolor, they excel in exploring sibling dynamics such as rivalry, trust, but most of all, loyalty and love.
The most mind-blowing element of this performance, however, was the production; it truly is the unsung hero of the entire show, so we’ll so the singing on their behalf.
Set and costume (designed by Tom Paris), lighting (done by Jack Knowles), puppetry design and direction (by Max Humphries and Toby Olie), sound design (credit to Tom Marshall) and hair, make-up and wig designer (Susanna Perez).
All this carefully curated talent helped create a world where we had no choice but to believe in magic.
For us as an audience, it made things so much easier to immerse and delight in the world of C.S. Lewis’ imagination, as it is so wonderfully presented in front of us.
This was elevated once again by levitation and disappearing acts – the scene was set on the boards and in the air.
Huge credit goes to Gwen Hales (aerial director) and Chris Fisher (magic and illusions); it felt as if anything was possible, and we needed no convincing that we were in the presence of pure enchantment.
However, arguably the most magnificent moment of the show was the reveal of Aslan himself. As this grand puppet prowled onto the stage, you could hear gasps echo throughout the theatre.
Manoeuvred by three puppeteers, this skilful spectacle was a credit to bringing the story to life in live theatre. The seamless, lifelike movements of breath and king-like presence were both majestic and a credit to the production.
Accompanied by Stanton Wright, we had no doubt that this was the true hero of Narnia.
If you want us to sum up our review of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at The Lowry, quite simply, this show is nothing short of a marvel.
Make sure to take home a cuddly lion toy, of course. (Credit: The Manc)
With constant playfulness and wit throughout – mainly brought to you from the broad Northern and oh-so lovable Mr Beaver (Ed Thorpe), and fellow believer in magic, ‘The Professor’ (Kraig Thornber).
It’s the lattermost that left us with a lasting thought, as he warmly reminds the audience that even when times feel dark, “the sun is always up there, we just have to look.”
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is running from The Lowry in Salford Quays all the way up until Sunday, 11 January 2026. Don’t miss the magic and grab your tickets HERE.
If you’re interested in finding out what else we’ve enjoyed at the theatre in Manchester recently, then look no further…
Emily Sergeant -
23rd December 2024 
