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 2023 / 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, with celebrity contestants such as actor Jamie Borthwick, Sugababes star Keisha Buchanan, newsreader Sally Nugent, and more, all taking to the floor to impress judges the judges and battle it out for the Christmas glitter ball trophy.
The contestants will also be performing a group routine alongside the professional dancers, and there’ll be some merry musical performances from special guests too.
You can catch Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One at 4:40pm on Christmas Day.
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Doctor Who Christmas Special
BBC One
Christmas Day – 5:55pm
Doctor Who Christmas Special / Credit: BBC
What would Christmas be without a Doctor Who special?
Fans absolutely devoured the three 60th anniversary specials last month, and now, the long-running sci-fi series is back where it belongs on Christmas Day with another festive episode.
Aside from new Doctor Ncuti Gatwa confirmed to be making his first appearance in the iconic role, the BBC is keeping plot points about the upcoming episode pretty vague this year, with a synopsis for it online simply reading: “Long ago, on Christmas Eve, a baby was abandoned in the snow. Today, Ruby Sunday meets the Doctor, goblins, stolen babies and, perhaps, the secret of her birth.”
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You can catch this year’s Doctor Who Christmas Special on BBC One at 5:55pm on Christmas Day, and watch a new chapter begin.
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Not Going Out
BBC One
Christmas Eve – 10pm
Not Going Out / Credit: BBC
Not Going Out is back for yet another Christmas special this year.
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Lee Mack’s multi award-winning comedy series – which is now the longest running sitcom on air – is set to return with a new Christmas special this Christmas Eve, and not only that, but it’ll actually be the show’s 100th episode in total.
A synopsis for the festive episode on the BBC website reads: “Brace for yuletide suburban chaos, as Lee throws everything at creating the perfect family Christmas, agreeing to Lucy’s wishes to do something charitable and having “a normal Christmas where nothing goes wrong.” This moment of festive spirit sees the couple invite Wilfred, a lonely pensioner from the nearby care home, to join them for Christmas dinner. The only instruction is that Wilfred is not, under any circumstances, allowed to drink alcohol.”
You can catch the Not Going Out Christmas special on BBC One on Christmas Eve at 10pm.
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Mog’s Christmas
Channel 4
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Christmas Eve – 7:45pm
Mog’s Christmas / Credit: Channel 4
A special animated adaptation of Judith Kerr’s much-loved classic children’s book, Mog’s Christmas, is coming to Channel 4 on Christmas Eve.
Created to celebrate Kerr’s 100th birthday, a synopsis for the Christmas special on the Channel 4 website reads: “Mr and Mrs Thomas and their children Debbie and Nicky are busy making preparations for Christmas. With two Aunts and a jolly Uncle staying in the house, Mog, the beloved family cat, is feeling a bit ignored. When Mr Thomas and the two children arrive home with an enormous Christmas tree, Mog takes fright and scrambles onto the roof for safety. Regardless of the Thomas family’s attempts to rescue her, Mog refuses to come down.
“Despite everyone’s fears, Mog has a magical night in the snow with a cat themed Christmas dream, but will Mog arrive back home in time for Christmas Day?”
You can catch Mog’s Christmas on Channel 4 on Christmas Eve at 7:45pm.
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Christmas with the Royle Family
BBC Two
Christmas Day – 9:15pm
Christmas with the Royle Family / Credit: BBC
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas for many Mancs without the Royle Family… and luckily, BBC Two has decided to dedicate a big chunk of its Christmas Day programming schedule to one of the sitcom’s beloved stars – the late Caroline Aherne.
As well as celebrating Aherne’s career, a re-run of The Royle Family’s classic Christmas episode – which is titled ‘Christmas With The Royle Family’, and first hit screens back in December 1999 – will be aired.
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You can catch Christmas with the Royle Family on BBC Two on Christmas Day at 9:15pm.
Fancy something extra?
Caroline Aherne: Queen of Comedy
‘Christmas with the Royle Family’ isn’t the only time you’ll get to see Caroline Aherne on TV this Christmas Day either, as in addition to BBC Two’s run of programming dedicated to the late Manc icon, there’s also set to be a new TV special celebrating her “unique life and talent” too.
Caroline Aherne: Queen of Comedy will feature unseen photographs and contributions from a cast of her lifelong friends – including Steve Coogan, Jon Thompson, Craig Cash, and producer Andy Harries.
Caroline Aherne: Queen of Comedy / Credit: BBC
You can catch Caroline Aherne: Queen of Comedy on BBC Two on Christmas Day at 10:25pm, and find out more about the special programme here.
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Featured Image – BBC
TV & Showbiz
Childish Gambino confirms shock stroke that caused him to cancel his world tour
Danny Jones
Donald Glover, a.k.a. Childish Gambino, has revealed that a stroke caused the cancellation of his Manchester gig and the rest of the shows on his world tour last year.
The multi-talented artist, actor, comedian, writer, filmmaker and jack-of-all-trades, who goes by the Gambino moniker in the music world, was scheduled to play a UK leg as part of his globetrotting series of live dates in 2024.
However, just over a month into the run, which kicked off in August, the 42-year-old musician didn’t just postpone the tour but had to cancel it altogether for the foreseeable future after falling ill on stage.
It has now been confirmed that the reason for this was a stroke, and also a serious problem with his heart, which required surgery.
At the time, he could only confirm an unknown ‘ailment’.
Detailing the incident to a crowd while playing at fellow rapper Tyler, the Creator‘s Camp Flog Gnaw festival this past weekend, ‘Gambino’ delivered the shocking news in a very matter-of-fact manner.
Confirming the stroke and a hole in his heart live to the LA audience on Saturday, 22 November, Glover began by stating that he was having a really good time on the tour, before adding: “I had a really bad pain in my head in Louisiana, and I did the show anyway.”
“I couldn’t really see well”, he continued, “so when we went to Houston, I went to the hospital and the doctor was like, ‘You had a stroke.'” Yep, as simple as that.
He even went on to joke that he was copying fellow actor and singer Jamie Foxx, who also suffered a stroke back in 2023, which presented as a bad headache – one of several sudden signs of a hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke.
You can see the clip down below.
Childish Gambino reveals that he had a stroke and a hole was found in his heart and is why he had to stop his tour pic.twitter.com/YxeQYBWDBA
After visiting the hospital, it was then discovered that he had a hole in his heart, sometimes referred to as a septal defect.
The Stone Mountain-raised musician ended up needing two procedures to fix the problem and is now, thankfully, in good health and able to perform live once again.
Nevertheless, he’s not taking anything for granted after the severe health scare, telling fans on the night: “They say everybody has two lives and the second life starts when you realise you have one; you got one life, guys, and I gotta be honest, the life I’ve lived with you guys has been such a blessing,” he told fans.
His Manchester show at the AO Arena is still yet to be rescheduled, as are any of his UK dates, but we’re glad he’s not only back on the mend but back doing what he does best.
Featured Images — Amazon Music (screenshot via YouTube)/Press shot (supplied)
TV & Showbiz
An Emmerdale star is kicking off a series of special guest DJ slots in Manchester
Danny Jones
A well-known Emmerdale actor is set to kick off a series of special guest DJ slots at a much-loved Manchester pub.
In case you haven’t sussed it already, we’ll give you another hint: he’s one of the Dingles.
The Dingle Family are household famous here in Britain, whether you watch the soaps or not, and it goes without saying that when you say that name, there is always one that pops into your head first.
Now, if you’re pretending that it’s anyone other than Cain Dingle, you’re just lying; but more importantly, you can go see the man in the flesh as he performs the first of what is set to be one of several celebrity DJ sets at the popular Manc boozer.
Real name Jeff Hordley, the 55-year-old will be hitting the decks not for the first time, having previously presented a radio show at The Revolution 96.2 in his hometown, along with former colleagues Mike Joyce (The Smiths), DJ veteran and Inspiral Carpets star Clint Boon, as well as a late, great music icon.
The Oldham-born actor also worked alongside the one and only Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield of The Stone Roses, who sadly died on Thursday, 20 November.
Passing away at just 63, the ever-adored bassist was one of the most talented musicians in one of the most influential bands to ever come out of our city, with countless people continuing to pay their respects this week.
As for Cain Dingle, a.k.a. Hordley, he’ll be paying tribute in the best way possible – through his shared love of music, moonlighting as the MC for the night at The Garden Bar over in Chorlton, once the suburban Font site.
This night will mark the start of the venue’s guest DJ series, which will feature well-known faces alongside talented local artists as part of their mission to champion grassroots music and comedy.
Recently taken over and now proudly family-run, The Garden Bar’s new owners are passionate about making it a hub for the Chorlton community, with regular events and themed nights already planned months in advance.
As for Hordley, he’s no stranger to delivering the tunes, nor doing so here in Greater Manchester, having frequently performed at the legendary Rock n Roll Bar in Manchester city centre (which went on to become South), long before his acting career took off.
He also drew big crowds to busy Chorlton club nights over the years, including Bop Local, Electrik’s one-deck sessions, as well as Fusion, cementing his reputation as a familiar face and entertainer.
Commenting on the booking, the nearby native wrote: “DJing has always been important to me. It’s something I did long before acting took over, and it’s still one of my favourite ways to connect with people through music.
“I’m really looking forward to being back behind the decks in Chorlton. I’ve got a real soft spot for the area, and it’s always had such a brilliant energy.
“I’ll be playing some of the tunes I’ve loved for years: a mix of indie, northern soul, a bit of funk… and a few surprises I’ve picked up along the way! I’ll be dedicating the night to Mani – he was such a legend and a lovely soul.”
The Emmerdale star will perform a completely free-entry DJ night at The Garden Bar from 8:30pm until late on Friday, 28 November. Guess we’ll see you there.
Emily Sergeant -
19th December 2023 
