For a lot 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 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 – so, just like we did last year, we have once again rounded-up the best of the bunch to create our TV guide.
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Here’s five of our picks.
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Call The Midwife
BBC One
Christmas Day – 7:55pm
Call The Midwife / Credit: BBC
Beloved BBC drama Call The Midwife is a show that’s become very well-known for its Christmas specials over the years – and 2022 is absolutely no different.
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In this upcoming festive special, as the midwives of Nonnatus House return to our screens to deliver another round of December babies, we’ll get to see the return of Rhoda Mullucks, whose baby was born with birth defects after Dr Turner prescribed her medication – a season 6 plot that tackled the Thalidomide scandal.
You can catch Call The Midwife on BBC One at 7:55pm on Christmas Day.
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Strictly Come Dancing
BBC One
Christmas Day – 5:10pm
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Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special / Credit: BBC
We’ve all come to expect 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 again this Christmas Day, with celebrity contestants Larry Lamb, Rosie Ramsey, Nicola Roberts, Rickie Haywood-Williams, Alexandra Mardell, and George Webster 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 5:10pm on Christmas Day.
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Ant and Dec’s Christmas Limitless Win
ITV1
Christmas Day – 9:05pm
Ant and Dec’s Christmas Limitless Win / Credit: ITV
Everyone’s favourite TV duo Ant and Dec are back on our screens once again this Christmas Day
This time, with another festive special of their nail-biting game show Limitless Win – with a handful of famous faces all trying their best to climb up the endless money ladder in the hopes of raising funds for some really worthy causes.
Comics Katherine Ryan and Jimmy Carr will be on one team, and will be competing against TV regulars Rylan Clark and David Walliams as they take on the bigger-than-ever money ladder in this tense and nerve-wracking episode.
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You can see Ant and Dec’s Christmas Limitless Win on ITV1 at 9:05pm on Christmas Day.
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The Greatest Snowman
Channel 4
Boxing Day – 7:30pm
The Greatest Snowman / Credit: Channel 4
The Greatest Snowman is back.
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After what was a successful first run last year, Sue Perkins is back hosting another festive special of Channel 4’s snowman-building competition, and fresh from his victory as a contestant in 2021, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is also returning to judge other celebrity competitors’ creations, and offer them some artistic tips and advice.
Joined on the judging panel by Swedish sculpting sisters Sara and Emilie Steele, and renowned British sculptor Taslim Martin, this year’s contestants are reality star Gemma “The GC” Collins, choirmaster Gareth Malone, Inbetweeners star Joe Thomas, and DJ Yinka Bokinni.
You can watch The Greatest Snowman on Channel 4 at 7:30pm on Boxing Day.
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The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2022
Channel 4
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Boxing Day – 9pm
The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2022 / Credit: Channel 4
What’s the festive season without The Big Fat Quiz of the Year?
It’s fair to say that 2022 has been quite the year, with the country seeing three prime ministers, two monarchs, a Platinum Jubilee, a State Funeral, and a nation divided over whether Harry Styles actually did spit on Chris Pine or not – but now, Jimmy Carr is back to test how much we actually remember from it all.
The comedian will be joined by Stephen Merchant, Katherine Ryan, Richard Ayoade, Maisie Adam, Jonathan Ross and Rose Matafeo as they take on the ultimate pub quiz that’s always a firm-favourite in households nationwide.
You can watch The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2022 on Channel 4 at 9pm on Boxing Day.
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Fancy something extra?
Prince Andrew: The Musical
Channel 4
29 December – 9pm
Prince Andrew: The Musical / Credit: Channel 4
Okay, so while this isn’t airing on either Christmas Day or Boxing Day, some things are just too good to exclude off the list because, as bizarre as it sounds, a musical about the life and times of Prince Andrew is hitting our screens.
We may not have asked for it, and we definitely didn’t see it coming, but the simply-named, Prince Andrew: The Musical, has actually become a reality.
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Written by and starring Kieran Hodgson as Prince Andrew himself, with original music co-written by Freddie Tapner, the one-hour comedy special sees a cast of upcoming comics perform a “satirical send-up of the life and times of Prince Andrew” set to a musical score – with a story centring on the key events, relationships, and controversies of his life.
You can watch Prince Andrew: The Musical on Channel 4 at 9pm on Wednesday 29 December.
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Featured Image – Channel 4 & BBC
TV & Showbiz
Manc actor Max Beesley shares touching moment with his dad after latest Hollywood role
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester-born actor Max Beesley has shared a heartwarming story from when he first got into acting, not to mention how he tried to repay the support since day one by his biggest fan, his dad, more than three decades later.
A familiar face in British film and television over the years, the now fully fledged Manc movie star has booked some of the biggest gigs of his career of late.
Having gone from appearing in UK classics like Looking For Eric and landing parts in the Sky drama Jamestown back in 2019, to appearing in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen TV series and more recently Netflix’s Hijack with Idris Elba, he’s becoming a more recognisable face not just here in the North.
But there was a time when becoming a full-time actor was just a pie in the sky dream of a Burnage boy who fell in love with films – all thanks to his father’s fantastic taste in movies…
As the now 55-year-old actor wrote on social media: “1992. South Manchester. I watched a film, turned to my dad, and told him I was going to New York to become an actor. No agent. No contacts.
Just a flight and a plan. He didn’t laugh. He said, ‘Go for it, son.’ Thirty-four years later, he came to the Jack Ryan set. Best mate I’ve ever had.”
He also went on to credit another key name in the caption, adding, “The coach who helped me then and still today is the queen of acting, the best in the business in my opinion: Sheila Nieves Gray. Life-changing techniques and tools. I love you too, Sheila.”
Gray – who has been running an acting school from NYC since 1990 – was evidently one of the first people Max met when he arrived in the States, and clearly had a huge impact on his professional life.
You just have to love stories like this; we still remember watching shows and thinking he was a standout.
These two BBC and Sky One (remember that?) cult hits are among his best-known TV appearances.
After working with her all that time ago, his career has been on a gradual climb ever since, and while you could argue he’s had multiple ‘breakout’ roles, his progression feels very much like slow and steady wins the race; good things come to those who wait, and all that.
As for his dad, Maxton Beesley Sr., it sounds like he couldn’t have been named after and raised by a more supportive parental figure than any stereotypical, model dad you’ll see in the movies.
Having also starred in the second Gentlemen spin-off flick, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (starring Jason Statham, Hugh Grant, Aubrey Plaza and more), this latest project is the second feature-length adaptation of an existing streaming service hit, with John Krasinski’s Jack Ryan now on the big screen.
You can see the trailer for Jack Ryan: Ghost War down below.
His last two jobs were both Emmy-nominated – let’s see how this one lines up against them.
Featured Images — Max Beesley (screenshot via Instagram)/Amazon Prime Video (still)
TV & Showbiz
Musical comedian Morgan Jay is coming to Manchester on his biggest ever UK tour
Danny Jones
Viral music-driven comedian Morgan Jay is returning to Manchester and the UK for his biggest ever transatlantic tour.
The crowd work specialist and social media star is coming back to our fair city once again early next year, having not long ago performed for a maiden Manc crowd.
That’s right: the bloke best known for performing silly improv songs on a ukulele for the majority of the set, not to mention being a little bit cheeky with his audience throughout, is coming to the AO Arena.
Entitled La Dolce Vita, this new tour – set to be the follow-up to his ongoing ‘Goofy Guy’ show – will be just his second performance here in 0161.
Have already got his current tour underway across North America, with more gigs coming up across Asia and Oceania later this year.
As for his next European leg, it kicks off early next year, and do you want to guess where he’s coming first? Yep, straight to us.
We’re almost certain he’ll be bringing that tiny little guitar and a healthy dose of autotune along with him, but you never quite know what you’re going to get…
Can you believe he grabbed her neck like that in public? not going to lie I kind of liked it. The Nashville show went crazy people were horny and having a good time. Tour dates below. 6/5 – Atlanta, GA 6/6 – Hollywood, FL 6/12 – Milwaukee, WI 6/14 – Prior Lake, MN 6/19 – Cherokee, NC 6/20 – Charleston, SC 7/2 – Ledyard, CT 9/12 – Los Angeles 9/17 – Los Angeles 9/25 – Maui 9/26 – Oahu October 3 – Tokyo October 5 – Taipei October 8 – Hong Kong October 11 – Abu Dhabi October 14 – Manila, PH October 17 – Sydney October 21- Auckland, NZ October 25 – Melbourne, AU October 29 – Brisbane, AU November 1- Adelaide, AU November 6 – Perth, AU November 11 – Jakarta, ID November 13 – Singapore, SG November 18 – Kuala Lumpur, MY November 21- Bangkok, TH November 27 – Mumbai, IN November 29 – Bengaluru, IN
You can see his full list of upcoming dates over here down below.
Morgan Jay UK tour dates – 2027
Thu 25 Feb – Manchester, AO Arena Sat 27 Feb – London, OVO Arena Wembley Sat 27 Mar – Glasgow, SEC Armadillo Thu 1 Apr – Birmingham, Utilita Arena Birmingham Sat 3 Apr – Cardiff, Utilita Arena Cardiff
As you can see, there’s only a handful of dates across Great Britain and Ireland, so we’ll consider it an honour not only to be on the schedule but to be first on the call sheet.
Tickets will be available for pre-sale starting on Wednesday, 27 May at 10am; meanwhile, general admission goes live this coming Friday, 29 May, also at 10am BST. You can get ready to grab yours HERE.
If you’ve not come across him before and you’re wondering whether his stuff is your cup of tea, you can watch his special shot in LA, among others, for free on YouTube.
Emily Sergeant -
21st December 2022 
