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
John Cooper Clarke announces latest UK headline tour along with new book
Danny Jones
The ‘Bard of Salford’ himself, Dr John Cooper Clarke, is back with another UK headline tour in 2026, plus a brand-new book to boot.
Now 76 and still as fiery as ever, ‘The Godfather of Punk Poetry’s career spans more than half a century, and as a Greater Manchester native and cultural icon, he’s still just as worth celebrating as ever with each passing year.
Becoming the first poet to ever headline a UK arena with his landmark Co-op Live back in March, it’s been another milestone 12 months for local legend, and he clearly has absolutely no intentions of slowing down next year either.
Revealing a raft of new tour dates on Monday, 1 December, John Cooper Clarke will be bringing his spoken word stylings and latest collection – satsifyingly titled Have It – to crowds all over the country.
Confirming a total of 20 new live shows, JCC will be kicking off his next tour in October 2026 in time for the launch of his latest title.
Following on from last year’s release, ‘WHAT‘, which became an instant Sunday Times bestseller, and his memoir (published back in 2020), this will be his fifth book to date.
2025 also saw him receive the prestigious Northern Music Award (NMAs) in recognition of his phenomenal influence in the music world and art as a whole.
As for us here at Audio North, we recently also had the incredible privilege of sitting down to chat with Cooper Clarke ourselves ahead of the announcement.
You can see John Cooper Clarke’s list of live shows in full down below.
JCC UK headline tour dates 2026
We’ve kindly italicised all the Northern dates for you as well.
Tickets for Dr John Cooper Clarke in October 2026 will be available from this Friday, 5 December at 10am via Gigs and Tours as well as his official website.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied)/The Manc Group
TV & Showbiz
Tim Burgess pens touching tribute to ‘everyone’s mate’ Mani
Danny Jones
Legendary local musician Tim Burgess has written a touching tribute to the late, great Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield as people continue to pay their respects to the iconic Stone Roses bass player.
The Charlatans’ frontman, who recently got the band back in the recording studio for their stunning 14th studio album, is one of many who have taken the time to honour the influential Manc musician over the past few days.
Mani, 63, who also saw his career reignited as a regular member of Primal Scream after his time with the Roses, sadly passed away last week.
Penning a lengthy eulogy for The Sunday Times, Burgess was unaware that the digital version of the paper would be behind a paywall, deciding instead to share it publicly online.
Sharing the first few excerpts from the full article, the 58-year-old lead singer, solo artist and Salfordian said of Mani: “People have more stories to tell of their shared adventures with Mani than anyone else I know, often simply about enjoying a gig with him.”
The most striking part of his column is how much of it reiterates not just the Crumpsall native’s undying love for music but his raw obsession with the medium.
Perhaps most touchingly, however, is how he is positioned as “everyone’s mate” in the piece – a sentiment that seems to have been echoed all over social media, among the countless Manchester United fans that bumped into him at games, in the pub chat since and countless other corners.
Burgess is one of several high-profile artists to have honoured Mounfield in their own way; Richard Ashcroft and Oasis playing the ‘She Bangs the Drums’ riff and dedicating ‘Live Forever’ to their idol, The Membranes member and Louder Than War boss, John Robb, speaking via the BBC, just to name a few.
A particularly heartbreaking line is when he says, “On hearing the news of his death last week, I found solace in the idea that Mani lived life to the full. But at 63, it was a life cut lamentably short.” You can read more down below.
Since disclosing the Times write-up with his followers, it’s clear that the 58-year-old is going through a period of reflection following the death of not just a peer and role model but a close friend.
On Sunday, he summed up his feelings perfectly: “Go to that gig. Listen to that song, dust off that record player, learn to play that guitar. Music helps us through. Life can be overwhelming at times. Music can help, I promise you that.”
We couldn’t agree more.
Speaking of – we don’t know about you, but we’re going to be playing the best of The Stone Roses for the foreseeable future, and there’s a good chance we’ll also be heading to Chorlton for a special tribute DJ set by one of his friends and former colleagues.
Emily Sergeant -
21st December 2022 
