Forget your festive playlists, holiday movies watchlist and plan to tuck into a roast, because all you should care about this Christmas is the TV schedule.
There’s a load of brilliant shows to choose from this year, including the returns of Doctor Who, Death in Paradise, Beyond Paradise and Sister Boniface Mysteries.
Outnumbered is also making a long-awaited comeback for a Christmas special, after last airing back in 2016.
But this year’s festive TV highlight will most likely be Gavin & Stacey, which will be back on our screens for a final episode that looks set to finally address what went down on that infamous fishing trip, as well as whether Smithy said ‘yes’ to Nessa’s proposal, if the latest trailer is anything to go by.
There’ll also be plenty of brand new shows to tuck into, including new seasons of Squid Game, SAS Rogue Heroes and The Split: Barcelona.
Viewers can also enjoy family favourites such as Tiddler and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, while the soaps will also be returning for some festive drama.
So, without further ado, read on for the ultimate guide to the best Christmas TV for this year from RadioTimes.com.
Best Christmas TV for 2024 – Your guide to what to watch
1. Gavin & Stacey: The Finale
Gavin & Stacey: The Finale. Tom Jackson/Toffee International Ltd/ BBC.It’s the comedy special that fans have been waiting for since the last Gavin & Stacey Christmas special back in 2019. Now, the series is set to come to its end with one final hurrah as we check back in on the cast of beloved characters.
The 90-minute special will jump ahead in time so as to keep up with the real world, and will see how married life has fared for Gavin (Mathew Horne) and Stacey (Joanna Page), as well as what life has brought to their families in Billericay and Barry. Of course, most of us will be waiting to see what became of Nessa (Ruth Jones) and Smithy (James Corden) after the last episode’s cliffhanger.
Gavin & Stacey: The Finale will air on BBC One and iPlayer on Christmas Day at 9pm.
2. Outnumbered
Daniel Roche as Ben in Outnumbered. BBC/Hat Trick Productions/Adam LawrenceThe Brockmans are back for an anticipated Outnumbered return, marking the first new episode of the hit BBC comedy series since 2019. All the original cast are reprising their roles, meaning Hugh Dennis returns as dad Pete, Claire Skinner as mum Sue, Tyger Drew-Honey as eldest son Jake, Daniel Roche as middle child Ben, and Ramona Marquez as daughter Karen.
The new episode will follow the chaos in the downsized Brockman family home, as Pete and Sue grapple with the challenges of parenting kids who are now adults. Speaking earlier this year, Marquez revealed her hopes for Karen, saying: “She’ll be doing something mad, I’m sure, and she’ll be weaving her little webs. She’ll just be the same Karen, I think.”
Similarly, Roche said of Ben: “I’m hoping that he’s successful or at least has managed to make those quirky characteristics of his work. I don’t want him to be some adult weirdo, basically.”
Outnumbered Christmas special will air on BBC One and iPlayer on Thursday 26th December at 9:40pm.
3. Doctor Who: Joy to the World
Nicola Coughlan as Joy in the Doctor Who Christmas special Joy to the World. BBC Studios/Bad Wolf/James PardonIt wouldn’t quite be Christmas Day without a fittingly perplexing sci-fi mystery to wrap our heads around, would it? Doctor Who returns for a special festive edition ahead of its brand new 15th season next year and this time, Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor will be joined by Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan as Joy.
Titled Joy to the World, the new episode’s exact plot points remain under wraps but we do know that the episode has been penned by former showrunner Steven Moffat who has teased what’s in store.
Previously speaking to BBC South East, Moffat said: “Imagine in the far, far future that a hotel chain got hold of the idea of time travel. What’s the first thing a hotel chain would do if they had time travel? They’d realise they had an opportunity to sell all the unsold nights in their own hotels in history.”
Doctor Who: Joy to the World will air on BBC One and iPlayer on Christmas Day at 5:10pm.
4. The Repair Shop at Christmas 2024
Roman Kemp, Kat Clayton, Julie Tatchell, Amanda Middleditch, Will Kirk in The Repair Shop Christmas special 2024. Ricochet/Cody BurridgeThis Christmas, the team of experts is returning to the barn to spread joy as they attempt to rescue four beloved items.
Will Kirk, Kirsten Ramsey and Mark Stuckey will be tasked with reviving a miniature Christmas village that lights up a family home, while Suzie Fletcher will be put to work restoring a donkey saddle.
Elsewhere, Mark will also be tasked with restoring a magic lantern projector that’s over 100 years old.
The Repair Shop at Christmas will air on BBC One and iPlayer on Christmas Eve at 8:15pm.
5. Sister Boniface Mysteries Christmas special
Lorna Watson in the Sister Boniface Mysteries Christmas special 2024. UKTVIt’s time to return to the close-knit town of Great Slaughter for another mystery that’s set to get both Sister Boniface and viewers at home thinking. The new feature-length episode will centre on the Great Slaughter Amateur Dramatics Society (GSADS) and their upcoming production of Cinderella.
But when a cast member drops dead mysteriously, the hunt for the killer is on before they strike again. Will Sister Boniface and Sam (Max Brown) be able to crack the case before things take another dark turn?
Sister Boniface Mysteries Christmas special will air on UKTV’s U&Drama on Friday 20th December at 8pm.
6. All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special
The cast of the All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special 2024. Helen Williams / Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited / PlaygroundWe return to Skeldale House for season 6 in the near future but until then, fans of the cosy Channel 5 drama have another Christmas special to look forward to!
While plot details for the episode haven’t been revealed just yet, we can expect it will feature plenty of heartwarming moments and a dramatic veterinary case or two. Last Christmas was quite the highlight for the series as baby Jimmy was born, so we know that this time of year will takes on a whole new meaning for Helen (Rachel Shenton) and James (Nicholas Ralph) now.
All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special will air on Channel 5.
7. The Festive Pottery Throw Down
Tom Rosenthal, Rachel Riley, Babatunde Aleshe and Martin Kemp in The Festive Pottery Throwdown.The Great Pottery Throw Down is treating fans to a festive special, which will see novice potters Martin Kemp, Rachel Riley, Tom Rosenthal and Babatunde Aleshe braving the clay and taking on two tough challenges set by judges Rich Miller and Keith Brymer Jones.
The celebrities will be tasked with creating a Winter Wonderland using a technique called hand building. The second challenge will see the celebrities attempting to throw as many festive wine coolers as possible.
The Festive Pottery Throw Down will air on Channel 4 on Boxing Day at 9pm.
8. Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special
Tazmin Outhwaite. BBC/Jude EdgingtonIt wouldn’t quite be Christmas without an episode of Strictly Come Dancing and a one-episode battle for the Silver Star trophy. While last year saw the triumph of EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick and professional dancer Nancy Xu, all eyes are on the dancefloor this time round to see who will know their Paso Doble from their Cha Cha.
The full line-up for this year’s Christmas special has now been revealed and includes the likes of comedian Josh Widdicombe, EastEnders legend Tazmin Outhwaite, presenter Vogue Williams, drag artist Tayce, Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Formula 3 racing driver Billy Monger. So, we’ll just have to see who’s got what it takes!
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on BBC One and iPlayer on Christmas Day on 3:55pm.
9. Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Wallace and CI Mackintosh. BBC/Aardman Animations/Richard Davies/Stuart CollisThe brand new Aardman feature serves as a sequel of sorts to Wallace & Gromit adventure The Wrong Trousers, where we all met the infamous Feathers McGraw. Well, Feathers is most certainly back and looking to exact revenge on the titular pair, who previously foiled his evil plans.
The beloved stop-motion duo are better than ever with Peter Kay returning as Chief Inspector Macintosh, as well as cameos from Diane Morgan (Motherland), Adjoa Andoh (Bridgerton), Muzz Khan (Brassic) and Sir Lenny Henry (Three Little Birds).
According to our very own RadioTimes.com five-star review for the upcoming film: “Wallace and Gromit are just as loveable as ever, despite all the time that’s passed since we saw them last, and on the flip side of that, Feathers McGraw has lost none of his unpleasantness either, reminding us ...
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