Christmas TV highlights

Tuesday 23rd Dec

Jurassic World: Dominion

Four years after the destruction of Isla Nublar, Biosyn operatives attempt to track down Maisie Lockwood, while Dr Ellie Sattler investigates a genetically engineered swarm of giant insects.

(BFBS Extra)

8-Bit Christmas

In 1980s Chicago, a 10-year-old sets out on a quest to get the Christmas gift of his generation: the latest and greatest video-game system.

(BFBS Extra)

Lethal Weapon 3

Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh pursue a former LAPD officer who uses his knowledge of police procedure and policies to steal and sell confiscated guns and ammunition to local street gangs.

(BFBS Extra)

Stuffed

After Arslan Farooqi receives an unexpected £8,000 Christmas bonus at work, he and his family set off on the trip of a lifetime to Lapland. However, chaos ensues it turns out the bonus was a mistake and must be repaid immediately.

(BBC One)

QI - Winter Wonderland

A visit to Sandi Toksvig's Winter Wonderland for the QI Christmas special, with Julian Clary, Fatiha El-Ghorri, Jimmy Carr and Alan Davies.

(BBC Two)

Slumdog Millionaire

When a teenager from the slums of Mumbai is interrogated about his suspicious performance on a quiz show, he revisits various events from his past to explain how he knew all the answers.

(BBC Two)

First Dates At Christmas

It's Christmas in the First Dates restaurant and Fred Sirieix and the team are ready for an unforgettable night of festive flirting.

(Channel 4)

A Very British Christmas: Kensington Palace

Designers Adrian and Charlotte Lloyd create an installation to mark 190 years since the future Queen Victoria spent Christmas in the seaside town of Ramsgate, Kent.

(Channel 4)

A Baby Reindeer's First Christmas

This documentary follows a dedicated community of herders as they nurture and train their antlered wards - skills include learning to pull the Christmas sleigh - and prepare them for Christmas in a year like no other.

(Channel 4)

The Madame Blanc Mysteries

It's Christmas Eve, and Jeremy, Judith, Jean and Dom have been invited to an exclusive event at the Musée de Sainte Victoire, however, a bomb and a murderer soon turn the festive season into a nightmare.

(Channel 5)

Christmas In Paris

A French businessman falls in love with the art director on a photo shoot, and whisks her away on a glamorous trip to Paris at Christmas. However, his terrible secret threatens to destroy their happiness.

(BFBS Extra 2 & BFBS TV)

Christmas Eve

Gladiator

A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery.

(BFBS Extra)

Shaun The Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas

Shaun's seasonal excitement turns to dismay when a farmhouse raid to get bigger stockings for the Flock inadvertently leads to Timmy going missing.

(BBC One)

Two Doors Down

When Eric and Beth put their tree up earlier than usual, they unwittingly kick off the Christmas season in Latimer Crescent. 

(BBC One)

Midnight Mass From Our Lady Of English Martyrs, Cambridge

The Rt Rev Monsignor Canon Harkness leads the First Mass of the Nativity with carols, readings and the traditional blessing of the crib.

(BBC One)

Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing

Bob , Paul and terrier Ted head to Devon and Cornwall, arriving on a steam train. They fish the rivers Lyd and Camel in Devon and head out to sea in Cornwall on a traditional fishing boat.

(BBC Two)

A Ghost Story For Christmas: The Room In The Tower

For 15 years, Roger has been haunted by an unsettling dream - an invitation to spend the night in the house of an acquaintance, where an unseen terror lurks, and figures who populate the dream seem to age in real time.

(BBC Two)

E.T. - Extra Terrestrial

A troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape from Earth and return to his home planet.

(ITV 1)

Royal Carols: Together At Christmas

The Princess of Wales hosts a special Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey, supported by The Royal Foundation, to recognise and celebrate the incredible work of individuals and organisations across the nation who have stepped up to support their communities.

(ITV 1)

Home Alone

An eight-year-old troublemaker, mistakenly left home alone, must defend his home against a pair of burglars on Christmas Eve.

(Channel 4)

Finding Father Christmas

A father grows increasingly troubled by his son's contention that Father Christmas exists. However, 16-year-old Chris refuses to give up on Santa and embarks on a madcap mission to prove his dad wrong.

(Channel 4)

The Last Leg Of Christmas

Adam, Josh and Alex get into the festive spirit with the help of funnyman Harry Hill and TV presenter Alison Hammond, with Rick Astley on hand for a spot of music and chat.

(Channel 4)

All Creatures Great And Small - Christmas Special

It's Christmas 1945, the first peacetime Christmas after the war.

(Channel 5)

The Santa Squad

Jobless art teacher Allie finds work with the Santa Squad, helping wealthy widower Gordon and his two daughters lift their holiday spirits.

(BFBS Extra & BFBS TV)

 

Christmas  Day

Violent Night

When an elite team of mercenaries breaks into a family compound on Christmas Eve, a disgruntled Santa Claus must take them out to save both the hostages and his Holiday.

(BFBS Extra)

Superman

Superman must reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as reporter Clark Kent.

(BFBS Extra)

A Minecraft Movie

Four misfits are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into a bizarre cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination.

(BFBS Extra)

Elf

Raised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father.

(BFBS Extra)

Christmas Morning Service from Bradford Cathedral

The Rev Henriette Howarth leads a celebration of the birth of Christ, weaving together carols, readings and prayers from across cultures and languages, reflecting Bradford's status as UK City of Culture 2025.

(BBC One)

The Scarecrow's Wedding

Two devoted scarecrows, Betty O'Barley and Harry O'Hay, plan a wedding to remember, starring Rob Brydon, Jess Buckley and Domhnall Gleeson.

(BBC One)

Shaun The Sheep - Fleece Navidad

Shaun goes extra Christmassy for the Farmer's Christmas card photo, by secretly knitting festive jumpers to brighten it up.

(BBC One)

Strictly Come Dancing - Christmas Special

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman make one last Strictly appearance for the annual festive show.

(BBC One)

Call The Midwife

The Poplar midwives and medics return for the first of a two-part festive special ahead of a new series next year.

(BBC One)

Amandaland

The family heads to Aunt Joan's country house for Christmas, but things fall apart when Mal and Anne tag along and Amanda struggles to recreate the magic from her youth. 

(BBC One)

Mrs Brown's Boys

Agnes organises a Christmas photo shoot.

(BBC One)

Jaws & Jaws@50: The Definitive Inside Story

A New England seaside town's tourist season is turned into a nightmare by a giant killer shark. then Steven Spielberg shares his memories of the classic thriller which became one of the most successful films ever made in 1975.

(BBC Two)

Raiders of the Lost Ark

In 1936, archaeologist Indiana Jones is tasked by Army Intelligence to help locate a legendary ancient power, the Ark of Covenant, before the Nazis get it first.

(ITV 1)

Red One

After Santa Claus is kidnapped, the North Pole's Head of Security must team up with a notorious hacker in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas.

(ITV 1)

The Great Christmas Bake Off

Ten years following the end of cult Channel 4 comedy Peep Show, stars Olivia Colman, David Mitchell, Isy Suttie, Matt King and Sophie Winkleman reunite to take on a series of baking challenges paying homage to their much-missed sitcom.

(Channel 4)

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Hapless youngster Kevin somehow manages to catch the wrong plane and finds himself heading for New York, while his family jets off to Florida.

(Channel 4)

Britain's Favourite Christmas Songs with Andrew Ridgeley

Wham! icon Andrew Ridgeley counts down the very best Christmas songs from his festive ski lodge. 

(Channel 5)

 

 

Boxing Day

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Brooklyn plumbers Mario and Luigi are warped to the magical Mushroom Kingdom, and Mario must team up with Princess Peach, Toad, and Donkey Kong to save Luigi from the evil Bowser.

(BFBS Extra)

Strays

An abandoned dog teams up with other strays to get revenge on his former owner.

(BFBS Extra)

Buffalo Kids

Two Irish orphans journey by train across America, encountering villains and heroes. They make an extraordinary friend and search for a new home, facing adventures and dangers along the way.

(BFBS Extra)

The Repair Shop at Christmas

The craft experts spread a little Christmas joy, visited by special guests including Helen Mirren, Julia Donaldson and Rob Brydon.

(BBC One)

The Great Escape

Allied officers in a German prisoner of war camp during World War II make a daring plan for a mass escape by hundreds of POWs hoping to draw German personnel and resources away from combat operations.

(BBC Two)

The Great Escaper

Bernard Jordan escapes from his care home to attend the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings in France.

(BBC Two)

Jaws 2

Police chief Brody must protect the citizens of Amity after a second monstrous shark begins terrorizing the waters.

(BBC Two)

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

In 1935, Indiana Jones is tasked by Indian villagers with reclaiming a sacred stone stolen from them by a secret cult.

(ITV 1)

The Dog House Tree at Christmas

The team at Woodgreen animal charity hope to find their abandoned dogs new homes before Christmas.

(Channel 4)

The Festive Pottery Throwdown

Siobhán McSweeney hosts, as novice celebrity potters Amber Gill, Colin Murray, Sarah Hadland and Tim Vine roll up their sleeves and brave the clay.

(Channel 4)

Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2025

Jimmy Carr invites panellists Jonathan Ross, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Ryan, Nick Mohammed, Roisin Conaty and Lou Sanders to battle it out to see who knows the most about the year that's been.

(Channel 4)

Gogglebox

As the Goggleboxers hang up their Christmas stockings, a bumper edition of the show takes a very merry look back at the best of 2025

(Channel 4)

An Invitation to Murder: A Death in Cairo

In 1934, six strangers are invited to the remote island mansion of billionaire Lewis Findley. As the weekend progresses, clues about why they have been invited begin to unfold along with a sinister mystery.

(Channel 5)

Saturday 27th Dec

Ready Player One

When the creator of a virtual reality called the OASIS dies, he makes a posthumous challenge to all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune and control of his world.

(BFBS Extra)

Elvis

The life of American music icon Elvis Presley, from his childhood to becoming a rock and movie star in the 1950s while maintaining a complex relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker.

(BBC One)

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

In 1938, after his father goes missing while pursuing the Holy Grail, Indiana Jones finds himself up against the Nazis again to stop them from obtaining its powers.

(ITV 1)

The Hunting Wives

Sophie O'Neil moves to deep East Texas and succumbs to socialite Margo's charms. Her life is soon consumed by obsession, seduction, and murder.

(ITV 1)

Home Alone 3

Alex Pruitt, an 8-year-old boy living in Chicago, must fend off four international criminals who are seeking a top-secret microchip in his toy car.

(Channel 4)

Nordic Train at Christmas

Climb aboard the Bergen Line for a festive journey to the Norwegian fjords.

(Channel 4)

Judy Dench: Shakespeare, My Family and Me

The actress investigates a story from her family's past, delving into the archives to discover if one of her ancestors really did meet Shakespeare.

(Channel 4)

The Green Mile

A death row guard learns that a gentle giant in his charge possesses a mysterious gift.

(Channel 4)

The Good Ship Murder

After the ship docks in Alicante, a passenger is murdered at a monastery.

(Channel 5)

 

Sunday 28th Dec

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Peter Parker tries to stop Adrian 'The Vulture' Toomes from selling weapons made with advanced Chitauri technology while trying to balance his life as an ordinary high school student.

(BFBS Extra)

The Railway Children Return

Follow a group of children who are evacuated to a Yorkshire village during the Second World War, where they encounter a young soldier who, like them, is far away from home.

(BFBS Extra)

Live Battle of the Sexes - Nick Kyrgios v Aryna Sabalenka

Coverage of the exhibition match, held at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. The contest sees 2022 Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios take on the current women's world number one over the best of three sets, with each player receiving just one serve per point.

(BBC One)

Death in Paradise

The office Christmas party of a lifetime takes a dark turn when four co-workers wake up to find a stranger dead in the pool of their villa.

(BBC One)

Titanic Sinks Tonight

Minute-by-minute Titanic sinking narrative through real survivor accounts, following 16 passengers parallel experiences, with each TV hour matching one hour aboard ship.

(Starts on BBC Two)

The Godfather

The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.

(BBC Two)

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

In 1957, Indiana Jones is called back into action when he becomes entangled in a Soviet plot to uncover the secret behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls.

(ITV 1)

Torvill and Dean: The Last Dance

Documentary following ice-dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean as they embark on their final tour, training and preparing to say goodbye to their fans and dance on ice together one last time

(ITV 1)

Bohemian Rhapsody

With his impeccable vocal abilities, Freddie Mercury and his rock band, Queen, achieve superstardom. However, amidst his skyrocketing success, he grapples with his ego, sexuality and a fatal illness.

(Channel 4)

Monday 29th Dec

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Peter Parker, the beloved superhero Spider-Man, faces four destructive elemental monsters while on holiday in Europe. Soon, he receives help from Mysterio, a fellow hero with mysterious origins.

(BFBS Extra)

Bad Neighbours

After they are forced to live next to a fraternity house, a couple with a newborn baby do whatever they can to take them down.

(BFBS Extra)

The Famous Five

When a Spitfire crashes near Kirrin Cottage, the intrepid teenagers must work together to save the injured pilot and find out the truth of what happened to him - before his enemies strike again.

(BBC One)

Back to the Future

Marty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown.

(BBC One)

The Celebrity Apprentice

Part one of two. AJ Odudu, Angela Scanlon, Charlie Hedges, Eddie Kadi, Jake Wood, JB Gill, Kadeena Cox, Matt Morsia, Rob Rinder, Sarah Hadland, Shazia Mirza and Tom Skinner compete to raise money for Children in Need.

(BBC One)

The Godfather Part II

The early life and career of Vito Corleone in 1920s New York City is portrayed, while his son, Michael, expands and tightens his grip on the family crime syndicate.

(BBC Two)

Midsomer Murders

The death of an ancient estate's patriarch leads to rivalry and murder when his rebellious son plans to sell it off, outraging his siblings.

(IYV 1)

The Hunt for Red October

Moscow, Washington D.C. and a CIA Analyst track a rogue Soviet Captain and his new submarine.

(Channel 4)

Murder on the Orient Express

When a murder occurs aboard the train on which he's travelling, celebrated Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is recruited to solve the case.

(Channel 4)

Gangs of New York

In 1862, Amsterdam Vallon returns to the Five Points area of New York City seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher; his father's killer.

(Channel 4)

Tuesday 30th Dec

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Peter Parker tries to stop Adrian 'The Vulture' Toomes from selling weapons made with advanced Chitauri technology while trying to balance his life as an ordinary high school student.

(BFBS Extra)

Bad Neighbours 2

When their new next-door neighbors turn out to be a sorority even more debaucherous than the fraternity that lived there before, Mac and Kelly team with their former enemy, Teddy, to bring the girls down.

(BFBS Extra)

The Emoji Movie

Gene, a multi-expressional emoji, sets out on a journey to become a normal emoji.

(BFBS Extra)

Back to the Future Part II

After visiting 2015, Marty McFly must repeat his visit to 1955 to prevent disastrous changes to 1985, without interfering with his first trip.

(BBC One)

Live at the Apollo

Mo Gilligan introduces comedians Laura Smyth and Josh Pugh to the stage, in this show recorded before a packed house at London's Hammersmith Apollo.

(BBC Two)

The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone

Follows Michael Corleone, now in his 60s, as he seeks to free his family from crime and find a suitable successor to his empire.

(BBC Two)

Grease

Good girl Sandy Olsson and greaser Danny Zuko fell in love over the summer. When they unexpectedly discover they're now in the same high school, will they be able to rekindle their romance?

(ITV 1)

Hidden Figures

Three female African-American mathematicians play a pivotal role in astronaut John Glenn's launch into orbit while dealing with racial and gender discrimination.

(Channel 4)

Rocketman

The musical fantasy about Elton John's breakthrough years, from his time as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music through his influential and enduring musical partnership with Bernie Taupin.

(Channel 4)

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

British retirees travel to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel. Less luxurious than advertised, the Marigold Hotel nevertheless slowly begins to charm in unexpected ways.

(Channel 5)

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

As the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has only a single remaining vacancy, posing a rooming predicament for two fresh arrivals, Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) pursues his expansionist dream of opening a second hotel.

(Channel 5)

New Year's Eve

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Teen Miles Morales becomes the Spider-Man of his universe and must join with five spider-powered individuals from other dimensions to stop a threat for all realities.

(BFBS Extra)

Wonka

With dreams of opening a shop in a city renowned for its chocolate, a young and poor Willy Wonka discovers that the industry is run by a cartel of greedy chocolatiers.

(BFBS Extra)

Back to the Future Part III

Stranded in 1955, Marty McFly learns about the death of Doc Brown in 1885 and must travel back in time to save him. 

(BBC One)

Here We Go

With the new year fast approaching, Rachel is keen to throw a massive party, although Paul would much rather the family welcomed in 2026 in a quiet holiday cottage.

(BBC One)

The Graham Norton New Year's Eve Show

The host rings in the new year in the company of Tom Hiddleston, who is set to return as spy Jonathan Pine in the second series of The Night Manager

(BBC One)

Ronan Keating and Friends: A New Year's Eve Party

The former Boyzone frontman becomes the latest singer to present a New Year's Eve concert, performing hits including the two-time platinum-selling When You Say Nothing at All.

(BBC One)

Jools's Annual Hootenanny

Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra welcome in the new year with a stellar line-up of guests, including Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, chart star Olivia Dean, veteran singer Lulu - performing her 1974 version of David Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World.

(BBC Two)

Dirty Dancing

Spending the summer at a Catskills resort with her family, Frances "Baby" Houseman falls in love with the camp's dance instructor, Johnny Castle.

(ITV 1)

Pretty Woman

A corporate raider hires a hooker to act as a business escort in Beverly Hills, California.

(ITV 1)

The Last Leg

Adam, Josh and Alex dive into the year's most ridiculous headlines with Lenny Henry, Phil Wang, Maisie Adam, Dani Dyer, Pete Doherty, Alex James, Lucy Bronze and Hannah Botterman. 

(ITV 1)

 

New Year's Day

Weapons

When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance, in this BFBS Premiere.

(BFBS Extra 2)

Spider-Man: Across The Spiderverse

Traveling across the multiverse, Miles Morales meets a new team of Spider-People, made up of heroes from different dimensions. But when the heroes clash over how to deal with a new threat, Miles finds himself at a crossroads.

(BFBS Extra 2)

The Sound of Music

It wouldn't be a Bank Holiday without this - a young novice is sent by her convent in 1930s Austria to become a governess to the seven children of a widowed naval officer.

(BBC One)

The Traitors

Twenty-two people from across the UK descend on a Scottish castle in a bid to win up to £120,000, some to be assigned by host Claudia Winkleman as Traitors, there's also a Traitors special at the Proms.

(BBC One)

The Night Manager

The story picks up after nine years with Jonathan living as Alex Goodwin, a low-level MI6 officer running a quiet surveillance unit in London. His life is comfortingly uneventful until the chance sighting of former mercenary connected with arms dealer Richard Roper prompts a call to action.

(BBC One)

Mrs Brown's  Boys

Agnes and the gang prepare for an incoming storm.

(BBC One)

Red Eye

Eighteen months after Russia is blamed for shooting down a new cargo plane over the Atlantic, DS Hanna Li is summoned to investigate the murder of an American diplomatic courier at Heathrow.

(ITV 1)

Raye and the Last Dragon

Chief Benja and his 'dragon nerd' daughter Raya proudly protect a luminescent stone that protects humanity from a plague borne of discord called the Druun. One poor judgement allows the darkness to return.

(Channel 4)

Aladdin

Live action telling the story of a kind-hearted street urchin living in the Arabian city of Agrabah with his pet monkey Abu rescues and befriends Princess Jasmine. While the grand vizier, Jafar, schemes to overthrow Jasmine's father as the Sultan.

(Channel 4)

The Great New New Year Bake Off

In a first-ever twist, hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding welcome pairs of seasoned bakers into the tent, inviting them to battle it out for the coveted new year's cake stand.

(Channel 4)

 

Friday 2nd Jan

The Equalizer 3

Robert McCall finds himself at home in Southern Italy but he discovers his friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends' protector by taking on the mafia.

(BFBS Extra Premiere)

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken

A shy 16-year-old girl learns that she comes from a fabled royal family of legendary sea krakens and that her destiny lies in the depths of the waters, which is bigger than she could have ever imagined.

(BFBS Extra Premiere)

Would I Lie To You

As usual, the participants set out to hoodwink their opponents with absurd facts and plausible fibs about themselves in a bid to secure a team victory, through rounds such as Home Truths and Quick-fire Lies.

(BBC One)

Amanda and Alan's Greek Job

Amanda and Alan renovate a derelict property on the Greek island of Corfu, intending the finished home to be sold with the proceeds going to charity. 

(BBC One)

Operation Mincemeat

During WWII, two intelligence officers use a corpse and false papers to outwit German troops.

(BBC Two)

Mary Poppin's Returns

A few decades after her original visit, Mary Poppins, the magical nanny, returns to help the Banks siblings and Michael's children through a difficult time in their lives.

(Channel 4)

2025: The Year from Space

In 2025, satellites captured wildfires devastating the hills of Hollywood, battlefronts being redrawn in Ukraine, and 600 million people gathering for a sacred festival on the River Ganges

(Channel 4)

Taskmaster's New Year Treat

The special annual contest gets under way, this time featuring five new contestants from outside the world of comedy.

(Channel 4)

Tom Read Wilson's Magnificent Journey

The presenter reimagines the rite of passage once undertaken by 17th, 18th and 19th-century aristocrats on their Grand Tours of Europe.

(Channel 5)

Jane McDonald: From Pole to Pole

The singer travels to the ends of the Earth in search of bucket-list adventures, beginning with the Antarctic peninsula. It's as close to the South Pole as Jane can get and the beginning of her epic expedition.

(Channel 5)