These shows are getting Christmas specials...

Are you in the holiday spirit yet? If so, we're breaking down our top shows that are getting their very own 2023 Christmas special!

09/12/2024

From The Great Christmas Bake-Off and All Creatures Great and Small to Doctor Who and Inside M&S at Christmas, there's plenty of new drama and entertainment for everyone to into this Christmas!

Our Top Picks:

Sister Boniface Mysteries: Once Upon a Time

Watch on U&Drama or stream on U, Friday 20th December at 8pm

Lorna Watson returns to Drama with a feature-length Christmas special that finds our favourite Vespa-driving nun investigating a murder at the pantomime after a cast member dies mysteriously! With the clock ticking down, will she be able to unravel the plot before the murder strikes again?

All Creatures Great and Small: Christmas Special

Channel 5, Monday 23rd December at 9pm

All Creatures Great and Small fans rejoice, a Christmas special of All Creatures Great and Small is set to hit our screens this month, picking up where season 5 left off. The residents of Skeldale Hall preparing for Christmas but it’s also little Jimmy’s first birthday! Mrs Hall is trying her best to make Christmas as special as possible but after receiving some worrying news, Mrs Hall is worried about what’s to come!

The Great Christmas Bake-Off

Channel 4, Tuesday 24th December

The tinsel is up in the tent in preparation for this years soap-themed Christmas Bake Off! They’ll each compete in a series of yuletide challenges, judged by Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood!

Doctor Who

BBC One, Christmas Day at 5:10pm

Following the 60th anniversary special last year, we've got very high hopes for this years special! Bridgeton star, Nicola Coughlan is set to star in this festive special as Joy. When the evil Villengard Corporation tries to grow its own star using a Time Hotel to displace events from throughout history, the Doctor arrives to Joy's hotel room and they set off on a mad festive adventure!

Gavin and Stacey: The Finale

BBC One, Christmas Day at 9pm

Five years are we left Nessa (Ruth Jones) down on one knee after declaring her love for Smithy (James Corden), the show is back and we have many unanswered questions! Join the journey to Barry and Billericay as we catch up with the Shipmans and the Wests for the very last time and finally find out what exactly happened on that fishing trip! Starring Joanna Page and Mathew Horne.

All the specials:

A Very British Hotel at Christmas

Channel 4, Wednesday 18th December

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at one off London’s oldest and most exclusive hotels? Well this Christmas you’ll get a peak into what happens at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel during their busy Christmas period! With guests paying beyond £750 a night, the hotels elite team have the challenge of ensuring guests have the stay of a lifetime!

The Good Ship Murder: Christmas special

Channel 5, Wednesday 18th December at 9pm

The holiday season kicks off to a rough start when the ships resident Santa falls ill! Wanting to not disappoint the passengers Bev puts Jack in charge of finding a quick replacement! His search leads him to Dubrovnik, however unexpected events complicate his plan leaving all the crew scrambling to save Christmas!

The Chelsea Detective Christmas special

U&Drama, Thursday 19th December at 8pm

When pop star Chloe Carmichael is found dead in her Chelsea flat just days before Christmas, DI Max Arnold (Adrian Scarborough) and DS Layla Walsh (Vanessa Emme) must assess a string of potential suspects. The big question is, who’s motives were strong enough to actually kill her?

The Great British Sewing Bee Christmas special

BBC One, Thursday 19th December

Host Sarah Pascoe will return to the show alongside actor/ singer Ian ‘H’ Watkins, EastEnders actor Kellie Bright, comedian Fatiha El-Gorri and tv personality Charlotte Crosby as they add their own twist on a pattern for an advent calendar! They’ll also be doing a Christmas themed transformation challenge and much more!

Inside M&S at Christmas

ITV1, Thursday 19th December at 9pm

After a very popular and successful episode last year, cameras are once again invited into the behind the scenes of M8S during their busiest time of the year! Get ready for a sneak peak into the creation of this year’s experimental Christmas sandwich and the world’s first snowing chocolate box!

Charlie Cooper’s Myth Country: Winter Solstice

BBC Three, Friday 20th December at 10pm

Charlie wraps up warm and heads to Devon to discover alternative winter celebrations, many with origins to Britain’s pagan past. From the barrel-burning festival in Ottery St Mary to celebrations with Morris dancers, Charlie explores many rituals and long forgotten traditions!

Death in Paradise Christmas special

BBC One, Sunday 22nd December 8:30pm

We’re back in Saint Marie, this time with new detective inspector, London Mervin Wilson who ruffles many feathers as he clashes with the island’s way of life. However, he quickly gets stuck into one of the teams most puzzling cases yet, three men, completely unconnected other than being dressed as Santa Clause, were all shot with the exact same gun at the exact same time!

Alpine Christmas by Train

Channel 4, Monday 23rd December

All aboard the festive train! Take a festive trip on the Bernia Express, the highest tracks in Europe and the steepest in the world as the train travels through the spectacular alpine landscapes, from Chur in Switzerland all the way down to the Italian town of Tirano!

The Festive Pottery Throwdown

Channel 4, Monday 23rd December

Get ready for a festive dollop of Christmas clay as Siobhán McSweeney is hosting this year’s Festive Pottery throwdown and it’s looking as exciting as ever! Four celebs will take on two yuletide challenges set by judges Keith Brymer Jones and Rich Miller in an attempt to become the champion!

Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special

BBC One, Christmas Day at 3:55pm

Strictly Come Dancing will return on Christmas day, wrapped in excitement for the whole family! Join Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as six stars test their festive dance moves in order to impress the judges and be crowned the Christmas Champion of 2024!

The Piano at Christmas

Channel 4, Christmas Day

Claudia, Mika and Lang Lang will return on Christmas day with a festive songbook, secret Santa, celebrity surprises and of course, an unmissable performance!

Outnumbered Christmas special

BBC One, Boxing Day at 9:40pm

Following an 8 year break since their last Christmas Special the Brockman family are coming back to our screens this festive season! Sue (Claire Skinner) and Pete (Hugh Dennis) gather all their children including their grandchild to celebrate a traditional family Christmas. With a lot of drama and laughter it's going to be an interesting Christmas!

More Christmas Specials coming on over the festive break: