What do we think of when we think of Christmas? Michael Bublé maybe. Parsnip maybe. Television that ranges from delightful to terrible - absolutely. Christmas TV is a constant, but whether it's any good is another matter.
We've rounded up some of the biggest shows coming up so we can help you choose what to prioritize when you're too Christmassy to think.
From Ncuti Gatwa's first full-length Doctor who episode to the arrival of new dramas Real love And The castaways, Here's what you can expect to see on your screen this holiday season, and our verdict on what's really worth watching...
A Ghost Story for Christmas: Lot No. 249 BBC Two, Christmas EveBreak out the Baileys, because you'll probably enjoy Mark Gatiss' adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's short story more when you're a little tipsy. Here you have Kit Harington and Freddie Fox, all clinkers and cut-glass vests, punching each other in the face. Why? Because eccentric Oxford don Edward Bellingham, played by Fox, has bought an ancient mummy who may or may not be possessed, and everyone is a little nervous. There's not a woman in sight - well, it was Oxford in 1881 - but there's a gothic, candlelit atmosphere. The story is short and sweet at 30 minutes and is not a creepy Christmas story of classic proportions, but it is good old fashioned fun. Jesse Thompson
Pyromania, vandalism and an armed robbery by Santa Claus in the first ten minutes don't exactly evoke a 'family Christmas show'. But this one-off adventure with James Nesbitt and Timothy Spall as two Santa Clauses certainly aims for that. In addition to the surprising opening moments, there follows a heartbreaking story about a single mother who wishes she could make Christmas special for her two young children. Bamber Todd's Mikey, the eldest, never takes off his jacket even when he sleeps, depicting a struggling working-class family amid a cost-of-living crisis in a cold, snowy Northern Ireland. The robbery before Christmas is about the cruel reality that many families will face this festive period, and will leave many grateful for what they can experience over Christmas. Finn Cliff Hodges
The story continues
Mrs. Brown's boys BBC One, Christmas DayThe Christmas TV turkey innards, in that they need to be quickly pulled out and thrown into the nearest trash can, the Mrs. Brown's boys festive special has returned with signature infamy. In the first of two episodes, Brendan O'Carroll's evil grandmother swings between comedic muggings and almost hallucinatory amounts of schmaltz, pining for her lost rocking horse, sheltering an Alzheimer's-suffering old woman and pulling a whisk out of her underwear . More than a decade into its existence, this show is now firmly entrenched as its own brand of white noise - a tribute to vintage sitcom tat and a prehistoric era of entertainment where live studio audiences clap along to the faint sound of jokes. But in 2023? Pass the sherry. Adam White
Doctor Who: "The Church of Ruby Rose" BBC One, Christmas DayThe traditional Christmas Day Doctor who has been lost in time and space in recent years, with the Tardis instead beaming into living rooms on January 1. But returning showrunner Russell T Davies has gone old school in 2023, with the doc confirmed for his first December 25 appearance since 2017. "The Church of Ruby Rose" promises to be something old and new. Fifteenth Doctor Ncuti Gatwa embarks on his "first epic adventure" - introduced in the last of David Tennant's comeback episodes that celebrated the character's 60th birthday. He is joined by his new companion Ruby Sunday, played by Kroningsstraat's Millie Gibson. Additionally, there will be a cameo from Davina McCall, who previously graced the series in 2005. Hold on to your sonic screwdrivers - it's going to be special. Ed Macht
Ghosts Christmas Special BBC One, Christmas DayPass the tissues. Everyone's favorite paranormal sitcom Ghosts is coming to an end after five seasons - but not before giving us a wonderful Christmas special as a parting gift. Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) and Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe) add another resident to Button House with their newborn baby Mia, home from the hospital and ready to meet her many ghostly housemates. May I suggest that anyone who has annoying in-laws as guests over the holidays also invite them over to see how Mike's busy mother (Sutara Gayle) gets in the way of the festivities - hopefully they'll get the hint. Annabel Nugent
Tabby McTat BBC One, Christmas DayThe annual adaptation of one of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's picture books has become a Christmas television tradition (and a savior for exhausted parents in need of a breather). This year, Jodie Whittaker takes on the role of narrator for this fun half-hour outing, telling the story of a musically inclined cat (á¹¢á" páº¹Ì Dìrísù) who entertains crowds of passersby as he duets with his busker Fred (Rob Brydon). When the couple breaks up, Tabby McTat starts a new life with his neighbor's pet Sock (Susan Wokoma), but he can't help but long for the old days. The exquisitely expressive animation makes this a real treat. Katie Rosseinsky
The castaways Paramount+, Boxing DayA word of caution: if you're a nervous traveler venturing to warmer climes this Christmas, you might want to divert The castawaysfeaturing some of the most stress-inducing mid-air sequences we've seen since Idris Elba got stuck on a plane Hijack earlier this year. Patron saint of British television Sheridan Smith stars as Lori, whose island-hopping vacation to Fiji goes horribly wrong when her flight disappears en route to its destination. Céline Buckens plays her younger sister Erin, who should have been on the same plane; Driven by a lingering sense of guilt, she tries to unravel what exactly happened to Lori and her fellow passengers. Katie Rosseinsky
Murder may be easy, but adapting Agatha Christie turns out not to be. Screenwriter Siân Ejiwunmi-Le Berre and director Meenu Gaur team up for this TV version of the novelist's 1939 story, but the drama seems confused about whether it's an old-fashioned murder mystery, a cheerful comedy or a strange and surrealist film. Twin Peaks-esque thriller. Industry And Rye Lane star David Jonsson - in the role of a former police officer investigating a spate of murders in a small town - is, as always, a compelling presence on screen. And he is the very first black hero in a Christie adaptation. It's just a shame that it's let down a bit by an on-the-nose script and strange stylistic choices. That said, it's quite a pleasant, undeniable watch, which may be just what the doctor ordered after an excess of sausage rolls. EH
Mr. Bates versus the Post Office ITV, New Year's DayThis dramatization of one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British history will leave your heart aching. A reliably disturbed Toby Jones leads an exceptional cast as Alan Bates, who along with his fellow postmasters and postmistresses fought for years to clear their names after being accused of theft, fraud and false accounting due to a faulty Fujitsu IT system. The allegations tore their lives apart, with many forced to pay thousands of pounds out of pocket and losing their jobs and homes in the process. There was at least one suicide. To this day, not a single employee of the Post Office or Fujitsu has been held accountable for the scandal, let alone criminally investigated. This show, which serves as real, powerful campaign television, could really make a difference. EH
The tourist BBC One, New Year's DayWarm, cuddly feelings are overrated. If you prefer a chaotic and tense festive season, tune in The tourist, which returns for its second season on New Year's Day. Jamie Dornan returns as Elliot, a rugged amnesiac running from a dark past he couldn't remember if his life depended on it - which indeed it does. Round two and it's business as usual (except for the setting, which has been moved to Dornan's native Ireland after season one's Australian outback location): Elliot has been kidnapped by a group of untrustworthy characters in response to some terrible but forgotten sins - the leaving his girlfriend Helen (Danielle MacDonald) tries to unravel the mystery. Perfect viewing pleasure for your first hangover of the year. A
Men up BBC One, December 29A feature-length drama about one of the first clinical trials of Viagra may not immediately strike you as 'festive viewing', but still Men up has become one of those funny yet thought-provoking stories that British television does so well. Based on the real-life 1994 trial at Swansea's Morriston Hospital, featuring an all-star Welsh cast (including one Gavin & Stacey reunion for Joanna Page and Steffan "Dave Coaches" Rhodri) and depicts the stories of five participants. They all hope that this new drug will be a miracle cure for their relationship problems, but that's not quite the case. KR
Agatha Christie has become an annual Christmas tradition, but this New Year's drama is like the evil twin of And then there were none, in which guests on an island are gradually repelled. Here, a group of old friends, entering their final years, gather at a funeral and decide they will help get off. each other. "Truelove" becomes their agreed-upon code for when the time comes (as well as their reason for making it happen). Lindsay Duncan and Clarke Peters lead the cast, and while it may sound a little bleak for January, the first episode suggests it will be unlike anything that's been on television for a while: an unflinchingly dark reflection on mortality full of very black Humour. JT
