- Christmas
- 20th Dec 2024
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Here’s your guide to 2024’s Christmas TV – and it’s pretty great
A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter – Netflix
American TV has a tradition of cheesy Christmas specials where the hitmakers of the day, from the likes of Bing Crosby to Dolly Parton, sing their hits, introduce guest stars and perform festive duets. This year, one of the most famous pop stars of the moment, Sabrina Carpenter, is bringing us some holiday cheer with her magical music special. Singing songs off her album as well as a few famous covers, guest stars, comedy cameos and some unexpected duets, including Shania Twain, fans will be singing their hearts out from the comfort of their sofas.
Strike: The Ink Black Heart – BBC One – 16th Dec
This BBC hit crime drama is returning for the sixth instalment of The Cormoran Strike series, adapted from J.K. Rowling’s best-selling novels, written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. When frantic and disheveled Edie Ledwell appears in the office begging to speak to her, private detective Robin Ellacott (Holiday Grainger) doesn’t know quite what to make of the situation. A mysterious figure is persecuting Edie, and he’s desperate to uncover their identity. Robin and her business partner Cormoran Strike (Tom Burke) investigate and once again find themselves embroiled in a case that will stretch them to their limit.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl – BBC One – Christmas Day
Evil penguin Feathers McGraw from The Wrong Trousers is back in Wallace & Gromit’s new adventure, Vengeance Most Fowl. Gromit is becoming concerned that Wallace is getting over-dependent on his inventions, which is soon justified when Wallace invents a smart gnome that develops an evil mind of its own. But who or what could be the cause? It’s up to Gromit to put aside his qualms and battle sinister forces, or Wallace may never be able to invent again.
Tiddler – BBC One – 25th Dec
Another year, another amazing Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler adaptation. This year’s animated special is the heartwarming tale of Tiddler – a story that follows a little fish who is well known for telling tall tales. But his storytelling truly saves him when he finds himself lost in the ocean. Narrated by Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham while the rest of the star-studded voice cast includes Lolly Adefope (Ghosts), Jayde Adams and Rob Brydon (Gavin & Stacey).
Doctor Who – Joy to the World – BBC One – 25th Dec
Ham and cheese toastie and a pumpkin spiced latte anyone? The Doctor, played by the glorious Ncuti Gatwa, returns to BBC One for a time-hopping trip through the history of Earth in this year’s Christmas special – Joy to the World. This time, the Doctor is joined by new companion Joy Nicola Coughlan of Bridgerton and Derry Girls fame, who checks into a hotel in London only to find that her stay is anything but ordinary. When she opens a secret doorway to the Time Hotel, she discovers danger, dinosaurs and the Doctor. But as usual, a deadly plan is unfolding across the Earth, and all of human history hangs in the balance. Can the Doctor save Christmas, everywhere, all at once?
Squid Games – Season 2 – Netflix – 26th December
While not exactly the most festive of things to be streaming this Christmas, there’s no denying just how exciting it is that the world’s biggest TV series is back on Netflix. The Korean dystopian drama Squid Game broke all records when it was released back in 2021. Now it’s finally time for round two… and our hero is out for revenge. Set three years after he won Squid Game, Gi Hun returns to the mysterious survival game with a new resolution in mind he begins another game of life or death with new participants and a few more deadly games.
Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special – BBC One – 25th Dec
Oh, what’s occurring? Well we’ll tell you – it’s time for the long-awaited comedy special that Gavin & Stacey fans have been waiting for since its last special, way back in 2019. Now, the series is set to end one last time. The 90-minute special will look at how married life has fared for Gavin (Mathew Horne) and Stacey (Joanna Page), as well as what life is like for their families in Billericay and Barry Island. But what most of us will be really tuning in for is what became of Nessa (Ruth Jones) and Smithy (James Corden) after that dramatic cliffhanger in the last special. We can’t wait.
Outnumbered Christmas Special – BBC One – 26th Dec
Another long-awaited comedy special returns this Christmas with Outnumbered. The Brockmans are back, and like Gavin & Stacey, it marks the first new episode of the hit comedy series since 2019. Hugh Dennis returns as dad Pete along with Claire Skinner as mum Sue, Tyger Drew-Honey, Daniel Roche and Ramona Marquez as siblings Jake, Ben and daughter Karen. This new special episode sees Pete and Sue deal with the chaos and challenges of parenting kids who are now adults with their own lives to lead. In a moment of adversity, Pete and Sue gather all their offspring to try and celebrate a traditional family Christmas. But fate gets in their way…
Chris Kingston
Entertainment Writer
The font of all knowledge when it comes to TV, film and books. Chris is Laura's brother and the font of all knowledge when it comes to anything related to TV, film and books. He provides our popular round-ups on what to watch at the cinema, the TV not to…
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