Christmas traditions are different for everyone but is it really the festive season without being able to chill with mulled wine in one hand and a mince pie in the other while watching the latest festive specials of our favoruite TV shows on the small screen?
We don't think so and with that in mind, we have pulled together a guide of some of the shows you'll probably want to look out for on BBC, ITV and Channel 4 this Christmas as some much-loved shows have filmed brand-new special episodes to treat viewers this year.
So whether you're more of a Strictly Come Dancing fans, or want the warmth of Call the Midwife, or are even sad to say goodbye to Doc Martin, there's something for everyone.
So without further ado, here's what Christmas Specials are on BBC, ITV, and Channel 4 this year and when - and what time - they will air:
BBC
Luke Evans Showtime!
He may be more known for his acting but Welsh actor Luke Evans also owns some pretty impressive vocal chords and will be sernading viewers into Christmas with some very special guests.
He will be singing songs from his latest album A Song For You, with the likes of LeAnn Rimes, Olly Murs, Beverley Knight and other guest stars stopping by to perform. It will air on December 22 at 8pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
A story of kindness, friendship, courage and hope for viewers of all ages in a heart-warming, hand-drawn traditionally animated film based on Charlie Mackesy’s book, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.
The poignant and heartfelt journey follows the unlikely friendship of a boy, a mole, a fox and a horse travelling together in the boy’s search for home with the likes of Idris Elba, Tom Hollander, Gabriel Byrne and Jude Coward Nicoll lending their voices to the characters.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse airs on Christmas Eve at 4.55pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special
The hit dance competition has recently wrapped up its 2022 series but there is still plenty of sparkle left fot the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special. Hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the Christmas Special will include a merry musical performance and some spectacular group routines including the celebrities and their professional partners, guaranteed to spread Christmas cheer.
Those taking to the ballroom floor for the festive edition this year are: Girls Aloud's Nicola Roberts and Giovanni Pernice, Gavin and Stacey actor Larry Lamb and Nadiya Bychkova; soap actress Alexandra Mardell and Kai Widdrington; Radio 1 DJ Rickie Haywood-Williams and Luba Mushtuk; podcaster Rosie Ramsey who will be partnered with Neil Jones; and CBeebies presenter George Webster and Amy Dowden.
Strictly Come Dancing's Christmas Special airs on Christmas Day at 5.10pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas Special
Brendan O'Carroll will once again reprise the role of Agnes Brown for a Christmas special of his propular show, Mrs Brown's Boys. The special episode of the Irish sitcome will see Cathy’s creepy boyfriend is initiated into the family and Agnes gets a festive fright when looking after his spooky twins. Meanwhile Bono rethinks his eco-kick after a lesson from Agnes.
A second episode, to air on New Year's Day, will see Buster and Dermot are convinced Cathy’s boyfriend is a vampire and there’s only one way to deal with vampires. Meanwhile, Agnes awaits the valuation of an ‘antique’ vase that’s been in the family for generations
Mrs Brown's Boys airs on Christmas Day at 10.25pm and New Year's Day at 10pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Death in Paradise Christmas Special
It's back to Saint Marie this Christmas and Ralf Little will be reprising his role as Neville Parker. The episode is set to follow Neville and his fellow detectives as they deal with the season 11 cliffhanger, which saw Commissioner Patterson discover that he had fathered a daughter with his former lover Maggie.
The BBC synopsis reads: "Christmas in Saint Marie takes a spooky turn this year when an old case of Selwyn’s comes back to haunt him following the murder of a true crime podcaster on the hunt for a missing child. Marlon is forced to spend the night in a haunted house and Darlene takes a hard look at her life choices. And after a chance encounter in an airport car park, could love finally be in the air for Neville Parker?"
Death in Paradise's Christmas Special airs on Boxing Day at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer,
Call the Midwife Christmas Special
Fans of Call the Midwife will be transported back to Poplar in December 1967 and with Christmas fast approaching, life is returning to normal after the terrible train crash. Trixie arrives back from Portofino, looking poised and beautiful, much to the delight of Matthew.
Meanwhile, the midwives move the maternity clinic into new premises and are delighted when one of their first patients through the door is Rhoda Mullocks who the team know well. Rhoda is heavily pregnant, and understandably nervous, after her last baby was born with limbs that have been affected by Thalidomide.
Nurse Crane cares for a heavily pregnant single mother, recently released from prison, while Sister Frances is called out to deliver a Sylheti mother’s child in a garment factory in a rough area of Poplar. Elsewhere, Fred decides that Poplar needs to come together to raise money for those families still affected by the train crash and pitches the wonderful idea of a festive talent show – Poplartunity Knocks!
Call the Midwife airs on Christmas Day at 7.55pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The Repair Shop Christmas Special
Jay Blades and hsi team of experts will be back in their repair shop bringing more much-loved items back to life. Among them, the team will be reviving an elderly tree that has sat at the heart of family Christmases for many years and will also be reviving a battered trombone and amending a projector.
The Repair Shop Christmas Special airs on Boxing Day at 8pm on BBC One.
ITV
Royal Carols: Together at Christmas
The brainchild of Catherine, the Princess of Wals, Royal Carols: Together At Christmas will air on Christmas Eve on ITV.
The event, which took place on December 15, saw 1,800 people come together at Westminster Abbey including Kate, her husband William, the Prince of Wales, their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte, and the King and Queen Consort.
The TV version will be narrated by Catherine Zeta-Jones and among the performers were the Westminster Abbey choir, singer Craig David and Alfie Boe and Melanie C who sung a duet, while William and Dame Kristin Scott Thomas delivered readings.
Royal Carols: Together At Christmas airs on Christmas Eve at 7pm on ITV and ITVX.
Britain Get Singing
Britain Get Singing is a one-off Christmas extravaganza, hosted by Capital FM's Roman Kemp, which will see five groups made up of stars from TV’s biggest shows - Love Island, The Chase, Emmerdale, Coronation Street, and Loose Women - each take to the stage in a bid to deliver a show-stopping performance.
Putting their vocal prowess to the test, each group will perform before the studio audience and the Super Panel made up of some of TV’s most iconic judges - The Voice UK’s will.i.am, Britain’s Got Talent’s Alesha Dixon and Starstruck’s Adam Lambert and Jason Manford. But at the end of the show, the power lies with the studio audience as they will ultimately decide which group deserves the top spot.
Britain Get Singing airs on Christmas Eve at at 8:35pm on ITV and ITX.
Ant and Dec's Christmas Limitless Win
Ant and Dec are bringing their gameshow back for a Christmas special - and it featured a few familiar faces. It will see celebrity pairs trying to conquer the limitless ladder and they'll be hoping for some festive luck as they play for their chosen charities.
Hoping to win big will be Strictly It Takes Two host Rylan Clark and Britain's Got Talent judge David Walliams and they'll be followed by 8 Out of 10 Cats host Jimmy Carr and Taskmaster's Katherine Ryan.
Ant and Dec's Christmas Limitless Win airs on Christmas Day at 8pm on ITV and ITVX.
Doc Martin
The nation’s favourite grumpy medic is back on our screens this Christmas, as ITV’s hugely successful drama Doc Martin returns for a festival episode. Martin Clunes reprises the role of Dr Martin Ellingham, the hemophobic GP with a blunt bedside manner, in what will be the final ever episode of Doc Martin.
All the regular cast members are reprising their roles for one last hurrah - titled Last Christmas in Portwenn - with Caroline Catz returning as the Doc’s wife, Louisa Ellingham, and Dame Eileen Atkins back as his Aunt Ruth.
The Doc Martin 2022 Christmas special airs on Christmas Day at 9.05pm on ITV and ITVX.
The Voice Kids
Pop Legend Ronan Keating joins Will.iam, Pixie Lott and Danny Jones as The Voice Kids will return to ITV this Christmas in the latest search to find Britain’s youngest singing talent.
Emma Willis will be back to host the series, once again airing over the festive period as a three part television event. Singers between the ages of seven and 14 will perform in front of the famous big red chairs all in the hope of turning both heads and chairs in their bid to become The Voice Kids champion 2022.
The Voice Kids starts on Boxing Day at 8:30pm on ITV and ITVX. The three-part series will then continue on Tuesday, December 27, and Wednesday, December 28.
Channel 4
The Great Christmas Bake Off
The Great British Bake Off 2022 feels like a distance memory but luckily we are being treated to some festive baking magic this Christmas.
The Great Christmas Bake Off will see Blackadder's Tony Robinson, The Big Breakfast's Gaby Roslin, broadcaster Terry Christian, Brookside's Claire Sweeney and Popworld icon Miquita Oliver all head into the famous tent.
There will also be a New Year's special with a line-up of previous contestants - Lottie Bedlow, Chigs Parmar, Manon Legrève and Antony Amourdoux - all taking part.
The Great Christmas Bake Off airs on Christmas Eve at 8.25pm on Channel 4.
Gogglebox 2022
While it's not a new fix, Gogglebox: Best of 2022 will air on Christmas Day. It will recap the armchair critics' best moments from this season with viewers will be able to relive some of the many hilarious and tear-jerking moments captured on screen.
Gogglebox: Best of 2022 airs on Christmas Day at 9.05pm on Channel 4.
The Greatest Snowman 2022
The Greatest Snowman is back and will again sees a line up of famous faces competing in an epic snow building competition.
Sue Perkins will return as host and thecelebrities taking on the snowy challenge this year are reality TV legend Gemma Collins, choirmaster Gareth Malone, presenter Melvin Odoom, comedy actor Joe Thomas, and documentary star and DJ Yinka Bokinni.
The Greatest Snowman airs on Boxing Day at 7:30pm on Channel 4.
The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2022
Jimmy Carr and his annual Big Fat Quiz of the Year will be back on the small screen this Boxing Day. Taking a seat on this year's Big Fat Quiz panel are Stephen Merchant, Katherine Ryan, Richard Ayoade, Maisie Adam, Jonathan Ross, and Rose Matafeo.
The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2022 airs on Boxing Day at 9pm on Channel 4.
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