15 Top Picks To Watch On Christmas Day – And What Time To Tune In
As the prophet Noddy Holder once said… here it is! Merry Christmas!
Yep, we’ve made it to Christmas Day, which means all kinds of things to different people.
If your agenda is a little more on the low-key side this year, you’ll be delighted to hear there’s plenty of festive telly to keep you entertained over the course of the day, whether you’re in the mood for laugh-out-loud comedy, silly seasonal specials or something more traditional.
To help plan your day out, here are 15 of our top TV picks to tune into this Christmas Day…
A Christmas Choir With Michelle McManus
Tell me more: Oh dear, you’ve got up a little earlier than you planned, haven’t you?
Well, fear not. Fresh from her hun-tastic guest appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, chart-topper Michelle McManus is back on our screens to get your day off to an extra festive start with not one but two Christmas choirs belting their way through some of your classic faves.
When’s it on? 8am on BBC Two
The Nutcracker From The Royal Ballet
Tell me more: BBC Two always has something cultural on for us on the morning of Christmas Day, and it doesn’t get much more festive than The Nutcracker, does it?
Always nice to have something high-brow on in the background while you sip your second Bucks Fizz of the day and slyly break into the Celebrations, isn’t it?
When’s it on? 11.25am on BBC Two
Matilda The Musical
Tell me more: The film adaptation of the much-loved West End musical premiered to near-unanimous praise in 2022, and if you’ve not checked it out yet, Christmas Day seems like an opportune moment.
While at first glance it might look like it’s geared solely at younger viewers, this is a family musical comedy that everyone will enjoy, with performances from greats like Stephen Merchant, Andrea Riseborough, rising star Alisha Weir and the incomparable Dame Emma Thompson at her most menacing as Miss Trunchbull.
When’s it on? 1pm on BBC One
The Scarecrows’ Wedding
Tell me more: It’s become something of a festive tradition for the BBC to have some wholesome animation in the middle of the afternoon, presumably intended to give children around the country to focus their attention on for 20 minutes.
In 2025, we’re getting a new adaptation of The Scarecrows’ Wedding from The Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson, about two straw creations who learn an important lesson about why all being together matters more than anything else on their big day.
When’s it on? 3.10pm on BBC One
Gladiators: Celebrity Special
Tell me more: There’s just something extra-nostalgic about settling in to watch a celebrity special of Gladiators on Christmas Day.
Admittedly, the current crop of Gladiators have now become celebrities in their own right, but their star-studded competitors this time around will include reality star Sam Thompson and the Body Coach himself, Joe Wicks.
When’s it on? 3.35pm on BBC One
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special
Tell me more: This year’s festive special of Christmas Day is a bittersweet one.
As well as six new brand new celebrities being put through their paces by Strictly’s resident pros – not to mention the daunting task of facing the judges – the one-off episode will also feature the final farewell of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who stepped down as hosts of the long-running BBC dance show earlier this year.
When’s it on? 5.30pm on BBC One
Channel 4’s Alternative Christmas Message
Tell me more: Channel 4 has pulled out all the stops for its annual “alternative” Christmas message – recruiting US talk show legend Jimmy Kimmel to deliver a national address to us from across the pond.
Given the year he’s had, it’s perhaps not surprising that the topic of freedom of speech will be at the top of the agenda…
When’s it on? 5.45pm on Channel 4
Michael McIntyre’s Christmas Wheel
Tell me more: In the annual festive special of The Wheel, there are celebrities on both sides of the game, playing to win money for charity as well as offering their expertise from the perimeter of the titular wheel.
Richard Osman, Mel Giedroyc and Paddy McGuinness will be answering questions with help from guests including Big Narstie, Gladiators’ own Harry “Nitro” Aikines-Aryeetey and the modern-day king and queen of Christmas, Gavin & Stacey’s Mat Horne and Joanna Page.
When’s it on? 6.45pm on BBC One
The Great Christmas Bake Off
Tell me more: After past specials featuring the casts of Heartstopper, Derry Girls and It’s A Sin, Channel 4 has pulled it out of the bag this year, roping in the cast of Peep Show to face judgement from Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
Yes, that includes Oscar winner Olivia Colman herself.
When’s it on? 8pm on Channel 4
Call The Midwife
Tell me more: For us, one of the wholesome moments on Christmas Day comes when we get to snuggle up and check in with our favourite sisters in Poplar.
In this year’s Call The Midwife special, the nuns of Nonnatus House find themselves voyaging across the globe to to lend their aid after a disaster in Hong Kong, as part of a two-part storyline, culminating in a second Boxing Day episode.
When’s it on? 8.15pm on BBC One
Amandaland
Tell me more: Motherland spin-off Amandaland is back for a festive stand-alone episode, ahead of next year’s second season.
As if the prospect of more Amandaland isn’t enticing enough, the prospect of a reunion between former Ab Fab co-stars Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders as part of the fun is definitely enough to get us tuning in.
When’s it on? 9.15pm on BBC One
The 1% Club Christmas Special
Tell me more: We’re going to be honest and say that ITV’s festive schedule, by and large, left little to be desired this year. However, The 1% Club has grown quite an impressive following in the last few years, and we reckon plenty of people will be tuning in to watch this seasonal episode.
Hosted by Lee Mack, the festive special will consist entirely of questions about Christmas, which, at the very least, should help keep the conversation going when everyone is starting to fear they’ve overdone it on chocolate and/or Baileys.
When’s it on? 9.15pm on ITV1
Mrs Brown’s Boys
Tell me more: Now, listen.
What we’re not saying is that you should watch Mrs Brown’s Boys. But if you were already planning on tuning in anyway, at least now you know when and where you can.
When’s it on? 10.15pm on BBC One
When Harry Met Sally
Tell me more: In those moments when you’re trying to stop Christmas being over, discovering a late-night film is always a good way of stopping everyone from going to bed and drawing the day to an end. The fact that this one ends at a crucial New Year’s Eve party also means you can go out on a high, looking forward to the week ahead.
Plus, following the recent tragic death of director Rob Reiner, this offers us all a chance to celebrate one of his most-loved movies, the game-changing rom-com When Harry Met Sally.
When’s it on? 11.35pm on BBC Two
Stranger Things
Tell me more: OK, this one is potentially cheating, as it technically begins streaming in the early hours of Boxing Day here in the UK.
But for any Stranger Things fans who can’t wait another second to find out what’s next for the Hawkins gang, this is your time to grab yourself a coffee and stay up an extra few hours, ahead of the final instalment on New Year’s Day.
When’s it on? From 1am on Netflix
Check out more of our top picks to watch over the festive season here, and which films are airing on TV between now and New Year here.