Christmas TV guide and listings 2020: What’s on and when – Series, films and specials on over the Christmas period

Yes, it’s that’s time of year again. Stock up on Quality Street, fetch a large glass of Bailey’s, eggnog or mulled wine and find yourself the best spot on the sofa – the Christmas TV season is nearly upon us.

If you don’t want to miss any of your favourite films and shows, check out our handy guide to all the best Xmas TV on BBC, ITV, Channel 4, NOW TV, Netflix, BritBox and Amazon Prime Video.

All available in one place on your BT TV box.

We’ll show you where to watch the best Christmas movies, from all-time favourites to modern classics.

Get the lowdown on the all-important TV listings for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day - we don't want any arguing over the remote this year!

Whether you're Christmas grinch or all geared up for a festive feast, there is something for everyone in 2020.

What's on TV on Christmas Eve?

What's on TV on Christmas Day?

What's on TV on Boxing Day?

Christmas movies galore on Sky Cinema with NOW TV

The best place to get your Christmas films fix this year is with the Sky Cinema Pass on NOW TV.

Kids (and parents) will love festive delights such as Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf, The Polar Express and Miracle on 34th Street.

And when the kids have gone to bed, why not snuggle down on the sofa for a Christmas classic like Love Actually, It’s A Wonderful Life, The Holiday or Scrooged or a new seasonal treat like Emilia Clarke’s Last Christmas.

Have a Merry Britmas on BritBox

If you want the very best in British Christmas classics then look no further than BritBox. You can currently get a Six Months On Us Offer if you are BT Broadband or BT TV customer and there’s all your favourite shows included to watch over and over again.

Take a trip down memory lane with Christmas editions of All Creatures Great and Small, Allo ‘Allo!, Are You Being Served, Bergerac, Bread, Hi De Hi!, Last of the Summer Wine, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave Em, To the Manor Born, Absolutely Fabulous, Birds of a Feather, Blackadder, French and Saunders, Gavin & Stacey, Keeping Up Appearances, Only Fools and Horses, The Good Life, The Vicar of Dibley, Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife, The Catherine Tate Show and many more.

Best new Drama

Doctor Who

BBC One, New Year's Day

It’s been a long wait for Who fans, but the show’s back with a bang at Christmas as Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill, Tosin Cole and Bradley Walsh team up in Revolution of the Daleks.

Prepare yourselves the biggest battle yet this Christmas with the Doctor’s team taking on the most feared enemy.

Oh and did we forget to mention... Captain Jack is back!

The Serpent

BBC One, New Year's Day, 9pm

Tahar Rahim, Jenna Coleman, Billy Howle and Ellie Bamber star in The Serpent, a new eight-part drama for BBC One.

Inspired by real events, The Serpent tells the remarkable story of how Charles Sobhraj (Rahim) was captured. As the chief suspect in unsolved murders of young Western travellers across India, Thailand and Nepal’s ‘Hippie Trail’ in 1975 and 1976, Sobhraj had repeatedly slipped from the grasp of authorities worldwide to become Interpol's most wanted man, with arrest warrants on three different continents.

Call the Midwife

BBC One, Christmas Day, 7.40pm

The Nonnatus House ladies managed to finish filming the Christmas special during the summer, so fans can look forward to the usual mix of tears, joy and festive cheer.

This year’s Christmas special is set in December 1965 and everyone at Nonnatus House is looking forward to traditional celebrations with all the trimmings, but nothing goes quite to plan.

Sister Monica Joan is rushed to hospital, and Trixie is incensed to receive a subscription to a Marriage Bureau as a Christmas gift.

All the regular cast are back for the special and they will be joined by guest star Peter Davison, above, who plays a visiting circus ringmaster, Mr Percival.

Coronation Street 60th birthday

Across December, ITV

It’s going to be the biggest Christmas ever in Corrie as the show celebrates its 60th anniversary on December 9.

The anniversary week will see three storylines reach spectacular conclusions, while at the same time starting new chains of events which will take the show into 2021.

At the centre of the anniversary drama is of course Coronation Street itself as the residents unite to save the cobbles from the dastardly dealings of Ray Crosby. Having bought up most of the property and businesses in the area, Ray is ready to flatten the lot to make way for his new development. As the bulldozers arrive on the cobbles the race is on to save Britain’s most famous street.

Black Narcissus

BBC One, December 27, 9pm

Starring Gemma Arterton, Jim Broadbent and the late Diana Rigg, this three-part drama is set during the latter years of British rule in India.

An ambitious story with a haunting atmosphere, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about this explosive series.

Best Comedy

The Vicar of Dibley

BBC One, Monday, December 7

“Back in the dog collar, back in Dibley and back on your telly at Xmas,” said Dawn French, celebrating the return of one of the country’s biggest ever sitcoms.

However, like everything in 2020, the sitcom will look a little different this year.

Geraldine has been writing and delivering monthly sermons to her parishioners via Zoom… when she can make it work.

These new thoughts on life (and chocolate) will air after repeat showings of classic episodes.

Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Christmas Fishing

BBC Two

This hour-long Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Christmas Fishing follows Bob Mortimer returning to his childhood roots in Middlesbrough where he will fish the River Esk and Tees with his dear friend and angling mentor Paul Whitehouse.

As well as trying to catch the glorious Grayling, Bob is also going to try to ignite the joy of Christmas in Paul, who thinks the magic of the season has been lost to commercialism.

Bob will host their office party for two, help cook a memorable Christmas dinner and together they will chat to fellow Middlesbrough lad Chris Rea. They also meet Laurie, from a national charity organisation, who tells us how we can all look out for lonely people over the holidays.

Will Paul finally see the magic of Christmas through Bob’s eyes? 

Meet the Richardsons

Dave, Wednesday December 9 and 16

Prepare yourself for a family Christmas quite unlike anything you’ve seen before in Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont’s award-winning series Meet the Richardsons.

The funny and frustrated marriage of Jon and Lucy gets even tenser over the holidays and a special guest visitor at the Dog and Bastard causes festive carnage for the couple.

Motherland Christmas Special

BBC Two

If it’s Christmas, it’s time for Amanda’s (Lucy Punch) Annual Seasonal Soiree (dress code: Tinsel and Tiaras!).

Nothing says festive like Evil Santa, a thirty-foot Christmas Tree and very strict rules about where you can and can’t drink mulled wine. Only Meg (Tanya Moodie) has an official party invite but Julia (Anna Maxwell Martin), Kevin (Paul Ready) and Liz (Diane Morgan) tag along as her plus threes.

Apart from Anne (Phillipa Dunne), the gang find the other guests a little frosty, but for Julia it’s still a welcome distraction from playing festive butler to a houseful of in-laws. Liz is trying to ignore Christmas altogether whilst Kevin is single-handedly stuffing, wrapping, roasting, parboiling, laying up, washing up and decorating everything he can lay his hands on.

Celebrity Juice Christmas

ITV2

Keith Lemon will bring in the festive cheer in his own ‘unique’ way on ITV2 as the Juice team serves up a cocktail of outrageous games and celebrity guests.

Team captains Emily Atack and Laura Whitmore will be joined by Maya Jama, Paddy McGuinness, Paloma Faith and Ricky Wilson for the Christmas special.

Would I Lie To You? At Christmas

BBC One

Rob Brydon, Lee Mack and David Mitchell return for a seasonal special packed with tremendous truths and festive fibs.

Joining them are guests Jo Brand, Joe Lycett, Joe Swash and Ruth Madeley, and the questions posed include: did Joe Lycett once fall out with his family over the number of doof-doofs at the end of EastEnders?

Did Joe Swash once programme his satnav incorrectly, meaning his mum’s trip to Lakeside ended up in the Lake District? And did David Mitchell once hold up a train in order to get his daughter’s cuddly toy back?

Ghosts Christmas Special

BBC One

The hugely successful sitcom from the creators and stars of Yonderland, Bill and Horrible Histories is bringing the spirit of Christmas to BBC One this festive season.

It’s Christmas at Button House, and as Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) and Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe) are hosting his family for the first time, Mike is determined to make it perfect. However his plan to make his parents relax may be optimistic. Alison is also determined to deliver the best Christmas ever for the living and the dead, although the latter aren’t filled with festive cheer. It turns out Christmas just isn’t that much fun when you’re deceased. A new arrival in the house forces Julian (Simon Farnaby) to confront past wrongs and as he delves into memories of his former life, he has a revelation that could help the ghosts rediscover the real message of Christmas..

Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas Special

BBC One

Love it or hate it, it simply wouldn’t be Christmas without Mrs Brown’s Boys on the BBC.

Brendan O’Carroll and his gang are back for two new episodes of outrageous fun including Agnes coping with lockdown, a flasher called Knickie Knackie Dickie and a burglary.

Not Going Out Christmas Special

BBC One

A chance to see the late great Bobby Ball in action as he joins Lee Mack and Sally Bretton in a New Year’s Eve themed episode.

A no-holds-barred round of New Year’s Resolutions spark family fireworks for Lee and Lucy as things get a little too personal. It looks like it will be far from a  Happy New Year in suburbia.

King Gary Christmas Special

BBC One, Wednesday December 23, 10pm

The larger than life family sitcom is back for a festive special.

The Butterchurn Crescent Christmas Light Display is set to brighten up the neighbourhood after a tough year, but the festivities are under threat when Gary (Tom Davis) learns that his neighbours simply can’t afford the ‘leccy' bill.

When Gary potentially lands a new contract at work he takes it upon himself to save the lights and indeed save Christmas.

Happy Birthday Mr Bean

ITV

It’s 30 years since Rowan Atkinson’s hapless hero first appeared on TV and ITV are celebrating with a birthday documentary looking back at the show’s magical moments.

With classic clips and interviews from key creators, including Rowan Atkinson, we’ll hear how Mr Bean became a global superstar.

Billy Connolly: It’s Been a Pleasure…

ITV

To mark Billy Connolly’s retirement from stand-up comedy, this star-studded one-hour special celebrates the Big Yin's anarchic genius and life-affirming brand of humour.

Built around brand new filming with Billy at his home in the Florida Keys, this fond, uproariously funny tribute will look back at his illustrious comedy career. The special features Billy’s greatest stand-up moments, unseen performance footage and exclusive chats with some of Billy’s most famous fans.

An uplifting, emotional and hilarious hour in the company of the legendary Connolly at his entertaining best. It will make you laugh, it may even make you cry. A fitting send-off for a stand-up megastar.

Birds of a Feather

ITV

The Essex girls are back, but this time there’s only Tracey (Linda Robson) and Dorien (Lesley Joseph) as Sharon is stuck on a Covid-cruise - in reality actress Pauline Quirke has stepped back from acting to concentrate on her academy of the performing arts.

It’s been three years since we last saw the Birds, after Tracey reluctantly sold the house they all shared to Dorien and it should come as no surprise that the women have been getting right on each others’ thruppennies.

The special also features Les Dennis as Dorien’s new flame Graeme.

It’s Clarkson On TV

ITV

The Grand Tour presenter and broadcaster will be reviewing the best, worst and most bizarre TV offerings of 2020, a year in which a housebound nation has enjoyed more telly than ever - whether it wanted to or not.

With his signature caustic delivery, he will pass judgement on what the great British public watched (and didn’t), and what fascinating foreign TV shows managed to make it to air.

If you ever wondered what Jeremy Clarkson would make of Love is Blind or Selling Sunset, you may soon have the answer.

Best Kids TV

Zog and the Flying Doctors

BBC One, Christmas Day

The latest magical kids film from Julia Donaldson and the team behind The Gruffalo, Stick Man and Room on the Broom is Zog and the Flying Doctors.

Zog, Pearl and Gadabout are now a flying doctor trio, caring for creatures including a mermaid, a unicorn and a sneezy lion. However, when bad weather forces them to land at the palace, Pearl is locked up by her uncle, the King.

Zog and Gadabout try in vain to set her free. Pearl gets a chance to escape, but instead decides to stay and care for the ill King, in the process gaining his respect and regaining his love and with it her freedom.

Quentin Blake’s Clown

Channel 4

Quentin Blake’s Clown is inspired by a book of the children's book of the same name and one of Sir Quentin’s favourites amongst his title.

A half-hour animation, narrated by Helena Bonham Carter, brings to life the adventures of a little toy clown, thrown away with a load of old discarded toys, as he goes on a journey to find a new loving home for himself and his friends.

Christmas In Storyland

CBeebies, Saturday December 12

With no pantos or Christmas parties this year, CBeebies and CBBC are doing their bit to create some stay-at-home fun. Families can join in with the CBeebies Christmas In Storyland show with a mass pyjama party across the country.

Christmas in Storyland is set in an enchanting world, featuring a cast of CBeebies favourites, upbeat songs and dances and a range of characters including a yodelling Yeti and singing sea creatures to bring much welcomed Christmas joy to living rooms across the UK.

It follows the tale of Dillydally the Delivery Elf, played by Andy Day and his boss Head Elf Jiffy, played by Jennie Dale, as they set out on a quest to deliver a stocking full of Christmas goodies. Their journey will take them deep under the ocean, high up to castles in the clouds, via the solar system and through the snow-capped mountains.

Worzel Gummidge: Saucy Nancy

BBC One

A brand new beautifully crafted and magical one-hour film from Mackenzie Crook’s Worzel Gummidge,

With Shirley Henderson (Harry Potter) as Saucy Nancy and Vanessa Redgrave as Peg, the whole family will adore this wild and spectacular adventure.

Best TV food shows

The Great Christmas Bake Off

Channel 4

Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith and Matt Lucas are joined by Bake Off: The Professionals host Tom Allen as they celebrate Christmas in the famous white tent.

Also invited to the celebrations are Jamie and Rosie from 2019, Ruby from 2018 and James from 2017, all back and ready to battle in the festive fight for the Christmas Star Baker title.

Jamie: Keep Cooking at Christmas

Channel 4

Jamie is back with two brand new specials, offering a helpful guide to the whole festive season.  

The Oliver family invite us to Essex to get into the Christmas spirit as they prepare for their own family celebrations. From creating edible presents for those we can’t meet in person, to ideas for a gorgeous Christmas dinner with our more immediate family and ways to reinvent the leftovers we might have this year, Jamie has handy hints and tips for a bespoke Christmas to fit the current times.

Big Zuu's Christmas Eats

Dave, Friday December 11 and 18

Get ready for a next level Christmas dinner.

Not one but two Christmas specials of hit series Big Zuu’s Big Eats are coming in December to Dave.  Big Zuu’s Christmas Eats specials each include four guests being treated to a fine festive feast cooked by Big Zuu and his sous chef Hyder and chief taster Tubsey.

For the Comedy Special, stand-up comedians and series one guests Phil Wang, Desiree Burch, Ed Gamble and Rosie Jones return for more of Zuu’s delicious eats but not before he takes them on some festive foraging.  

In the Music Special, Big Zuu is joined by some mega musician friends including one of the UK’s biggest rappers AJ Tracey, grime MC JME with his sister and radio presenter Julie Adenuga and hip-hop musician Loyle Carner. 

Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat Christmas Special

BBC Two

The Christmas tree is up, the tea lights are sparkling, wood burns in the fire pit... From gloriously pink cocktails to doughnuts the festive season is upon us and Nigella brings joy, warmth and a little kitchen table tourism with food to brighten up even the darkest days.

Outside in her garden Nigella enjoys the first of many treats, her delicious Linzer cookies and then she is off for a wintery walk through the woods where she divulges her plans and menus for a festive feast.

BBC iPlayer’s Christmas feast

iPlayer

Don’t get stuck with the usual dry turkey sandwiches on Boxing Day this year. The BBC has tons of festive food inspiration from Nadiya, Nigella and a library of cooking classics such as Keith Floyd, Rick Stein and even good old Fanny Craddock.

James Martin’s Christmas Day

ITV

For the first time ever on Christmas Day, James will kick off the nation’s afternoon celebrations in style as he serves up a fantastic feast of festive food and entertainment. There’ll be a mouth-watering recipe from the Michelin-starred Tom Kerridge, plus The Ritz’s head chef John Williams and Bake Off Creme De La Creme winner Mark Tilling will be treating viewers to some of his deliciously decadent chocolate creations.

If you’ve still got room for more, James will be serving up a delicious dish with a little help from a British food hero and laying on a culinary Masterclass that will teach you how to cook a true Christmas classic.

Ainsley’s Festive Food We Love

ITV

Who wouldn’t want to spend Christmas with Ainsley Harriott? The much-loved TV star is bringing holiday cheer to kitchens with a Christmas edition of his Saturday cooking show - Ainsley’s Festive Food We Love. There’s festive bubble patties, Thai turkey and coconut broth with chilli, coconut and coriander scones plus chocolate bread and butter pudding with spiced cherries. If that wasn’t enough, he’s got drinks expert Olly Smith on hand to mix up some jolly tipples - including a naughty boozy chocolate milkshake.

Entertainment

Gary Barlow's Night at the Museum

ITV

The Take That star wants to end the year in spectacular fashion with a concert of new music as well as some of his greatest hits, accompanied by an orchestra, in the splendid setting of London’s iconic Natural History Museum.

Gary will be joined through the night by a range of special guests, including global superstar and friend Michael Bublé.

Michael Palin: Travels Of A Lifetime

BBC Two

In this brand new special, Michael will be turning his attention to Himalaya, an astonishing journey of discovery that Michael made at the age of 60 in 2004.

For years, the Himalayas represented one of the ultimate tests of exploration. In this series, Michael tests himself against the mountain range, venturing through India, Pakistan, passing through the shadow of Mount Everest, the Tibetan Plateau and Bhutan.

"For me, the word 'Himalaya' evoked the spectacular, the beautiful and the downright dangerous," Palin says 16 years later.

"It’s a name everyone had heard of, but most people, myself included, didn’t really know. Since I was a boy reading about the adventures of Hillary and Tensing, the Himalaya had been one of those epic destinations that seemed more mythical than real.”

The Chase Christmas specials

ITV

The Chase gets in the festive spirit not once but three times across the holidays. On Christmas Day the Chasers don their best party wear for a celebrity special with Colin Jackson, Anne Diamond, Josie Long and Nicky Campbell. On Boxing Day it’s Tim Lovejoy, Kay Burley, Eni Aluko and Richard Herring taking on the quizzing pros. And to round out the festive specials, there’s this year’s hilarious bloopers episode, too.

Dancing on Thin Ice with Torvill & Dean

ITV

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have spent a remarkable 45 years on the ice together, but astonishingly have never skated in the great outdoors. Now, in this unique, magical, 90-minute special, the pair will travel to Alaska on an extraordinary quest to fulfil a life-long dream. On their way, they discover first-hand the dramatic effects of climate change.

From train to husky sled, from frozen lakes to glaciers, it will be a spectacular journey.

Gordon, Gino and Fred: Desperately Seeking Santa

ITV

Gordon, Gino and Fred are back for another extraordinary culinary Christmas adventure. After Gino led them to the deserts of Morocco on last year’s misadventure, Gordon is determined that they celebrate the season properly this time, so he has arranged a trip to the ultimate winter wonderland destination and the official home of Santa.

This year the boys and their trusty RV will be in Lapland to experience a treasure trove of festive fare and meet Father Christmas in person. Standby for a unique Christmas cracker!

The Story of SM:TV Live

ITV

Chums, Challenge Ant, Wonky Donkey! If these words mean anything to you, it probably means you grew up watching SM:TV Live on Saturday morning telly,

Ant and Dec reunite with their old pal Cat Deeley for this nostalgic look back at one of the greatest kids' shows of all time.

The series catapulted Ant and Dec into the mainstream and this documentary will pull back the curtain on what really happened behind the scenes in the studio.

Britain’s Got Talent at Christmas

ITV

Britain’s Got Talent is back for a spectacular Christmas special as ITV welcome to the stage the most memorable and talented acts from the past 14 years.

Keeping the festivities in order will be the nation’s favourite presenting duo, Ant and Dec. Joining them will be our judging panel Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, David Walliams and Ashley Banjo, who will be ready to be impressed by a whole host of talent.

Best Christmas films on Netflix

If you love an old-fashioned, warm-hearted Christmas movie, Netflix is the place to be. Alongside festive favourites such as Nativity and Arthur Christmas, they’ve got piles of tinsel-covered Netflix Original films.

New for 2020 are The Holidate with Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey, Dolly Parton's festive love story Operation Christmas Drop and dazzling new family movies Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey and The Christmas Chronicle 2, starring Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn.

Best Christmas films on Amazon Prime Video

Prime Video are all geared up for Christmas with a bumper collection of movies and specials to enjoy over the holidays.

From Stick Man, The Holiday and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation to Deck the Halls and Christmas With The Kranks, there are loads of reasons to have a night in front of Prime Video this December.