If, however, you’re the sort of person who’s gasping for end-of-year cheer like it’s the last bottle of Evian in a hot, empty desert, then step this way. We’ve collected up all the festive TV specials airing in the UK over Christmas 2020, so you can start mentally circling the ones in your personal schedule. It being early, there are still announcements to be made, so check back here for updates. Ditto for official air dates and times, which are thin on the ground until the channels lock in their schedules. We’ll pop back and add those in as they’re confirmed. Starting with our top five picks, here’s a list of everything on the way… Air date: Friday 1st January, BBC One
2. Ghosts: Christmas Special
The Ghosts Christmas special is so good, there should be a new one every year. It’s Christmas in Button House and Mike is determined to give his visiting family the perfect Christmas, if they’ll let him. And if his other family – the houseful of historical ghosts only wife Alison can see and hear – behave. 1990s MP Julian is the Ebenezer Scrooge in need of a lesson on the true meaning of Christmas in this terrific family comedy. Air date: Wednesday 23rd December, 8.30pm, BBC One
3. Taskmaster: Christmas Special
We don’t yet know the identities of the five contestants competing in the very first Taskmaster festive special, but we know that they are all brand new to the 10-series comedy, and have been described as “experts in their respective fields”… Fingers crossed for Christmas-themed tasks. Air date: Friday 1st January, 9pm, Channel 4 Air date: Sunday 20th December, 7.10pm, BBC One
5. Roald & Beatrix, the Tail of the Curious Mouse
From the producers of Sherlock and Dracula, this festive family comedy-drama promises to be something quite special. It reimagines the real-life meeting of two of the UK’s biggest names in children’s literature: Beatrix Potter (played by Dawn French) and Roald Dahl, back when Potter was a recluse and Dahl was a child. Expect puppetry, animation, a host of guest stars and voices, and lots of snow, from Inside No. 9 director David Kerr. Air date: Thursday 24th December, 8.15pm, Sky One
COMEDY
Motherland Christmas Special
Top BBC Two parenting sitcom Motherhood returns for a festive special ahead of its third series coming next year. You are cordially invited to Amanda’s annual seasonal soiree… Anna Maxwell-Martin, Diane Morgan, Lucy Punch and Paul Ready star. Air date: Wednesday 23rd December, BBC Two, 9pm Air date: Monday 21st December, 9pm, BBC Two
Not Going Out Christmas Special
Lee Mack’s long-running BBC One sitcom is back for another Christmas instalment, filmed under Covid-safe conditions this August. Expect a dedication to dearly departed cast member Bobby Ball. Air date: Wednesday 30th December, 9pm, BBC One
Pandemonium
Katherine Parkinson and Alison Steadman star in this one-off BBC comedy about a family forced to cancel their dream holiday to California, who end up in Margate over the Christmas season. Air date: Wednesday 30th December, 9.45pm, BBC One Air date: starts 7th December, BBC One.
King Gary Christmas Special
Tom Davis returns as Gary King, builder, father, B-B-Q haver, and lover of Terri (the brilliantly funny Laura Checkley) in the first ever King Gary Christmas special. Gary obsesses over making the Crescent’s Christmas lights shine brighter than any others, while Terri tackles their son losing the festive spirit, and Gary’s parents deal with some house guests from hell. Air date: Wednesday 23rd December, 10pm, BBC One
Birds of a Feather Christmas Special
Filmed under special Covid-19 regulations, this extended ITV comedy special sees Tracey and Dorien living together in lockdown, while Sharon is stuck on a cruise ship. Les Dennis guest stars. Air date: Thursday 24th December, 9pm. ITV1 Air date: Friday 25th December, 10pm, BBC One
The Goes Wrong Show
This BBC comedy imported from the stage is fresh from its first full series and guarantees family fun. A nativity play from enthusiastic amateurs the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society? What could possibly go wrong? Air date: Tuesday 22nd December, 7pm, BBC One
DRAMA
The Serpent
Jenna Coleman stars alongside Tahar Rahim in this eight-part globetrotting BBC-Netflix drama inspired by the real-life capture of murder suspects Charles Sobhraj and Marie-Andrée Leclerc. Air date: Friday 1st January, BBC One, 9pm. Air date: TBC
Call the Midwife Christmas Special
The circus is coming to town in the Call the Midwife Christmas special, and its ringmaster will be played by former Doctor, Peter Davison. Set in 1965, it promises to be the usual mix of heart-warming goodness and flinty eyed comment on the absolute golden necessity of the NHS. Air date: 25th December, 7pm, BBC One
Black Narcissus
Gemma Arterton and Diana Rigg star in a new BBC three-part adaptation of Rumer Godden’s strange, atmospheric novel – famously adapted into a film in 1947 – about a group of nuns in a remote Himalayan outpost. Air date: TBC Air date: 25th December
CHILDREN’S
Worzel Gummidge: Saucy Nancy
Mackenzie Crook’s reimagined version of the children’s classic scarecrow stories continues with a new one-hour film, featuring Shirley Henderson as the titular Saucy Nancy (played by Barbara Windsor in the Jon Pertwee version), and Vanessa Redgrave. Air date: Thursday 24th December, 5.55pm, BBC One
Zog and the Flying Doctors
Continuing from last year’s utterly charming Zog, this is the fairy tale-bending story of a dragon, a princess and a knight, who all decide to choose a different path in life than the one set out for them. It’s the seventh Julia Donaldon/Axel Scheffler/BBC Christmas adaptation, and promises to be another funny, adorable half hour of TV. Air date: Friday 25th December, 2.35pm, BBC One Air date: Wednesday 23rd December, 8pm, Sky One
Quentin Blake’s Clown
Here’s another lovely half-hour of quiet time with the kids from Channel 4, from the same people who made previous years’ animations of children’s classics The Tiger Who Came To Tea and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. It’s the story of a discarded clown toy who comes to life and goes on an adventure to find a new home for him and his toy pals. Helena Bonham Carter narrates. Air date: Friday 25th December, 7.40pm, Channel 4
Christmas in Storyland
The CBeebies gang is back for another Christmas story featuring a cast of favourites, singing, dancing and interactive fun for little ones. Air date: Saturday 12th December, CBeebies, BBC iPlayer Air date: Sunday 13th December, 8.30pm, BBC Two
The Great Christmas Bake-Off
It’s cakes. At Christmas. Plus Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas larking about on the theme of cakes. Two brand new episodes will each feature the return of four bakers from previous series. Air date: TBC
The Great Christmas Sewing Bee
The judges will be setting festive sewing challenges to competitors vying for the Christmas crown. Air date: Saturday 26th December, 7.45pm, BBC One Air date: Wednesday 23rd December, 7.30pm, BBC One
Billy Connolly: It’s Been a Pleasure
To mark Billy Connolly’s retirement from stand-up comedy, ITV has put together a send-off featuring new filming with the man himself in his Florida home, and contributions from a host of stars. Air date: TBC
The Story of SM:TV Live
A bit of cosy nostalgia here, as ITV stalwarts Ant, Dec and Cat Deeley revisit their time presenting children’s Saturday morning variety show SMTV: Live. Come for Wonky Donkey, stay for Friends spoof Chums. Air date: TBC Air date: TBC As well as: Top of the Pops New Year and Christmas Specials. A Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Countdown. A Christmas Would I Lie To You? Festive editions of cookery shows from Jamie Oliver, MasterChef and Mary Berry, festive game shows from The Wall, The Wheel, and a new version of Blankety Blank hosted by Bradley Walsh.
