There’s so much great TV on over the Christmas season.
When does the Christmas season start? Feck it, it starts now. You’ve our permission to leave your desk and not return until the New Year.
As we frequently do, we’ll be bringing you the best films on TV for each day over the festive season, but with so much great TV to choose from, we’ve decided to look at some of the best shows, documentaries and specials that will be on the box over the next 10 days or so.
With The Inbetweeners reunion, Season 5 of Luther, The Young Offenders Christmas Special, and documentaries about Billy Connolly, Bruce Springsteen, and Phil Lynott to come, there’s plenty of great TV to enjoy this Christmas season.
Given the jam-packed schedule and the fact that there are about 2,793 channels to choose from, we’ve done our best to make this as broad and multi-ranging as possible.
Also, there will always be some days where the schedule is just brimming with films only, so bear with us; fans of certain shows like Doctor Who, Strictly Come Dancing, etc. will already know the craic by now (they’re Christmas institutions) with regards to when they’ll be going out on air.
Here’s a sample of what’s in store along with a brief summary for some of the lesser-known titles.
22 December
Watership Down – BBC One, 19:00
The seminal animation that traumatised an entire generation is back and the cast is seriously impressive.
Billy Connolly & Me – Virgin Media One, 23:40
23 December
The Young Offenders Christmas Special – BBC One, 23:15
Father Ted Christmas Special – Channel 4, 22:00
Christmas Eve
Gogglebox 2018 Special – Channel 4, 21:00
Christmas Day
A League of Their Own Christmas Special – Sky One, 23:15
Have I Got A Bit More For You 2018 – BBC One, 23:50
St Stephen’s Day
Big Fat Quiz of the Year – Channel 4, 21:00
The ABC Murders – BBC One, 21:00
Agatha Christie’s beloved murder mystery gets a star-studded adaptation as Hercule Poirot, Arthur Hastings and Chief Inspector Japp contend with a series of killings by a mysterious murderer known only as “A.B.C.”.
27 December
Ireland’s Hockey World Cup: Live Like Legends – BBC Two, 19:00
Frankie Boyle’s New World Order – Channel 4, 22:00
The comedian’s take on everything that happened in 2018.
28 December
Take That – BBC One, 19:00
If you’ve got the patience then fans of the iconic boyband will love this intimate special featuring anecdotes and tunes.
Billy Connolly: Made in Scotland – BBC 2, 21:00
The crown jewel in a night dedicated to The Big Yin, this travel documentary is bound to please fans of the gifted comedian.
That Was 2018 – Virgin Media One, 21:00
Who doesn’t love a good magazine round-up show?
29 December
The Chase: The Bloopers – Virgin Media One, 19:00
30 December
Les Miserables – BBC One, 21:00
Based on the original novel, the series with will star Dominic West, David Oyelowo, and Lily Collins.
New Year’s Eve
MOTD: The 2018 World Cup Story – BBC One, 14:10
Graham Norton Special – BBC One, 22:40
New Year’s Day
Luther, Season 5 – BBC One, 21:00
Escape at Dannemora – Sky Atlantic, 21:00
The headline-making true story of a 2015 prison break in upstate New York, which spawned a massive manhunt for two convicted murderers, who were aided in their escape by a married female prison employee with whom they both became sexually entangled.
The Inbetweeners Reunion Special – Channel 4, – 21:00
