Christmas TV guide 2017 UK: Full list of highlights from BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky
CHRISTMAS is nearly upon us and with it comes a whole host of festive specials but what’s on TV on Christmas? Here is our guide to the best shows and films to watch.
The Highway Rat - Christmas Day, BBC One, 4.45pm
The Highway Rat is an adaptation of the children’s book by Julia Donaldson.
The Sky family film sees a plucky and ravenous rat robbing other animals on the highway for sweet treats.
However, the rat - voiced by Doctor Who star David Tennant - ends up meeting a rather sticky end when his sweet tooth gets the better of him.
Doctor Who: Twice Upon A Time - Christmas Day, BBC One - 5.30pm
The highly-anticipated Doctor Who Christmas special marks the last for Peter Capaldi as Jodie Whittaker makes her debut as the first female Time Lord.
The episode will also see David Bradley taking on the role of the first incarnation, originally play by William Hartnell.
Strictly Come Dancing - Christmas Day, BBC One - 6.30pm
Six former contestants return to Strictly Come Dancing and battle each other for the special Christmas trophy.
Robbie Savage, Katie Derham, Jeremy Vine, Kimberley Walsh, Judy Murray and Colin Jackson will be taking part on the programme.
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EastEnders - Christmas Day BBC One - 9pm
Soap fans can get their annual dose of festive misery from Walford when bad boy Max Branning (played by Jake Wood) meets his comeuppance.
Mrs Brown's Boys - Christmas Day, BBC One - 10pm
Mammy (Brendan O’Carroll) returns for more Yuletide shenanigans which include a special Christmas tree and Father Damien’s neighbourhood watch.
There will also be a storyline involving Rory’s plastic surgery to explain star Rory Cowan’s departure from the programme.
300 Years of French & Saunders - Christmas Day, BBC One - 10.35pm
The beloved comedic duo are back again to mark their 30th anniversary special.
Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders have some brand spanking new material as well as some golden oldies and never-before-seen footage.
It’s slated to be the most explosive episode of the festive drama of the history of the show.
CHANNEL 4
Call the Midwife - Christmas Day, BBC One, 7.40pm
Fans of the period drama get their festive instalment of Call the Midwife which focuses on the big freeze of 1963.
Victoria - Christmas Day, ITV, 9pm
Jenna Coleman reprises her role as the young monarch for the feature-length special called Comfort and Joy.
The two-hour instalment sees the queen and her husband Prince Albert (Tom Hughes) at odds with one another.
The Great Christmas Bake Off - Christmas Day, Channel 4 - 7.40pm
Four contestants from previous Bake Offs will be making a comeback as they face a new set to challenges in the famous white tent.
Selasi, Val, Paul and Beca will be challenged by Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
BBC
Little Women - Boxing Day, BBC One - 8pm
This new adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic coming-of-age story will be airing over three consecutive nights.
Wth a fresh-faced cast of newcomers portraying the March sisters, including Uma Thurman’s daughter Maya Hawke.
Supporting roles come from Emily Watson, Sir Michael Gambon and Angela Lansbury.
The Miniaturist - Boxing Day, BBC One - 9pm
The two-part drama is pasted on Jessie Burton’s novel of the same name and star Ramola Garai.
Set in 1686 Amsterdam, this is a creepy tale involving a doll’s house with little figurines living in them that have been sent by an unknown miniaturist.
Birds of a Feather - Boxing Day, ITV, 10.15pm
The central foursome are back for more festive fun, this time Sharon (Pauline Quirke) takes a new approach to Christmas shopping.
McMafia - New Year's Day, BBC One, 9pm
James Norton gives a fine audition for James Bond in this action-packed eight-part thriller about international organised crime.
Featuring an international cast, McMafia is set to be the new Night Manager.
Fans can catch episode two of McMafia the next day.
Meanwhile, Dorien (Leslie Joseph) will be trying to solve a perplexing mystery.
Here are our picks of the best from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky.
BBC
CHRISTMAS EVE
BBC
Carols from King’s - BBC Two, 5.45pm
Mary, Mel and Sue’s Big Christmas Thank You - BBC One, 7pm
Michael McIntyre’s Big Christmas Show, BBC One, 8.30pm
Not Going Out, BBC One, 9.35pm
The Vicar of Dibley, BBC One, 10.30pm
ITV
Cannonball Christmas Special - 4pm
A Christmas Chase: Celebrity Special - 5.50pm
All Star Musicals - 6.40pm
Maigret in Montmarte - 8.30pm
Channel 4
The Snowman - 5.20pm
The Snowman and the Snowdog - 5.55pm
Child Genius vs Celebrities Christmas Special - 8pm
Gogglebox 2017 - 9pm
Sky
Ratburger - Sky 1, 6pm
CHANNEL 4
Films
Planes - BBC One, 9.05am
Gone with the Wind - Channel 5, 9.20am
The Santa Claus - BBC One, 10.30am
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie - Channel 4, 6.55am
Jack Frost - ITV, 9.55am
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - ITV, 12.55pm
Oklahoma! - Channel 5, 1.35pm
The Farmer's Llamas - BBC One, 1.45pm
Monsters University - BBC One, 2.20pm
The Borrowers - Channel 4, 3.35pm
Home - BBC One, 4.10pm
Scrooge - Channel 5, 4.15pm
Agatha Christie's Crooked House - Channel 5, 6pm
The Muppet Christmas Carol - Channel 4, 6.30pm
The Great Gatsby - BBC Two, 9.30pm
BBC
CHRISTMAS DAY
BBC
The Highway Rat - BBC One - 4.45pm
Doctor Who: Twice Upon A Time - BBC One - 5.30pm
Strictly Come Dancing - BBC One - 6.30pm
EastEnders - BBC One - 9pm
Mrs Brown's Boys - BBC One - 10pm
300 Years of French & Saunders - BBC One - 10.35pm
Call the Midwife - BBC One, 7.40pm
ITV
Emmerdale - 5.50pm
Coronation Street - 8pm
Victoria - 9pm
Channel 4
The Great Christmas Bake Off - Channel 4 - 7.40pm
BBC
Films
Singing’ in the Rain - Channel 5, 1.05pm
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers - Channel 5, 11.05am
Mr Bean’s Holiday - ITV, 11.10am
The Importance of Being Earnest - BBC Two, 12.15pm
Toy Story 3 - BBC One, 1.20pm
Cinderella - BBC One, 3.10pm
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - ITV, 3.10pm
Oliver! - Channel 5, 3.10pm
Dumbo - Channel 4, 4.30pm
Home Alone - Channel 4, 5.50pm
Mrs Henderson Presents - BBC Two, 11.05pm
The Holiday - ITV, 11.15pm
ITV
BOXING DAY
BBC
Mary, Mel and Sue's Big Christmas Thank You - BBC One - 11.25am
Snow Bears - BBC One - 6.30pm
EastEnders - BBC One - 7.30pm
Little Women - BBC One - 8pm
The Miniaturist - BBC One - 9pm
ITV
Emmerdale - 6.10pm
Coronation Street - 9pm
Birds of a Feather - 10.15pm
Channel 4
Travel Man: 48 Hours in Hong Kong - 8pm
Big Fat Quiz of the Year - 9pm
Films
Tinker Bell and the Legend of Neverbeast - BBC One, 9am
Planes: Fire and Rescue - BBC One, 10.10am
Chariots of Fire - Channel 5, 11.50am
A Hard Day’s Night - BBC Two, 11.55am
Shaun the Sheep Movie - BBC One, 2.10pm
ET: The Extra Terrestrial - ITV, 3.30pm
Mary Poppins - BBC One, 3.45pm
The Little Mermaid - Channel 4, 4.20pm
A Royal Night Out - Channel 5, 5.15pm
Back to the Future - Channel 4, 6pm
Jurassic World - ITV, 6.40pm
Song of the Sea - Channel 4, 6.40am
Chimpanzee - BBC Two, 7.45am
City Dancing - Channel 5, 10pm
Four Weddings and a Funeral - Channel 4, 11.10pm
BBC
NEW YEAR’S EVE
BBC
Top of the Pops New year - BBC One - 4.05pm
Attenborough and the Giant Elephant - BBC One - 5.05pm
Jools's Annual Hooternanny - BBC Two - 11.20pm
New Year’s Eve Fireworks - BBC One - 11.55pm
ITV
A Very Royal Wedding - 2.20pm
Channel 4
Alan Carr’s New Year Spectacular - 9pm
Big Fat Quiz of the Year - 11pm
BBC
Films
The Croods - BBC One, 10.55am
Bedknobs and Broomsticks - BBC One, 1.40pm
We Bought A Zoo - Channel 4, 1.55pm
Groundhog Day - Channel 5, 2.55pm
84 Charing Cross Road - BBC Two, 3.40pm
The Lego Movie - Channel 5, 5pm
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - BBC Two, 5.15pm
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 - ITV, 7.50pm
Into the woods - BBC Two, 8pm
NEW YEAR’S DAY
BBC
Blue Planet II: Oceans of Wonder - BBC One, 3.30pm
Grandpa's Great Escape - BBC One, 6.55pm
EastEnders - BBC One, 8pm
Sue Perkins and the Chimp Sanctuary - BBC Two, 9pm
Mrs Brown's Boys - BBC One, 10pm
McMafia - BBC One, 9pm
ITV
Emmerdale - 7pm
Coronation Street - 7.30pm
Channel 4
The Great Festive Bake Off - 7.40pm
Films
Maleficent - BBC One, 5pm
Cars 2 - BBC One, 9am
On the Town - Channel 5, 9.15am
Bedtime Stories - BBC One, 10.55am
Hugo - Channel 4, 1.10pm
Dance With Wolves - BBC Two, 1.35pm
Shrek Forever After - BBC One, 2.05pm
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - ITV, 3.30pm
Ice Age: The Meltdown - Channel 4, 3.35pm
Spectre - ITV, 8pm
Pitch Perfect 2 - Channel 4, 9pm
Noah - BBC Two, 10pm
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - BBC One, 11pm
