The 10 best TV shows to watch this Christmas

It’s beginning to look a lot like you-know-what as the terrestrial channels confirm their Christmas TV line-ups. But even though the BBC’s festive offering is suddenly minus two MasterChef specials, it remains a strong year for the corporation, while ITV has given up the ghost, with a miserly selection consisting mostly of reruns and old films.

To save you from wading through the listings to separate the plums from the duff, here’s our selection box of the top 10 programmes to watch…

A Ghost Story for Christmas: Woman of Stone

BBC Two, 10.15pm on Christmas Eve; streaming on BBC iPlayer from Christmas Eve morning

Writer-director Mark Gatiss’s atmospheric adaptations of classic spooky stories have become a spine-chilling seasonal tradition. This year, he’s tackled E Nesbit’s Man-Size in Marble. Two Victorian newly-weds are warned that the village church’s tomb effigies rise from their slabs on Christmas Eve. Just local superstition... isn’t it?

Tiddler

BBC One, 2.35pm on Christmas Day; streaming on BBC iPlayer from Christmas Day morning

Another Christmas tradition has become star-studded animations based on the much-loved picture books by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. This Finding Nemo-esque adventure follows a little fish with a big imagination. Hannah Waddingham and Rob Brydon head up the voice cast.

Doctor Who: Joy to the World

BBC One, 5.10pm on Christmas Day; streaming on BBC iPlayer from Christmas Day morning

After predecessor Chris Chibnall committed sci-fi sacrilege by shunting the Time Lord’s festive adventure to New Year’s Day, current supremo Russell T Davies last year rightly restored it to Christmas Day, where family-friendly romps belong. In his second festive adventure – this one written by Steven Moffat – Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor teams up with lonely hotel guest Joy (Nicola Coughlan) to investigate a mysterious briefcase.

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

BBC One, 6.10pm on Christmas Day

You’ve doubtless seen the claymation duo on the BBC’s Christmas idents. Now comes their long-awaited return in an all-new adventure. After a crime-wave of garden thefts, Wallace’s latest invention – a “smart gnome” named Norbot – is prime suspect. Meanwhile, their old nemesis Feathers McGraw is back for revenge. Can clever canine Gromit save the day?

Call the Midwife

BBC One, 8pm on Christmas Day and 7.30pm on Boxing Day; streaming on BBC iPlayer from Christmas Day morning

The period nursing drama breaks its usual festive format with a two-part special. It’s 1969 and Nonnatus House sees health crises, carol concerts and homecomings – with extra jeopardy provided by an escaped convict. Rivalled only for cosy nostalgia by All Creatures Great and Small (Channel 5, 9pm on 23 December), which sees baby Jimmy’s first birthday amid the war effort of 1941.

Gavin & Stacey: The Finale

BBC One, 9pm on Christmas Day

The 2019 reunion episode broke ratings records. Now the Anglo-Welsh romcom returns for a 90-minute swansong. We last saw Nessa (Ruth Jones) down on bended knee, proposing to Smithy (James Corden). Did he say yes? Answers await as we take one last trip to Barry and Billericay. There’s also accompanying documentary Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell on New Year’s Day (BBC One, 7pm, and streaming on iPlayer from NYD morning).

Squid Game

Netflix, Boxing Day

The South Korean dystopian thriller became a surprise global phenomenon upon its 2021 debut. Now it returns for another round of high-stakes survival horror. The most anticipated Netflix release of the year arrives on Boxing Day, ready to be binge-watched and eagerly discussed all over again.

Outnumbered Christmas Special

BBC One, 9.40pm on Boxing Day; streaming on BBC iPlayer from Christmas Day morning

My, haven’t they grown? After eight years off our screens, the Brockman clan are back. With their three children now adults (but no more mature), long-suffering parents Pete and Sue attempt to host a traditional family Christmas in their downsized home. Chaos and heartwarming moments ensue.

The Split: Barcelona

BBC One, 9pm on December 29 & 30; both episodes stream on BBC iPlayer from Dec 29

Writer Abi Morgan’s drama about the high-flying careers and tangled private lives of divorce lawyers signs off with a sun-soaked two-part special. Nicola Walker, Stephen Mangan and co attend a destination wedding in the vineyards of Catalonia. Expect break-ups and make-ups, pre-nups and proposals. Superior soapy fun.

The Traitors

BBC One, 8pm on New Year’s Day; first two episodes stream on BBC iPlayer from NYD morning

The psychological game show became a pop cultural phenomenon over two twist-packed series so far. Now Claudia Winkleman returns to her Highlands castle with a fresh batch of Faithfuls and Traitors, backstabbing and scheming their way to the £100,000 prize. Let the gripping gameplay (and hammy trimmings) begin.