BBC unveils Christmas Day schedule

The BBC has unveiled the Christmas Day listings for BBC One, featuring a mix of child-friendly animation as well as some festive standards later in the evening.

The broadcaster revealed the schedule on official social media channels with programming on 25 December kicking off at 8.55am.

Catering to younger viewers no doubt up early and eager to unwrap presenters, The Gruffalo is set to star the day followed by sequel The Gruffalo's Child.

Read more: Ashley Banjo signs up for BBC’s Christmas programming

Children's animation Lou will make its debut on the channel at 9.50am ahead of the Christmas Day Service.

It moves on to another Julia Donaldson adaption double bill with repeats of The Snail and the Whale and Zog airing from 11.25am.

Viewers will then be treated to a Top of the Pops Christmas Special, featuring artists such as Ella Henderson, Jamie Cullum and Celeste.

Films for all the family are also set to be on offer on the big day, with Aardman's prehistoric stop motion feature Early Man airing at 1.15pm, while Pixar's Coco takes watchers to a vibrant underworld with young aspiring musician Miguel.

Before that of course, the Queen's Christmas Broadcast takes its usual slot at 3pm.

Watch: Shirley Ballas forced to make the call on who goes home!

Read more: The best Christmas films of the 21st century

Now a staple in the Christmas listings, Strictly Come Dancing's special will be broadcast at 4.45pm although unlike other years it will focus on a countdown of the greatest dances on the show as opposed to a mini-competition due to the coronavirus.

Michael McIntyre's new Saturday night gameshow The Wheel has earned itself a festive edition scheduled in for 6pm and will be followed by a Blankety Blank special hosted by Bradley Walsh.

At 7.40pm, the nuns and midwives of Nonnatus House will be making a comeback for Call the Midwife’s traditional December offering.

Meanwhile, chaos is surely soon to follow in Albert Square at 9.10pm when EastEnders airs its usually less-than-merry Christmas Day episode.

Lastly, the evening will wrap up with a new Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas special.

BBC One’s Christmas Day listings:

8.55am - The Gruffalo

9.25am - The Gruffalo's Child

9.50am - Lou

10am - Christmas Day Service

11am - The Snail and the Whale

11.25am - Zog

11.55am - Top of the Pops: Christmas Special

12.55pm - BBC News and Weather

1pm - Inner Workings

1.15pm - Early Man

2.35pm - Zog and the Flying Doctors

3pm - The Queen's Christmas Broadcast

3.10pm - Coco

4.45pm - Strictly Come Dancing: Christmas Special

6pm - Michael McIntyre's Christmas Wheel

7pm - Blankety Blank: Christmas Special

7.40pm - Call the Midwife

9.10pm - EastEnders

10.05pm - Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas Special

Watch: Dawn French reveals details of Vicar of Dibley Christmas specials