Christmas 2021 TV guide: The must-see shows day by day
It's the most wonderful time of the year when it comes to TV and we can't wait to see some of the gems lined up for this festive season.
Whether drama, entertainment, comedy or family favourites are your thing, you'll find must-see shows throughout the Christmas holidays.
Read more: The best TV and films streaming this Christmas
Here's our pick of the best TV and Christmas specials this year.
The best things to watch on TV for Christmas 2021
Monday 20 December
Christmas University Challenge - BBC Two - 8.30pm
The annual celebrity episodes return for the festive season as university alumni play the famous quiz.
Kicking off this series are Thomasina Miers, Miles Jupp, Jeffrey Boakye and Dallas Campbell.
The Girl Before - BBC One - 9pm
One of BBC's big Christmas season dramas, The Girl Before, continues after launching the previous evening.
David Oyelowo, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Jessica Plummer make up the starry cast for the psychological thriller adaptation of JP Delaney's novel.
Read more: The best TV and films available on BBC iPlayer this Christmas
In two different timelines, two women rent a house from an oddball architect, but the tenancy spells the beginning of a traumatic period for both of them.
The Big Soap Quiz: Coronation Street vs Emmerdale - ITV - 9pm
Stephen Mulhern pits the soapland rivals against each other as they compete to find out who knows the most about the year in soap.
Jack P Shepherd and Mark Charnock are amongst those taking part.
Tuesday 21 December
Agatha Raisin - Sky Max - 9pm
The popular PR-turned-sleuth played by Ashley Jensen returns for some brand new festive episodes.
In the first episode, she fails to protect a wealthy stately home resident, but then goes about trying to catch the killer in her usual glamorous style.
Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook-Off - BBC One - 8pm
MasterChef fans are spoiled for choice with festive specials this Christmas, starting with this episode which sees former contestants from the celebrity edition return for another bite of the cherry.
Joey Essex, Su Pollard, Oti Mabuse, Judi Love and Neil Ruddock are all back in the kitchen and trying once again to prove their culinary skills.
A Taste of Christmas with Andi Oliver - BBC Two - 9pm
It's a good night for foodie inspiration as Andi Oliver heads to Glasgow to discover the festive family feasts of three different families.
She visits one family of Italian heritage, one with Pakistani roots, and another whose Glaswegian history goes beyond living memory to learn about their beloved recipes.
Philip: Prince, Husband, Father - ITV - 9pm
After the loss of the Queen's husband Prince Philip earlier this year, ITV celebrates the longest-serving royal consort.
Rarely-seen archive footage includes the late Duke of Edinburgh having shared his thoughts on the monarchy, the press, and the role of his son, Prince Charles.
Wednesday 22 December
The Great British Celebrity Sewing Bee - BBC One - 8pm
Celebrities take on the sewing challenge in this festive special where they must sew Christmas outfits.
The famous stitchers taking part include Anneka Rice, Antony Cotton, Rev Kate Bottley and Kiell Smith-Bynoe.
The Hairy Bikers Go North for Christmas - BBC Two - 8pm
The best pals continue their trip back to their roots by gathering both of their families together for a Christmas meal.
Read more: The biggest TV shows that ended in 2021
But this is a Hairy Bikers dinner, which means that all the festive favourites get tweaked and amped up into something much more exciting.
Inside the Christmas Factory - BBC Two - 9pm
Proving that just about anything can have a Christmas special, Inside the Factory goes festive this week.
Visits to a teddy bear factory, a card factory and a place making vegan Christmas dinners tell you everything you never knew you wanted to know about the festive season.
First Dates at Christmas - Channel 4 - 9pm
These singles are hoping for romance underneath the mistletoe, but will it prove a Christmas to remember, or will the date be a turkey they'd rather forget?
Daters include a professional Santa and a woman who's hoping for a better Christmas after a family loss last year.
Thursday 23 December
Ghosts - BBC One - 8.30pm
One of BBC's favourite sitcoms gets a new Christmas special this year with Jennifer Saunders taking up a starring guest role.
She appears at Button House as Fanny's overbearing mother, while Alison and Mike are unsure what to do about a Father Christmas lookalike who's pitched his tent in their garden.
Blackburn Sings Christmas with Gareth Malone - BBC Two - 8pm
Choirmaster Gareth Malone has set his sights on Blackburn Hospital this year to work with the frontline staff who've been serving one of the areas of the country hardest hit by COVID.
The song choices come from locals to represent their experiences, the singing proves a great outlet for all kinds of stresses, and as you might expect, it makes for a particularly emotional project.
Christmas on the Farm - Channel 5 - 9pm
Helen Skelton and Jules Hudson are back for this festive instalment from Cannon Hall Farm.
They'll be offering all sort of festive advice, including how to make sure you don't have a Christmas dinner disaster.
Hansel and Gretel: After Ever After - Sky Max - 8pm
David Walliams returns with a new fairytale in the After Ever After series, with the previous instalments also showing today.
What happened after Gretel pushed the witch into the stove? Well, she certainly isn't gone forever, and now she's seeking revenge...
Christmas Eve, Friday 24 December
A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Mezzotint - BBC Two - 10.30pm
Mark Gatiss' creepy Christmas Eve tales have become something of a festive tradition, and this year's is a particular highlight of the seasonal schedules.
His adaptation of the MR James ghost story features Rory Kinnear as a museum curator who finds himself entrusted with a chilling engraving that seems a little off.
Carols from King's - BBC Two - 6.15pm
The Christmas tradition heralds the start of the holiday for many as we pay our annual visit to King's College, Cambridge.
Featuring carols and Bible stories, it's just the thing to get you into the festive spirit.
The Greatest Snowman - Channel 4 - 8pm
In possibly the best ever iteration of the celebrity challenge contest, a group of famous competitors head to an Alpine mountainside to learn ice sculpting skills from pros and then go up against each other to create the greatest snowman.
Read more: The most controversial TV moments of 2021
Sue Perkins hosts, while Johnny Vegas, Dani Dyer, Liam Charles, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Cherry Healey compete.
Bradley and Barney: Breaking Dad at Christmas - ITV - 9pm
Bradley Walsh and his son Barney are on the road again in this festive adventure special.
They head to Iceland to help out in a glacier rescue and give the geothermal pools a try.
The Amazing Mr Blunden - Sky Max - 7pm
Christmas Eve's family viewing highlight is without doubt this remake of the 1972 film that was in turn adapted from Antonia Barber novel The Ghosts.
Mark Gatiss is responsible for this version which stars Simon Callow as a mysterious benefactor to a down-on-their-luck family whose teenage children make some eerie discoveries at their new country mansion.
Christmas Day, Saturday 25 December
Call the Midwife - BBC One - 8pm
The traditional Christmas Day schedule highlight returns with a reliably feel-good episode.
Lucille and Cyril are getting married, but she has to deal with a last-minute disaster after an overly exuberant hen night.
Read more: First look at Call the Midwife 2021 Christmas special
Of course, there are plenty of Christmas babies involved, too.
Superworm - BBC One - 2.30pm
This year's Julia Donaldson adaptation will delight young viewers by bringing Superworm to life.
Voicing the adventures of the heroic worm are TV favourites Matt Smith and Olivia Colman.
EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street
What would Christmas Day be without a visit to our favourite soaps?
EastEnders and Emmerdale have opted for the traditional festive misery and despair by featuring serial killers Gray in Albert Square and Meena in the Dales, but Corrie has kept things lighter with a Christmas sing-song.
Read more: The best soap moments of 2021
The Great Christmas Bake Off - Channel 4 - 8pm
Bake Off lends itself perfectly to a Christmas special and conjuring up the festive treats this year are the stars of AIDS drama It's A Sin.
Olly Alexander, Lydia West, Nathaniel Curtis and Shaun Dooley are donning their aprons and competing to win praise from Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
Read more: All the Bake Off winners so far
The Larkins - ITV - 9pm
The Darling Buds of May reboot only launched a couple of months ago, but it already had a Christmas Day special confirmed before it even began as a series.
Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan star again in the festive lark about Charley's parents coming to visit and absolutely everything going wrong - including the Nativity play.
Strictly Come Dancing - BBC One - 5.10pm
Just when you thought Strictly was over for another year, the ballroom opens up again for a special episode.
Six couples will perform gloriously festive routines to be crowned the Christmas champion in this final hurrah before the long wait for the 2022 series.
The Masked Singalong - ITV - 6pm
Who doesn't love The Masked Singer? The most surreal singing contest around makes a one-off return before the new series begins.
Favourites including Queen Bee and Sausage join together to sing a playlist of hits that will have you singing along in no time.
Boxing Day, Sunday 26 December
A Very British Scandal - BBC One - 9pm
Following in the footsteps of Hugh Grant's A Very English Scandal is this new dramatisation of historical events starring Claire Foy.
She plays Margaret, Duchess of Argyll whose affair with Ian Campbell (Paul Bettany) is the catalyst for her 1963 divorce case.
Around the World in 80 Days - BBC One - 5.50pm
Jules Verne's classic tale gets a brand new adaptation with David Tennant in the lead role.
Phileas Fogg claims to be able to fly around the globe in his hot air balloon and return in time for Christmas, and so begins an international adventure.
All Star Musicals at Christmas - ITV - 8pm
Celebrities are coached by West End stars to take on some of theatre's biggest numbers in this singing contest.
John Barrowman hosts the competition that will provide sing-a-long fun for Boxing Day.
Death In Paradise - BBC One - 7.30pm
The cosy Caribbean crime drama gets a Christmas special this year as Ralf Little reprises the lead role.
A shipping company boss's death means the team are pulled into work on Christmas Day to sort through a pile of suspects that will include familiar faces for viewers.
Monday 27 December
The Voice Kids - ITV - 7.30pm
The junior singing contest is back for three episodes as it searches for another star in the making.
Pixie Lott, Danny Jones, Will.i.am and Mel C provide encouragement and cheers for the mini singers hoping to get the red chairs to turn for them.
Read more: What is Simon Cowell's new show Walk The Line?
MasterChef: The Professionals Rematch 2021 - BBC One - 8pm
Another MasterChef special graces our screens, this time regrouping some previous finalists from the pro contest.
Seasonal feasts are on the menu as the chefs have another go at impressing the judges.
Only Connect - BBC Two - 8pm
Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts four festive specials of the super tough quiz, starting with tonight's instalment which rematches two teams from previous competitions.
Travel Man: 96 Hours in Iceland - Channel 4 - 8pm
Comedian Joe Lycett is Travel Man now, and in this episode he's headed for Iceland with Bill Bailey.
Experiences awaiting them include a punk museum, an earthquake simulator and husky sledding in this perfect Christmas trip.
Tuesday 28 December
Worzel Gummidge - BBC One - 7.15pm
Mackenzie Crook plays the beloved scarecrow again in this year's new episodes.
It begins with Worzel fending off competition from a futuristic scarecrow machine who is supposed to be able to do his job better than him - Worzel will see about that.
Extraordinary Escapes at Christmas with Sandi Toksvig - Channel 4 - 8pm
Sandi Toksvig hosts Deborah Meaden, Fay Ripley and Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock on this most festive of trips to the Arctic Circle, including Christmas trees, northern lights and incredible hotels.
Royal Institution Christmas Lectures with Jonathan Van-Tam - BBC Four - 8pm
The deputy chief medical officer hosts a number of guest lecturers who have played key roles in the pandemic to discuss the work they have done and their new dioscoveries which will continue to change the way we live our lives long after COVID.
Landscapers - Sky Atlantic - 9pm
The true crime drama concludes tonight as the still unresolved story of what Susan and Christopher did at her parents' house reaches its climax.
Read more: Landscapers - Olivia Colman talks working with husband Ed Sinclair
Olivia Colman and David Thewlis play the now-imprisoned couple who have always maintained their innocence.
Wednesday 29 December
Frankie Boyle's 2021 New World Order - BBC Two - 10pm
Controversial comedian Frankie Boyle looks back over the year that was and its world-changing events with a much-needed dose of humour.
Billionaire Blooms - Channel 4 - 7pm
Flowers can be big business as the luxury florists who are the subject of this documentary well know.
Their beautiful and unusual arrangements are as much worth tuning in for as the outlandish requests of their wealthy clients.
Worzel Gummidge - BBC One - 7.15pm
The second part of family favourite Worzel Gummidge sees the scarecrow pay a visit to a fairground.
It's run by guest star Bill Bailey's character, who begins to believe in magic again thanks to a few well-timed tricks from Worzel.
Thursday 30 December
Attenborough and the Mammoth Graveyard - BBC One - 8pm
Back on stunning form once more is this new David Attenborough documentary looking at prehistoric remains.
A quarry near Swindon was found to be hiding some incredible fossils and Attenborough goes on the hunt for mammoths with some experts in the field.
Only Connect: Champion of Champions - BBC Two - 8pm
Imagine being clever enough to be named Only Connect's champion of champions - that's the title these brainiac former contestants have returned to fight for in tonight's special.
Read more: The best TV shows of 2021
The Great British Sewing Bee: Celebrity New Year Special - BBC One - 9pm
Another sewing bee is on the cards, this time to celebrate New Year.
Kirsty Wark, Claire Richards, Rose Matafeo and Lawrence Chaney are firing up the sewing machines for this episode, with varied results.
Friday 31 December
Jools's Annual Hootenanny - BBC Two - 11.25pm
The well-established New Year's Eve music show is back to ring in 2022, with starry guests both on the stage and in the audience.
The Big New Years & Years Eve Party - BBC One - 11.25pm
If you're looking for a different soundtrack to your New Year's Eve than the one Jools Holland has to offer, Olly Alexander's band Years & Years could fit the bill.
They'll also welcome Kylie Minogue for a duet.
The Graham Norton Show - BBC One - 10.20pm
The chat show host's last episode of the year gathers together some big names to round off 2021.
Norton will sit down with Jessica Chastain, Claire Foy, Peter Dinklage and Joe Lycett for a light-hearted end to the year.
Read more: The most exciting TV to look forward to in 2022
The Last Leg of the Year - Channel 4 - 9pm
Hosts Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker present a bumper episode of the comedy chat show.
Along with their famous guests, they'll be taking a look back over 2021 and all the parts of it they're looking forward to seeing the back of.
Watch: Dawn French and Darcey Bussell reminisce on Vicar of Dibley ballet sketch