The essential guide to what's on television this Christmas

It’s here! Christmas is finally upon us and, within the blink of an eye, the whole kerfuffle of the eating and the drinking and the presents and the partying will be over, but whatever you do make sure you don’t miss out on some of the great telly worth catching over the next week; from films, to shows, to documentaries, to Christmas special…

Saving Mr. Banks, BBC Two, 8.30pm (23 December)

Here, Walt Disney is played by Hollywood ledge Tom Hanks and Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers by Emma Thompson, in this well-spirited family-friendly drama. In truth the reality of Travers’ and Disney’s volatile relationship was perhaps more severe than we see, but Saving Mr. Banks is a dose of whimsy worth checking out.

CHRISTMAS EVE

The Snowman/The Snowman and the Snowdog, Channel 4, 4.45pm

An annual tradition for sure, this double bill will enthral, warm and break your heart into a million pieces… but that’s no reason to avoid. Gloriously hand-drawn, it’s a nice bit of nostalgia with the ’82 story and a modern touch with its 2012 sequel. Tip: prep yourself at 8.40am with Father Christmas earlier that day.

Alan Bennett’s Diaries, BBC Two, 8pm

Fans of Mr. Bennett will be aware of his third set of fascinating diaries published called Keeping On Keeping On. The British author/playwright/screenwriter/actor reads snippets and discusses them as he carries on in day-to-day life. No doubt they’ll be an amusing array of anecdotes.

Lady in the Van BBC Two, 9pm

To follow on from the above programme, Alan Bennett’s personal story (that he writes the screenplay for) stars acting icon Maggie Smith. A whimsy, feel-good tale of a developing friendship; Jim Broadbent also stars in this very British comedy-drama.

The Muppets Christmas Carol, Channel 4, 5.50pm

Stone. Wall. Classic. That describes in a nutshell Jim Henson’s Muppet version of the Charles Dickens story which stars an an all-singing, all-dancing Michael Caine as Ebeneezer Scrooge. And quite simply it’s magical. With memorable catchy songs, this Muppets adventure breathes new life into the story and makes it a whole lotta fun too.

CHRISTMAS DAY

Frozen, BBC One, 3.10pm

Disney’s animated modern classic encapsulated audiences for literally years after its end of 2013 cinema release. Perfect for a very fun, sing-along adventure.

It’s A Wonderful Life, Channel 4, 2.20pm

70 years old and still going strong, this timeless story about family, good deeds and humanistic morals of kindness has everything you need for a life-changing, traditional Christmas Day epiphany – or a depressive/feel-good lazy afternoon on the couch.

The Great Christmas Bake Off, BBC One, 4.45pm

Bake Off fans were left scolded when Channel 4 won a bid to broadcast the popular baking show, leaving the BBC licking its wounds at what could’ve been. But all is not lost: the Beeb have still got the rights and are going all-out with this special that sees Mel, Sue, Mary, and Paul reunite for the final ever time before everything changes next year.

Doctor Who, BBC One, 5.45pm

A Christmastime staple, Doctor Who sees current time lord Peter Capaldi only go and create a superhero – Marvelication (if that’s even a word?) seems to be spreading everywhere nowadays. “It’s about a little boy who is accidentally given superpowers and happens to be a comics fan, so he decides he should be a superhero in his adult years,” says writer Steven Moffat. Should be interesting.

Dallas Buyers Club, Channel 5, 10.30pm

Oscar-winning turns for Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto make this a poignant and devastating real-life account of Ron Woodroof’s (McConaughey) tireless work towards getting AIDS sufferers the medication they need after he himself is diagnosed with the disease.

BOXING DAY

Captain Philips, ITV1, 9pm

Tom Hanks stars as Captain Philips whose ship is hijacked by Somali pirates. Anticipate a super tense, thrilling and well-performed movie led by Hanks that will have the whole family on the edge of their seats.

Lego’s Big Christmas, Channel 4, 8pm

Everyone loves LEGO. Don’t try and deny it. While the building blocks giant was on the brink of of failure a year after the 21st Century began, it’s since had a remarkable turnaround. Now, in 2016, it’s the most profitable toy company on the planet, and this doc follows the intense planning and race to opening a new store before Christmas.

Ethel and Ernest, BBC One, 7.30pm (28 December)

A genuinely nice animated film that feels made for TV (in a good way, that is). Having debuted at this year’s London Film Festival, this quaint story of a young couple growing into their relationship, marriage, and subsequent family set during WWII is very sweet and a beautifully told tale of love, life, and family relationships.

Charlie Brooker’s 2016 Wipe, BBC Two, 9pm (29 December)

Probably the thing a lot of folk look forward to seeing each end of December; Charlie Brooker introduces a recap of 2016 as he tries to make some sense over what the hell just happened. Satire and a wicked sense of humour are the orders of the day.

Captain American: The Winter Soldier, BBC One, 8.30pm (30 December)

Marvel’s biggie of 2014, this second Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) solo outing steps up a notch from the cheesy Captain America: The First Avenger and splices some serious political subtext and usual Marvel humour in there.

Delicious, Sky 1, 9pm (30 December)

Game of Thrones star Iain Glen (that’s Ser Jorah Mormont) and Dawn French star in a comedy-drama series about love, food, and infidelity set in Cornwall. The first of its four episodes of series 1 begin tonight. (the 30th, not the night you’re reading this, clearly.)

Judi Dench: All The World’s Her Stage, BBC Two, 8pm (30 December)

A living legend, Dame Judi (as we should all refer to her as) has wowed audiences over the decades with her acting. She most recently held together the Bond franchise as M, and here we celebrate her remarkable 60+ year career.

Read more:
The essential TV and movie gifts to add to your Christmas list

What are you looking forward to watching this Christmas? Are you all about the films, the TV show, or the festive special? Let us know in the comments…

Mike is a freelance TV, film, music and entertainment writer, with an unhealthy obsession for Game of Thrones. Over the years he’s written for MTV, GamesRadar+, Total Film, BuzzFeed, GoThinkBig, Loaded, and regularly scribbles for Yahoo Movies, BBC Radio 1, and Metro.