WHAT TO WATCH 20-23 December

Christmas specials galore!

As we count down to Christmas 2025, this week's best telly includes new Christmas specials of Amanda and Alan, Beyond Paradise, The Madame Blanc Mysteries and Mandy. As well as the return of Taskmaster: Champion of Champions.

Elsewhere, Will Sharpe leads Sky's big new drama Amadeus, Guz Khan and Morgana Robinson lead BBC One's new Christmas comedy Stuffed, and the time has come to crown this year's Strictly champion!

Here are 8 TV shows you can't miss in the run-up to Christmas...

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1

 LIVE FINAL

STRICTLY COME DANCING

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Saturday 20th December

7pm | BBC One

It's been an eventful series of Strictly Come Dancing, with three celebrities leaving with injuries, two during the competition and some who found themselves at the top of the leaderboard, found themselves leavig the competition much earlier than expected. Oh and not to mention Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman's shock announcement that this would be their last series.

But putting all that to one side, there's still a champion to crown and those in the running are Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin, George Clarke and Alexis Warr and Karen Carney and Gu.

The show begins with a dazzling group routine from Strictly's professional dancers and this year’s finalists, before they each perform three times in a bid to be your winners. They'll revisit a previous routine, perform a spectacular show dance and then take to the floor with their favourite dance from across the series.

The complete cast of 2025 also return to the dance floor one last time for a fabulous group number. And as ever, your votes alone will decide who walks away with the glitterball trophy. But who will it be?

 STREAM ON BBC IPLAYER 

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2

 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

BEYOND PARADISE

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Sunday 21st December

9pm | BBC One

This Christmas, we return to Shipton Abbott for another Beyond Paradise Christmas Special as Humphrey has his hands full with a flurry of festive cases, while Martha is busy with a task of her own.

Enlisting the help of Anne, Zoe and a special guest, she races to pull off her secret plan. But with an influx of unexpected visitors, a slew of holiday crimes to crack, and a heartwarming reunion on the line, can the team juggle it all and still be ready for a life-changing reveal?

 STREAM ON BBC IPLAYER 

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3

 BRAND NEW DRAMA

AMADEUS

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Sunday 21st to Tuesday 23rd December

(Continuing Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)

9pm | Sky Atlantic

Based on Peter Shaffer’s award-winning stage play, and adapted by Joe Barton, Sky's five-part reimagination of Amadeus, explores the meteoric rise and mythic downfall of one of history’s most iconic composers, and rockstar virtuoso of the 18th century, Wolfgang ‘Amadeus’ Mozart, played by Will Sharpe.

When twenty-five-year-old Amadeus arrives in bustling 18th Century Vienna, no longer a child prodigy and craving creative freedom, his world collides with two pivotal figures: his fiercely loyal future wife, Constanze Weber, and devoutly religious court composer, Antonio Salieri.

As Amadeus’ brilliance continues to flourish in spite of his personal demons, a questionable reputation and scepticism from the conservative court, Salieri becomes increasingly tormented by this apparent divine gift. Amadeus is a threat to all that he holds dear in life: his talent, his reputation, even his faith in God, Salieri vows to bring him down.

What begins as professional rivalry turns into a deeply personal obsession spanning 30 years, culminating in a murder confession and a desperate attempt to entwine himself with Mozart’s legacy forever.

 5 EPISODES  CONTINUES NIGHTLY

 STREAM ON SKY AND NOW  ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE

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4

 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

AMANDA AND ALAN'S

SPANISH CHRISTMAS

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Monday 22nd December

9pm | BBC One

Everyone’s favourite Traitor Alan Carr is back alongside best friend Amanda Holden, as they return to the sun-drenched village of Moclín in southern Spain for Amanda and Alan’s Spanish Christmas.

It's the same spot where they rolled up their sleeves for their summer renovation, and they're back to throw a spectacular festive party as a heartfelt thank you to the locals who helped them along the way.

The pair dive headfirst into Spanish Christmas traditions, serving up their trademark mix of warmth, laughter, and delightful chaos. From baking seasonal treats and sampling traditional delicacies to embracing local customs with gusto, Amanda and Alan serve up the ultimate festive fiesta.

 STREAM ON BBC IPLAYER 

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5

 RETURNING ENTERTAINMENT

TASKMASTER: CHAMPION

OF CHAMPIONS 2025

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Monday 22nd December

9pm | Channel 4

There are now 20 Taskmaster Champions swanning about, revelling in the prestige of owning the coveted golden trophy that looks a tiny bit like the Taskmaster, Greg Davies. Only three of those winners can also claim to be Champion of Champions, but now a fourth name will be added to that elite list as the five most recent victors collide in a one-off epic battle.

The five former champs greedy for more glory are: Andy Zaltzman, John Robins, Maisie Adam, Mathew Baynton and Sam Campbell, all of whom have made startling costume choices for their tilt at immortality.

The fiendish tasks they attempt will, of course, be administered by the world’s most efficient assistant, Alex Horne, while Greg Davies will hand down the judgements that will decide the fate of this fantastic fivesome.

 STREAM ON CHANNEL 4 

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6

 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

MAMMOTH

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Monday 22nd December

10pm | BBC Two

Diane

 STREAM ON BBC IPLAYER 

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7

 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

THE MADAME BLANC MYSTERIES

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Tuesday 23rd December

8pm | 5

In this year's two-hour Christmas special of The Madame Blanc Mysteries, Jean, Dom, Judith and Jeremy attend an exclusive Christmas Eve event at the Musée de Sainte Victoire. Jean is invited to authenticate a newly acquired treasure, a rare Ormolu box once owned by Marie Antoinette.

But the festive mood turns dark when Jean discovers a ticking bomb hidden inside. With just 90 minutes until detonation, the museum is sealed shut, the security guard is dead, and the race is on. Jean and the gang must crack the code and defuse the bomb before time runs out. This is Jean’s most perilous challenge yet, can she save the day?

Sally Lindsay returns as Jean White, joined once again by Steve Edge as Dom Hayes, Sue Holderness and Robin Askwith as Judith and Jeremy Lloyd-James, Alex Gaumond as Chief of Police André Caron, Sue Vincent as Gloria Beaushaw, and Tony Robinson as Uncle Patrick - all reprising their beloved roles in this festive feature-length special.

 STREAM ON 5

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8

 BRAND NEW COMEDY

STUFFED

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Tuesday 23rd December

9pm | BBC One

Stuffed is a modern-day Christmas caper for the whole family to enjoy, which sees Arslan Farooqi, played by Guz Khan, and his multi-faith family set off on the trip of a lifetime as they swap Coventry for the magic of Lapland.

After he receives an unexpected £8,000 Christmas bonus at work, Arslan, his wife Hannah, played by Morgana Robinson, his two daughters and brother-in-law Jamie, played by Theo Barklem-Biggs, are all set for the ultimate festive adventure. However, when office worker Arslan discovers the bonus was a mistake and must be repaid immediately, Christmas chaos ensues, and disaster follows the family at every turn.

Together with new holiday friend Lily, played by Sue Johnston, they must find a way out of this predicament and hope for a Christmas miracle that can save Arslan’s job and the family’s livelihood. Stuffed is a modern-day Christmas caper for the whole family to enjoy this yuletide season.

 STREAM ON BBC IPLAYER