There's plenty to keep you entertained for that post-Turkey slump!
This Christmas Day, sit back and relax with several comedy specials, Christmas specials of Call the Midwife and Doctor Who as well as a tribute to Caroline Aherne. And following that flashforward in EastEnders, we finally find out which of The Six commits murder on Christmas Day.
Here are 7 TV shows you can't miss this Christmas Day...
1. Ricky Gervais: Armageddon
Christmas Day on Netflix
Recorded live at the London Palladium as part of his latest stand-up tour, Ricky Gervais' latest stand-up special Armageddon arrives on Netflix on Christmas Day.
Armageddon promises to be a provocative new show, riffing on the end of humanity, political correctness, family weddings, funerals and Artificial Intelligence.
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2. Doctor Who
Christmas Day at 5.55pm on BBC One
This Christmas Day, Ncuti Gatwa will take over the TARDIS for his first epic adventure as the Fifteenth Doctor in The Church on Ruby Road with Millie Gibson joining him as the Doctor’s companion, Ruby Sunday.
Long ago on Christmas Eve, a baby was abandoned in the snow. Today, Ruby Sunday meets the Doctor, stolen babies, goblins and perhaps the secret of her birth.
The episode sees the Doctor come face-to-face with the mythical and mysterious goblins as his life collides with Ruby Sunday. Little is known about Ruby Sunday as she was abandoned on Christmas Eve as a baby.
Now living with her mum, Carla and grandmother, Cherry her world is about to be turned upside when she encounters the Doctor and the two set off on their first adventure together.
Alongside Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson is Davina McCall who will be playing herself as she joins the cast alongside Michelle Greenidge as Ruby’s mum Carla, Angela Wynter as Ruby’s grandmother Cherry and Anita Dobson as Mrs Flood.
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3. The Masked Singer Christmas Special
Christmas Day at 7.30pm on ITV1
Joel Dommet returns to host the first-ever Masked Singer Christmas special, as four celebrities compete undercover in elaborate costumes, keeping their true identities hidden.
As each celebrity performs, it's up to a special panel of detectives made up of Jonathan Ross, Rita Ora, Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan and special guest Leona Lewis to unwrap their festive faces and unlock TV's best-kept secret. But only one will be crowned Christmas number 1!
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4. Ghosts
Christmas Day at 7.45pm on BBC One
After 5 series and 3 Christmas specials, BBC One's hit comedy Ghosts is bowing out for good with a fourth special, A Christmas Gift in which Mike's mum Betty comes to stay.
Despite her wanting to be helpful, it isn’t long before she is driving Mike and Alison around the bend. But when Betty overstays her welcome, Alison and Mike don’t quite have the heart to tell her.
Just as she decides to leave of her own volition, Betty suspects something is terribly wrong at Button House and adopts extreme measures to make the house safe and in doing so endangers the resident Ghosts. Will they come out of this unscathed?
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5. Call The Midwife
Christmas Day at 8.15pm on BBC One
Christmas Day wouldn't be the same without a Call the Midwife Christmas special and this year it's December 1968 and the countdown to Christmas is on, as is the launch of Apollo 8’s moon mission.
Sister Monica Joan is convinced this could be her last yuletide and that she will not live to see man walk on the moon. Meanwhile, as Shelagh and Dr Turner navigate family life, they are unsettled when a parcel arrives from May’s mother in Hong Kong.
Sister Julienne makes a very generous offer to allow Colette to move into Nonnatus House for the foreseeable future. Nancy is thrilled to be able to spend every day with Colette and be more present in her upbringing.
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6. EastEnders
Christmas Day at 9.45pm on BBC One
Since Februrary, a special flashforward scene offered us a glimpse into the events of Christmas Day 2024 in which one Walford male will find himself on the floor of The Queen Vic in the dreaded cufflinks. But two very important questions remain to be answered. Who is it? And how has he come to be there?
Whilst the exact circumstances relating to his death will remain a tightly kept secret up until Christmas Day, one thing is for certain – six of Walford’s much-loved matriarchs will find themselves embroiled in a series of events that will lead to his demise, and in a flash, their lives will be permanently changed forever…
Star-crossed lovers Sharon and Keanu prepare to finally say ‘I do’ but unbeknownst to one and other, both are hiding massive secrets – Keanu staged Albie’s kidnap and Phil is the young boy’s biological dad. With stakes running high, both fight to conceal the truth but as the viewers know all too well, secrets never stay secret for long in Albert Square…
Kathy is heartbroken having finally learnt about Rocky’s involvement in the café fire that left grandson Peter fighting for his life. Having also sold Kathy’s café to Nish under false pretences, has Rocky got what it takes to talk himself out of this one, or will it be the final nail in the coffin for their marriage?
Denise found herself in hot-water after a steamy hotel visit with lover turned enemy, Ravi, had disastrous consequences for her marriage with Jack. With an unresolved feud with Ravi, and more infidelity on the cards for the Brannings, only time will tell if their marriage, and Jack, will survive…
Linda’s world was turned upside down when Dean made a sinister return to Walford on Halloween. With Dean showing no signs of remorse for his crimes, will the consequences of his actions catch up with him before Linda does?
After enduring a stalker ordeal, Stacey is about to find herself embroiled in drama with another Walford man. With best friend Eve also presumed dead and having killed Archie Mitchell in the exact same spot almost 14 years ago, is history about to repeat itself?
Suki is set to hit rock bottom after news of Eve’s ‘death’ reaches Albert Square. Believing that controlling husband Nish, and murderous step-son Ravi are responsible, Suki will stop at nothing to make sure revenge is served…
7. Caroline Aherne: Queen of Comedy
Christmas Day at 10.25pm on BBC Two
This week, the unique life and talent of Caroline Aherne is being celebrated in a new Arena film, featuring unseen photographs and contributions from a cast of her lifelong friends, including Steve Coogan, Jon Thompson, Craig Cash, and producer Andy Harries.
Aherne’s pioneering representation of working class and family life in The Royle Family won her three BAFTAs and changed comedy writing forever, while her alter-ego Mrs Merton’s question to stage performer Debbie McGee is considered one of the greatest comic one-liners in British TV history.
The film traces Aherne’s life from childhood in Wythenshawe, Manchester, through her early adventures as a (rare) woman on Manchester’s alternative stand-up scene and the breakthrough moment when the BBC commissioned The Mrs Merton Show, when she quickly became a national icon and surreptitious satirist-in-chief of mid-90s’ celebrity culture.
As the 90s entered its final years Aherne, with Craig Cash, conceived, wrote, and starred in The Royle Family. Co-writers Henry Normal and Phil Mealy, and fellow cast members Sue Johnston, Ricky Tomlinson, and Ralf Little recall the remarkable writing and acting talent at the heart of the series, a sitcom playing out in near-real time, devoid of studio laughter, punchlines, or anything much happening at all - but that built huge audiences and garnered multiple awards.
As her star rose, the realities of living with her own fame came to define Aherne’s life, as she became a fixture of tabloid speculation about her personal life, something she would struggle with throughout her career.
Tragically Caroline died of cancer in 2016. Her friends recall not just the lasting cultural and creative legacy she left behind, but of the joy she found in human life, her inimitable sense of mischief, and the happiness she brought those closest to her.
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