Art & Culture

Five of the best things to watch on TV this Christmas

Time to pop the telly on.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 24th December 2024

Christmas is a hectic time.

For some of us, if the run-up to Christmas wasn’t already busy enough as it is, there’s often not a moment to breathe on the big day itself between presents being opened, travelling to see people, entertaining guests, slaving over a hot stove for hours, and eating plenty of food.

Sometimes though, you may find yourself twiddling your thumbs with some time to spare, and that’s why the distraction of festive television is so brilliant.

For others, sitting around to watch the TV is an important part of Christmas itself.

No matter what your situation is, there’s some cracking things to watch on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day this year - with classic seasonal films, to festive specials of our favourite shows, and a few family-friendly additions all on the agenda.

So, just like we have done for the past couple of years, we've once again rounded-up the best of the bunch to create our TV guide.

Here’s just five of our picks.

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Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2024

BBC One

Christmas Day - 3:55pm

Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2024 / Credit: BBC

We’ve all come to expect a Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special at this point, haven’t we? After the iconic ballroom dance competition programme has been bringing us smaller, festive editions of the show we all know and love since 2004, it’s back once again this Christmas Day.

Six celebrity contestants will be taking to the floor to impress judges the judges and battle it out for the Christmas glitter ball trophy.

You can catch Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One at 3:55pm on Christmas Day.

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Doctor Who Christmas Special

BBC One

Christmas Day - 5:10pm

Doctor Who Christmas Special / Credit: BBC Studios

What would Christmas be without a Doctor Who special?

The long-running sci-fi series is back where it belongs with another festive episode on Christmas Day this year, and we can't wait.

The episode introduces Joy, played by Nicola Coughlan, who checks into a London hotel in 2024, only to discover that her quiet stay is anything but ordinary. When Joy opens a secret doorway to the Time Hotel, she discovers danger, dinosaurs, and the Doctor... but a deadly plan is unfolding across Earth, just in time for Christmas.

You can catch the Doctor Who Christmas Special on BBC One at 5:10pm on Christmas Day.

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Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

BBC One

Christmas Day - 6:10pm

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl / Credit: BBC

Wallace & Gromit make their long-awaited return with a new feature-length adventure.

Wallace and his pre-programmed smart gnome, Norbot, are the main suspects after a recent crime wave of stolen garden goods across the region... but while Wallace proclaims his innocence, it’s up to Gromit once again to battle sinister forces, or Wallace will never invent again.

Who could possibly be behind such evil actions? Rightfully behind bars after all this time, Feathers McGraw is back with vengeance.

Directed by Nick Park, Reece Shearsmith provides the voice of Norbot, and Peter Kay is Chief Inspector Macintosh, alongside other famous names such as Diane Morgan, Adjoa Andoh, and Lenny Henry.

You can watch Wallace & Gromit: Most Vengeance Fowl on BBC One at 6:10pm on Christmas Day.

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Gavin & Stacey: The Finale

BBC One

Christmas Day - 9pm

Gavin & Stacey: The Finale / Credit: BBC

9pm. Christmas Day 2024. The end of an era is here.

It’s been five whole years since we left Nessa down on one knee declaring her love for Smithy and asking him to marry her... and a lot has happened in those five years.

This Christmas, fans of the long-running sitcome will be able to join on the journey to Barry and Billericay as we catch up with the Shipmans and the Wests for the very last time, and maybe find out what exactly did happen on that fishing trip.

You can watch Gavin and Stacey: The Finale on Christmas Day on BBC One at 9pm.

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Outnumbered

BBC One

Boxing Day - 9:40pm

Outnumbered / Credit: BBC

Our final long-awaited Christmas Special comeback is here... are you ready to be Outnumbered once again?

In a moment of adversity, Sue and Pete gather all their children - who are now adults, and have their own hurdles to navigate in the real world - and one grandchild to try to celebrate a traditional family Christmas.

Their new house is smaller, the children are bigger, and within the chaos, an uninvited house guest overstays their welcome.

You can watch Outnumbered on Boxing Day on BBC One at 9:40pm.

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Featured Image - BBC

Art & Culture

Adventurous people from Yorkshire needed to take part in next series of BBC’s Race Across the World

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Are you a fan of travelling? Got a bit of a competitive streak in your nature? Well, this might just be your calling then.

The BBC is, once again, casting for the next series of Race Across the World.

The BAFTA-winning hit show draws in thousands of viewers each week, and now producers are on the look-out for ‘intrepid duos’ of all ages who reckon they’re ready to take a step into the unknown, and embark on an epic race across land and sea for the next seried – and that includes Yorkshire residents.

With applications for the next series of the massively-popular show now open, nomadic people from Yorkshire are being encouraged to take part.

On a limited budget and away from the luxuries of modern technology and conveniences, those lucky applicants selected to take part in the next series will get the chance to experience life in some of the world’s most beautiful and remote locations.   

Race Across the World
Adventurous Mancs are needed to take part in the next series of Race Across the World / Credit: BBC

Navigating their way across thousands of miles, they’ll travel through spectacular scenery and dynamic cities, visit ancient wonders, learn local customs, and take part in time-honoured traditions. 

But, as producers are keen to point out, ‘the physical journey is only half of the story’. That’s because, as the contestants take on the challenge of travelling across the world, the greatest thing they’ll discover along the way could actually be about themselves and one another.

Putting out a UK-wide casting call on the BBC website this week, producers Studio Lambert wrote: “We are now accepting applications for the next series of Race Across the World. This experience is open to all, whether you’re a seasoned traveller or total novice.

“We want to hear what undertaking a trip like this would mean to you, and with a cash prize at stake, what lengths you would go to to win.”

    Fancy it then? Applications for the next series of Race Across the World are now open for anyone over 18 years of age, with a deadline date of 29 March 2026, and you can find out more information and apply via the BBC website.

    Stick your application form in here.

    Read more: Train ticket prices slashed by over 50% as huge rail sale returns across UK

    Featured Image – BBC

    Art & Culture

    An award-winning Star Wars burlesque show is coming to Leeds

    Danny Jones Danny Jones

    In a galaxy not so far away, a smash-hit Star Wars parody and burlesque show is coming to Leeds city centre in the New Year.

    That’s right, the award-winning ‘Empire Strips Back’ is coming to town in 2026.

    You may have heard of the funny Star Wars stripper show or even seen clips of it online, but rumour has it that nothing can quite prepare you for the cheekiness of seeing this romp in the flesh.

    In case you’ve been completely immersed in the dark side until now, here’s what you can expect:

    Now well over a decade into its success and more than 200 Las Vegas shows, ‘The Empire Strips Back’ made its long-awaited transatlantic debut earlier this year.

    Getting away at London’s Riverside Studios from May and enjoying a run until this past August, the comedy-driven twist on the classic Star Wars stories and beloved sci-fi characters was an instant hit with us Brits.

    It started in Australia way back in 2011 and has gone not only to tour across Europe, but land a coveted residency at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Nevada.

    Rather fittingly, they recently won Gold and Bronze at Las Vegas’ annual awards for the Best New Act/Show and Female Revue (a multi-act theatrical performance involving music, dance and/or sketches) on the strip.

    See what we did there?…

    Now set to seek out new padawans and storm-strippers all over the cosmos, and by that we mean the UK, ‘The Empire Strips Back: Burlesque Parody’ is coming to Manchester.

    Set to land at TESTBED in February from from Thursday 12 to Sunday 22 specifically, we cannot wait to see how this goes down with Northern crowds.

    It’s also worth noting that this two-hour show, including intermission, is a strictly 18+ only event; if you’re interested, you can find out more info and grab your tickets right HERE.

    Read more: Iconic Leeds steakhouse announces new gastrobar concept to mark 18th anniversary

      Featured Images — Press shots (via Empire Strips Back gallery)

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