Christmas TV 2026 UK: festive specials and films to stream

Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday, with Boxing Day on the Saturday and Monday 28 December as the substitute bank holiday – so UK schedules effectively stretch across a long weekend. Channels have started announcing festive specials, but almost none have published exact dates or times yet. This guide sticks to what broadcasters have confirmed, and leaves the rumour mill out.

If you’re outside the UK, many of these shows will land later on BritBox, local BBC partners or other services – check JustWatch for your country. For finished series to binge instead of live specials, see our best TV box sets for Christmas 2026.

BBC One and iPlayer

Ludwig – Christmas special

David Mitchell returns as John “Ludwig” Taylor for a festive locked-room mystery: the family arrive at a remote Christmas-themed hotel in Yorkshire, a blackout hits, and a blizzard traps them overnight with a killer. Guest cast includes Sir David Suchet, Jason Flemyng, Joe Wilkinson and Kiell Smith-Bynoe. Announced by BBC Comedy for BBC One and iPlayer in the festive period; exact date TBC.

Amandaland – Christmas special

Lucy Punch, Joanna Lumley and Philippa Dunne return for an hour-long special: Amanda scraps a quiet Christmas Eve to throw a last-minute party after bumping into an old school friend (Daisy Haggard). On BBC One and iPlayer; date TBC.

The Other Bennet Sister – three Christmas episodes

Three new half-hour episodes follow Mary and Tom into married life, written by Sarah Quintrell for BBC One and iPlayer (BritBox in the US and Canada). Airing in December; exact slots TBC.

The Baddies – Julia Donaldson animation

Magic Light Pictures’ half-hour adaptation of the Julia Donaldson book, narrated by Sheridan Smith, with Rob Brydon, Alison Steadman and Hammed Animashaun among the voices. Confirmed for BBC One over Christmas; specific day TBC.

Also confirmed on the BBC festive slate

• The Cleaner – hour-long special (working title The Cleaner In Italy), Greg Davies’ Wicky on a Dolomites walking holiday that goes wrong; BBC One / iPlayer over the festive period.
• Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms – three-part 1939 prequel (not the usual single Christmas special), narrated by Jenny Agutter.
• Death in Paradise – Christmas special ordered alongside further series; date TBC.
• Strictly Come Dancing – final confirmed for Saturday 19 December; a separate Christmas special is confirmed to return, date TBC.
• A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Bride’s Chamber (BBC Two) – Mark Gatiss adapts Dickens, starring Martin Freeman and Jim Broadbent.

We have not included shows that are only “expected” annual staples without a 2026 announcement, or items still sitting at “reported” rather than confirmed.

ITV1 and ITVX

Confirmed festive entertainment specials so far:

• The Masked Singer Christmas special – four celebrities in festive costumes, all unmasked in one episode, hosted by Joel Dommett (warm-up for the January series).
• The Celebrity Chase Christmas special – Bradley Walsh with a festive celebrity line-up.
• Bullseye Christmas special – Freddie Flintoff hosts again.
• The 1% Club Christmas special – Lee Mack’s quiz (applications window was open in late October); air date TBC.
• Win Win celebrity Christmas special – one-off festive edition; date TBC.

ITV’s full Christmas brochure usually lands between late October and mid-November. We’ll treat anything not in an ITV announcement as unconfirmed.

Channel 4 and Channel 5

Mog’s Bad Thing – Channel 4

Hand-drawn sequel to Mog’s Christmas from Lupus Films, adapted from Judith Kerr. Returning voices include Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy and Adjoa Andoh, with Katherine Parkinson and John Thomson among the new cast. Confirmed for Channel 4 this Christmas; exact date TBC.

Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas – Channel 4

Kirstie Allsopp’s crafting contest returns for five daytime episodes.

All Creatures Great and Small – Channel 5 Christmas special

Filmed as part of series 7. Confirmed to return for Christmas; date TBC (last year’s went out on Christmas Eve).

What we deliberately left out

• Exact Christmas Day / Boxing Day times – not published yet.
• Doctor Who – no 2026 TV Christmas special (the planned one was cancelled earlier in the year).
• Mrs Brown’s Boys – 2026 Christmas and New Year recordings were called off.
• Changing Ends Christmas special and similar press reports that ITV has not announced.
• Freeview film schedules – not out yet.
• Annual staples (Bake Off, Big Fat Quiz, Hootenanny, etc.) that happen most years but lack a 2026 confirmation in the sources above.

Sport over the holiday (already locked)

Useful if you’re sharing the remote:

• Premier League Boxing Day – three televised matches on 26 December (pay TV): Aston Villa v Leeds (12:30, TNT Sports), Hull City v Liverpool (17:30, Sky Sports), Newcastle v Manchester City (20:00, Sky Sports).
• King George VI Chase, Kempton – Boxing Day afternoon on ITV (exact channel/time TBC).
• PDC World Darts Championship – 11 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 on Sky Sports, with no play from 24–27 December.

How to watch without missing everything

1. Record or catch up. BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4’s streaming service and 5 usually carry specials after broadcast (iPlayer needs a TV licence).
2. Don’t trust early “leaked schedules”. Full times typically arrive in early December; on-screen Freeview guides only look about a week ahead.
3. Plan a binge backup. If live specials clash, our TV box sets guide and streaming services compared cover finished series and which service does what.

We’ll refresh this when the BBC and ITV publish full Christmas schedules. Until then: if someone claims they know what’s on BBC One at 8pm on Christmas Day 2026, they’re guessing.