Christmas Day TV highlights
With the presents opened and the elasticated waistbands at full capacity, many of us will relax in a comfy chair or sofa for the best that Christmas TV has to offer.
To save you searching for the what, where and when, we've picked out a few of the televisual highlights on the box this year.
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Drama
For many Brits, the Christmas edition of Doctor Who has become a festive tradition, and this year it's a must-see for sci-fi fans. Following the 50th anniversary special, Christmas Day's In the Time of the Doctor will be current Time Lord Matt Smith's last hurrah, and the moment Peter Capaldi makes his debut. The promise of daleks, cybermen and regeneration should be enough to entice fans to settle in for the episode. BBC One, Christmas Day, 7.30pm.
On the more serious drama side, ITV smash hit Downton Abbey is back with a two-hour feature episode that sees the return of Shirley MacLaine as Martha Levinson, and welcomes Hollywood actor Paul Giamatti for the Christmas special. ITV1, Christmas Day, 8.30pm.
And the much-loved series Call the Midwife also returns to TV screens for a festive special, where stars Miranda Hart, Jenny Agutter and Stephen McGann are among the cast. Expect plenty of heart-warming stuff. BBC1, Christmas Day, 6.15pm
Soaps
The soaps always save the really big storylines for Christmas, and EastEnders fans will undoubtedly be treated to an epic 'duf, duf, duf' moment, as Brit flick hardman Danny Dyer is rumoured to be making his long-awaited entrance in Albert Square. BBC1, Christmas Day, 8.30pm.
Meanwhile, on ITV1, Coronation Street will also have plenty of drama, but probably with the odd bit of Christmas cheer to go with it. ITV1, Christmas Day, 7.30pm.
Comedy
Last year, funnyman and acclaimed children's author David Walliams saw his Mr Stink adapted for the small screen, and this year he's likely to score another hit with the TV adaptation of Gangsta Granny, in which a young boy sets off on an adventure in the wake of an astonishing secret about his grandmother. A stellar cast that includes Walliams, Miranda Hart, Rob Brydon, Joanna Lumley and Robbie Williams will ensure it's fun for the whole family. BBC2, Boxing Day, 6.05pm.
Then there's a one-off special in the form of Still Open All Hours. Though Ronnie Barker is sadly no longer with us, TV hero David Jason returns as Granville, now the man in the brown coat at the corner shop, and is joined by James Baxter as his son. Lynda Baron also returns as Nurse Gladys, 28 years after the original series went off air. BBC1, Boxing Day, 7.45pm.
Festive specials
The year's reality shows may have crowned their winners long ago, but there's always the lure of the odd festive special to tempt you back to the telly.
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Brucie and Tess will be dressed to the nines for the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Day special, where ballroom newcomers Matt Goss, formerly of Bros, EastEnder Ricky Norwood, and The Saturdays' Rochelle Humes try their hardest to get a 'FAB-U-LOUS' from acerbic judge Craig Revel Horwood. BBC1, Christmas Day, 5pm.
And there's also a festive treat for foodies, as Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood share their tips for perfectly-baked Christmas fayre in the Great British Bake Off Christmas Special. And if gingerbread houses aren't your thing, there are bound to be a few tempting morsels with the likes of Michel Roux Jnr and chef Glynn Purnell serving up a few of their own culinary favourites. BBC2, 17 December at 8pm, and 23 December at 6.30pm.
What TV highlights are you looking forward to this Christmas? Leave your comments below...
