Beeb have it wrapped up
WHEN it comes to Christmas Day TV, nobody really bothers to compete with BBC One these days. Its line-up of back-to-back big-hitters is pretty much guaranteed to dominate the ratings yet again.
Bah-humbuggers will no doubt dismiss its offerings as predictable but hey, come on, it’s Christmas.
So let’s just call them comfortingly familiar.
The main attractions start this year with the festive STRICTLY COME DANCING (4.40pm), admittedly not as nail-biting as a regular live episode, but suitably sparkly and cheery nonetheless. Its line-up features ex-contestants Debbie McGee, Joe Sugg, Gemma Atkinson, Chizzy Akudolu, Richard Arnold and Mark Wright.
Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood then pops up again straight afterwards in MICHAEL McINTYRE’S BIG CHRISTMAS SHOW (6pm). Meanwhile, this year’s feature-length CALL THE MIDWIFE (7pm) is another of those episodes where the team heads out on location, this time to the Outer Hebrides.
Miriam Margolyes’ character Mother Mildred has been informed by God that she should set up a clinic there.And, well, she’s not one to argue.
Christmas Day’s star attraction is GAVIN & STACEY (8.30pm), back after a 10-year absence.
It finds the Wests and Shipmans in Barry, where it’s the turn of Rob Brydon’s Bryn to prepare the big feast. I’m delighted to report that it’s a triumph, by the way.
The episode, I mean, not the dinner. EASTENDERS (9.30pm) then finds Phil in another of his rages (his face actually turns the same colour as the wrapper on my favourite Quality Street), while the magnificently opinion-dividing MRS BROWN’S BOYS (10.30pm) has ex-Corrie chap Kevin “Curly” Kennedy in a pastiche on It’s A Wonderful Life.
If you’re curious at least to explore the rival offerings, then ITV may well be the first channel you switch to. What you’ll discover is a breathless hour apiece of
EMMERDALE (7pm) and CORONATION STREET (8pm), followed by the return of Jeremy Clarkson with a WHO WANTS TO
BE A MILLIONAIRE? CELEBRITY SPECIAL (9pm). Competing for charity on this one are Stephen Mangan, Clare Balding and ex-Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley.
Channel 4, meanwhile, hasn’t entirely waved the white flag.
It’s offering THE GREAT CHRISTMAS BAKE OFF at 7.10pm, featuring the return of four ex-contestants, followed by a guest appearance from Rocketman star Taron Egerton in JAMIE AND JIMMY’S FESTIVE FEAST
(8.30pm). Because obviously what we’ll be craving at this point on Christmas Day is two-hours-plus of food shows.