Christmas TV Guide
MIKE MULVIHILL pick his top 25 TV crackers you can’t afford to miss over the festive fortnight
1THE
SNOW WOLF: A WINTER’S TALE
SUNDAY, 7.10PM, RTÉ2 HHHHH
This enchanting Christmas treat follows a she-wolf who has to embark on a dramatised perilous journey through the Alps. A pack of wolves led by an alpha female and her mate have raised their family to become formidable hunters.
But a tragic event suddenly turns their lives upside down, and the mother must flee the pack and journey through the frozen mountains, in search of a new territory. On the way, she gives birth to six cubs that she battles to protect from humans and predators.
2THE
BUSK: A DECADE OF CHRISTMAS ON GRAFTON STREET
TUESDAY, 10.10PM, RTÉ ONE
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For the last 10 years, thousands of people have gathered on Grafton Street on Christmas Eve for The Busk, the charity music event which helps raise money for the homeless. Over the years, the likes of Bono, Hozier, Dermot Kennedy, Lisa Hannigan, Imelda May, Sinéad O Connor, Liam Ó Maonlaí and Kodaline have all performed. Sadly, the iconic Busk cannot happen this year, but Glen Hansard, takes a look at some of the highlights.
3DONAL’S
FAMILY FOOD AT CHRISTMAS
WEDNESDAY, 8.30PM, RTÉ ONE
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Donal (pictured) has four special festive recipes he’d like to share with viewers. His showstopper is not the traditional turkey or ham, it’s a spicy pork shoulder. Next, he makes kids’ cookies with the help of his son Noah before preparing waffles with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce, a Christmas brunch which will keep you going. Finally, a boozy meringue cake with sparklers – the perfect way to finish Christmas Day.
4
MOTHERLAND CHRISTMAS SPECIAL HHHH
WEDNESDAY, 9PM, BBC2
It’s the mother of all Christmas specials as Julia, Kevin and Liz cause chaos when they head to Amanda’s annual festive soirée (dress code: tinsel and tiaras). Surely, they’re not going to spill anything on those pristine white carpets, are they?
5
CAROLS FROM KING’S CHRISTMAS EVE,
5.30PM, BBC2
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A lone choirboy sings the opening verse of Once In Royal David’s City for this wonderful annual broadcast from the
Chapel of King’s College,
Cambridge. This year, there will be no congregation, but the voices of the choristers will travel round the world.
6
THE GREAT CHRISTMAS BAKE OFF 2020
CHRISTMAS EVE, 7.40PM, CH4 HHHHH
Matt Lucas, Tom Allen, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith (above) welcome back to the tent contestants from Bake Offs past. Lovely James from 2017, 2018’s feisty Ruby and the sweet Jamie and Rosie from last year might not have been triumphant in their series, but one of them will be crowned Christmas star baker.
7
CINDERELLA: A COMIC RELIEF PANTOMIME FOR CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS EVE, 8.15PM, BBC2
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A new version of the classic fairytale, featuring a star-studded cast and drawings by Quentin Blake, which will be auctioned for charity after the show. Olivia Colman is the Fairy Godmother, and she will be joined by Tom Hollander as Baron Hardup, Helena Bonham Carter as Lady Devilia, and The Queen’s Gambit’s Anya Taylor-Joy as Cinderella.
8
CHRISTMAS AT HOME CHRISTMAS EVE, 9.10PM,RTÉ ONE
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Choirs have been unable to perform together during the pandemic but that won’t stop Mary Kennedy and Ruth Smith hosting a star-studded evening of music from all across the country. Among their guests are Lisa Hannigan, Loah, Imelda May, Úna Healy, Celine Byrne, Ray
Lynam, Mick Flannery, Susan O’Neill and Allie Sherlock.
9
ROALD & BEATRIX: THE TAIL OF THE CURIOUS MOUSE
CHRISTMAS EVE, 8.15PM, SKY ONE HHHH
This festive story is based on the true encounter between a young Roald Dahl (Harry Tayler) and Beatrix Potter (Dawn French). With Roald grieving a loss and Beatrix suffering writer’s block, the pair turn to each other for help.
10
ZOG AND THE FLYING DOCTORS
CHRISTMAS DAY, 2.35PM, BBC1 HHHHH
This year’s Julia Donaldson offering is an enchanting sequel to Zog, narrated by Lenny Henry from under his duvet during lockdown. Zog and Gadabout try to rescue Princess Pearl, who has been locked up in her father’s castle.
11
QUENTIN BLAKE’S CLOWN
CHRISTMAS DAY, 7.40PM, CH4 HHHH
A lovely adaptation of Quentin Blake’s book about the adventures of a little toy clown who goes on a journey to find a loving new home.
12
CALL THE MIDWIFE
CHRISTMAS DAY, 7.40PM, BBC1 HHHH The circus comes to Poplar in this 90minute special, putting a magical spell on its residents. Shelagh is reacquainted with an old friend, and Trixie (Helen George, right) receives an unusual gift from her aunt.
13BRITAIN’S
GOT TALENT CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR CHRISTMAS DAY, 8PM, VIRGIN ONE & UTV HHHH
Ant and Dec host this festive BGT special in which the most memorable and talented acts from the past 14 years return to the stage. Judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, David Walliams and Ashley Banjo will be stepping out from their seats and into the limelight to strut their stuff.
14MRS
BROWN’S BOYS CHRISTMAS DAY, 9.45PM, RTÉ ONE
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It’s Christmas once again in the Brown household and Agnes and her family are getting used to ‘the new normal’. Luckily, things haven’t changed much. Mrs Brown has a new tree, Grandad has a new illness and Buster and Dermot have new jobs. There’s much to distract them too, as Winnie and Agnes have entered a competition to perform an alternative Queen’s speech and are waiting to hear if they’ve won.
15
THE REPAIR SHOP AT CHRISTMAS
ST STEPHEN’S DAY, 6.45PM, BBC1 HHHHH
The talented craftspeople rescue faded Christmas treasures, including a rocking horse that will help a little girl to remember the elder sister she never met, a carousel that a New York socialite gave to her Scottish assistant, and a toy truck made by a team of Second World War engineers.
16
THE MASKED SINGER
ST STEPHEN’S DAY, 7PM, UTV
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The wonderfully silly singing contest returns for a second series. Comedian Mo Gilligan is the new face who will be joining Davina McCall, Rita Ora and Jonathan Ross on the guessing panel. The competitors are celebrities in elaborate costumes – can you identify the singer behind the mask before they take off their disguise?
17
THE GREAT BRITISH SEWING BEE: CELEBRITY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
ST STEPHEN’S DAY, 7.45PM, BBC1 HHHH
The surprisingly addictive competition returns with a two-part special. On St Stephen’s Day, the creations of Dr Ranj Singh, Strictly’s Shirley Ballas, singer and actress Denise Van Outen and comedian Sara Pascoe include outfits for dogs. On New Year’s Eve, the celebrity sewers are Birds Of A Feather star Lesley Joseph, drag artistThe Vivienne, presenter Sabrina Grant and the comedy actress Sally Phillips.
18
DANCING WITH THE STARS: PUTTING ON THE GLITZ
SUNDAY 27, 6.30PM, RTÉ ONE HHHH Nicky Byrne and Jennifer Zamparelli round up the memorable moments over the past four series in this special. With a little help from the judges, pro dancers and some of the celebrity contestants, they’ll look back at the most amazing dance routines as well as the ones we remember for less flattering reasons.
19
BLACK NARCISSUS
SUNDAY 27-TUESDAY 29, 9PM, BBC1 HHHHH
Adaptation of Rumer Godden’s 1939 novel about religion and repressed desire, which was famously filmed in 1947 by Powell and Pressburger. This three-part drama stars Gemma Arterton as Sister Clodagh, one of the nuns sent to the Himalayas to start a school at a remote palace, while Alessandro Nivola is the local ruler’s agent, Mr Dean, who causes something of a stir.
MEERKAT: A DYNASTIES SPECIAL
MONDAY 28, 7.30PM, BBC1
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David Attenborough narrates the story of ‘meerkat queen’ Maghogho (below, left), as she struggles to establish a dynasty in the Makgadikgadi salt pans, an area of Botswana known – not very promisingly – as ‘the great nothing’.
21
RIVERDANCE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW MONDAY 23, 9.25PM, RTÉ ONE
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Riverdance, first performed in 1994, has been seen by 27 million people around the globe. Earlier this year, the show celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special performance at Dublin’s 3Arena, and here’s a chance to see it in full.
22THE
BIG NEW YEAR’S IN NEW YEAR’S EVE, 9PM, BBC1
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Paddy McGuinness will be introducing games and surprises with a host of famous faces. Singer Alicia Keys is treating us to a special performance of her best hits while Jools Holland will be throwing his annual Hootenanny on BBC2 at 11.15pm.
23
DOCTOR WHO
NEW YEAR’S DAY,
6.45PM, BBC1 HHHH
Captain Jack Harkness blasts back on to our screens in this thrilling adventure, which is also the last episode to feature
Graham and Ryan. With the Doctor (Jodie
Whittaker, right) imprisoned on an alien planet, it’s left to her companions and old friend Jack (John Barrowman) to save the day.
24
THE SERPENT
NEW YEAR’S DAY, 9PM, BBC1 HHHH
Ambitious new eight-part true-crime drama that revels in its 1970s setting. It’s the gripping story of serial killer Charles Sobhraj, who posed as a gem dealer to lure travellers to their deaths in Thailand and India.
25
DANCING ON THIN ICE WITH TORVILL & DEAN
SATURDAY JAN 2, 10PM, VIRGIN ONE HHHH Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have spent their lives whizzing around ice rinks, but they’ve never skated in the great outdoors before – so they’re travelling to Alaska to fulfil a lifelong dream.