ON DEMAND GUIDE: Festive specials

Here’s our pick of some of the finest Christmas comedies to have graced our screens over the years, and a guide to where to find them on demand…

Blackadder’s Christmas Carol (1988) This twist on Dickens introduces us to a kindly Blackadder who learns the error of his ways. Britbox, iplayer. The Vicar Of Dibley: The Christmas Lunch Incident (1996) Vicar Geraldine has to race between three Christmas lunches, when what she’d really like to be doing is watching Jurassic Park and devouring advent calendars. Britbox, iplayer. Gavin & Stacey (2008) The Welsh contingent come to Essex, Gavin (Mathew Horne, centre) announces a move to Wales, and Bryn is beyond delighted by mint Baileys. Britbox, iplayer.

The Royle Family:

The New Sofa (2008) Denise is making lunch, and Barbara passes on the secret to her gravy – Oxo – as the Royles celebrate the season in inimitable style. Britbox, iplayer.

The Goes Wrong Show (2019) Last year’s first festive outing for the amateur thespians turns on a visit from Father Christmas that goes – yes – terribly, terribly wrong. iplayer.

Also try… All Creatures Great And Small, Bergerac, Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em, Steptoe And Son (Britbox), plus Detectorists, Porridge, Outnumbered, My Family (iplayer).