Christmas is a time for family, giving, and really, really great television! So what will you be watching this year? The Christmas TV schedules have been announced, and we can't wait to tune into these holiday-themed specials!
Friday 16 December will kick things off with a Vicious special on ITV, and we will finally find out who walks away with the coveted Glitter Ball trophy on Saturday 17 December during the final of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC. Sunday 18 December will see ITV and BBC battle it out for top ratings as ITV will air All Star Mr and Mrs Christmas Special followed by the premiere of Midsomer Murders series 19, while the BBC will air the Sports Personality of the Year, along with a tribute show for the late Victoria Wood, titled Victoria Wood: A Soon on TV before the final of The Apprentice.
On Monday 19 December ITV will air a special on Prince Harry following him on his return to Lesotho in Africa for work for the charity Sentebale, and the BBC will show the first of a Last Tango in Halifax two-part Christmas special, along with Sir Lenny Henry: A Life on Screen, a film celebrating the life of the BAFTA-winning performer. On Tuesday 19 December Hilda Ogden's Last Ta-Ra – A Tribute To Jean, will be shown on ITV, which celebrates the work of actress Jean Alexander who played Coronation Street's Hilda Ogden for over 20 years, followed by Paul O'Grady's Favourite Fairy Tales, in which the presenter will explore the world of the Brothers Grimm, while the BBC will air the second part of the Last Tango in Halifax special.
Paul O'Grady will present For the Love of Dogs at Christmas
On Thursday 22 December the BBC will show the Noel-themed QI Christmas special along with a Mock the Week Christmas special, while the ITV will air Educating Joey Essex: What You Sleighing, which follows everyone's favourite former TOWIE cast member as he tries his hand as a Santa and takes a trip to Lapland.
On Friday 23 December the BBC will air Citizen Khan: It's a Khanderful Life and The Graham Norton Show with Will Smith, Helen Mirren, Martin Freeman and Naomie Harris joining the sofa. On Christmas, the BBC will show Michael McIntyre's Big Christmas, David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey to celebrated her 80th birthday. Meanwhile, ITV will air a Blankety Blank Christmas special with a host of celebrities, along with a Birds of a Feather Christmas special, Grantchester Christmas special and Through the Keyhole Christmas special with Keith Lemon. On Christmas Day, the BBC will celebrate the happy occasion with a one-off Top of the Pops, The Great Christmas Bake Off, the Doctor Who Christmas special and, of course, both ITV and BBC will show the Queen's Christmas broadcast. On ITV, Paul O'Grady is presenting For the Love of Dogs at Christmas and Rowan Atkinson is the French detective Jules Maigret in Maigret's Dead Man.
Show will include a Birds of a Feather Christmas special