The BBC has unveiled what fans and critics are calling a festive 'hidden gem' in its 2025 Christmas lineup. The one-off special, titled 'Stuffed', stars comedian Guz Khan and offers a heartwarming yet chaotic take on the holidays through the lens of a mixed-faith family.
A Lapland Trip Gone Awry
The one-hour episode, which aired on BBC One at 9pm on December 23 and is available on BBC iPlayer, follows the Farooqi family. Guz Khan plays Arslan, a practising Muslim who, after receiving an unexpected work bonus, splurges on a dream holiday to Lapland for his family.
The catch? The bonus payment was a colossal error. The synopsis sets the scene: 'What follows is one man’s mission to save a Christmas he doesn’t believe in while ideally not losing his job, his family and everything he has ever worked for.' As promised, the mission does not go smoothly.
Audience and Critical Acclaim
Early viewers have flooded social media with praise. On X, user @beffy declared they 'Absolutely loved Stuffed', calling Khan and his co-star Morgana Robinson, who plays his wife Hannah, a 'dream team'.
Another viewer, Saffron, noted the emotional depth, sharing: 'Didn’t expect it to make me emotional, but grief is hard... It’s v fun though as well ofc.' Joanne Grange urged others: 'If you’ve not watched it yet, try Stuffed on the iPlayer. Brilliant new addition to the Christmas film list.'
The show has also garnered positive press. Digital Spy hailed it a 'hidden gem', while The Guardian labelled it a 'Christmas caper' worthy of your holiday watchlist.
Representation and Real-Life Resonance
Beyond the comedy, the special resonates for its portrayal of an interfaith family navigating Christmas, a dynamic not often seen on mainstream TV. Khan highlighted this, telling The Guardian: 'It’s a really interesting dynamic. They just live a normal life... It’s all the stuff that any couple would go through.'
This sentiment was echoed by Metro's Senior TV Reporter, Asyia Iftikhar, who wrote about the personal pull of the show, describing it as encapsulating 'the weird and wonderful experience of a cross-cultural Christmas'.
Filming presented its own adventures. While much was shot 'off a roundabout in Reading', the cast did travel to Lapland. Khan joked about the cold, stating: 'When we did go to Lapland, I realised that somewhere deep down within me, my genetics were warning me... my brown arse will never enter that place ever again.'
'Stuffed' is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
