As the festive season approaches, broadcasters and streaming services have unveiled a spectacular line-up of Christmas television for 2025. This year's schedule is packed with highly-anticipated finales, nostalgic reunions, and special festive editions of the nation's favourite shows, promising to keep viewers entertained from Christmas Eve through to the New Year.
Blockbuster Finales and Nostalgic Returns
The headline event is undoubtedly the conclusion of Netflix's global phenomenon, Stranger Things Season 5. The adventure in Hawkins isn't over yet. Following a late November return, the saga will reach its epic conclusion with a special holiday release. Netflix will drop three new episodes on Boxing Day, followed by a feature-length finale on New Year's Day, offering a thrilling alternative to the traditional post-Christmas lull.
Meanwhile, Channel 4 is serving up a major treat for comedy fans with The Great Peep Show Christmas Bake Off. For the first time since the cult sitcom ended a decade ago, key cast members including David Mitchell, Olivia Colman, and Isy Suttie will reunite. They'll trade the confines of Croydon for the iconic Bake Off tent, attempting to impress judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood in what promises to be a hilarious festive mash-up.
Festive Specials and Bittersweet Farewells
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special on BBC One will be a particularly poignant watch this year. While celebrities like Scarlett Moffatt and Nicola Adams take to the floor, it will mark the final hosting appearance of the beloved duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Expect glitter, glamour, and likely a few emotional moments as the pair sign off.
BBC One's festive roster is exceptionally strong, featuring the return of Call the Midwife, The 1% Club, All Creatures Great & Small, and The Wheel. For drama lovers, Channel 4 offers Dear Father Christmas, a new heart-warming tale starring Lenny Rush and James Buckley, airing on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The BBC also continues its chilling tradition with Mark Gatiss's A Ghost Story For Christmas: The Room in the Tower, starring Tobias Menzies and Joanna Lumley.
Celebrity Showdowns and Champion Battles
Celebrity competition is a recurring theme this Christmas. A Gladiators Celebrity Special will see Joe Wicks, Sam Thompson, Nicola Adams, and Vogue Williams face the mighty Gladiators in the arena. Over on The Celebrity Apprentice, Lord Sugar tasks two teams of famous faces with a biscuit-selling challenge in Lapland, all for charity.
ITV brings back the guessing game with The Masked Singer Christmas Special, hosted by Joel Dommett. Channel 4, meanwhile, pits the best of the best against each other in Taskmaster Champion of Champions, where recent winners like Maisie Adam and Sam Campbell return to battle for ultimate supremacy under Greg Davies's stern gaze.
Soap operas are also set for dramatic festive storylines. Coronation Street, EastEnders, and Emmerdale will deliver their usual mix of joy, tragedy, and shocking secrets, ensuring the drama continues uninterrupted through the holidays. With such a varied and high-quality selection, deciding what to watch may be the biggest challenge of the festive period.
