11 BBC Christmas TV Specials to Watch this Holiday Season

The 2024 Christmas TV specials are here to make your holiday season extra special! From festive comedies to heartwarming dramas, these shows promise something for everyone. Get ready for star-studded performances and holiday magic that will keep you glued to the screen.

But what if you can't access these Christmas TV specials because you're traveling or living in a region outside of the United Kingdom where BBC is not available? There's a simple solution, use NordVPN to bypass regional restrictions and connect to the UK where the TV Specials are available. You can do all this while avoiding malicious sites and intrusive ads. So, you will get to enjoy a cleaner, faster, and secure internet experience.

Keep reading to find out which 11 festive specials are must-watches this season. We’ll update this list as new details come in!

Full list of Christmas TV Specials

Strictly Come Dancing, Series 22

Release date: Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024

Strictly Come Dancing is back in the ballroom for a festive Christmas special, filled with excitement for the whole family to enjoy on Christmas Day. Hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, six stars will showcase their festive footwork in hopes of impressing the judges and becoming the Christmas Champion 2024. Spice Girls’ Emma Bunton will perform, and two spectacular group routines are sure to have the nation dancing along.

Doctor Who "Joy To The World" 

Release date: Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024

Nicola Coughlan is set to captivate audiences again in the Doctor Who Christmas Special, titled "Joy to the World." Coughlan plays Joy, a woman who checks into a seemingly normal London hotel—but soon finds herself thrust into a whirlwind of danger, dinosaurs, and, of course, the Doctor. 

With the return of an old enemy and Coughlan teaming up with Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor, this festive special promises excitement and peril. Don't miss the magic and adventure—it's sure to be a holiday treat for Doctor Who fans!

Gavin and Stacey: The Finale 

Release date: Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024

The 2024 Gavin and Stacey Christmas special is called The Finale, and it focuses on the journey the Wests took from Barry Island to Essex just to spend the holidays with Mick and Pamela. The titular pair are trying to reignite their relationship while Neil, Smithy and Nessa's son, is starting an apprenticeship. 

Also, with Uncle Bryn and Jason oming along, the episode will reveal just what happened on the fishing trip that has been talked about for so long. 

Outnumbered Christmas Special

Release date: Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024

In the Christmas special, Sue and Peter get their children and one grandkid to celebrate a traditional Christmas together. Their holiday isn’t as joyful as they would have hoped for with a small house. To make things worse, an uninvited guest decides to overstay their welcome.

The Weakest Link: Christmas Special

Release date: Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024

Eight celebs- Shaun Ryder, Kerry Katona, Phil Tufnell, Sally Lindsay, Big Has, Tim Vine, Heather Peace and Indiyah Polack, will work together to win up to £50,000 for their individual chosen charity. 

In every round of the Christmas special of this iconic quiz show, one player will get voted as the weakest link by their fellow contestants and depart with nothing. So who will get crowned as the strongest link and take home the prize?

Would I Lie to You: At Christmas 

Release date: Monday, Dec. 23, 2024

Rob Brydon is back as the host of this Christmas festive edition of the comedy panel show. Lee Mack and David Mitchell are the team captains. The latter is joined by Jimmy Carr and Laura Smyth while Mack is joined by Rustie Lee and Lenny Rush as his fellow panelists. 

Over the course of the show, celebrity guests will reveal amazing stories about themselves. But the catch is- are they telling the truth, or are they making it all up?

Wallace And Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Release date: Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024

Wallace and Gromit, the iconic duo from Aardman Animations, are back in Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. After their first feature film and a short in 2008, the pair returns with a new adventure where Wallace's malfunctioning invention—a smart gnome—could be linked to an old enemy, Feathers McGraw. This thrilling new chapter brings the perfect mix of humor and nostalgia for fans of all ages!

Call The Midwife Double Bill

Release date: Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024

Each year, Call the Midwife delivers a Christmas special that’s become a beloved tradition, and this year is no exception. Set in 1969, the double bill features a funfair in Poplar, but trouble looms with an outbreak of Hong Kong flu and a dangerous escaped prisoner causing havoc. 

Amid the festivities, the community must come together to face these new challenges. With last year's special reaching 8.9 million viewers, this holiday season promises another heartwarming and dramatic installment.

Wales’ Home of the Year: Christmas Special

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Release date: Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024 & Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024

Judges Owain Wyn Evans, Mandy Watkins, and Glen Thomas travel across Wales in search of the ultimate Christmas home. They’ll assess festive design, seasonal style, and Christmas spirit—who will jingle the judges’ bells and win their approval?

Death in Paradise & Beyond Paradise

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Release date: Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024 (Death in Paradise) & Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 (Beyond Paradise)

In Death in Paradise, there’s a new sheriff, Don Gilet, in town. The island of Sainte Marie welcomes Londoner DI Mervin Wilson, the replacement for Ralf Little’s DI Neville Parker. His first job is a tropical murder mystery involving multiple victims dressed as Father Christmas. The Cornish-set spinoff called Beyond Paradise will also have a Christmas special ahead of its third series, starring Kris Marshall, Sally Bretton and the gang. 

The Young Offenders

Release date: Friday, Dec. 20, 2024

In The Young Offenders festive special, Conor (Alex Murphy) and Jock (Chris Walley) return for more mischief in Cork. As Conor's mom, Mairéad (Hilary Rose), prepares for her baby, a shocking discovery – a handgun in the laundry – complicates everything. Expect laughs and chaos in this hilarious holiday episode.