David Farnor | On 19, Dec 2022

Christmas is here – and, as many people turn to the internet and video calls to keep connected with friends and loved ones, the TV will also provide a cornerstone of entertainment over the festive season. (See our full Christmas streaming guide here.)

7 in 10 adults now use free catch-up services to watch Christmas TV on-demand, according to research from Ofcom, which means that more people can fit their festive TV viewing around Zoom meetings and phone calls. Or, you know, just watching Love Actually on repeat.

One thing is for sure: between BBC iPlayer, ITVX, My5 and All 4, not to mention Netflix, Apple TV+, Sky and more, it’s never been easier to stream something you missed the following day and enjoy Christmas telly on your own schedule. Read on for our highlights of the 2022 UK Christmas TV line-up. Bookmark this page: it will be updated with links to each programme on VOD, so it’s easy to stay up-to-date without having to change out of your pyjamas.

 

21st December

Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom Drama

Michael Sheen stars in the dramatic recreation of the sensational ‘Wagatha Christie’ trial, the digital-age whodunnit based on the real-life events of Rebekah Vardy’s bid to sue Coleen Rooney.

22nd December

Luke Evans Showtime!

Luke Evans returns to Wales to host an unforgettable night of music with special guests LeAnn Rimes, Olly Murs, Nicole Scherzinger and Beverley Knight.

Inside No 9

It’s Christmas Eve, and Dr Parkway has booked an overnight stay in a reputedly haunted church. Why is he keen to be away from his other guests? A twisted ghost story for Christmas.

 

23rd December

Motherland: Last Christmas

It’s a mum-eat-mum world. The brave women and men of the school run come face to face with playdate politics, the PTA’s reign of terror and never having a pee by yourself. Now, the sitcom is back for the mother of all Christmases.

A Ghost Story for Christmas: Count Magnus

The inquisitive Mr Wraxhall discovers that a long-dead Swedish nobleman does not lie easy in his tomb in Mark Gatiss’ adaptation of the MR James horror story.

Red Riding Hood: After Ever After

Fifty years after her legendary brush with the wolf, an adult Red Riding Hood and her granddaughter face a new lupine problem in this comedy starring Samantha Bond and David Walliams.

Meet the Richardsons at Christmas

Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont play themselves in a festive outing of their self-aware comedy.

 

Christmas Eve

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

A story of kindness, friendship, courage and hope for viewers of all ages in a heartwarming, hand-drawn animated film based on the children’s book by Charlie Mackesy.

Christmas Carole

A yuletide story of our times, with apologies to Charles Dickens. BAFTA Award-winning Suranne Jones stars in this seasonal new Sky Original. Carole Mackay (Jones) is an unashamedly outspoken and wealthy entrepreneur. Her online business selling all things festive has earned her a fortune, as well as the nickname ‘Christmas Carole’. But her success hasn’t made her a better human being. In fact, it’s made her worse. The truth is that Carole is a monumentally mean person. Positively Scrooge-like. And, just like Ebeneezer, she doesn’t love Christmas at all. But this Christmas Eve, Carole’s past, present and future are about to collide. Will some rather familiar Christmas spirits help her discover the true spirit of Christmas?

The Great British Bake Off

Terry Christian, Gaby Roslin, Tony Robinson, Miquita Oliver and actress Claire Sweeney will enter the Bake Off tent in this festive edition of the competition.

Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Christmas Fishing

Bob and Paul travel to the northern islands of Norway on their most extreme fishing adventure yet and face the mighty maelstrom where tides collide and big fish await.

Christmas Comedy Club with Lost Voice Guy

Lee Ridley returns once again to host a special seasonal night of stand-up comedy.

 

Christmas Day

The Witcher: Blood Origin: Season 1

Set in an elven world 1200 years before the time of Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri, this four-part prequel series will tell a tale lost to history: the creation of the first prototype Witcher, and the events that led to the pivotal Conjunction of the Spheres, when the worlds of monsters, men, and elves merged to become one. Michelle Yeoh stars.

The Smeds and the Smoos

Two young aliens from warring families fall in love and run away, leading their relatives on a chase across outer space. Animated adaptation of the children’s book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Call the Midwife

It is December 1967, and with Christmas fast approaching, life in Poplar is returning to normal after the terrible train crash. Fred decides that Poplar needs to come together to raise money for those families still affected by the train crash and pitches the wonderful idea of a festive talent show.

Strictly Come Dancing

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman return to the ballroom for an all-star Christmas special as six brand new celebrities take to the floor in a bid to be crowned Christmas champion 2022.

Doc Martin Christmas Special

Martin Clunes returns to Portwenn for this final edition of the long-running ITV drama, which sees the grumpy doctor attempt to make it home for Christmas.

A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story

An opportunity to see Mark Gatiss’s astonishing theatrical production of Dickens’s classic winter ghost story, A Christmas Carol, directed for the stage by Adam Penford.

Ghosts Christmas Special

A festive trip down memory lane prompts Pat to question his very identity. The ghosts come up with a surprise Christmas present for Alison whose family lunch does not go to plan.

The Festive Pottery Throwdown

Siobhán McSweeney hosts a fabulously festive dollop of Christmas clay, as James Fleet, Jenny Eclair, Jamie Laing and Sunetra Sarker make slab-built scenes and mulled wine tumblers.

 

Boxing Day

Treason: Season 1

Charlie Cox stars in this thriller about an MI6 deputy, whose bright future takes a sharp turn after a reunion with a Russian spy forces him to question his entire life.

The Greatest Snowman

A group of celebrities compete to sculpt epic snow and ice creations.

Death in Paradise Christmas Special

A podcaster is murdered whilst investigating the disappearance of a child. It’s a case that’s haunted Selwyn for many years, and now Neville and the team must lay its ghost to rest.

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2022

Jimmy Carr once again hosts the Big Fat comedy panel show that challenges an array of celebrity panellists.

Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2022

Professor Dame Sue Black will reveal the secrets of forensic science in the 2022 festive lectures from the Royal Institution.

Detectorists

Andy and Lance have secured a new permission – could this be the site of their greatest ever find? Meanwhile, the scout hall is in jeopardy as developers are sniffing around.

 

28th December

Mayflies

The friendship that defines your life – and will push your loyalty to the limits. Life-affirming drama with a killer 80s soundtrack, starring Martin Compston and Tony Curran.

Marie Antoinette

An innocent teenage queen drawn into a dark, manipulative court of Versailles. Her duty is to bear an heir. Her fate will set a country on fire. From the writer of The Favourite.

Atlanta: Season 4

The final chapter of the hit US series brings Earn (Donald Glover), Alfred ‘Paper Boi’ Miles (Brian Tyree Henry), Darius (LaKeith Stanfield) and Van (Zazie Beetz) back in their Georgia hometown. But the question is, did Atlanta change, or have they? The series is executive produced by Donald Glover, Stephen Glover, Hiro Murai, Stefani Robinson, Paul Simms and Dianne McGunigle.

 

29th December

Prince Andrew: The Musical

Kieran Hodgson (How Europe Stole My Mum, Two Doors Down) leads a cast of comics in a satirical send-up of the life and times of Prince Andrew, set to a musical score from Kieran Hodgson and Freddie Tapner.

 

New Year’s Eve

Jools’ Annual Hootenanny

Jools Holland is back once again to present his unstoppable countdown to midnight.

Sam Ryder Rocks New Year’s Eve

The Eurovision runner-up is joined by some of music’s biggest stars to put on an out of this world New Year Eve extravaganza as the nation builds up to the start of 2023.

Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends

On 3 May 2022, Cameron Mackintosh invited many of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends to join him in London’s West End for a thrilling, joyously staged production. Featuring an all-star cast, including amongst others, Michael Ball, Helena Bonham Carter, Rob Brydon, Petula Clark, Anna-Jane Casey, Rosalie Craig, Janie Dee, Judi Dench, Daniel Evans, Maria Friedman, Haydn Gwynne, Bonnie Langford, Damian Lewis, Julia Mckenzie, Julian Ovenden, Bernadette Peters, Sian Phillips, Jon Robyns, Clive Rowe, Jenna Russell, Imelda Staunton, Charlie Stemp, Gary Wilmot and Michael D Xavier.

New Year’s Day

Happy Valley: Season 3

It never goes away. Sgt Catherine Cawood is tough, defiant and facing her traumatic past. Sarah Lancashire in Sally Wainwright’s northern noir.

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