David Farnor | On 24, Dec 2021

One thing’s that certain about Christmas is that there’s no shortage of things to watch. Our guide to the best Christmas TV in 2021 will make sure you won’t miss the big highlights of the small screen’s offerings this festive season – from Doctor Who to Around the World in 80 Days.

But while you can stream Christmas movies on Netflix on your own time, catch Elf whenever you like, or find out where the best Christmas films are available to stream, Christmas week is also a chance to catch a host of movies for free – on BBC One, Two, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

From family favourites to action blockbusters, here’s your guide to the films on UK TV this Christmas. (For our full Christmas streaming guide, including film recommendations and TV listings, head this way.)

Christmas Eve

BBC One

Brave, 11.40am

Frozen, 1.30pm

Abominable, 3pm

BBC Two

To Catch a Thief, 1.35pm

North by Northwest, 3.20pm

Amazing Grace, 11pm

ITV

Nativity Rocks, 11am

Channel 4

It’s A Wonderful Life, 2pm

Home Alone, 6pm

Channel 5

Scrooge (1970), 11.55am

Christmas with the Kranks, 2.15pm

Deck the Halls, 4.20pm

Christmas Day

BBC One

The Secret Life of Pets 2, 1.10pm

Mary Poppins Returns, 3.10pm

Last Christmas, 12.05am

BBC Two

Casablanca, 11.10am

Meet Me in St Louis, 12.50pm

The Adventures of Robin Hood, 5.20pm

Pavarotti, 9.35pm

ITV

Santa Claus. The Movie, 3.10pm

Love, Actually, 10.40pm

Channel 4

How To Train Your Dragon, 11am

White Christmas, 12.55pm

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, 5.15pm

Slumdog Millionaire, 12.20am

Channel 5

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 3.10pm

Boxing Day

BBC One

Shaun the Sheep Movie, 10.10am

Trolls, 11.30am

Beauty and the Beast (2017), 2.20pm

Paddington, 4.20pm

The Accountant, 12.15am

BBC Two

Singin’ in the Rain, 12.40pm

Some Like it Hot, 2.20pm

Channel 4

Home Alone 3, 1.55pm

Crocodile Dundee, 4pm

Channel 5

Calendar Girls, 12.45pm

The Proposal, 3pm

Sister Act, 5.10pm

Dirty Dancing, 8pm

Road House, 10pm

BBC Four
Moonstruck, 9pm

ITV 2
Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, 8pm

27th December

BBC One

Monsters Vs Aliens, 9.20am

The Boss Baby, 10.45am

Finding Dory, 1.30pm

Paddington 2, 5.55pm

BBC Two

A Star is Born, 10.05am

Blade Runner 2049, 9pm

ITV

Hotel Transylvania, 11.45am

Dad’s Army, 2.45pm

Channel 4

Crocodile Dundee II, 6pm

Channel 5

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, 8pm

28th December

BBC Four

West Side Story, 9pm

Channel 5

The Meg, 9pm

BBC One

A Star is Born, 9pm

29th December

BBC One
Inside Out, 1.40pm

30th December

BBC Two
Judy, 9pm

Channel 4
Raiders of the Lost Ark, 6.45pm

BBC One
Ready Player One, 10.35pm

New Year’s Eve

ITV
Spectre, 9pm

BBC One
Coco, 2.40pm

Add to Watchlist