Christmas Day on BBC TV, iPlayer, Radio and Sounds

There are a feast of programmes to entertain all the family over the festive fortnight, with an unmissable line-up that will bring people together in a way that only the BBC can

Here’s just a taster of what’s on across Christmas Day…

Christmas Day on BBC TV and iPlayer

Christmas Morning Service from Halifax Minster

Watch on iPlayer and BBC One on Christmas Day from 10.15am

A traditional Yorkshire Christmas, celebrating the wonder and joy of the Nativity, live from the historic splendour of Halifax Minster.

The minster choir, accompanied by the famous Hammonds Brass Band, will lead the congregation with a host of well-loved carols, including a special arrangement of While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks to the old Yorkshire folk tune – On Ilkley Moor Baht’at – one of the earliest tunes for this carol.

The service will be led by the Vicar of Halifax Minster, the Revd Canon Hilary Barber, who will bless a ‘live crib’ of animals, mother and child. The Bishop of Huddersfield, the Rt Revd Smitha Prasadam, will tell of the hope of the Christmas story in her sermon.

Swan Lake from English National Ballet

Watch on iPlayer and BBC Two on Christmas Day from 12.50pm

More than one hundred dancers take part in this spellbinding production of Swan Lake, filmed on a grand scale at London’s Royal Albert Hall in front of a packed audience.

From the spectacle of 60 shimmering swans moving in unison to the captivating romance between Prince Siegfried (Principal Gareth Haw) and the Swan Queen Odette (Lead Principal Sangeun Lee), this is a magical performance celebrating the company’s 75th season.

With an aerial view of Derek Deane’s exquisite choreography, the performance combines exceptional artistry, gorgeous spectacle and compelling drama. Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score is played live by English National Ballet Philharmonic.

Tiddler

Watch on iPlayer and BBC One on Christmas Day from 2.35pm

Adapted for the BBC from the hugely successful picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, Tiddler is the story of a little fish with a big imagination who gets lost in the deep wide ocean until he’s saved by his own storytelling.

Every day Tiddler tells a different story to his teacher and his friend Johnny Dory about why he’s late for school. His stories stretch from riding on seahorses or swimming around a shipwreck to being captured by a squid! His stories are so great that word of mouth helps them travel through the ocean and so, when Tiddler gets lost, he realises they may help him find a way home.

The film is an underwater adventure about the power of imagination and finding confidence in yourself – and how to be content as a little fish in a big ocean.

The Weakest Link Christmas Special

Watch on iPlayer and BBC One on Christmas Day from 3.10pm

Romesh Ranganathan brings his festive cheer to a star-studded Christmas Special of The Weakest Link. Eight celebrities will all be trying to win up to £50,000 for their chosen charity, in one of the world’s most iconic quizzes. Each round, one player will be voted The Weakest Link by their fellow contestants and will leave with nothing. Who will be crowned The Strongest Link and take the prize ho-ho-home!

The festive line up is Shaun Ryder, Kerry Katona, Phil Tufnell, Sally Lindsay, Big Has, Tim Vine, Heather Peace and Indiyah Polack.

Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special

Watch on iPlayer and BBC One on Christmas Day from 3.55pm

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special is back! The Ballroom will once again be transformed into a magical winter wonderland, so expect festive cheer, jingle bells, mistletoe madness, bedazzling baubles and six celebrities all sleighing their way to Elstree in a bid to be crowned the Strictly Christmas Champion 2024.

In the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, produced by BBC Studios, each of the six couples will perform a festive fuelled routine in the hope of impressing the judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge Shirley Ballas, and the voting studio audience. But who will emerge the Christmas star of the evening, and lift the sought after Christmas trophy?

Doctor Who Christmas Special

Watch on iPlayer and BBC One from 6.10pm with Doctor Who: Unleashed on iPlayer and BBC Three from 7.10pm

The episode introduces Joy, played by Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton, Derry Girls), who checks into a London hotel in 2024, only to discover that her quiet stay is anything but ordinary. When Joy opens a secret doorway to the Time Hotel, she discovers danger, dinosaurs and the Doctor. But a deadly plan is unfolding across the Earth, just in time for Christmas.

Where has the Doctor been? What is going on in Joy’s hotel room? An old enemy of the Doctor’s is lurking in the wings and all of human history hangs in the balance. Can the Doctor save Christmas, everywhere, all at once?

Joining Ncuti Gatwa and Nicola Coughlan is a cast of exciting guest stars, including Steph de Whalley as Anita, Jonathan Aris as Melnak, Joel Fry as Trev, Peter Benedict as Basil, Julia Watson as Hilda, and Niamh Marie Smith as Sylvia.

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Watch on iPlayer and BBC One on Christmas Day from 6.10pm

Wallace & Gromit make their long-awaited return with a brand new feature-length adventure on the BBC this Christmas.

After a recent crime wave of stolen garden goods from across the region, Wallace and his pre-programmed smart gnome, Norbot, are the main suspects. While Wallace proclaims his innocence, it’s up to Gromit once again to battle sinister forces, or Wallace will never invent again!

But who could possibly be behind such evil actions?! Rightfully behind bars for all this time, Feathers McGraw – last seen in 1993’s BAFTA and Academy Award winning short The Wrong Trousers – is back with vengeance.

Directed by Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham and featuring the voices of Ben Whitehead as Wallace, Reece Shearsmith as Norbot, Peter Kay as Chief Inspector Macintosh and Lauren Patel as PC Mukherjee, alongside Diane Morgan, Adjoa Andoh, Muzz Khan, and Lenny Henry.

EastEnders

Watch Part 1 on iPlayer and BBC One from 7.30pm with Part 2 to follow from 10.35pm

Secrets and lies are revealed in spectacular fashion on Christmas Day…

Call The Midwife

Watch Part 1 on iPlayer and BBC One on Christmas Day from 8pm with Part 2 to follow on Boxing Day

For the first time ever, this year Call The Midwife will deliver not one but two Christmas specials – complete with a Christmas cliffhanger!

It’s Christmas 1969 and the Nonnatus midwives are in their element, all busy delivering babies and doing the job they are most dedicated and committed to. The funfair comes to Poplar, adding a burst of colour and excitement to the frosty landscape but there are other visitors to the borough – including influenza and the Hong Kong flu.

As Poplar also prepares for a carol concert, the neighbourhood is gripped by the news of an escaped prisoner and fears grow that he may be in the local area after a spate of break-ins.

The Turner children are caught up in the fever surrounding the Blue Peter Christmas appeal to collect dinky cars and scrap metal. Trixie makes a fleeting visit to Nonnatus House and is delighted to see her brother Geoffrey, and Miss Higgins has her grandson Harry stay for Christmas. Violet hosts a mince pie competition but the Buckles’ preparations for Reggie’s homecoming are thrown into turmoil.

The Merry Widow from Glyndebourne

Watch on iPlayer and BBC Four on Christmas Day from 8pm

Franz Lehár’s laugh-out-loud operetta is a work of pure theatrical pleasure – a cocktail of ravishing music, touching romance and madcap comedy.

Glyndebourne’s lavish new staging from award-winning West End director Cal McCrystal boasts all the opulence of classic Hollywood, and stars Danielle de Niese as the glamorous, wealthy widow Hanna, who is on a search for true love. Baritone Sir Thomas Allen plays the scheming ambassador Baron Mirko Zeta, marking the 55th anniversary of his debut at the festival.

Gavin & Stacey: The Finale

Watch on iPlayer and BBC One on Christmas Day from 9pm with documentary Gavin & Stacey:A Fond Farewell to follow on 1 January 2025

It’s five years since we left Nessa down on one knee declaring her love for Smithy and asking him to marry her. And a lot has happened in those five years.

In Barry, Bryn’s packing the Picasso in readiness for a trip to Essex; Stacey and Gavin are looking for new ways to spice up their seventeen year marriage and Gwen is behaving most strangely. Nessa’s started a new business venture and Neil the Baby’s about to begin an apprenticeship with his dad.

Over in Billericay Pam is stressing out at the prospect of playing hostess, not helped by a newly retired Mick practicing his golf swings in the living room and there have been more ups and downs in Pete and Dawn’s relationship. Join us on the journey to Barry and Billericay as we catch up with the Shipmans and the Wests for the very last time and maybe find out what exactly did happen on that fishing trip.

From Roger Moore with Love

Watch on iPlayer and BBC Four on Christmas Day from 9pm

“Bond is what every man would like to be and what every woman would like to have between her sheets” so said Raymond Chandler and it’s certainly true of Roger Moore. Friends, family and co-stars take part in this revealing and entertaining look at an iconic, stylish and very British actor.

With one eyebrow raised we follow his rollercoaster journey from shy London school boy to knitwear model to global TV heartthrob and his decade-defining role as James Bond. We reveal that the character of Roger Moore – the manner, the charisma, and self-deprecating humour – was his own creation and it took him to the height of fame and a jet-set lifestyle counting Frank Sinatra, Gregory Peck and David Niven amongst his close pals.

His three children from his thirty-year relationship with Italian actress and wife number three Luisa Mattioli share never before seen home movie footage of the family and showbiz friends enjoying life in Switzerland and the South of France. Interviewees include Joan Collins, Jane Seymour, Pierce Brosnan, David Walliams and Christopher Walken.

Mrs Brown’s Boys

Watch on iPlayer and BBC One on Christmas Day from 11.05pm

It’s Christmas in Finglas again and Agnes is failing to convince the gang she’s not grumpy! Meanwhile Cathy pulls the Finglas community together in support of a festive good cause and Buster sources a sustainable tree.

On Christmas Night

As Christmas Day draws to a close, Kate Garraway narrates the story of the first Christmas from Luke’s Gospel, when angels appeared to shepherds to proclaim the news of Jesus’s birth followed by a choral musical performance.

Christmas Day on Radio and BBC Sounds

BBC Radio 1

Radio 1’s on hand with Christmas Anthems from 5am with Dean McCullough and there’s Christmas Breakfast with Sam and Danni from 7am. Then it’s non stop Christmas Anthems throughout the day from Greg James, Vick and Karie, Jamie Laing and Charlie Hedges. Ali Plumb’s got your Christmas Movie Mixtape from 7pm and Maia Beth’s bringing the festive feels with Happy Anthems from 8pm.

Relax and unwind from 10pm with Sian Eleri and the Power Down Playlist before Benji B takes you through 2024 in music with the 2024 Mixtape: Part One from 11pm.

BBC Radio 1Xtra

Joelah and Keke bring an hour of nostalgic Christmas bangers from 6am on 1Xtra while Swarzy presents a special Gospel Christmas from 7am. Kash and Pharaoah G are with you from 10am and DJ Day Day’s in from 1pm with the best Christmas R&B and gospel blends.

Kaylee Golding celebrates music’s Christmas Kings and Queens from 2pm and Sian Anderson’s serving up a Christmas Twerky mix from 3pm. Trevor Nelson goes old skool with the 1 Xtra family from 4pm and there’s a Throwback to the 90s from 6pm before DJ Target continues the Christmas party from 7pm.

The Heartless Crew bring the Best of 2024 from 9pm and then it’s time for R&B Chill with Mnelia at 11pm.

BBC Asian Network

Haroon Rashid soundtracks Christmas Day on BBC Asian Network from 7am and Vallisa’s in from 11am for music, chat and entertainment and Certified Throwbacks from 12pm.

Top 50 Ultimate 90s Bollywood songs – as chosen by listeners – will be revealed from 3pm and Gagan’s in from 7pm with Throwback Bollywood mixes. Asian Network Celebrates Palak Muchhal from 8pm and Sidhu Moose Wala from 9pm before DJ AXJ and DJ Mannu Brown take over with the Desi Dancefloor Mixes from 10pm.

And to help declutter the mind at the end of the day, Nadia Ali’s on hand for Asian Network Chill from 11pm.

BBC Radio 2

Start the day with Zoe Ball’s Christmas Crooners from 6am on Radio 2 before The Reverend Kate Bottley says Good Morning Christmas from 8pm. Anneka Rice is back with Junior Choice from 10am before Jane McDonald delivers two hours of festive fun from 12pm.

Have Christmas Lunch with Gary Davies from 2pm and join Mark Goodier for Pick of the Pops with Festive Charts from ’74, ’84 and ’94 from 4pm.

Mariah Carey’s Christmas Hour offers up her personally curated playlist from 7pm, followed by an upbeat celebration of gospel music, festive songs and traditional carols with Beverly Knight’s Great British Gospel Christmas from 8pm.

And then Trevor Nelson’s on hand to bring the day to a close, returning to the Royal Albert Hall for his Soul Christmas concert, on Radio 2 and Sounds from 10pm.

 BBC Radio 3

Hannah French presents a Christmas Day edition of Radio 3’s Breakfast Show from 6.30am and Petroc Trelawney celebrates Christmas Morning Live from 9.30am.

There’s a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from 1pm and a trip down memory lane to Prom 60: Late Night with Eric Whitacre as the BBC Singers and the conductor perform Eternity in an Hour from 3pm.

Composer of the Week offers up a celebration of Christmas from Latvia at 4pm before Dominic West and Ruth Bradley explore the challenging aspects of Christmas in Words and Music from 5pm.

Then we’re back to the Proms for Beethoven for Three at 6.15pm and Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet from 8pm, followed up some bewitching sounds for after dark in Night Tracks with Hannah Peel from 10pm. Then you can settle in for a Moonlight Sleighride with Soweto, who’s bringing Christmas Day to a close with jazz.

BBC Radio 4

Cerys Matthews steps into a world of Christmas tales written through the eyes of a child on Radio 4 from 6am, followed by a Chirstmas service from 7am and Michael Palin on The Robin.

There’s an Absolutely Fabulous reunion at 8am and Nigel Slater’s Young Again with Kirsty Young from 9am. How to Play features Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf with Manchester Camerata and Josie d’Arby from 9.30am and Woman’s Hour Christmas Day is focussing on Comfort from 10am.

Café Hope’s Christmas Dinner is served from 11am and Sarah Clegg’s Dead of Winter explores Horse Skulls and Hoodenings from 11.45am before Garry Richardson has Pick of the Year 2024 from 12pm.

Ian Sansom’s training for the 2024 World Paper and Comb Championships from 1.14pm before poet laureate Simon Armitage meets some molluscs in My Poetry and Other Animals from 1.43pm and Michael Palin returns with a seasonal story of the robin judt before 2pm. Punt & Dennis go from Beer to Eternity at 2.15pm and Adrian Scarborough reads John Finnermore’s Not Even a Mouse at 3.15pm. There’s Drama on 4 at 3.30pm with Waiting in the Winfs and Jo Brand joins us With Great Pleasure at 5pm.

It’s The Wombles to the Rescue from 6.15pm, Frank Skinner hosts a One Person Found This Helpful Christmas Special at 6.30pm and Joy has a big question to ask in The Archers at 7pm. Jud Dench features on This Cultural Life from 7.15pm and there are Loose Chippings from Victoria Wood at 8pm.

Ceefax Strikes Back with Count Binface at 9pm, All in the Mind explores the Pyschology of Nostalgia at 9.30pm, and Amy Harman, Francesca Ter-Berg and Roderick Williams get in the festive mood with Anna Phoebe and Jeffrey Boakye in Add to Playlist at 10pm.

There are South Sea Tales by W. Somerset Maugham from 10.45pm and Danny Robins ventures to the Scottish Highlands for a special Christmas episode of Uncanny from 11pm.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Prove You’re Better Than That with Alistair Bruce-Ball on Radio 5 Live from 6am before Naga Munchetty delivers 5 Live Breakfast and finds out how her guests are preparing to spend Christmas Day from 7am.

Nihal Arthanayake has the Best of Headliners 2024 from 9am and Elis and John’s Christmas Cracker is on air from 11am. Rick Edwards has Fighting Talk Favourites from 12.30pm before 5 Live Olympics looks back at the 2024 Hames in Paris from 1pm.

There’s an Off The Telly double whammy from 2pm with Christmas Telly and a Gavin and Stacey Special and Rick Edwards is back with even more Fighting Talk Favourites from 3.30pm.

Patrick Kielty’s got the Best of 2024 from 4pm, Ricky Gervais, Katherine Ryan and Joe tell Pa about the world of comedy and stand-up from 6.15pm and there’s a Tailenders Christmas special ay 7pm.

Plus, Maisie Williams looks at the life of Winona Ryder in Famously… Winona from 11pm.

6Music

Chris Hawkins says Marry Christmas from 5am on Radio 6 Music while Deb Grant sits in to get your Christmas morning started from 7.30am with Bob Mortimer sharing his Christmas memories and a festive mix curated by chefs.

Mary Anne Hobbs catches up with PJ Harvey and Nick Cave from 10.30am, soundtracking your Christmas Day right through to 1pm. That’s when Craig Charles celebrates Christmas Day with Alex James and Ann Nesby – and Alex serves up with his Christmas Day Cooking Playlist from 3.30pm.

Emily Pilmbeam delivers a Christmas Day gift giving special from 4pm, joined by Felix White and Karla Chubb and there’s an Old Music Fix with Deb Grant from 7pm. Riley & Coe have the Best of The Year’s Sessions and Music from 9pm before Cillian Murphy rounds out the day with his Limited Edition from 11pm.

BBC Sounds

There’s even more to explore on BBC Sounds with bonus festive episodes of some of listeners’ favourite podcasts this Christmas, including Miss Me?, Sidetracked with Annie and Nick, Make Me A Mixtape, Murder They Wrote, and Off The Telly

There are a range of audiobooks and adaptations to enjoy, such as The Wombles, Alexey Navalny’s biography Patriot (narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch), South Sea Tales by Somerset Maugham, and Dead of Winter by Sarah Clegg.

For music fans there’s extensive mix of seasonal music for all festive occasions with expertly curated music mixes and celebratory specials from Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Kitchen Disco: Ultimate Christmas Hits, Greg James’s Christmas Anthems, and Fearne Cotton’s Sounds of the 90s: Festive Mixtape.

And for those looking for something a bit more laidback there’s Mindful Mix: A Winter Walk, Mindful Mix: A Choral Christmas and Mindful Mix: Christmas Carols, plus The Morning After Mix: Christmas.