The Best TV Christmas Specials 2023!
Start planning your festive viewing with some of the biggest shows on TV set to bring us unmissable moments this Christmas!
This year’s Christmas TV line up certainly won’t disappoint! Soak up all the drama as you watch your favourite shows including Dr Who, Strictly and EastEnders this Christmas Day.
Christmas Special Line Up
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2023 Pic: BBC/Guy Levy
Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas Special, BBC One, 4.40pm, Dec 25
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a little sprinkling of glitter from Strictly! Join Claudia, Tess and the judges as six brand new celebrities take to the famous dancefloor. This year’s eager contestants are Dan Snow, Sally Nugent, Jamie Borthwick, Tillie Amartey, Danny Cipriani and Keisha Buchanan – but who will be crowned champion? Tune in at 4.40pm on Christmas Day to find out!
Dr Who Christmas Special, BBC One, 5.55pm, Dec 25
The 15th Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa, takes over the TARDIS in an epic adventure on Christmas Day. He’s joined by Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) as she makes her debut as his companion.
Little is known about Ruby Sunday who was abandoned as a baby on Christmas Eve, but as they both face mythical and mysterious goblins, more of Ruby’s past is revealed.
Look out for a guest appearance by another well-known TV star in this special episode!
Ghosts Christmas Special, BBC One, 7.45pm, Dec 25
Ghosts Christmas Special 2023 Pic: BBC/Monumental/Guido Mandozzi
Mike’s mum, Betty, is staying for Christmas but things don’t run smoothly, with Mike and Alison growing tired of her interfering.
And will the Ghosts be able to help Robin recapture his Christmas spirit once again?
EastEnders Christmas Special, BBC One, 9.45pm, Dec 25
Stacey Slater, Suki Kaur Panesar, Linda Carter, Sharon Watts, Denise Fox and Kathy Beale TAYL Pic: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
A flashforward scene aired in February set the scene for this EastEnders Christmas Special and fans of the soap can’t wait for the highly-anticipated storyline to conclude. As in past years, Christmas Day in Albert Square is full of heartbreak and drama, and this explosive episode will go down in history!
Six of Walford’s much-loved matriarchs find themselves in the centre of events that lead up to a male character’s demise, leaving lives changed forever. Don’t miss it!
Coronation Street Christmas Special, ITV, 7pm, Dec 25
Peter bids farewell to Weatherfield Pic: ITV/ Danielle Baguley
Christmas Day is a family affair for the residents of Coronation Street as Weathefield’s finest gather to exchange gifts. Peter gives Carla a beautiful silver bracelet inscribed with their initials, but he’s shocked to discover what she has bought for him.
At No.3, Ed watches as the family unwrap the few meagre presents they managed to salvage and he feels even worse when he opens a watch engraved with ‘For the World’s Best Dad. Our Hero’.
In the café, a tipsy Evelyn and Mary help Roy prepare the Christmas feast, and Evelyn is truly touched to see what Roy has wrapped for her.
Call The Midwife Christmas Special, BBC One, 8.15pm, Dec 25
Call The Midwife Christmas Special 2023 Pic: BBC / Neal Street Productions
Trixie and Matthew are home from their honeymoon and preparing for their first Christmas together as husband and wife when an unexpected visitor arrives.
Join Sister Monica Joan, Sister Julienne, Nancy, Colette and Cyril for some emotional and moving scenes.
VERA, ITV1, 8pm, Dec 26
Detective series VERA returns to our screens with a thrilling feature-length episode this Christmas. The Rising Tide, based on the tenth novel by bestselling author Ann Cleeves, sees DCI Vera Stanhope drawn to Lindisfarne, where a group of friends reunites every five years. When one of the group, Rick, dies, things take a more sinister turn, leaving Vera and her whole team in danger.
Brenda Blythen who plays Vera says, “I think The Rising Tide is one of Ann Cleeves’ best books, and that’s saying something because they’re all fabulous. She just gets better and better.”
Death In Paradise, BBC One, 9pm, Dec 26
Death In Paradise Christmas Special 2023, DI Neville Parker Pic: BBC / Red Planet / Denis Guyeon
Head to the warm climes of Saint Marie for a festive feature-length storyline.
When entrepreneur and family man Gerry Stableforth is found dead in a ravine, wife Bella (Patsy Kensit) and his three children are left devastated.
As DI Neville Parker, DS Naomi Thomas, Officer Marlon Pryce and Trainee Officer Darlene Curtis investigate, things take an unexpected twist when another person close to the family disappears.
Allison Hay
I joined the "My Weekly" team thirteen years ago and, more recently, "The People's Friend". I love the variety of topics we cover both online and in the magazines. I manage the digital content for the brands, sharing features and information on the website, social media and in our digital newsletters.
