Christmas TV makes the festive season. Along with Michael Bublé, panic buying Christmas presents for dad [1], and sampling all the Christmas coffees on offer, the TV specials that air in December and into the New Year are the perfect excuse for getting cosy on the sofa. And over the years, we've seen some real Christmas crackers.
Who can forget the dramatic cliffhanger ending of "Gavin and Stacey"'s Christmas special? Or the laugh-out-loud turmoil of Geraldine Granger eating four Christmas lunches in "The Vicar of Dibley"? And we can't be the only ones still wishing people a "Happy Christmukkuh" after "The OC"'s Christmas episode, can we?
From hilarious scripts to heartwarming magic, Christmas TV just hits differently. Or perhaps it's the three glasses of Baileys we've had beforehand. Before scheduling time to rewatch "Love Actually" [2] and invest in the new Christmas TV for 2023 [3], take a watch down memory lane ahead with some of the best Christmas specials and TV episodes we've seen over the years and where to watch them now.
"Motherland: Last Christmas" (2022)
Everyone's favourite bunch of mums (and Kevin), returned in 2022 for a "Motherland" Christmas Special, titled "Last Christmas."
Julia (Anna Maxwell Martin) hosts a full house of guests, including an influx of demanding grandparents, as well as fellow parents Kevin (Paul Ready), Liz (Diane Morgan), and their kids after plans fall through. Meanwhile, Amanda (Lucy Punch) has to handle both her ex's new wife Tamara (Louise Delamere), as well as her drama-loving mother (played by the iconic Joanna Lumley). Anna (Philippa Dunne) hosts a whopping 29 people at hers, and Meg (Tanya Moodie) spirals into drunkenness after a dire present from her husband.
It has all the chaos and energy of every family Christmas, as well as a heartfelt ending that will leave you with a tear in your eye.
Watch "Motherland: Last Christmas" on BBC iPlayer now. [4]
"Gavin & Stacey: A Special Christmas" (2019)
After years of crying out for a Christmas "Gavin & Stacey" special, fans were granted their wish in 2019 with an hour-long episode. Although, it left everyone wanting more.
Ten years on and the whole gang is heading to Barry Island to spend Christmas together. Smithy (James Corden) and Nessa's (Ruth Jones) baby Neil is 12 years old, while parenthood has been taking its toll on Gavin (Matthew Horne) and Stacey (Joanna Page). Uncle Bryn (Rob Brydon) is cooking dinner for all 13 people, although Pam (Alison Steadman) would rather be back in Essex. After a festive trip to the local pub, the episode ends with Smithy proposing . . . but we never hear the answer. Surely, there's another Christmas special due very soon?
Watch "Gavin & Stacey: A Special Christmas" on BBC iPlayer now. [5]
"Ted Lasso: Carol of the Bells" (2021)
If football comedy "Ted Lasso [6]" didn't bring a tear to your eye with each heartfelt episode, then its Christmas offering which first aired in 2021 sure will.
With Ted's (Jason Sudekis) feeling lonely as his son is in the US, he joins forces with Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) to dish out gifts to the community and spread a little joy. AFC Richmond's international players, who haven't exprienced a British Chrismtas, descend upon the Higgins' home for Christmas lunch, while Roy (Brett Goldstein) and Keeley (Juno Temple) are on the hunt for an emergency dentist appointment. Plus, you get to hear Waddingham's incredible singing voice.
Watch "Ted Lasso: Carol of the Bells" on Apple TV+ now. [7]
"The Vicar of Dibley: The Christmas Lunch Incident" (1996)
First aired in 1996, this Christmas classic has been repeated time and time again, so it's likely you've belly laughed at this festive special.
Geraldine Granger (Dawn French), the vicar in the village of Dibley, gets invited to four Christmas lunches by her congregation. The first by Frank Pickle (John Bluthal) and Jim Trott (Trevor Peacock), the next with Horton (Gary Waldhorn) and his son Hugo (James Fleet), the third with Alice (Emma Chambers), her mother (Carol MacReady) and her more dim-witted sister Mary (Mel Giedroyc), and the fourth with parish council member Owen Newitt (Roger Lloyd-Pack). What ensues is a hilarious journey of over-indulgence that will have your own lunch pale into comparison.
Watch "The Vicar of Dibley: The Christmas Lunch Incident" on Now TV. [8]
"The OC: The Best Christmukkah Ever" (2003)
In season one of the hit teen drama "The OC", Christmukkah was born. The Christmas-Hanukkah hybrid that celebrates the Jewish and Christian occasion together has since been marked in festive TV history.
Seth (Adam Brody [9]) introduces his friend, badboy Ryan (Ben McKenzie), to his bi-religious creation to honour both his parent's faith. While he is stuck in a love triangle with Summer (Rachel Bilson [10]) and Anna (Samaire Armstrong), Ryan has to cover for his girlfriend Marissa (Misha Barton) when she gets drunk at Seth's Christmukkah party and almost gets arrested for drunk driving. It's a Christmas episode with humour, drama, and a whole load of teenage angst.
Watch "The OC: The Best Christmukkah Ever" on ITVX now. [11]
"Friends: The One With the Holiday Armadillo" (2000)
If you haven't rewatched every episode of the sitcom "Friends" at least three times, where have you been? "The One With the Holiday Armadillo" has to be up there with one of the best, and it's a Christmas episode too.
Ross (David Schwimmer) wants to introduce his half-Jewish son, Ben, to Hanukkah, but he really loves Christmas. As Ross has left it too late to rent a Santa suit, he dresses as the "holiday armadillo" of Hanukkah instead which Ben seems to like. Until Chandler (Matthew Perry [12]) arrives as Santa. Ross asks him to leave as he really wants Ben to embrace his festive attempt, so he does. And then Joey (Matt LeBlanc) arrives dressed as Superman.
Watch "Friends: The One With the Holiday Armadillo" on Amazon Prime Video now. [13]
"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Deck the Halls" (1990)
US sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air [14]" embraced the festive season in typically chaotic form back in 1990.
The Banks' house appears to be lacking in festive cheer so Will (Will Smith [15]) attemps to get the family excited with stories of how he used to do the season back home in Philly. In order to get his cousin Ashley (Tatyana Ali) in the Christmas mood, he goes OTT with the decorations both inside and out, upsetting some of the snobby neightbours while doing so. But it's a Christmas episode, so it has a heartwarming ending that will leave you feeling warm inside.
Watch "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Deck the Halls" on BBC iPlayer now. [16]
"The Royle Family: The New Sofa" (2008)
Everyone's favourite Northern family returned for a Christmas special in 2008, titled "The New Sofa" and it included all the quips we'd grown to love.
Denise (Caroline Aherne) and Dave (Craig Cash) host Christmas dinner, inspired by Nigella Lawson [17], with Jim (Ricky Tomlinson) and Barbara (Sue Johnston) join them, but aren't too happy about the new reclining sofa. Dave's talkative parents join them for the day, but Denise ruins the Christmas dinner. Instead, they all have a good old-fashioned sing-song.
Watch "The Royle Family: The New Sofa" on BBC iPlayer now. [18]
"Peep Show: Seasonal Beatings" (2010)
The awkward best friends kept us all entertained during Christmas 2010 as they aired a festive episode that was just as good as the rest of the series.
Mark (David Mitchell) is hosting his first family Christmas and ends up inviting Jeremy (Robert Webb) and Dobby (Isy Suttie) along, too. Jeremy is annoyed at the cheap Christmas present he is given by Mark, and later ruins the lunch by not cooking the turkey all the way through and not having enough roast potatoes for everyone. Mark's father finds many ways to call Mark gay, while Mark's mother drinks too much. All in all, uncomfortable comedy at its best.
Watch "Peep Show: Seasonal Beatings" on All4. [19]