BBC Christmas TV 2025 preview: All the must-see festive shows coming up
Feeling festive yet?Christmas TV on the BBC is always make up of some truly magical shows, and our 2025 preview is sure to make you feel excited about the festive period…
A string of great TV shows have already been announced. There’s specials of your favourite series like Call the Midwife and Death in Paradise. Plus new dramas such as a spooky ghost story starring Joanna Lumley. Also heading our way are cracking comedies like Here We Go, Amandaland and Mrs Brown’s Boys.
Here’s everything we know so far about what’s on this Christmas on the BBC…
BBC Christmas 2025 TV preview
Here We Go (BBC One)
The Jessops are back for more anarchic antics in the Here We Go Christmas special on BBC One. Rachel and Paul have very different ideas about what makes a great New Year. Paul (Jim Howick) wants to head to a nice peaceful holiday cottage with a sauna so he can sweat out the massive boil that’s appeared on his cheek. But Rachel (Katherine Parkinson) wants to throw a huge New Year’s Eve party.
Obviously this leads to a suitably barmy Jessop family holiday featuring a road trip, a missing dummy, and a load of dodgy fireworks Paul has snaffled from a police auction. Creator and star Tom Basden also features along with Alison Steadman, Freya Parks, Jude Morgan-Collie, Tori Allen-Martin, Mica Ricketts, Ed Kear, and Jon Furlong.
Tom Basden promises us a “catastrophic New Year’s special”. We can’t wait!
Call the Midwife Christmas special (BBC One)
We’re normally in icy Poplar. But, this Christmas, Call the Midwife is splitting the action between the East End and Hong Kong! Yes, Hong Kong!!
The synopsis tells us: “When senior members of the Nonnatus House staff head to Hong Kong on a mercy mission, the younger midwives are left to cope alone. As the Christmas action shifts between the sun-drenched Far East and a snowy East End, Sister Julienne suddenly finds herself excited about the Order’s future.”
Star Laura Main, who plays Shelagh Turner, has promised the episodes go into “completely new territory”. The events in the specials will neatly set up series 15 of Call the Midwife. The new series will begin in January 2026.
A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower (BBC One)
Mark Gatiss adapting a Christmas ghost story has become something of a tradition. This year, he’s giving us The Room in the Tower, the chilling classic by E.F. Benson.
Starring Joanna Lumley and Tobias Menzies, The Room in the Tower is set in the inter-war years.
The synopsis tells us: “For 15 years, Roger Winstanley has been haunted by an unsettling, recurring dream: an invitation to spend the night in the house of an acquaintance, where an unseen terror lurks and the figures who populate the dream seem to age in real time. Nightmare and waking life seem to finally collide when an invitation to the dreaded ‘room in the tower’ becomes all too real…”
Mark Gatiss himself says: “The Room in the Tower has been prepared for you – and with Tobias Menzies and the legendary Dame Joanna Lumley to boot!”
The Room in the Tower was shot at Cobham Hall in Kent. Scenes in series 5 of The Crown were also shot there.
Amandaland Christmas special (BBC One)
Joanna Lumley is having a busy Christmas! Not only is she in The Room in the Tower, she’s also in the Amandaland Christmas special. Joanna, who plays Amanda’s mum Felicity, revealed in a chat with Virgin Radio UK earlier this year that a festive special was happening.
Asked about what she’s up to, Joanna replied: “Just busy, busy, busy, busy. I’m just about to start another series of Amandaland which was the spin-off from Motherland, which was a gorgeous wild success.
“Clever, clever Lucy Punch. We’re just about to start seven more episodes and one is a Christmas special for this year.”
Amandaland follows Amanda (Punch) who’s downsized to South Harlesden following her divorce. Will she find a Christmas romance after breaking up with Johannes? And will her mum drive her around the bend? Don’t forget Amandaland series 2 is on the way, too.
The Scarecrow’s Wedding (BBC One)
This latest adaptation of writer Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler’s fabulous picture books is one for all the family. Previous adventures have included Room on the Broom, The Gruffalo and, last year, Tiddler. The half-hour special follows two devoted scarecrows Betty O’Barley and Harry O’Hay. They are preparing for their wedding day when trouble arrives in the form of smooth-talking Reginald Rake.
Oscar-nominated star Sophie Okonedo narrates, with Jessie Buckley voicing Betty, and Domhnall Gleeson voicing Harry.
Gavin & Stacey’s Rob Brydon, who voices Reginald, says: “I’ve been lucky enough to appear in every Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler adaptation so far. And Reginald Rake has to be one of the most enjoyable characters yet. He’s vain, charming, and utterly unreliable – a proper cad! Playing him has been enormous fun.”
BBC Christmas 2025 TV: Beyond Paradise Christmas special (BBC One)
DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) will be tackling a seasonal mystery with sidekicks Esther (Zahra Ahmadi) and Kelby (Dylan Llewellyn). The BBC is yet to reveal any plot details but we wonder if this will finally be the episode where Humphrey and Martha (Sally Bretton) tie the knot!
They did attempt to get married in the series 2 finale but ended up calling it off. We’d love to see them actually get hitched. Esther’s romantic life is also likely to feature after the drama at the end of series 3. And we’re sure to see the next stage in Humphrey and Martha’s fostering journey.
Meanwhile, we hope to soon bring you news of the guest stars after Mark Heap featured in last year’s special. The big question is will Humphrey and Martha leave poor Anne on that boat while they enjoy their turkey?! And what will they get Selwyn the Duck for Christmas? It should all neatly set up Beyond Paradise series 4.
Mrs Brown’s Boys specials (BBC One)
Everyone’s favourite Mammy is back for two specials – one to be shown at Christmas and one around the New Year. The episodes, created and starring Brendan O’Carroll, are being shot in front of a live studio audience in Glasgow.
The BBC promises us “hilarity” as Mrs Brown and her boisterous clan have adventures involving their mischievous Christmas tree!
Brendan has spoken about how his excitement at being part of the BBC Christmas line-up. He says: “For me, Christmas Day didn’t finish until Morecambe and Wise was finished, everybody in the family gathered round to watch that. To have that now as my slot, particularly on the BBC, I’m very proud to be part of the BBC family.”
BBC Christmas 2025 TV: Death in Paradise Christmas special (BBC One)
It’s nice to get a slice of sun, sea and, erm, murder at this time year. Yes, we’re off to Saint Marie for a Christmas mystery starring Don Gilet as DI Mervin Wilson.
Mervin was set to head back to London at the end of Death in Paradise series 14. But then Selwyn dropped the massive bombshell that a man called Solomon Clarke is in fact his long lost brother! So, we expect Mervin to try and track down Solomon, while it will be interesting to see what happens next for Selwyn. Fans know he turned down an offer to take his old job as The Commissioner back in the last series.
Meanwhile, Seb passed his probation in the finale. So we wonder how he will do as a fully qualified officer. There’s no official plot details yet, but we hope that an old favourite character might return like Dwayne or Florence.
Two Doors Down Christmas special (BBC One)
The hugely popular Scottish sitcom Two Doors Down is returning for a 30-minute festive special two years after the last series aired.
Everyone on Latimer Crescent heads to Beth (Arabella Weir) and Eric’s (Alex Norton) house for a chaotic but enjoyable Christmas.
Neighbours Christine (Elaine C Smith), Cathy (Doon Mackichan), Colin (Jonathan Watson), Alan (Graeme Stevely) and Michelle (Joy McAvoy) all return. Also back are Beth and Eric’s son Ian (Jamie Quinn) and his fiancé Gordon (Kieran Hodgson).
Writer Gregor Sharp says: “It’s really exciting to be revisiting Latimer Crescent with all the regular cast for this new episode. Christmas is a time for getting together with friends and family and then becoming low level irritated by them so it feels like they’re the perfect group to celebrate the season with.”
Stuffed Christmas special (BBC One)
Arslan Farooqi (Gus Khan) take his multi-faith family on a Christmas trip of a lifetime to Lapland after landing an £8,000 bonus at work.
His wife Hannah (Morgana Robinson), his two daughters and brother-in-law Jamie (Theo Barklem-Biggs) are over the moon. But poor Arslan then discovers that his bonus was a mistake and he’s got to pay it back in full. Yikes!
With the help of his new holiday friend Lily (Sue Johnston), can he conjure up a Christmas miracle which will save his job?
Guz Khan says: “I remember telling my kids that when I was their age at Christmas, my neighbour would give me a card and tape three quid on this inside. They asked me if I’d do the same for them… I said absolutely not, you’ve got a PS5 and we celebrate Eid. Do one lads… RIP Mrs Sadler. Merry Christmas. P.S Stuffed is alright ‘n’ all, watch it if you got time. Safe.”
The 60-minute special promises to be a treat for fans.
BBC Christmas 2025 TV: Mammoth Christmas special (BBC Two)
Creator and star of Mammoth, Mike Bubbins, revealed to Rob Brydon on his Brydon & podcast that a festive special is on the way after the success of the first series.
PE teacher Tony (Bubbins) was thought to have been killed in an avalanche in 1979 only to wake up and return to his old job in the present day.
Rather than trying to adapt, Tony just carries on wearing his 1970s gear, telling stories about Roger Moore and berating kids at P.E. from the comfort of his motor.
Also back is Sian Gibson as Tony’s daughter Mel. Creator Mike says about bringing Tony back: “It’s been amazing to see how audiences have got behind this show. They’ve clearly got great taste! So, it’s a no-brainer to get Mammoth, the big character with the even bigger moustache back to create more laughs.”
BBC Christmas 2025 TV: Richard Osman’s Festive House of Games (BBC Two)
Richard Osman revealed that his House of Games Christmas special was actually filmed in June! Think of all the poor celebs wrapped up in their Christmas jumpers pretending it’s December while it was actually boiling hot!
“The magic of TV recording schedules,” as the Thursday Murder Club writer put it.
Taking part are Flight of the Conchords star Rhys Darby, Gavin & Stacey actress Joanna Page, EastEnders’ Molly Rainford, and The Last Leg’s Alex Brooker.
We don’t have this year’s Christmas trailer yet for, but here’s last year’s to get you in the mood!
Read more: Celebrity Traitors star Stephen Fry confirmed for ‘heart-warming’ festive drama
