ITV Christmas TV 2025 preview: All the must-see festive shows coming up
A few crackers to enjoyITV Christmas TV is always packed with heaps of great entertainment shows, and our 2025 preview will give you a taste of what’s in store.
ITV and the BBC have a friendly-ish ratings battle over the festive period. Our BBC Christmas TV preview has the broadcaster’s biggest offerings including Call the Midwife and Death in Paradise Christmas specials.
Meanwhile, ITV plans to entertain you with a string of fun delights including festive episodes of The Masked Singer, You Bet! and Bullseye. Plus the Princess of Wales hosts a very special Christmas carol service from Westminster Abbey. And we now know Red Eye series 2 is part of the line-up along with new episodes of Midsomer Murders!
Here’s the Christmas TV highlights for ITV1 and ITVX…
Midsomer Murders (Monday, December 29, 8.30 pm and Tuesday, December 30, 8.30 pm)
Midsomer Murders fans have been fuming that series 25 has gone out in America, before series 24 has even started in the UK. Well, good news because series 24 is here, with the opening two mysteries being shown over Christmas.
In the first story, The Devil’s Work, following the death of patriarch Henry, the Shirewell family are stunned when eldest son Lucian (Peter Serafinowicz) reveals he will turn the family estate into an artists’ community. DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) and DS Jamie Winter (Nick Hendrix) are called in when Lucian’s lover is murdered.
In the second mystery, Book of Dead, the people of Mods Mire gather to celebrate the 10th anniversary of a famous book by Betram Jewel (Jon Culshaw). But when the author is found murdered in woodland Barnaby and Winter have a tricky case. Also guesting in the episode are Omid Djalili, Sally Lindsay and Shaun Dooley. Surely an ITV Christmas TV highlight for all Midsomer fans.
Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win Christmas special (Saturday, December 27, 8.30 pm)
Fresh from the latest series of I’m A Celebrity, Ant & Dec will host a Christmas special of their hugely popular gameshow. The big twist is that the jackpot is unlimited if the contestants keep on answering questions correctly. Those contestants play in pairs and they climb up the money ladder by answering questions. They can bank the money or choose to keep climbing. However, if they get a question wrong they lose their money.
Ant says: “People stop us all the time saying how much they love the show and play along with their family. It’s exciting it’s such a hit with viewers.”
Dec adds: “We want the contestants to go as high as possible! That’s the magic of Limitless Win, you never know, you might just know the exact answer to the question!”
In a Christmas twist, each team will have a celebrity teammate to help them hopefully win big money. Taking part are Amanda Holden and Jamie Redknapp.
ITV Christmas TV: Red Eye series 2 (New Year’s Day, 9.00 pm)
Yes, this wonderfully over the top thriller is back! Sadly, there’s no Richard Armitage this time. He starred as a doctor who was taken back by plane to China after a murder in series 1. But Jing Lusi returns as DS Hana Li.
In series 2, she has to deal with a new international incident when a caller threatens to blow up a British plane if anyone leaves a party at the US Embassy. Line of Duty’s Martin Compston stars as Head of Embassy Security, Clay Brody. Hana and Clay team up to discover who’s behind the plot. But when they were colleagues before, Clay double-crossed her, and they are actively hostile to each other.
Lesley Sharp and Jemma Moore return as Head of MI5 Madeline Delaney and journalist Jess Li.
Accidental Tourist (Sunday, December 14, 9.00 pm)
Stephen Mulhern does not like travelling to exotic locations or being pushed out of his comfort zone. So, Stephen has asked his good friends Ant & Dec to help him change his ways.
In this one-off, Stephen heads to South Korea to experience different cuisines and cultures. Ant & Dec have also lined up some exciting challenges for Stephen. But will it all be too much for him?
Stephen is busy this Christmas as he’s also hosting a Catchphrase Christmas special. Plus, he’s fronting The Big Quiz: Coronation Street v Emmerdale where members of the cast battle it out.
ITV Christmas TV: The Masked Singer Christmas special (Boxing Day, 7.30 pm)
Before the main series kicks off in January, The Masked Singer will enjoy a festive special. Joel Dommett will front the one-off of the wonderfully silly show.
Four new costumed celebs will try to keep their identities hidden behind some suitably Christmas-themed costumes. Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, Maya Jama and Jonathan Ross are all back on the judging panel.
Panto legends Christopher Biggins, Basil Brush, Lesley Joseph, and Su Pollard appear on the show to give some extra clues.
Torvill & Dean: The Last Dance (Sunday, December 28, 8.30 pm)
The Dancing on Ice and Olympic legends are followed as they embark on their last-ever tour Our Last Dance.
The one-off documentary sees Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean train together as they prepare to say goodbye to all their fans.
It sees all the ups and downs as they take part in rehearsals for their hugely emotional last tour.
ITV Christmas TV: Royal Carols: Together At Christmas (Christmas Eve, 7.25 pm)
The Princess of Wales hosts her fifth Together at Christmas Carol Service at Westminster Abbey. At last year’s ceremony, Catherine spoke of her relief at completing her course of chemotherapy in September 2024 and the importance of love at Christmas.
Stars Kate Winslet, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Hannah Waddingham will deliver readings.
The event was held at Westminster Abbey on December 5. ITV1 will show the service on Christmas Eve and again on Christmas Day.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Christmas Special (Boxing Day, 9.00 pm)
One of the highlights of the ITV Christmas line-up is a special celebrity edition of the much-loved quiz show.
Jeremy Clarkson, fresh from his adventures on Clarkson’s Farm, will be hosting the one-off. Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler and comedian Katherine Ryan are taking part for their chosen charities.
ITV Christmas TV: The Royal Variety Performance (Sunday, December 21, 7.05 pm)
The Royal Variety Performance is a traditional part of the ITV Christmas TV schedule. Although the actual performance was held at London’s Royal Variety Hall in November, ITV broadcasts the event a week or so before Christmas. Also, last year they repeated the special on Christmas Day evening.
Comedian Jason Manford hosted this year’s event. The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the concert and met Paddington Bear!
There was a a performance by the cast of Paddington The Musical, a new production in London’s West End. Current and former cast members of Les Misérables, including Michael Ball, also took to the stage to celebrate its 40th anniversary in London.
Opera star Katherine Jenkins started the event by singing the National Anthem.
Bullseye Christmas Special (Christmas Day, 8.15 pm)
Former England cricket star Andrew Flintoff will return as host for this festive special. The late great Jim Bowen originally presented the classic darts quiz show. And Freddie has managed to win a whole new audience for the quiz.
Three teams made of a contestant answering the questions and another throwing the darts will battle it out. The final pair can risk all their money and prizes for a crack at Bully’s Mystery Star Prize.
The 1980s version was famous for its crazy prizes including giving away speedboats! Freddie’s update offers more sensible prizes such as holidays. Freddie is joined by former world champion Michael van Gerwen for the special.
The 1% Club Christmas Special (Christmas Day, 9.15 pm)
The Lee Mack show has become so crazily popular you can even buy The 1% Club Christmas crackers! There’s also a board game version available if you fancy taking on the relatives after enjoying your Christmas dinner.
The format follows last year’s special with each question on a Christmas theme. The 100 players will attempt to make it through to the final question, for a share of a jackpot that could be up to £100,000.
It’s fun to play along at home, but it’s always embarrassing if you go out on the first question!
Romesh Ranganathan’s Parents’ Evening Christmas Special (Christmas Day, 10.15 pm)
Romesh Ranganathan’s popular show is getting its first Christmas edition. His mum Shanthi will be on hand to help with the team scores and to make sure her son doesn’t get too cheeky.
As usual, the parents will decide which questions their celebrity grown-up children will tackle. But do they know their children as well as they think they do?
The celebs taking part are Gavin & Stacey star Larry Lamb, comedian Josh Widdicombe and Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse.
Steve Backshall’s Royal Arctic Challenge (Thursday, December 18, 8.30 pm)
Not many people know this, but 50 years ago King Charles enjoyed an epic adventure to the Arctic. In this new documentary, His Majesty talks to environmentalist Steve Backshall about the trip. It will feature rare archive footage of the then Prince Charles in the Canadian Arctic.
The pair will also discuss the impact of climate change. His Majesty has some happy memories about his trip half a century ago.
You Bet! On Tour Christmas Special (Saturday, December 27, 6.30 pm)
You Bet! was originally a hugely popular show for ITV in the 1980s, with Bruce Forsyth as host. Presenter Stephen Mulhern has now successfully revamped the show which sees contestants take on epic challenges.
Rob Beckett, presenter Alison Hammond and actor Nick Mohammed, who was recently on The Celebrity Traitors are on the panel. They will be betting on whether the contestants can complete their challenges or not.
Each challenger is going for a £5,000 cash prize. The panellists will be battling it out to become the You Bet! Christmas champion.
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