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Christmas TV specials you must watch

Between the Downton Christmas special and the Strictly Come Dancing festive evening, TV at Christmas time is always an absolute treat. So stuff yourself silly and switch between BBC and ITV.
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1

Call the Midwife

Bangs, Vintage clothing, Acting, Cuff,
This year takes us back to 1960 where Chummy is charged with bringing some festive joy to a mother and baby home. 

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2

Top Gear

Leg, Sitting, Hat, People in nature, Fire, Sun hat, Bonfire, Lap, Campfire, Fedora,
This year's Top Gear Christmas special takes place in South America. 

Watch the guys take on Patagonia in a two parter.

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3

The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm

Performing arts, Band plays, Stage, heater, Drum, Drama, Costume, Baggage, Acting, Vintage clothing,
Harry Hill gets into costume for his Christmas efforts this year.

The drama follows the story of an eccentric with a crazy idea or two.

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4

Miranda

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Miranada comes to an end this Christmas. 

Giving her a romantic send off she has to choose between two different proposals. Who will she chose?

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5

Esio Trot, BBC

Flowerpot, People in nature, Conversation, Houseplant, Spring, Garden, Floristry, Annual plant, Gesture, Flower Arranging,
Dame Judy Dench and Dustin Hoffman star in a one off Christmas special of the Roald Dahl classic Esio Trot.

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6

Black Mirror

Text, Font, Darkness, Black-and-white, Brand, Graphics, Graphic design,
Charlie Brooker's dark comedy is back for a festive special. 

This time Mad Men's John Hamm is involved.

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7

Downton Abbey ITV

Winter, Branch, Astronomical object, Freezing, Twig, Landmark, Woody plant, Star, Snow, Space,
Season 5 of Downton Abbey comes to a close with its annual Christmas episode on 25 December.

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8

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell BBC

Hair, Face, Human, Leg, Human body, Jeans, Flowerpot, Denim, Houseplant, Lap,
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is a magical book adaptation, perfect for the festive season.

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9

Strictly Come Dancing BBC

Text, Amber, Font, Signage, Electronic signage, Advertising, Graphics, Graphic design,
Strictly's one-off festive speical will return for more sparkling fun with the likes of Darcey Bussell, and Tess Daly.

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10

Doctor Who BBC

Winter, Astronomical object, Fictional character, Holiday, Dress, Space, Snow, Star, Midnight, Christmas decoration,
Doctor Who takes his adventures to the North Pole to meet a certain Mr Claus.

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11

Text Santa ITV

Eyewear, Coat, Dress shirt, Hairstyle, Collar, Shirt, Outerwear, Suit, Formal wear, Blazer,
Downton Abbey gets an A-List guest this Christmas as George Clooney appears in the celebrity special.

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12

For The Love Of Dogs ITV

Eyewear, Glasses, Human, Vision care, Carnivore, Dog breed, Dog, Vertebrate, Comfort, Mammal,
Paul O'Gardy is bringing a festive twist to his For The Love of Dogs. As we know, dogs are not just for Christmas.

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troilus and cressida by william shakespeare ;production ;cast: oliver alvin wilson (hector / calchas), tilly botsford (ensemble / cover), david caves (achilles), conor glean (diomedes), kasper hilton hille (troilus), jonathan livingstone (agamemnon), tadeo martinez (patroclus / alexander), lucy mccormick (thersites / helen), jodie mcnee (ulysses / cassandra), charlotte o'leary (cressida), finn o’riordain (ensemble / cover), matthew spencer (paris / menelaus), samantha spiro (pandarus / nestor), ibraheem toure (ajax) ;director: owen horsley ;associate director: roberta zuric ;associate designer: christophe eynde ;designer: ryan dawson laight ;composer: eamonn o’dwyer ;fight and intimacy director: rc annie ltd. ;movement director: daniel hay gordon ;voice and text: emma woodvine ;casting director: becky paris cdg ;shakespeare’s globe ;london, uk ;26 september 2025 ;credit and copyright: helen murray ;www.helenmurrayphotos.com

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cookstown, northern ireland october 14: catherine, princess of wales and prince william, prince of wales make a potato and apple cake during a visit to long meadow cider on october 14, 2025 in craigavon, northern ireland. long meadow has been owned by the mckeever family for three generations and has been cultivating premium quality apples since 1968. the prince and princess of wales are visiting organisations providing creative and entrepreneurial opportunities for young people in rural areas of northern ireland. (photo by chris jackson/getty images)

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