The ultimate Christmas TV guide

There’s nothing quite like Christmas telly – the best TV shows all have Christmas specials and the best films are always on too. Whether you enjoy comedy, documentaries, drama or the arts – there’ll be something for you and even if you’re not much of a couch potato, the football schedule may whet your appetite.

DRAMA

For those series addicts, you’re in for a bonanza – Downton Abbey (ITV, Christmas Day at 9:00 pm), Doctor Who (BBC 1, Christmas Day at 6:15 pm) and Call the Midwife (BBC 1, Christmas Day at 7:50 pm) make for telly heaven on Christmas Day. Apart from that, Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot (BBC 1, New Year’s Day at 6:30 pm) starring Dustin Hoffman and Judi Dench looks worth a watch.

ENTERTAINMENT AND COMEDY

The Wrong Mans (BBC 2, 22nd and 23rd at 9:00 pm) starring James Corden looks like good fun as does Ricky Gervais’s Derek (Channel 4, 22nd at 10:00 pm). Satirist Charlie Brooker looks back at the past year with Charlie Brooker’s 2014 Wipe (BBC 2, 30th at 10:00pm). If you end up staying in on New Year’s Eve, you’ll probably end up tuning in to Alan Carr’s New Year Specstacular (Channel 4, New Year’s Eve at 9:00 pm).

FACTUAL

For those of you who are addicted to The Apprentice (BBC 1, 21st at 9:00 pm), let’s hope your favourite wins. And for those of you who are gadget lovers, you’ll be in for a tread as Richard Ayoade and friends investigate festive gizmos in Gadget Man’s Guide to Christmas (Channel 4, 22nd at 8:00 pm). For those after something cerebral, look no further than Al Murray’s Great British Spy Movies (BBC 4, 29th at 9:00 pm).

FILMS

This Christmas has one of the best film schedules for years… Men in Black 3 (Channel 4, 21st at 7:00 pm), Gran Torino (Channel 5, 21st at 9:00) and The Help (BBC 2, New Year’s Eve at 8:30 pm) are all worth seeing if you haven’t before. If you want something a bit lighter and more childish then why not tune into Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (BBC 1, New Year’s Day at 4:25 pm).