Last Updated on December 14, 2023
BBC Christmas 2023 TV Highlights – Some of the Best
The BBC always produces a host of great shows over the Christmas period, here’s some of the highlights but there’s lots more. You can still watch most of these in 2023 on BBC iPlayer. It’s available free from outside the UK by using a VPN like NordVPN – just connect to a UK server before you visit the site.
What are the BBC’s Christmas TV Highlights in 2023?
There’s an awful lot more competition for our viewing time now, with streaming services like Netflix, Disney and lots of others. It’s sometimes easy to forget that some of the very best TV is available from the world’s oldest public broadcaster – the BBC. Christmas is a time when the BBC tends to excel as whole families often watch together for the only time in the year.
IT’s also worth remembering that if you want to cut down on your bills, there so much on the BBC all year around that costly streaming services aren’t always required. There’s loads of great programmes on the BBC iPlayer online plus lots more free to air on ITVX and Channel 4 and Channel 5 too.
The BBC’s Christmas TV Highlights in 2022 are sure to be a hit, as they offer something for everyone. From traditional dramas and celebrity-driven competitions, to special one-off episodes and a festive puzzle to solve, viewers can expect plenty of entertaining options this holiday season. With shows available both live and on demand, the BBC has created an impressive lineup of Christmas television that will please viewers of all ages and interests. Whether you’re looking for an exciting family night at home or a cozy night in with your loved ones, this year’s BBC Christmas TV Highlights have something for everyone.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
The chapter of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse is significant in relation to the book because it tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a boy, a mole, a fox, and a horse. The film adaptation of Charlie Mackesy’s bestselling novel provides viewers with an opportunity to experience this heartwarming story for themselves. Christmas is always a great time to settle down to a feel-good animated films – this could be this year’s hit.
Here’s the trailer (it’s on Apple TV too) and you can watch it on BBC 1 Christmas Eve at 4.55pm GMT and anytime afterwards on BBC iPlayer.
Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas Special
It’s not everyone’s cup of team but there’s no doubt that Mrs Brown is a huge hit with many people all over the world.
The Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas Special is a popular British sitcom that airs on BBC One every Christmas. It will be aired on Christmas Day at 10.25pm and New Year’s Day at 10pm, and the cast for the upcoming special is expected to include Jennifer Gibney, Fiona O’Carroll, Martin Delany, Danny O’Carroll, Rory Cowan and Eilish O’Carroll.
The specials are about Cathy’s creepy boyfriend being initiated into the family, Agnes getting a festive fright, and an “antique” vase being valued. Therefore, it has been included as one of the BBC’s Christmas TV Highlights in 2022 due to its popularity and light-hearted festive topics.
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special
This is the big one for many people, the glitz and glamour get moved up several notches for the Christmas special of this hugely popular show.
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The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special is an annual event that airs on BBC One on Christmas Day. It features celebrities from different genres of dance who compete for the title of winner. The show also offers spectacular group dances and a musical performance for viewers to enjoy. The winner is usually announced around the end of December, making it a great way to celebrate the festive season.
Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas Special – Christmas Day at 5.10pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Death in Paradise Christmas Special
The Death in Paradise Christmas Special is a highlight of BBC’s Christmas TV lineup because it marks a return to the show’s roots. Featuring some of the show’s most popular characters, it promises an exciting and suspenseful story with Selwyn investigating a murder, Marlon spending the night in a haunted house, and Darlene taking a hard look at her life choices.
Additionally, Neville is now out in the dating world and viewers may get to see him meet someone in an airport car park. The special will be released on BBC One on Boxing Day at 8 pm for fans eager to find out what happens next.
EastEnders
EastEnders is a popular British soap opera that is included in the guide because it is one of the most well-known and widely watched shows. Executive Producers and BBC Commissioners are responsible for producing the show, which follows various characters’ struggles to stay alive and happy.
Well there’s unlikely to be that much good news on an Eastenders Christmas Special but it’s usually a pretty dramatic show! You can watch hundreds of shows from down the years on the BBC iPlayer. The Christmas show is easy to find on the BBC and iPlayer.
Happy Valley
Happy Valley is an award-winning drama series created by Sally Wainwright and starring Sarah Lancashire and James Norton. The show follows the lives of residents in a small Yorkshire valley who are affected by crime, family secrets, and dark pasts.
Happy Valley has been acclaimed for its gripping storylines and powerful performances, making it a must-watch series. It is being featured as one of the BBC’s Christmas TV highlights in 2023 because it is the final season of this beloved drama, providing viewers with an exciting end to the series.
CBeebies Christmas Show 2023 – Dick Whittington
The CBeebies Christmas Show 2023 is an interactive Christmas show that is directed by Chris Jarvis and made by BBC Studios Kids and Family Productions.
It was commissioned by Kate Morton, the head of commissioning and acquisitions for CBeebies, and features many of the show’s best-loved performers. The show includes sing-a-long songs, interactive audience participation, and reimagined versions of classic Dick Whittington pantomime. It is a great way to celebrate the holidays with family, making it a perfect highlight for BBC’s Christmas TV Highlights in 2022.
Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2023
The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures are an annual series of talks, demonstrations and experiments which have been broadcast on BBC television since 1966. The lectures are given by a leading scientist each year and cover a range of topics from astrophysics to zoology. They offer an engaging and educational way to learn about science and technology, making them a highlight of the BBC’s Christmas TV schedule.
This years starts with a fascinating look into real life forensics.
Professor Sue Black has been dubbed the ‘corpse whisperer’ for her role in deciphering the messages hidden within a dead body. In this first lecture in the Royal Institution’s 2022 Christmas series, she is joined by Silent Witness’s Emilia Fox to reveal the secrets of forensic science.
Call the Midwife Christmas Special
It is December 1967, and with Christmas fast approaching, life in Poplar is returning to normal after the terrible train crash.
The midwives move the maternity clinic into new premises and are delighted when one of their first patients through the door is Rhoda Mullocks, who the team know well. Rhoda is heavily pregnant and understandably nervous after her last baby was born with limbs affected by Thalidomide.
The special will focus on a single mother finding her community at Christmas. It culminates in the birth of a baby girl which is followed by a montage of scenes from the show including midwives and nurses helping with her birth and then her christening.
FAQs
What’s the Best Christmas Guide available?
Many people believe the best Christmas guide available is the TV Guide, which provides viewers with a comprehensive overview of all the festive programming airing during the holiday season. It includes information on specials and dramas to watch on BBC and Prime Video, as well as Christmas movies and shows in different formats such as television, cinema or online. The Guide is regularly updated with new shows and films so viewers can get an up-to-date list of what’s available to watch during the festive period.
For traditionalists though, it has to be the BBC’s Radio Times which is practically a Christmas tradition in itself. Many people only buy one TV guide a year and it’s this one – although they have loads of information on their website too.
What are the BBC One Christmas Films 2023?
BBC One will feature lots of great movies this Christmas. They will also premiere the following movies – The Princess and the Frog, A Christmas Carol, Shrek Forever After, Lady And The Tramp, Alice In Wonderland, The Socerer’s Apprentice, Prince Of Persia, How To Train Your Dragon, and Up. Plus the following: DreamWorks Holiday Classics: Kung Fu Panda Holiday, Merry Madagascar, Shrek: Donkey’s Carolling Christmas-tacular and The Madagascar Penguins In A Christmas Caper.
How can you Watch the BBC abroad?
People who are abroad during the BBC’s holiday season lineup can still enjoy some of their favorite shows. Some top picks include Call the Midwife, Death in Paradise, Mrs Brown’s Boys, Mayflies, His Dark Materials, Sewing Bee, The Repair Shop and Frozen Planet. Additional content on iPlayer includes the highly anticipated World Cup Final which will be broadcast live on BBC One and iPlayer on December 18th.
