Christmas Eve TV guide – the BBC, ITV and Channel 4’s best films and shows

CHRISTMAS Eve is often the calm before the whirlwind of presents swapping and visiting family – making it the perfect time to settle down and watch some TV.

Thankfully, the main terrestrial channels have scheduled some tasty morsels for you to enjoy, we’ve rounded up some of the highlights.

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Paddington 2 is a great film for children and adults Credit: AP:Associated Press Paddington 2

Channel: BBC One

Time: 4.15pm

The sequel sees Paddington trying to debunk the mystery of a thief who has been targeting the community of Windsor Gardens.

His suspicion soon falls on a faded actor (played by Hugh Grant) who may have turned from being a local star to getting involved with petty crime.

During his investigation, Paddington ends up wrongfully accused of the crimes – but ends up teaming up with his fellow inmates to clear his name

Paddington is voiced by Ben Whishaw, and the original cast of Peter Capaldi, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent and Hugh Bonneville. Madeleine Harris, Imelda Staunton and Samuel Joslin also star.

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Classic animation The Snowman is of course on this Christmas EveCredit: Alamy The Snowman

Channel: Channel 4

Time: 5.10pm

Raymond Briggs’ festive favourite, a wordless animated fantasy telling the story of a small boy whose snowman magically comes to life and whisks him off on the journey of a lifetime to the North Pole.

Howard Blake’s score includes the award-winning song Walking in the Air, which was taken to number five in the charts by a young Aled Jones, but is here sung by Peter Auty.

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Mackenzie Crook is back again as the titular Worzel Credit: Leopard Pictures Worzel Gummidge: Saucy Nancy

Channel: BBC One

Time: 5.55pm

After the success of last year’s special, Mackenzie Crook returns once more as the titular Worzel Gummidge.

When Worzel, Susan and John visit a scrapyard, Worzel overhears the grumbling of a foul-mouthed old friend – a carved ship’s figurehead, Saucy Nancy.

She has been languishing, unsold in the yard for years and longs to return to the sea. Worzel and the kids promise to get her there, but will her ship be waiting? Worzel doubts it, but Nancy is convinced. She can feel it in her carvings.

Adventure unfurls, as the strange foursome navigate their way to the coast on foot, by bus, wheelbarrow, motorbike and sidecar. It was never going to be straightforward.

In a rare trip out of Scatterbrook, Worzel gets to see a wild moorland and the spectacular white cliffs of Seashell that provide the backdrop to this story of friendship and belonging.

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Paul and Prue will judge returning bakers from previous series to find their Festive Baker Credit: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions The Great Christmas Bake Off

Channel: Channel 4

Time: 7.40pm

This festive edition of the popular baking show will see former bakers return to the tent to compete once more.

2018 winner Rahul Mandal will be joined by Jamie Finn and Rosie Brandreth-Poynter from 2019’s Bake Off as well as 2018 finalist Ruby Bhogal and 2017 contestant James Hillery.

Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith are back as judges as is new host Matt Lucas, however, Noel Fielding will miss out on the festive special as he was on paternity leave at the time of filming.

He will be back for the New Years special though so don’t worry.

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Birds of a Feather returns after a three year absence Credit: ITV Birds of a Feather Christmas Special

Channel: ITV

Time: 9.15pm

Much loved hit comedy Birds Of A Feather will return to ITV for the first time in three years, after last being on the air in 2017.

We are set to get a brand-new one-off extended Christmas episode.

The last time we last saw the Birds, Tracey had reluctantly sold the house they all shared to Dorien.

At the end of a 2020 no-one could have predicted, we catch up with the inhabitants of our favourite Essex address and find big changes in all their lives.

Tracey and Dorien have been getting right on each others’ nerves, while Sharon has escaped to the other side of the world and is stuck on a Covid-cruise.

‘IT’LL STAY WITH ME’ Ross Kemp reveals emotional details of last call with Barbara Windsor

‘IT’S A FINGER’ Piers mocks Susanna’s ‘phallic’ face mask and apologises for breaking rules

festive fun Christmas Day TV guide – the BBC, ITV and Channel 4’s best films and shows

‘BEAUTIFUL’ Richard Arnold tears up as he watches his last interview with Barbara Windsor

MEETING A MURDERER Susanna Reid reveals terror at meeting child killer on death row

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Miranda Hart is joined by a host of celebrities for this fun show Credit: BBC Miranda’s Games with Showbiz names

Channel: BBC One

Time: 9.45pm

This Christmas, three celebrity couples will join Miranda from the comfort of their own homes for a virtual raucous night in of festive games and challenges.

The celebrities are Strictly Come Dancing’s Head Judge Shirley Ballas and her partner Danny Taylor, football pundit and presenter Jermaine Jenas and his wife Ellie, along with singer-songwriter and entertainer Robbie Williams and his drummer Karl Brazil.

Viewers can also expect another mystery celebrity special guest who will be joining in on the fun and mayhem.

Loose Women’s Linda Robson confirms Birds of a Feather will return for Christmas special 40 years on from sitcom’s launch