Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24th
- Coming Home for Christmas, TV3 at 8pm
The channel’s annual visit to the country’s airports to see joyful families reunited for the festive period.
- David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey, BBC One at 9pm
With the Welsh diva turning 80, superfan Walliams will present a gala in her honour, with the singer and the comedian doing what they do best.
- Gogglesprogs, Channel 4 at 8pm
The junior version of the channel’s popular TV-watching show Gogglebox returns for a festive special.
- Alan Bennett’s Diaries, BBC Two at 8pm
The comedy writer, now 82, was followed for a year by documentarians trying to get a glimpse of how he spends his days in Yorkshire.
- Christmas with Daniel, RTÉ One at 9.30pm
Living legend Daniel O’Daniel offers up an evening of festive standards, ably backed by the Presentation School Choir Kilkenny, who made a big splash on Britain’s Got Talent.
Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25th
- The Great Christmas Bake Off, BBC One at 4.45pm
For the last time on the BBC, Mel and Sue bring back some of the bakers from seasons past to face the jubilant judgement of Paul and Mary in three special shows.
- Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas Special, RTÉ One at 10.25pm
Brendan O’Carroll’s beloved sitcom returns with another annual special, with Dublin woman Agnes putting her foot down and refusing to decorate her house with a tree this year.
- Dr Who Christmas Special, BBC One at 5.45pm
This year’s adventure sees Peter Capaldi’s Doctor in New York, where Manhattan has come under attack from a swarm of brain-swapping aliens.
- Alan Carr’s Christmas Chatty Man, Channel 4 at 10.30pm
With the comedian’s chat show having been axed by the network, this will be the last chance to see the Chatty Man in action. Guests include Gary Barlow, Danii Minogue, Martin Kemp, and Tom Daley.
- Gavin James’s Other Voices Special, RTÉ2 at 8.30pm
Footage of the Irish singer performing his debut album Bitter Pill in Dingle makes for an alternative night’s viewing. Presented by Annie Mac and Huw Stephens.
St Stephen’s Day, Monday, December 26th
- Pat Shortt’s Entertainment from d’Telly, RTÉ One at 7.20pm
The comic and actor presents a clips show celebrating the best of Irish TV’s funny Christmas moments over the years.
- Outnumbered, BBC One at 10pm
The much-loved family sitcom returns for a Christmas special, with the Brockman’s attempting to carry out a special mission for Grandad.
- Revolting Rhymes, BBC One at 6.30pm
Based on children’s writer Roald Dahl’s famous rewriting of a number of fairytales in brilliant rhyming couplets, three of his revolting retellings are turned into animations.
- Christmas University Challenge, BBC Two at 6.20pm
It’s starters for 10 as a special edition of the quiz brings a few famous faces into the fold, with Jeremy Paxman ready to admonish anyone foolish enough to buzz in and get the question wrong.
- Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2016, Channel 4 at 9pm
The now annual Jimmy Carr-fronted ironic look at the last 12 months returns again, with Richard Ayoade, Rob Delaney, Mel Giedroyc, Sarah Millican, David Mitchell, and Romesh Ranganathan on board.
