Christmas TV: What will be on telly this festive season?

The festive season is nearly here and lots of us will be taking time out to relax at home with our friends and family.

And what better way to unwind than tuning into some good old Christmas telly?

Whether you're a movie lover, animation enthusiast, or a fan of Saturday night entertainment, there will be plenty over the Christmas period for you to enjoy.

So which shows and films can you look forward to? Read on to find out more.

Tiddler

This Christmas will see Tiddler, the picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, brought to life in a brand new animated adventure.

It tells the story of a little fish with a big imagination who gets lost in the deep wide ocean.

Tiddler, which is the 12th animation of a Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler book on the BBC, will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

Doctor Who

Doctor Who will be returning to TV screens over the holidays with a special Christmas episode called Joy to the World.

The Time Lord, played by Ncuti Gatwa, will be taking on a brand new adventure which has been described as 'one of the maddest Christmas specials you’ll ever see’.

The special episode will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

That Christmas

There'll be some new movies coming to Netflix over the festive season, including animated film, That Christmas.

It tells the story of an unforgettable Christmas for the residents of Wellington-on-Sea when a terrible snowstorm affects everyone's plans — including Santa's!

The film sees several families come together to try and save the day, but will they succeed?

An Almost Christmas Story

If you like cute films, An Almost Christmas Story on Disney+ may be just the one for you.

It’s inspired by a true story, when a tiny owl was rescued from the Rockefeller Centre Christmas tree in New York City in 2020.

The movie follows the young owl, called Moon, as he attempts to find his way out of the busy city alongside a brand new friend.

Wallace & Gromit

Lovable duo Wallace and Gromit will be back on the BBC this Christmas.

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl will introduce audiences to a brand new character, called Norbot, who is a robotic smart gnome.

The movie will also see the return of supervillain penguin, Feathers McGraw.

In the film, alarm bells begin to ring for dog Gromit as Wallace grows more and more dependent on his inventions, including Norbot who seems to develop an evil mind of his own...

The Masked Singer

If competitions are more your thing then this could be right up your street.

The Masked Singer will be back again this year with a Christmas special on ITV.

The festive episode will see a new group of celebrities rocking amazing Christmas themed costumes while attempting to win over the judges with their voices alone, but who will take the title this year?

Strictly Come Dancing

Every year, six celebrities take part in a special Christmas-themed Strictly Come Dancing on Christmas Day.

The famous faces taking part this year have been announced and the line-up includes Gladiators star Nitro, racing driver Billy Monger and stage and screen actor Tamzin Outhwaite.

Who will impress with their dancing prowess and who'll be forced to take a seat?

All will be revealed on 25 December.

Gladiators

Speaking of Gladiators - a new season returns very soon, but for those who can't quite wait that long, a celebrity Christmas special is on the horizon.

TV presenter Joel Dommett, actor and comedian Ellie Taylor, comedian Rob Beckett and broadcaster Louise Minchin will all take on the gang of superhumans in a number of epic challenges.

The celebrities will then compete against each other in the gruelling obstacle course.

Who'll come out on top? You'll have to tune in to find out.

What are you looking forward to watching over the festive period? Why not let us know in the comments below.