Pick of the Christmas specials on the BBC this Christmas

From new shows to brand new episodes of classic favourites, the BBC will be playing a part in bringing the nation together in a year when we may not be able to visit our friends and loved ones as before.

Charlotte Moore, BBC’s Chief Content Officer, said: “It's never felt more important to help bring the country together to share, to laugh and to celebrate the festive season on the BBC. Let’s face it, it’s been a difficult year, unlike any other, so we’ve pulled out all the stops this Christmas to keep people entertained and bring comfort and joy when we need it most, with a range of unmissable programmes across our channels and BBC iPlayer. We’ll provide laugher with new comedy and entertainment shows, escapism with riveting new drama and natural history, heart and warmth with special episodes of your favourite shows, and companionship from many of the nation's biggest stars. There’s something for everyone and as always it promises to be a very special time of the year on the BBC. There’s really no need to go anywhere else this Christmas!”

Jodie Whittaker as The Doctor

On BBC One this Christmas, the brand new animation Zog and the Flying Doctors, narrated by Lenny Henry, sees Zog and Gadabout trying to rescue Pearl from her uncle, the King; in the eagerly anticipated Doctor Who special, the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) has been imprisoned, leaving her three best friends to face the Daleks, the most ruthless of enemies, without her. After a tumultuous year, which has seen sermons delivered on Zoom, The Vicar of Dibley (Dawn French) will bring her inimitable thoughts to BBC One, in a welcome return to the channel. And in Worzel Gummidge: Saucy Nancy, Mackenzie Crook returns as the walking talking scarecrow, alongside Shirley Henderson as Saucy Nancy, for a magical one hour film.

The haunting Black Narcissus sees Gemma Arterton as Sister Clodagh, a 1930s nun, heading a mission to the mysterious palace of Mopu in the Himalayas and also stars Dame Diana Rigg as Mother Dorothea.; and brand new eight part The Serpent, starring Jenna Coleman, tells the extraordinary story of the capture of one of Interpol’s most wanted men, Charles Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim) in 1970’s Thailand.

In Nonnatus House, Christmas 1965 has arrived, and the nuns in Call the Midwife are hoping for a quiet Christmas in Poplar, but when one of the nuns receives an unwanted gift, and another is rushed to hospital, nothing goes quite to plan; whilst in present day London, the residents of Walford are once again in for a dramatic Christmas when someone takes revenge on Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) in EastEnders.

Brand new comedy Pandemonium sees the Jessop family, starring Alison Steadman, spend a “summer holiday” in a cold December in Margate; Miranda Hart makes a return with a fun-packed show, in which celebrity couples compete to win at “games night”; and Blankety Blank also returns for a one-off special hosted by Bradley Walsh where a panel of six celebrities tries to win some very special prizes for some lucky contestants; and in Mrs Brown’s Boys, Agnes (Brendan O’Carroll) and her family celebrate Christmas under “the new normal” in two festive specials. In Ghosts, Alison and Mike (Charlotte Ritchie and Kiell Smith-Bynoe) are visited by his family for the first time over Christmas;

Following an incredible outing earlier this year on BBC One, The Great British Sewing Bee will return for two festive celebrity specials, with Joe Lycett hosting eight sewers, each hoping to impress judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young with their stitching skills; and Jay Blades and the team of experts is on hand to help revive and restore some cherished items in The Repair Shop at Christmas. And in a heart-warming seasonal special, Vicky McClure tells the story of the dementia choir through lockdown leading up to a very special Christmas performance.

For animal lovers, there will be an opportunity to see in to the lives of meerkats in a brand new Sir David Attenborough narrated one off programme, Meerkat: A Dynasties Special; in Penguins: Meet the Family, all 18 species will have their own one hour programme, narrated by Liz Bonnin; and Ben Fogle and Kate Humble will be making sure the residents of Animal Park are ready for Christmas.

Our top ten picks of Christmas telly on the Beeb this Christmas:

10. The Vicar of Dibley in Lockdown

So the nation’s favourite Vicar, Geraldine Grainger (Dawn French) of the Parish of Dibley returns for three new shows at the end of this extraordinary year.

Dawn French returns to Dibley

During lockdown and post lockdown and pre another lockdown, Geraldine has been writing and delivering sermons to her parishioners via Zoom, when she can make it work. These new thoughts on life and chocolate will be packaged as three brand new 10 minute shows that will precede some of her earlier adventures this Christmas on BBC One.

9. Worzel Gummidge: Saucy Nancy

Worzel Gummidge is set to return to BBC One in a brand new beautifully crafted and magical one-hour film on BBC One this Christmas, Saucy Nancy.

Susan (India Brown), Worzel Gummidge (Mackenzie Crook) and John (Thierry Wickens)

When Worzel Gummidge, Susan and John visit a scrapyard, Worzel overhears the grumbling of a foul-mouthed old friend - the 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.

8. The Goes Wrong Show - The Nativity

The Goes Wrong Show team present their take on the Nativity story, generously funded by a corporate sponsor after the BBC's refusal to pay for any more of the Cornley Dramatic Society’s work.

Sandra/Mary (Charlie Russell), Max/Joseph (Dave Hearn), Vanessa/Wise Man (Bryony Corrigan), Annie/Wise Man (Nancy Zamit) and Dennis/Wise Man (Jonathan Sayer)

As ever, all soon descends into chaos; an ingenious pop-up book set proves a physical danger to both cast and crew, the Angel Gabriel develops a firework obsession, the actors inside a donkey have a terrible falling out resulting in unnecessary nudity and there is much more fire than anyone anticipated. Oh, and the baby Jesus is eaten by a sheep. In between, the greatest story ever told is told.

7. Would I Lie to You? At Christmas

Rob Brydon, Lee Mack and David Mitchell return for Would I Lie to You? At Christmas, a seasonal special packed with tremendous truths and festive fibs. Joining them are guests Jo Brand, Joe Lycett, Joe Swash and Ruth Madeley, and the questions posed include: did Joe Lycett once fall out with his family over the number of doof-doofs at the end of EastEnders? Did Joe Swash once programme his satnav incorrectly, meaning his mum’s trip to Lakeside ended up in the Lake District? And did David Mitchell once hold up a train in order to get his daughter’s cuddly toy back?

6. The Great British Sewing Bee Christmas Special

Host Joe Lycett welcomes four celebrity guests to the sewing room for this special Christmas episode of the amateur sewing series. Denise Van Outen, Shirley Ballas, Dr Ranj Singh and Sara Pascoe put their sewing skills, or lack of them, to the test, competing in three challenges set by judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young. The first, the pattern challenge, is to make a pair of festive pyjama bottoms, the perfect loungewear for Christmas morning. Next up, it’s the transformation challenge where they are asked to make a festive fancy dress outfit for a dog. For their final challenge, the made to measure, the four celebrity sewers must make a perfectly fitted dress to wear on Christmas Day.

5. Strictly: The Christmas Countdown

Bringing some Strictly sparkle to BBC One this Christmas will be Strictly: The Christmas Countdown, where we reveal the 25 most memorable dances of all time voted for by the public. From the perfect 40s, the trophy-winning routines and dances that have made us laugh - this show will have it all. Kicking off with a brand new Christmas themed group number, presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, join the judges, Strictly Alumni, and professional dancers as they count down to see which will be voted the most memorable Strictly dance of all time.

4. Black Narcissus

During the latter years of British rule in India, ambitious young nun Sister Clodagh heads a mission to a remote part of the Himalayas. The palace of Mopu has been donated by General Toda Rai, who hopes the Sisters of St. Faith will rid the ‘House of Women’ of unhappy memories connected to his late sister, Srimati. Although Clodagh ignores the warnings of the General’s raffish agent Mr. Dean, isolation and illness soon take their toll, with the haunting atmosphere of the palace particularly affecting volatile Sister Ruth. As past and present collide, the arrival of the young General Dilip Rai is the catalyst for an explosion of repressed desires that may end in a fatal confrontation.

Sister Cloddagh (Gemma Arterton)

Black Narcissus stars Gemma Arterton as Sister Clodagh, Alessandro Nivola as Mr. Dean, Aisling Franciosi as Sister Ruth, Diana Rigg as Mother Dorothea, Jim Broadbent as Father Roberts, Rosie Cavaliero as Sister Briony, Karen Bryson as Sister Philippa, Patsy Ferran as Sister Blanche, Nila Aalia as Angu Ayah, Kulvinder Ghir as General Toda Rai, Chaneil Kular as Dilip Rai, Dipika Kunwar as Kanchi, Gina McKee as Sister Adela, Soumil Malla as Joseph Anthony and Gianni Gonsalves as Srimati Rai.

3. Call the Midwife Christmas

December 1965 and everyone at Nonnatus House is looking forward to traditional celebrations with all the trimmings, but nothing goes quite to plan. Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) is rushed to hospital, and Trixie (Helen George) is incensed to receive a subscription to a Marriage Bureau as a Christmas gift. Meanwhile, a surprise reunion for Shelagh (Laura Main) involves her in a deeply moving birth, and the Circus arrives in Poplar, bringing new friendships, new experiences, and an exciting adventure for Nurse Crane (Linda Bassett).

2. Doctor Who

The upcoming festive special will see the return of one of the Doctor’s biggest and most feared enemies - the Daleks - in Revolution of the Daleks. The Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) is locked away in a high-security alien prison. Isolated, alone, with no hope of escape. Far away, on Earth, her best friends, Yaz (Mandip Gill), Ryan (Tosin Cole) and Graham (Bradley Walsh) have to pick up their lives without her. But it’s not easy. Old habits die hard. Especially when they discover a disturbing plan forming. A plan which involves a Dalek. How can you fight a Dalek, without the Doctor?

1. Zog and the Flying Doctor

This Christmas, Magic Light Pictures, the multi Oscar-nominated production company, will be bringing the fabulous and timely Zog and the Flying Doctors to BBC One and BBC iPlayer, the sequel to the great 2018 success Zog.

Zog and the Flying Doctor

Sir Lenny Henry will lead the cast as the Narrator, joined by Rob Brydon (Gavin & Stacey) as King, Patsy Ferran (Laurence Olivier award-winner) as Princess Pearl, Hugh Skinner (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) as Zog, as well as Daniel Ings (The Crown) as Sir Gadabout, Mark Bonnar (Quiz, Catastrophe) as Unicorn, Lucian Msamati (Talking Heads) as Lion and Alexandra Roach (Utopia) as Mermaid.