Your essential guide to the best TV over the Christmas period from thrilling dramas to blockbuster f -

WE look forward to Christmas TV all year round and this year won't disappoint.

Here's your guide to what you need to watch throughout this festive season.

Stars including Michelle Keegan will inject us with Christmas spirit through comedy shows including Brassic.

There will also be loads of children’s favourites, fascinating documentaries, thrilling dramas and blockbuster films to keep viewers entertained right through to the New Year.

Here we take a look through the schedules to pick out the festive entertainment gems this festive season.

Entertainment

AN AUDIENCE WITH KYLIE MINOGUE, ITV, Dec 10

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This year’s one-off line-up will include historian Dan Snow, BBC Breakfast host Sally Nugent, EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, actress and presenter Tillie Amartey, ex-rugby union hunk Danny Cipriani and Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan.

THE MASKED SINGER CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, ITV

The I’m A Celebrity special version of The Masked Singer recently proved to be a ratings hit, and the Christmas version of it looks just as promising.

Host Joel Dommett returns to oversee things with Mo Gilligan, Rita Ora, Davina McCall and Jonathan Ross back on the panel desperately trying to guess the identities of the mystery performers.

BAKE OFF SPECIALS Channel 4

Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, and show hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond, welcome back a selection of contestants from series eight to 13 to compete.

The New Year special features familiar faces from the past three years’ shows, who will battle it out to become star baker.

Drama

DOCTOR WHO BBC

Doctor Who fans have been waiting all year for the new doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, to make his first appearance.

In David Tennant's three-episode special, Ncuti managed to appear right at the end but Christmas Day will be when he makes his full episode debut.

Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson, will be by the Doctor's side when the programme airs at 5.55pm on BBC One.

CALL THE MIDWIFE BBC

Another to make time for on Christmas Day is the Call The Midwife festive special.

The fan favourite is set to contain some sort of warm hearted Christmas story as it always does.

You can catch Call The Midwife on Christmas Day on BBC One at 8.15pm.

THE HEIST BEFORE CHRISTMAS Sky

James Nesbitt and Timothy Spall head the cast of this comedy drama which, as the name suggests, is all about a robbery carried out around Christmas.

James plays a villain who has used a Santa outfit to carry out the heist while Timothy features as a Father Christmas who claims to have fallen out of his sleigh.

DEATH IN PARADISE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL BBC One

Patsy Kensit guest-stars in this trip back to sun-drenched Saint Marie as the police team investigate a mystery.

Patsy play a mum whose entrepreneur husband is found dead.

DI Neville Parker, played by Ralf Little, must establish a motive and pin down the culprit in this feature-length episode.

MURDER IS EASY BBC One

One of Agatha Christie’s lesser-known crime novels gets new life breathed into it by the same team who gave us recent versions of And Then There Were None and Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?

The two-parter centres on a man, played by David Jonsson, who is told of two murders by a fellow train passenger.

THE WINTER KING ITVX, Dec 21

Based on writer Bernard Cornwell’s The Warlord Chronicles, this historical drama is an epic series that dips into Arthurian legends.

It stars Iain De Caestecker as central character Arthur Pendragon, the illegitimate son of a king and an exiled warlord who returns to Britain as Saxons threaten to overwhelm the land.

Kids

MOG’S CHRISTMAS Channel 4

There's a Crimbo catfight as both the Beeb and C4 are showing feline animated offerings.

This adaptation of Judith Kerr’s children’s book might win if it’s just based on the starry line-up of voices.

They include Claire Foy, Benedict Cumberbatch and Miriam Margolyes.

TABBY McTAT BBC One

Christmas wouldn’t be complete without an adaptation of one of Julia Donaldson’s books with illustrations by Axel Scheffler.

This heartwarming story, narrated by former Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker, is about a musical cat and a talented busker called Fred living in London.

PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS, Disney+, Dec 20

Aimed at viewers aged nine and over comes this live-action adaptation of the hit fantasy novels by American author Rick Riordan.

The stories are set in the moden world but revolve around the adventures of a 12-year-old boy who learns he is the son of the god Poseidon.

CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET, Netflix, Dec 15

The voices of Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey and Imelda Staunton lend themselves to this feature-length adventure from Wallace and Gromit animator Nick Park.

It focuses on a band of fearless chickens who combat a new threat – a nearby farm where something foul is afoot.

Comedy

A VERY BRASSIC CHRISTMAS Sky, Dec 21

The festive special of this perennial comedy is an auspicious affair, featuring two major stars – comedian Greg Davies as Dick Dolphin and The Crown actress Imelda Staunton as Aunt Edie.

The show’s usual leading lady, Michelle Keegan, takes second billing for a change.

MRS BROWN’S BOYS CHRISTMAS SPECIALS, BBC One

Mrs Brown is back to turn the air blue with her twin annual festive specials.

Mammy will be seen attempting a peaceful holiday while everyone around her tries to involve her in a New Year’s health and fitness regime, which doesn’t go down too well with the single-minded Irish matriarch.

GHOSTS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL BBC One

Fans of this unique comedy were devastated when it aired its fifth and final season, so this last helping of the spectral sitcom is a real Christmas treat.

It will be their fourth festive special.

Last year’s was so popular its ratings made it the most successful comedy of the year.

THE KEMPS: ALL GOLD BBC Two

In this sequel to their 2020 mockumentary, The Kemps: All True.

Spandau Ballet legends Martin and Gary are back at their self-lampooing best.

The brothers are joined by a star-studded cast including Adil Ray, Christopher Eccleston, Tamzin Outhwaite and Status Quo’s Francis Rossi.

Films

INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY Disney+, Dec 15

The fifth Indie movie sees an 80-year-old Harrison Ford reprise the role of relic hunter Dr Jones travelling the world in search of priceless and supernatural artefacts.

He co-stars with Phoebe Waller-Bridge on a mission to seek out a piece of ancient machinery that can facilitate time travel.

TOY STORY 4 BBC One, Christmas Day

The big family movie – set to air after the King’s Speech – reunites us with our favourite gang of toys.

This adventure from the brilliant Pixar animators sees Tom Hanks once more voice cowboy Woody, Tim Allen is Buzz Lightyear and Keanu Reeves is the voice of Duke Caboom.

HOUSE OF GUCCI BBC Two

Lady Gaga heads the cast of this thriller drawing on the true story of the Italian family behind the Gucci fashion empire.

The singer plays Patrizia Reggiani, a humble outsider who marries into the dynasty only for her ambition to unravel their legacy and spark a chain reaction of revenge, bitter- ness and murder.

GENIE Sky Cinema, Dec 1

American queen of comedy Melissa McCarthy stars as genie Flora.

She is freed by Bernard, played by British rising star Paapa Essiedu, whose life is in disarray.

This magical festive journey of love, friendship and holiday miracles will have viewers in tears one minute and fits of giggles the next.

Factual

STACEY SOLOMON’S CRAFTY CHRISTMAS, BBC One

Stacey and husband Joe Swash invite friends and family to join them to create a new batch of ingenious home-made gifts and decorations on a budget.

Stacey also throws a special Christmas party to say thank you to the volunteers in her local area who have been working through the year to help those in need.

MARRY BERRY’S HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS BBC One

The veteran cookery queen heads north of the border to celebrate all things Scottish – including her own roots.

Mary samples local cuisine and she will also be joined by a line-up of celebrity natives including tennis legend Sir Andy Murray, singer-songwriter Emeli Sande and Love Island narrator Iain Stirling.

ATTENBOROUGH AND THE GIANT SEA MONSTER, BBC One

As you’re picking over the bones of your turkey, national treasure Sir David Attenborough will be pondering the skull of a giant Pliosaur, a recent discovery that sheds light on one of the most terrifying dinosaurs that ever lived.

This one-off documentary sees top experts examining the ferocious predator to find out more about it.

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Your essential guide to the best TV over the Christmas period from thrilling dramas to blockbuster f