It’s the time of year when families gather on the sofa and chocolates that you’d never normally eat in such huge quantities suddenly appear before you and arguments begin over which Christmas TV programmes to watch.
With so many homes now enjoying digital TV, the options of what to watch are almost as numerous as the pine needles stuck in the carpet. Make sure you don’t miss your festive favourites this year and check that you have the best digital TV package sorted by the time the season gets underway.
Here are some of our essential Christmas TV highlights for 2013…
Moonfleet
Saturday 28 December, 8pm, Sky1
Sky is offering up a lavish two-part adaptation of J. Meade Falkner’s novel, Moonfleet, for its festive celebrations, starring Ray Winstone as a landlord who becomes embroiled in a smuggling adventure with a young man (Aneurin Barnard). Expect lots of swash and tonnes of buckle, with a lot of growling from our Ray.
Mad Dogs
Sunday 29 December, 9pm, Sky1
It’s the fourth and final instalment of the popular series revolving around a group of friends who find themselves dragged into a murky world of crime while on holiday in Majorca. The gang – brilliantly played by Max Beesley, Philip Glenister, John Simm and Marc Warren – find themselves depressed and dejected back in the UK, when the opportunity to bag themselves two million Euros each suddenly turns their world upside down once again. Some people never learn…
Doctor Who
Christmas Day, 7.30pm, BBC One
Now almost as much of a Christmas tradition as The Snowman and EastEnders, this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special is titled ‘The Time Of The Doctor’ and will go head-to-head with Coronation Street on ITV. It will, of course, be Matt Smith’s last ever episode as the Doctor and will feature his regeneration into Peter Capaldi. But if that wasn’t enough to get you excited, promo photos have shown Daleks hell-bent on destruction (as usual) and wooden Cybermen, with guest stars including Sheila Reid, Tessa Peake-Jones and the Facejacker himself, Kayvan Novak.
Gangsta Granny
Boxing Day, 6.05pm, BBC One
Following on from last Christmas’ adaptation of his children’s book Mr Stink, David Walliams stars in this BBC version of his other literary hit, Gangsta Granny. This family comedy-drama tells the story of schoolboy Ben who is sent to stay at his grandma’s house and expects to be bored, only to discover his gran is an international jewel thief who is planning on nicking the Crown Jewels. An all-star cast that also features Miranda Hart, Rob Brydon and Joanna Lumley will make this a real Christmas cracker.
Sherlock
Christmas Day, BBC Red Button / New Year’s Day, 9pm, BBC One
The long-awaited third series of the critically-acclaimed show begins on New Year’s Day, but there’s even better news for Sherlock fans, with the BBC confirming that a mini-episode will be available on the Red Button (on digital TV) on Christmas Day. With Sherlock faking an untimely end during the last episode of Series 2, it will be intriguing to see how his comeback may unravel.
So now that you know about the best this year’s Christmas TV is offering, make sure you’re on the best digital TV package in time for the season and check that guide carefully so you don’t miss a thing.
What are you looking forward to on TV this Christmas? Let us know below…
> Order Series 3 of Sherlock on DVD on Amazon.
Watch the Sherlock Series 3 teaser trailer…