On TV this Christmas Eve there's the perfect family film to curl up to and a star-studded panto to keep the tradition alive.
Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse
Sky One, 8.15pm
A cosy Christmas film inspired by the true story of a six-year-old Roald Dahl (Harry Tayler) meeting his favourite author, Beatrix Potter (Dawn French).
The story goes that young Roald was so spellbound by Beatrix, the author of such beloved works as The Tale of Peter Rabbit, that their encounter inspired him to later write magical children’s books of his own.
Jessica Hynes and Rob Brydon also feature as Roald’s mother Sofie and Beatrix’s husband William Heelis.
Cinderella: A Comic Relief Pantomime for Christmas
BBC Two, 8.15pm
A perfectly cast, virtual adaptation of the classic panto Cinderella, in aid of Comic Relief.
Quentin Blake will bring the script read to life with original hand-drawn illustrations, while Olivia Colman stars as the Fairy Godmother, Guz Khan as Buttons, Helena Bonham Carter as Devilia and Tom Hollander as Baron Hardup.
To top it off, sibling comedy duo Daisy May and Charlie Cooper torment Anya Taylor-Joy’s Cinderella as the Evil Stepsisters. Not to mention the unnamed surprise megastar playing a horse.
One Night in Hamleys
Channel 4, 9pm
Three unruly comics are let loose in the world-famous toy shop, Hamleys, for one night only.
Romesh Ranganathan, Rob Beckett and Tom Allen are the lucky trio living out their childhood dreams, raiding the shelves and inventing games with no guards or grown-ups to stop them.
The possibilities are endless, the laughter guaranteed, but if they break it, they pay for it.
Birds of a Feather Christmas Special
ITV, 9.15pm
A much-needed catch up with the Essex Birds of a Feather after Tracey reluctantly sold the house they all shared to Dorien three years ago. Many things have changed but some never will: Tracey and Dorien are still driving each other up the wall.
Filling in for Sharon, who’s stuck on a cruise becalmed by the pandemic, is Dorien’s new boyfriend Graeme (Les Dennis). Curtis Walker also cameos, as does Ami Metcalf as a young friend of Tracey’s locked-down and longing for company at Christmas. Aren’t we all?
