From the much-awaited return to Barry Island with Gavin and Stacey, to the spine-tingling new adaptation of Dracula, viewers won’t be short of choice for TV over the holidays.
Over the years Christmas adverts have been a staple of the festive season, with supermarkets and retailers creating elaborate heart-warming stories to capture the nation and get them talking.
John Lewis is often seen as the king of the Christmas advert, with their big budget productions always guaranteed to be a tearjerker. However, other brands are competing to be just as sentimental to spread their Christmas message.
Here are some of the best British Christmas adverts over the past few years.
Christmas isn’t the same without The Snowman film, based on Raymond Briggs’ 1978 book. Raymond Briggs: Snowmen, Bogeymen and Milkmen is a sweet documentary about Briggs’ life and career and explores the inspirations behind his most well-known works.
Based on the novel by Richard Adams of the same name, Watership Down is a joint Netflix and BBC production.
The EastEnders star will reflect on events from the past year, including the ongoing Brexit debates in Westminster, where “there’s been more backstabbing than we have in Albert Square.”
He will also raise a toast to mark the 100th anniversary of both the women’s vote and the First World War Armistice.
Anita Singh, arts and entertainment editor of the Daily Telegraph, chaired this festive RTS event, looking at Christmas television's past, present and future with Lord Grade, BBC Entertainment Controller Kate Phillips and BBC Click presenter Kate Russell.
Anita Singh, arts and entertainment editor of the Daily Telegraph, chaired this festive RTS event, looking at Christmas television's past, present and future with Lord Grade, BBC Entertainment Controller Kate Phillips and BBC Click presenter Kate Russell.
Over nearly four decades, Michael, now Lord, Grade walked the corridors of power at London Weekend Television, the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV – no one is more qualified to discuss the enduring appeal of Christmas telly.
Lord Grade commissioned many of the nation’s most memorable festive programmes, including the 1986 Christmas Day EastEnders when Den issued Angie with divorce papers. Ratings topped 30 million, although that figure includes viewers of a repeat showing.
Do you remember waking up to Noel Edmonds on Christmas morning, as you searched for a tangerine in your stocking? The Queen’s Speech, The Sound of Music? Christmas Celebrity Squares and over 20 million people watching Eric and Ernie?
Or what about today, with Doctor Who, Strictly Come Dancing, The Alternative Queen’s Speech, Coronation Street and EastEnders but also perhaps a box set.
Is the future of Christmas TV a barren land of declining audiences as we all spend Christmas day asking Alexa?
