The BBC Christmas schedule is here and it’s packed with festive gems – goodhousekeeping.com

With not long to go until the big day (Christmas Day, of course), the BBC has revealed its festive TV schedule.

Detailing high profile specials like Gavin & Stacey and Call The Midwife, as well as a range of drama and factual shows, the schedule has something for everyone this festive season.

Charlotte Moore, Director, BBC Content said: "The BBC has assembled a sensational range of programmes to give viewers a festive season filled with Christmas crackers. We are bringing back some classic favourites with the likes of Gavin & Stacey, Miranda, Scrooge and Dracula! As well as introducing original new shows too. Whether youre a fan of drama, comedy, entertainment or simply want to wallow in the beauty of the natural world, there really is no better place to be than watching the BBC this Christmas.

Here are the highlights...

The Gavin & Stacey gang are returning after ten years, giving viewers a glimpse back into the lives of Nessa, Smithy, Mick, Pam, Bryn and of course, Gavin and Stacey. Details are scarce at the minute but here's what you need to know about the new episode on BBC One.

To mark a decade since Miranda Hart first galloped onto our screens with her award winning sitcom, BBC One will be hosting a special one-off shindig at The London Palladium.

The special will feature a host of treats and surprises as the cast reunite to look back over a decade of fun, friendship and romance.

"Miranda: My Such Fun Celebration promises an unforgettable night of magical memories, and with Miranda at the helm, viewers can expect not only some poignant reflections and behind the scenes titbits but much silliness, dancing and enforced galloping," the BBC said.

Find all the details we know about here.

The women of Nonnatus House take a trip to the Outer Hebrides for this festive special, which will air on Christmas Day on BBC One.

"This years Christmas special will see the team take their work to the Outer Hebrides. Led by Mother Mildred, they embark on a trip to the remote yet idyllic Scottish island, where residents have a desperate need for nurses and midwives. Exposed to the elements, they operate in bleak conditions with limited access to water and electricity to help their patients, just in time to reconvene in Poplar for Christmas," the BBC said.

More detail about the special can be found here.

Brand new dramas being shown on BBC One over the festive season include A Christmas Carol with Guy Pearce as Scrooge, also starring Stephen Graham, Charlotte Riley and Andy Serkis, in a new adaptation from the creator of Peaky Blinders, Steven Knight.

Dracula will be brought to life from the pen of Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, with award-winning Danish actor Claes Bang in the title role. The Trial Of Christine Keeler, starring James Norton, Ellie Bamber and Emilia Fox, takes a fresh look at one of the biggest political stories of the 20th Century while the charming The Snail And The Whale, an adaptation of Julia Donaldsons book, is voiced by Dame Diana Rigg, Sally Hawkins, Cariad Lloyd and Rob Brydon.

There will also be a special animated adaptation of Sir Michael Morpurgos childrens book Mimi And The Mountain Dragon, with an original score from Oscar winning composer Rachel Portman.

Michael McIntyres Big Christmas Show, recorded at the London Palladium, will see Sharon Osbourne bravely hand over her phone for Send To All and Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood awoken in the middle of the night for a special edition of Midnight Gameshow. Perhaps the most famous Irish mammy of all will be back for two festive specials of Mrs Browns Boys in A Wonderful Mammy and Orange Is The New Mammy.

From the Mischief Theatre comes The Goes Wrong Show: The Spirit Of Christmas, in which Santa and his elves try to bring happiness to a sad little girl. Mackenzie Crook writes, directs and stars in a new adaptation of childrens favourite Worzel Gummidge, also starring Zoe Wannamaker, Sir Michael Palin, and Vicki Pepperdine as Aunt Sally.

Doctor Who, starring Jodie Whittaker in the title role alongside Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole, returns with a bang for a 12th series.

Mary Berry caters for a very special party for charity volunteers in A Berry Royal Christmas; and following another glittering series, the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special returns for an all-star episode as six of the most-loved Strictly stars - Debbie McGee, Chizzy Akudolu, Gemma Atkinson, Joe Sugg, Mark Wright and Richard Arnold take to the dance floor in a one-off spectacular hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

Bradley Walsh and Holly Willoughby give members of their audience a chance to win a trip of a lifetime to Lapland in a brand new one off special, Take Off With Bradley And Holly.

On BBC Two, the Christmas story begins with the lone voice of a chorister singing Once in Royal Davids City, in Carols From King's.

A new documentary, Hugh Grant: A Life On Screen, will showcase Hughs work and interview the man himself about his career. Inside The Christmas Factory will take a look at how the nations favourite party food is produced and Gareth Malones Christmas Concert will put on a choral concert with some of the staff, patients and their families of Watford General Hospital.

There are treats in store for music lovers, with special programming with the ever-popular Jools Annual Hootenanny 2019 and the traditional musical start to the year with New Years Day Concert From Vienna. There will be a cinematic reimagining of Romeo And Juliet: Beyond Words, filmed on location with members of The Royal Ballet.

For fans of natural history programming, there's Snow Cats & Me, in which Gordon Buchanan travels to Russia to help rescue and rehabilitate lynx back to the wild; and Earths Tropical Islands will bring a welcome relief from the cold weather, showing the beauty of Madagascar, Borneo and Hawaii.

A Merry Tudor Christmas With Lucy Worsley will take a look back at how Christmas was celebrated during the reign of Henry VIII; whilst Frankie Boyle will reflect on the more recent events of 2019 in Frankie Boyles New World Order. Rhys Thomas will take an irreverent journey through 2019 in A Year In The Life Of A Year and Philomena Cunk also looks at the major events of the year in Cunk And Other Humans On 2019.

Over on BBC Four, there will be another haunting ghost story for Christmas - Martins Close, based on M.R. James short story of the same name and starring Peter Capaldi. For lovers of Scandi noir, there will be a brand new Norwegian drama, Wisting, starring Carrie-Ann Moss and Sven Nordin. And another programme set in stunning landscape is The Last Igloo, a feature length documentary that follows a typical day in the life of an Innuit hunter.

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The BBC Christmas schedule is here and it's packed with festive gems - goodhousekeeping.com

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero