Christmas TV guide 2021
Here's a look at the new British comedy coming up on TV this Christmas. Look out for Ghosts, Mandy, After Ever After, Mortimer & Whitehouse, Worzel Gummidge and more.
A League Of Their Own
Monday 13th 9pm, Sky Max
Romesh Ranganathan, Freddie Flintoff and Jamie Redknapp mark the festive season as only they know how in the latest annual special from the long-running panel show. Guide
The Cockfields
Monday 13th 10pm, Gold
A festive edition of the sitcom to follow on from the recent series. Simon and Esther are on a flying visit to see Ray and Sue. They can only stay for the day as Simon is so busy with work. Sue wishes they'd stay longer... Guide
Never Mind The Buzzcocks
Wednesday 15th 9pm, Sky Max
Greg Davies hosts a festive edition of the music-based comedy quiz, with regulars Noel Fielding, Daisy May Cooper and Jamali Maddix joined by Frankie Goes To Hollywood frontman Holly Johnson, broadcaster Lauren Laverne and People Just Do Nothing star Asim Chaudhry. Guide
There's Something About Movies
Thursday 16th 8pm, Sky Max
Alan Carr hosts a special episode of the film quiz, with Thomas Brodie Sangster, Susan Wokoma and James Acaster joining Michael Sheen, Jennifer Saunders and Tom Allen. One round sees the panellists recreating Christmas classics including Miracle On 34th Street, It's A Wonderful Life and Die Hard. Guide
One Night In...
Thursday 16th 9pm, Channel 4
A new series of episodes in which Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe are joined by comedian guests as they spend the night at some of the UK's most exciting attractions with no other visitors around (you may remember a special this time last year at Hamleys with Romesh Ranganathan, Rob Beckett and Tom Allen). The first episode is at Alton Towers with guest adventurer Roisin Conaty. Guide
I Literally Just Told You
Thursday 16th 10pm, Channel 4
A new comedy quiz format hosted by Jimmy Carr. It's "the only game show in history where the contestants are given every answer with the questions written, literally, as the show is happening". The twist: there's a lot going on, so it's hard to concentrate. Guide
Celebrity Juice
Thursday 16th 10pm, ITV2
Ronan Keating, Katherine Ryan, Richard Blackwood and Johnny Vegas join host Keith Lemon and team captains Laura Whitmore and Emily Atack for Christmas fun and games. Guide
Paul O'Grady's Saturday Night Line-Up
Saturday 18th 9:30pm, ITV
A special edition of the comedy chat and game show in which Paul puts questions, scenarios and dilemmas to celebrity guests Dame Joan Collins, Paddy McGuinness, Sunetra Sarker and Julian Clary, who must arrange themselves from best to worst correctly to match the order the British public have put them in. Guide
Beauty And The Beast: A Pantomime For Comic Relief
Sunday 19th 9pm, BBC Two
Lily James heads an all-star cast to retell the classic fairy-tale romance between a cursed beast and his warm-hearted prisoner. Last year's broadcast (of Cinderella) raised lots of cash, so here's hoping this one works for them too. Guide
Rob And Romesh Vs
Sunday 19th 9pm, Sky Max
A festive special in which Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan join the circus, teaming up with West End and big top show Zippo's. They learn how to do acrobatics, contortion and knife throwing ahead of their final Christmas performance at Winter Wonderland. Guide
The Ranganation
Sunday 19th 10pm, BBC Two
More Romesh Ranganathan, this time as he hosts a special of his comedy chat show, with Scarlett Moffatt and Josh Widdicombe set to join him. Guide
Would I Lie To You?
Monday 20th 8:30pm, BBC One
A new episode of the popular panel show. David Mitchell is joined by Jim Broadbent and Rose Matafeo while Lee Mack is joined by Angela Rippon and Ardal O'Hanlon. Guide
QI
Monday 20th 9pm, BBC Two
Sandi Toksvig hosts a new Christmas special of the quite interesting quiz, with panellists Bonnie Langford, Joe Lycett, Sally Phillips and regular guest Alan Davies. The seasonal subjects starting with "S" include School Nativity Success Statistics and the secrets of Shiraz and Sprouts. Plus, a candlelit General Ignorance, unanswerable questions, questionable answers, and a scoring system even the Three Wise Men couldn't fathom. Guide
Two Doors Down
Monday 20th 9:30pm, BBC Two
This short-run of new episodes concludes with a Christmas-set programme. It is merry and bright over at Michelle and Alan's as they welcome the neighbours for a festive get-together. Guide
The Stand Up Sketch Show
Monday 20th 10pm, ITV2
Festive-themed stand-up routines by Russell Kane, Seann Walsh, Dane Baptiste, Glenn Moore, Lily Phillips, Nabil Abdulrashid, Bella Hull and Vidura Rajapaksa are brought to life in sketch form. Guide
Mandy
Monday 20th 10pm, BBC Two
What is the true essence of Christmas? Is it the glimmer in a schoolboy's expectant eye as he opens his pillowcase on Christmas morning? A new special from Diane Morgan's sitcom. It's an extended-length episode... 1 minute longer than the previous ones! Guide
Agatha Raisin
Tuesday 21st 8pm, Sky Max
Ashley Jensen returns as the detective. During the dark, grey days of early December, the sleuth is obsessed by two things - the looming festivities, and her ex, James Lacey. Guide
Dating No Filter
Tuesday 21st 10pm, Sky Max
A special of the format, in which comedians observe people on blind dates, kicks off the start of the second series. The dates potential couples go on have a Christmas twist, with the comedians then giving their own take on proceedings. Guide
Mummy's Big Christmas Do!
Wednesday 22nd 10pm, Channel 4 Cancelled due to coronavirus concerns
Joe Lycett is hosting "a big queer Christmas house party" - live from his Birmingham home-town. "His specially invited audience will be the real stars of the show - made up of LGBTQ+ icons, allies of the LGBTQ+ community, and local heroes in addition to some people who may well be in for some devilish surprises from Joe." Guide
Live At The Apollo
Wednesday 22nd 10pm, BBC Two
The latest series concludes with the now-traditional 'Noel At The Apollo' spin on the format. Jason Manford introduces Maisie Adam and Nabil Abdulrashid to the stage. Guide
After Ever After
Thursday 23rd 8pm, Sky Max
The third special in which David Walliams imagines what happens after fairy tales have ended. This time it's Hansel & Gretel, with guest star Sheridan Smith. The siblings have escaped the witch's gingerbread house only to learn that their village is being enchanted by a mysterious stranger plying them with sweet treats. Guide
Ghosts
Thursday 23rd 8:30pm, BBC One
The much-anticipated Christmas special guest starring Jennifer Saunders. In the run up to the festive season, Kitty becomes convinced that Santa has made an early stop at Button House when Mike and Alison discover a man living in a tent on their grounds. The ghosts' advice on how to deal with him leaves much to be desired, but eventually Mike and Alison learn that they have more to offer this Christmas than they realised. Guide
Not Going Out
Thursday 23rd 10pm, BBC One
It is Christmas and Lee is not happy that Lucy had booked tickets to the pantomime. Especially given the star of the show is Lucy's teenage crush, Jason Donovan. Guide
8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown
Friday 24th 9:30pm, Channel 4
Jimmy Carr hosts an edition packed with festive surprises. Countdown regulars Susie Dent and Rachel Riley are on hand to help maintain order as Jon Richardson and Sarah Millican take on Lee Mack and Jason Manford. They are joined by guests Nick Mohammed and Joe Wilkinson. This is the first new episode of the show to broadcast following the death of much-loved team captain Sean Lock, so it is likely they'll pay tribute to him in this episode too. A new series begins in the first week of January. Guide
The Last Leg
Friday 24th 10:30pm, Channel 4
Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker front a merriment-packed Christmas edition. In a show filled with festive treats, the boys get into the spirit in a way only they can - joined in the studio by the "absolutely fabulous" Joanna Lumley and chef and grime artist Big Zuu for some very merry leglessness. Guide
Jimmy Carr: His Dark Material
Saturday 25th, Netflix
Jimmy Carr finds humour in the darkest of places in this new stand-up special that features his dry, sardonic wit - and some jokes he calls "career enders". Guide
Blankety Blank
Saturday 25th 7:25pm, BBC One
Bradley Walsh hosts a fun-filled festive edition of the game show. TV presenter Angela Rippon, actor and author Richard E Grant, comedians Tom Allen and Sarah Millican, singer Mel B and McFly's Danny Jones aim to help the contestants. Guide
The Larkins
Saturday 25th 9pm, ITV
In this special the Larkins are gearing up for Christmas, and in the village all talk is of the pantomime and an ongoing spate of burglaries - with Miss Pilchester, the Normans and the local celebrity among the victims. Guide
Mrs. Brown's Boys
Saturday 25th 10:20pm, BBC One
The first of two specials (the next is on New Year's Day). Agnes has been recruited to the church choir, but she's under strict instructions from Father McBride that there's to be no singing and certainly no dancing. Guide
The Big Fat Quiz Of The Year
Sunday 26th 9pm, Channel 4
The annual year-end quiz, hosted by Jimmy Carr. Guests including Sarah Millican, James Acaster, Jonathan Ross and Judi Love will be looking back on the strange events of 2021. There's a Big Fat Quiz Of Everything in early January, too. Guide
Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing
Sunday 26th 9pm, BBC Two
Paul takes Bob on a steam train to the north of England to search for a prized English salmon, fishing in the rivers Eden and Tyne in search of their elusive quarry. They are joined on the riverbank by former footballer Paul Gascoigne, who has also always dreamt of catching a salmon, while Dr Anand Patel has a chat with Bob about how to look out for the more vulnerable at Christmastime. Guide
Billy Connolly: My Absolute Pleasure
Sunday 26th 9:30pm, ITV
The comedian invites viewers to spend time with him in his newly adopted home of the Florida Keys for an insight into the life he leads now. As the comedy great launches his first-ever autobiography, he shares a personal selection of his best-loved stand-up routines captured during his tours, some of which have never before been seen on TV. Guide
Jon & Lucy's Christmas Sleepover
Monday 27th 9pm, Channel 4
Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont are hosting a Christmas getaway for some of their closest friends as they look back at 2021. Joining them are Roisin Conaty, Romesh Ranganathan, Rob Beckett and a selection of surprise guests. Guide
Worzel Gummidge
Tuesday 28th & Wednesday 29th 7:15pm, BBC One
Two new specials. In the first, a flock of rare choughs turn up at Scatterbrook Farm, and a group of avid twitchers follow on closely behind. In Wednesday's episode, Susan and John are excited when they learn that F R Peregrine's Travelling Fair is coming to Scatterbrook, and Worzel recalls the legend of a fairground organ that an send humans to sleep. Guide
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