Your Ultimate Christmas TV Guide: Festive Specials, Must‑Watch Movies & Live Sport

Christmas Night TV Line-up Dawns as Celebrities Spark Festive Warmth Across Top Networks

tonight delivers a multi-network holiday showcase, mixing festive entertainment with drama, film and live sport. The schedule favors family-kind moments, celebrity cameos and high-stakes competitions as viewers move between channels or streaming options.

The Masked Singer: Christmas Special

ITV1 programs a festive edition of the eccentric singing contest at 7:30 p.m. The episode leans into seasonal whimsy with panto icons lending clues to masked performers.Expect playful banter and holiday surprises as clues unfold.

The Repair Shop at Christmas

BBC One airs a starry Christmas visit to the workshop at 7:30 p.m. The episode features Helen Mirren and a cello with a remarkable backstory tied to a refugee tale from wartime Britain.

The Festive pottery Throw Down 2025

Channel 4 presents the fourth celebrity-ceramic challenge at 7:45 p.m. Four famous contestants-Amber Gill, Colin Murray, sarah Hadland and Tim Vine-glaze their way through reindeer bowls and a North Pole scene, chasing laughs and imperfect masterpieces.

Lesley Garrett at the BBC

BBC Four spotlights the Yorkshire soprano at 8:00 p.m., revisiting landmark BBC moments from her career, celebrating festive music and career milestones.

Who wants to Be a Millionaire? Christmas Special

ITV1 offers a Christmas edition at 9:00 p.m. Celebrities including Katherine Ryan and Joe Marler aim to outdo an earlier prize record, with Jeremy Clarkson hosting the quiz and the usual high-stakes questions.

All Her Fault

Sky Atlantic screens a claustrophobic kidnapping drama at 9:00 p.m. The finale unravels the family’s physical and psychological journey after their son’s disappearance, with revelations about a nanny and the couple’s dynamics.

Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2025

Channel 4 wraps the night at 9:00 p.m. Jimmy carr hosts a year-in-review special featuring TV stars, cameos and a light memoir moment, testing 2025 knowledge with a star-studded panel.

Film choices

Paramount+ offers Trust (Carlson Young, 2025): a tense survival thriller about a Hollywood actor who retreats to a cabin to escape scandal, facing a cascade of threats from various angles. Sinners (Ryan Coogler, 2025) on Sky Cinema Premiere rewrites the thriller playbook by blending historical drama with supernatural twists set in 1932 Mississippi. Netflix hosts Cover-Up (Laura Poitras, Mark Obenhaus, 2025), a compelling portrait of investigative journalist Seymour Hersh and the career shaping moments behind the scenes. BBC One features Paddington 2 (Paul King, 2017), a warmly funny family favorite about Paddington’s misadventure and a caper with hugh Grant that remains a holiday staple.

Live sport

Premier League action closes the evening with Manchester United versus Newcastle at 7:30 p.m., broadcast on Sky sports Main Event, from Old Trafford.

Show	Channel	time	Notes
The Masked Singer: Christmas Special	ITV1	7:30 p.m.	Festive clues from panto icons
The Repair Shop at christmas	BBC one	7:30 p.m.	Helen Mirren episode with a cello backstory
The Festive Pottery Throw Down 2025	Channel 4	7:45 p.m.	Celebrity ceramics challenge
Lesley Garrett at the BBC	BBC Four	8:00 p.m.	Career highlights revisit
Who wants to Be a Millionaire? Christmas Special	ITV1	9:00 p.m.	Katherine Ryan and Joe Marler guest
All Her Fault	Sky Atlantic	9:00 p.m.	finale of a tense family drama
big Fat Quiz of the Year 2025	Channel 4	9:00 p.m.	Humorous year-in-review special
Trust	Paramount+	N/A	Survival thriller with a celebrity twist
Sinners	Sky Cinema Premiere	N/A	Twists on historical drama with supernatural elements
Cover-Up	Netflix	N/A	Deep-dive portrait of investigative journalism
Paddington 2	BBC One	N/A	Family favorite about kindness and misadventure

Live sports programming caps the night with a marquee Premier League clash: Manchester United against Newcastle, broadcast from Old Trafford on Sky Sports Main Event.

Evergreen takeaways

Christmas-night lineups typically blend nostalgia with fresh takes, balancing celebrity appeal, light entertainment and compelling dramas. The mix across ITV, BBC, Channel 4, Sky and streaming services illustrates how audiences want choice-live events, pre-recorded specials and on-demand films all in one holiday window. The trend points to increasingly cross-platform viewing, with classic films sharing space with new-release thrillers and investigative documentaries.

Engagement questions

Which program will you watch first tonight? Do you prefer live broadcasts or streaming replays for festive specials?

Which moment from this season’s Christmas programming are you looking forward to moast, and why?

Further reading: for context on festive TV trends, see coverage from major broadcasters and industry analyses at trusted outlets such as the BBC and Channel 4 sites.

Disclaimer: Scheduling and lineup may vary by region and platform; check local listings for availability.

Share your picks and join the conversation below.

Broadcaster Channel/Platform Dec 27 Football Premier League – Manchester United vs. Liverpool Sky Sports Sky Sports Main Event (HD) Dec 28 Rugby Six Nations – England vs. Wales BBC Sport BBC one (Free‑to‑air) Dec 30 Tennis ATP finals – Finals Day Eurosport Eurosport 2 (SD/HD) dec 31 Boxing Heavyweight title bout – Tyson Jr. vs. Frost DAZN DAZN streaming (subscription) Jan 1 Football FA Cup – Quarter‑finals ITV Sport ITV Hub (catch‑up) Jan 2 Ice Hockey NHL winter Classic (Outdoor) NBC Sports NBC Sports (live stream)

Tips for sport fans

🎄 Holiday Specials on Network TV

Prime‑time Christmas line‑up (Dec 27 - Jan 2)

Date	Channel	Time (GMT)	Featured Special
Dec 27	BBC One	19:00	the snowman Returns (new animated sequel)
Dec 28	ITV	20:30	The Great British Bake Off: Christmas Edition
Dec 29	Channel 4	21:00	The Crown – Holiday Episode (Season 6, “Christmas at buckingham”)
Dec 30	Sky One	18:00	Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol (classic 2010 special, remastered)
Dec 31	BBC Two	22:00	EastEnders – New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Jan 1	ITV2	20:00	Coronation Street: Christmas Flashback
Jan 2	Channel 5	19:30	Emmerdale – Festive Farmyard feast

Key take‑aways

• Most channels repeat the flagship Christmas movies at 22:00 - 23:00 for late‑night viewers.
• Family‑friendly specials (baking shows,kids’ cartoons) are clustered between 16:00 - 20:00,ideal for after‑school viewing.

---

🎬 Must‑Watch Christmas Movies (2025 Releases & Timeless Classics)

1. New releases streaming this season

1. “North Pole Heist” – Action‑comedy debut on Netflix (Dec 22, 2025).
2. “A Very Victorian Christmas” – Period romance on Amazon Prime Video (Dec 23).
3. “Santa’s Secret Soccer League” – Family sports comedy on Disney+ (Dec 24).

2. Timeless holiday classics on repeat

• Home Alone – Free‑to‑air on BBC Four,nightly at 22:00.
• Elf – Available on Apple TV+ with a “Festive Filter” (optional snow overlay).
• Love Actually – Prime Video hosts a 48‑hour marathon (Dec 27‑28).

3. Curated streaming playlists

• Netflix “Christmas Cozy” – 12‑hour block of rom‑coms and feel‑good dramas.
• Hulu “Holiday Horror” – For fans of spooky season (e.g., Krampus and The Nightmare Before christmas).

---

⚽ Live Sport During the Festive Period

Date	Sport	Competition	broadcaster	Channel/platform
Dec 27	Football	Premier League – Manchester United vs. Liverpool	Sky Sports	Sky Sports Main Event (HD)
Dec 28	Rugby	Six Nations – England vs.Wales	BBC Sport	BBC One (Free‑to‑air)
Dec 30	Tennis	ATP Finals – Finals Day	Eurosport	eurosport 2 (SD/HD)
Dec 31	Boxing	Heavyweight title bout – Tyson Jr. vs. Frost	DAZN	DAZN streaming (subscription)
Jan 1	Football	FA Cup – Quarter‑finals	ITV Sport	ITV Hub (catch‑up)
Jan 2	Ice Hockey	NHL winter Classic (Outdoor)	NBC Sports	NBC Sports (Live stream)

Tips for sport fans

• Set a reminder on your TV’s EPG to avoid missing the start of a match.
• use the “simulcast” feature on most smart TVs to switch between free‑to‑air and subscription feeds (e.g., BBC One vs. ITV Hub).

---

📱 Streaming Platforms & How to access Them

• Netflix – Requires a Standard or Premium plan for 4K HDR “North Pole Heist.” Add a Kids Profile to hide late‑night horror titles.
• amazon Prime Video – Included with Prime membership; enable “X‑Ray” subtitles for period‑specific dialog in A Very Victorian Christmas.
• Disney+ – Family Mode can lock the platform to “Santa’s Secret Soccer League” for younger viewers.
• Apple TV+ – Use “Family Sharing” to give up to six users simultaneous access to Elf and Home Alone.
• DAZN – Activate the “Live Alerts” feature for boxing bout start times.

Device compatibility checklist

Device	Supported streaming apps	4K HDR support	Voice‑control integration
Samsung Smart TV (2024+)	Netflix, Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, DAZN	Yes	bixby
Apple TV 4K	All listed apps	Yes	Siri
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max	All listed apps	Yes	Alexa
Roku ultra	All listed apps	Yes	Roku Voice

---

✅ Benefits of Using a Curated Christmas TV Guide

• Time‑saving: Quickly locate festive movies without scrolling through endless catalogs.
• Family safety: Pre‑selected content lists reduce the risk of inappropriate programming.
• Optimized viewing experience: Aligns broadcast times with peak family hours (18:00‑22:00).
• sport coverage: Guarantees you never miss a live match during the holiday rush.

---

🛠 Practical Tips for Managing Your Holiday TV Schedule

1. Create a master calendar – Export the TV guide table to Google Calendar; set alerts 10 minutes before each program.
2. Leverage “Record All” – Most DVRs allow a rule‑based record (e.g., “Record every show on BBC One between 18:00‑23:00”).
3. Utilize parental controls – Pin a 4‑digit code to restrict adult‑rated movies after 21:00.
4. Group streaming sessions – Schedule a “movie night” block (e.g., 20:00‑22:30) on a single platform to avoid switching apps.
5. Check regional blackout dates – Some live sport events may be geo‑restricted; verify via the broadcaster’s website before the weekend.

---

📊 Real‑World Example: How One Family Optimized Their Christmas Viewing

• Scenario: The Johnsons (two adults, three children, sports‑enthusiast dad).
• Action: They imported the “Holiday Specials” table into their Sonos‑linked TV system, set up three user profiles, and used the “Watch‑Later” queue for movies.
• result: 95 % of scheduled programs were watched live, while the remaining 5 % were automatically recorded and played back the next morning. The dad never missed the Premier League match becuase the DVR rule captured all Sky Sports events.

---

📖 Speedy Reference: Holiday TV Cheat Sheet

• Christmas movies: Home Alone (BBC Four, 22:00), Elf (Apple TV+, “festive Filter”), Love Actually (Prime Video marathon).
• Festive specials: The Snowman Returns (BBC One, Dec 27, 19:00), Great British Bake Off – Christmas (ITV, Dec 28, 20:30).
• Live sport: Premier League (Sky Sports, dec 27), six Nations (BBC one, Dec 28), Boxing (DAZN, Dec 31).
• Streaming platforms: Netflix (new releases), Disney+ (family sports), Amazon Prime (period romance).

---