Geek shows and movies on UK TV in the coming week: Christmas special!
Get ready for a whole host of TV shows and movies to get you through the festive period - it's our look at UK telly...!
We’ve taken a scythe to the Christmas telly schedule to help you sort the geek from the chav. We hope the listing of shows and films will help brighten your holiday via the warm rays of the living room telly.
If we missed any of your favourites, please have a ho-ho-ho in the comments section, with our thanks and best wishes for a happy holiday.
Thursday December 23rd
Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather Part 1 4:00pm Sky1 (repeats through 1st Jan)
24 series 8 6:00am Sky 2 (marathon consecutive run of the series’ episodes)
8 Out Of 10 Cats Christmas Special 10:00pm Channel 4 (repeats 00:05am 27th Dec)The Royle Family Christmas Special (2009) 00:45am Gold (repeats through 30th Dec)
Christmas Eve Friday December 24th
Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather Part 2 4:00pm Sky1 (repeats through 1st Jan)Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out 4:50pm Gold (and 1:15pm 28th Dec BBC1)Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers 5:25pm Gold (and 1:40pm 30th Dec BBC1)Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave 6:05pm Gold (and 1:05pm 29th Dec BBC1)Peep Show And Tell 9:00pm Channel 4 (repeats 11:05pm 25th Dec)
Misfits Christmas Special midnight E4. Share your impressions in the comments section of our review from its first showing.
Christmas Day Saturday December 25th
Terry Pratchett’s The Colour Of Magic 2:00pm Sky 1 (followed by part 2 at 4:00pm, then repeats through 1st Jan)
The Gruffalo 4:40pm BBC1 (repeats 10:10pm 29th Dec BBC3)
The One Ronnie 5:10pm BBC1
Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol 6:00pm BBC1 (repeats 7:00pm 26th Dec BBC3) See our spoiler-free review here.
Terry Pratchett’s Going Postal 8:00pm Sky2 (followed by part 2 at 10:00pm, then repeated 1st Jan)
Blackadder’s Christmas Carol 8:35pm BBC2
The Royle Family: Joe’s Crackers 9:00pm BBC1 (repeats 9:05pm 27th Dec BBC HD)Come Fly with Me premiere 10:00pm BBC1
Knowing Me, Knowing Yule… with Alan Partridge 11:20pm Gold (and 1:15am 26th Dec)
Boxing Day Sunday December 26th
Harry Hill’s Best of Christmas TV Burp 8:30pm ITV1 (repeats through 1st Jan)
Monday December 27th
Charlie Brooker’s 2010 Wipe 10:00pm BBC2 (repeats 10:30pm 1st Jan & 2:55am 2nd Jan & midnight 3rd Jan BBC4)
Tuesday December 28th
Smile: That Was Candid Camera 8:00pm ITV1
Wednesday December 29thRock & Chips: Five Gold Rings 9:00pm BBC1 (repeats 1:20am 4th Jan)Peep Show series 6 finale 10:00pm Channel 4
Thursday December 30th
The Rob Brydon Show 9:00pm 30th Dec
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Now, on to the films showing through the weekend and a bit beyond. Among the seasonal treats are great films to share with the kids, many animated, plus buddy movies, guilty pleasures and some time-tested classics. There should be something for everyone who loves movies. As always, if we missed anything interesting, have a shout in the comments, with our thanks.
See what Den Of Geek writers watch faithfully each Christmas. Some of their top picks are on this week.
Please also note: the ordinal numbers for dates will help you scan through this simple list with your browser’s search function. Enter ’25th’ in your browser’s Find box or window to highlight and/or tab through all movies shown on Christmas day. Enjoy!
300On: FiveDate: Thursday 23rd DecemberTime: 9:00pm (9:00/10:00pm 25th Dec Fiver/+1, 9/10:00pm 30th Dec)
A Christmas Carol (1999)On: Five USADate: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Five USA+1, noon/1:00pm 26th Dec)
A Fish Called WandaOn: BBC 1Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 00:25am
AlienOn: E4Date: Monday 27th DecemberTime: 01:15am (and 2:15am E4+1)
AmélieOn: Film4Date: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 01:20am (and 2:20am Film4+1)
ArmageddonOn: BBC 3Date: Wednesday 22nd DecemberTime: 8:00pm (and 9:00pm 26th Dec)
AvatarOn: Sky Movies Premiere Date: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 8:00pm (and 9:00pm Premiere+1, then daily at similar and additional times through 30th Dec)
Bad SantaOn: BravoDate: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm Bravo+1, 9/10:00pm 26th Dec)
Batman BeginsOn: ITV1Date: Wednesday 22nd DecemberTime: 10:35pm (and midnight 24th Dec TCM)
BigOn: Film4Date: Monday 27th DecemberTime: 7:00pm (and 8:00pm Film4+1, 4:35/5:35pm 1st Jan)
BladeOn: TCMDate: Thursday 23rd DecemberTime: 11:30pm
Blue VelvetOn: TCMDate: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 11:00pm
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance KidOn: Film4Date: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 4:45pm (and 5:45pm Film4+1)
CaddyshackOn: ITV3Date: Monday 27th DecemberTime: 11:10pm (and 00:10am 28th Dec)
CarsOn: BBC 1Date: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 3:05pm (and 3rd Jan BBC3)
CasablancaOn: Film4Date: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 2:40pm (and 3:50pm Film4+1, 9:00pm 26 Dec TCM, 4:50/5:50pm 31st Dec Film4/+1)
CasperOn: ITV1Date: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 10:40am (and 7:/8:00pm 27th Dec & 11:25/12:25am ITV2+1)
CarrieOn: Channel 4Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 00:10am (and 1:10am 4+1)
Charlie And The Chocolate FactoryOn: ITV1Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 4:10pm (and 8/9:00pm 29th Dec ITV2/+1)
Crocodile DundeeOn: Channel 4Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 5:10pm (and 6:10pm 4+1)
Die HardOn: Film4Date: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1)
Die Hard 2On: Film4Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 11:20pm (and 00:20am 27th Dec Film4+1)
DogtoothOn: Film4Date: Tuesday 28th DecemberTime: 01:35am (and 2:35am Film4+1)
Edward ScissorhandsOn: Channel 4Date: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 7:00pm (and 8:00pm 4+1)
ElfOn: Film4Date: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 7:15pm (and 8:15pm 24th Dec)
EnchantedOn: BBC 1Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 3:25pm (and 7:20pm 27th Dec & 9:00pm 2nd Jan BBC3)
Fantastic Mr. FoxOn: Sky Movies PremiereDate: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 12:10pm (and 1:00pm Premiere+1 & 5:50/6:50pm, then daily at similar times through 6th Jan)
Gone With The WindOn: TCMDate: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 11:00am
GremlinsOn: ITV2Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm ITV2+1, 9:00pm 2nd Jan TCM)
Green StreetOn: ITV4Date: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm ITV4+1)
Happy FeetOn: ITV1Date: Monday 27th DecemberTime: 4:35pm
HeroOn: Channel 4Date: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 00:55am (and 1:55am 4+1)
Home AloneOn: Sky Movies ComedyDate: Thursday 23rd DecemberTime: 12:40pm (and 10:15am 25th Dec & 4:50am26th Dec & 11:35am 28th Dec Sky Christmas)
Honey, I Shrunk The KidsOn: Channel 4Date: Wednesday 22nd DecemberTime: 2:25pm (and 3:25pm 4+1)
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)On: ITV1Date: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 3:10pm (and 6/7:00pm 28th Dec & 1:35/2:35pm 30th Dec ITV2/+1)
Ice AgeOn: FIVERDate: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 6:25pm (and 7:25pm Fiver+1, 9:25/8:25pm 31st Dec)
Ice Age: The MeltdownOn: Film4Date: Thursday 23rd DecemberTime: 4:45pm (and 5:45pm Film4+1, 12:45/1:45pm 27th Dec)
Into The WildOn: Film4Date: Wednesday 22nd DecemberTime: 11:00pm (and midnight Film4+1)
Jackie Chan’s Police Story 2On: SyFyDate: Wednesday 22nd DecemberTime: 9:50pm (and 10:50pm Syfy+1, 1:50/2:50am 27th Dec, midnight/1:00am 1st/2nd Jan)
Jesus Christ SuperstarOn: ITV1Date: Thursday 23rd DecemberTime: 11:50pm (and 6:25/7:25am 25th Dec ITV3/+1)
Jingle All The WayOn: Channel 4Date: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 11:40am (and 12:40pm 4+1)
JunoOn: Film4Date: Thursday 23rd DecemberTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1, 9/10:00pm 28th Dec)
KrullOn: SyFyDate: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 3:40pm (and 4:50pm Syfy+1, 3/4:00pm 27th Dec, 4:20/5:20pm 29th Dec, 2/3:00pm 30th Dec)
LadyhawkeOn: Channel 4Date: Monday 27th DecemberTime: 1:55pm (and 2:55pm 4+1)
LantanaOn: Channel 4Date: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 01:25am (and 2:25am 4+1)
Last Action HeroOn: FiveDate: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 6:45pm
Lawrence Of ArabiaOn: FIVERDate: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 12:50pm (and 1:50pm Fiver+1)
Lethal WeaponOn: TCMDate: Wednesday 22nd DecemberTime: 9:00pm
MadagascarOn: BBC 1Date: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 12:25pm
March Of The PenguinsOn: ITV1Date: Monday 27th DecemberTime: 3:00pm
Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The WorldOn: Film4Date: Thursday 23rd DecemberTime: 6:25pm (and 7:25pm Film4+1)
Memoirs Of An Invisible ManOn: Film4Date: Wednesday 22nd DecemberTime: 5:10pm (and 6:10pm Film4+1)
Miracle On 34th Street (1947)On: Channel 4Date: Thursday 23rd DecemberTime: 2:20pm (and 3:20pm 4+1)
Mr. MomOn: TCMDate: Wednesday 22nd DecemberTime: 1:10pm (and 5:00am 23rd Dec)
Nanny McPheeOn: ITV2Date: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 7:00pm (and 8:00pm ITV2+1, 2/3:00pm 26th Dec)
National Lampoon’s Christmas VacationOn: ITV2Date: Monday 27th DecemberTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm ITV2+1, 7/8:00pm 30th Dec)
No Country For Old MenOn: Film4Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1, 11:25pm/00:25am) 31st Dec 1st Jan)
Of Mice And Men (1992)On: TCMDate: Thursday 23rd DecemberTime: 12:55pm (and 5:00am 24th Dec)
Over The HedgeOn: BBC 1Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 2:10pm
Police AcademyOn: ITV1Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 03:05am
Road HouseOn: TCMDate: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: midnight
Romancing The StoneOn: E4Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 4:55pm (and 5:55pm E4+1)
ScarfaceOn: ITV4Date: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 11:05pm (and 00:05am 26th Dec, 11:00/midnight 27th Dec)
Scrooge (1951)On: FiveDate: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 4:00pm
ScroogedOn: Channel 4Date: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 1:00pm (and 2:00pm 4+1, 5:20/6:20pm 28th Dec Film4/+1)
ShrekOn: BBC 1Date: Thursday 23rd DecemberTime: 2:25pm
Shrek The HallsOn: BBC 1Date: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 4:55 (and 10:10pm 25th Dec & 7:00pm 27th Dec BBC3)
Shrek The ThirdOn: BBC 1Date: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 3:10pm
SleeperOn: TCMDate: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 7:25pm
Slumdog MillionaireOn: more4Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 9:05pm (and 10:05pm 28th Dec)
SpaceballsOn: SyFyDate: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 1:40pm (and 2:40pm Syfy+1)
Spider-Man 2On: WatchDate: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Watch+1, 6:25/7:25pm 26th Dec)
Spy KidsOn: BBC 1Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 11:25am
Spy Kids 2: The Island Of Lost DreamsOn: BBC 1Date: Monday 27th DecembeTime: 10:00am
Stand By MeOn: FIVERDate: Thursday 23rd DecemberTime: 3:50pm (and 4:50pm Fiver+1, 1:30/2:30pm 24th Dec)
Star Trek: The Motion PictureOn: E4Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 09:25am (and 10:25am E4+1)
Star Trek V: The Final FrontierOn: Film4Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 3:00pm (and 4:00pm Film4+1, 6:50/7:50pm 31st Dec)
Star Trek: InsurrectionOn: E4Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: noon (and 1:00pm E4+1)
Stranger Than FictionOn: FiveDate: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 6:55pm
Superman ReturnsOn: WatchDate: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Watch+1, 5:55/6:55pm 27th Dec)
Tales From The DarksideOn: horror channelDate: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 02:45am
Tango And CashOn: ITA4Date: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 00:25am (and 1:25am ITV4+1, 9/10:00pm 25th Dec)
The Adventures Of Baron MunchausenOn: FIVERDate: Wednesday 22nd DecemberTime: 3:00pm (and 4:00pm Fiver+1, 12:30/1:30pm 23rd Dec)
The Ant BullyOn: BBC 1Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 12:50pm
The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The WardrobeOn: BBC 1Date: Thursday 23rd DecemberTime: 3:50pm (and 8:00pm 25th Dec BBC3, 8:00pm 29th Dec BBC3)
The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince CaspianOn: BBC 1Date: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 5:15pm
The ConversationOn: Film4Date: Thursday 23rd DecemberTime: 10:50pm (and 11:50pm Film4+1)
The Descent: Part 2On: Sky Movies PremiereDate: Wednesday 22nd DecemberTime: 11:50pm (and 00:50am 23rd Dec Premiere+1, 10/11:00pm 23rd Dec)
The Falcon And The SnowmanOn: TCMDate: Monday 27th DecemberTime: 01:05am
The FugitiveOn: ITV2Date: Wednesday 22nd DecemberTime: 11:15pm (and 00:15am 23rd Dec ITV2+1, 00:15/1:15am 29th Dec)
The IllusionistOn: ITV2Date: Wednesday 22nd DecemberTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm ITV2+1)
The IncrediblesOn: BBC 1Date: Monday 27th DecemberTime: 3:25pm (and 7:00pm 2nd Jan BBC3)
The Legend Of ZorroOn: WatchDate: Thursday 23rd DecemberTime: 11:00pm (and midnight Watch+1, 9/10:00pm 24th Dec)
The Life Aquatic With Steve ZissouOn: Comedy CentralDate: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 01:35am (and 2:35am CC+1, 00:45/1:45am 31st Dec)
The Man Who Would Be KingOn: BBC 2Date: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 12:55pm
The Money PitOn: BBC 1Date: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 01:15am
The Muppet Christmas CarolOn: Channel 4Date: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 08:50am (and 9:50am 4+1, 11:00am/noon ast Jan Film4/+1)
The OthersOn: Film4Date: Wednesday 22nd DecemberTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1)
The Polar ExpressOn: ITV1Date: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 1:10pm (and 1/2:00pm 28th Dec & 3:35/4:35pm ITV2/+1)
The QueenOn: ITV1Date: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 3:00pm
The Railway ChildrenOn: ITV1Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 12:15pm
The Silence Of The LambsOn: UniversalDate: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm Universal+1, midnoght/1:00am 31st Dec/1st Jan)
To Kill A MockingbirdOn: ITV3Date: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 00:10am (and 1:10am ITV3+1)
Trading PlacesOn: Sky Movies Modern GreatsDate: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 06:00am (and 10:00pm)
TremorsOn: ITV4Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 11:00pm (and midnight ITV4+1, 11:00pm/midnight 30th Dec)
Uncle BuckOn: ITV3Date: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm ITV3+1, 2:45/3:45pm 26th Dec)
Underworld: EvolutionOn: Film4Date: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 11:20pm (and 00:20am 25th Dec Film4+1)
UnforgivenOn: TCMDate: Thursday 23rd DecemberTime: 9:00pm
Up In The AirOn: Sky Movies PremiereDate: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 1:50pm (and 2:50pm Premiere+1 & 10:45/11:45pm, then daily at similar tomes through 30th Dec)
ValiantOn: Film4Date: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 11:00am (and noon) Film4+1)
War Of The Worlds (2005)On: BBC 3Date: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 8:00pm (and 8:10pm 30th Dec)
Way Of The DragonOn: SyFyDate: Friday 24th DecemberTime: 02:20am (and 3:2-am Syfy+1, 9:50/10:50pm 26th Dec, 2/3:00am 29th Dec, midnight/1:00am 31stDec/1st Jan)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?On: BBC 1Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 09:45am
Young FrankensteinOn: Film4Date: Saturday 25th DecemberTime: 11:35pm (and 00:35am 26th Dec Film4+1)
Young Sherlock HolmesOn: E4Date: Sunday 26th DecemberTime: 2:00pm (and 3:00pm E4+1)
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