Your Festive TV Guide: 20 Highlights for Christmas 2025
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Looking for the perfect shows to soundtrack your festive season? From heartwarming carols to thrilling dramas and side-splitting comedies, this guide offers 20 highlights to keep the whole family entertained this Christmas and St. Stephen’s Day. With Christmas week often a whirlwind of activity, having a curated list of viewing options is more important than ever.
Christmas Eve: A Night of Tradition and Magic
Christmas Eve offers a blend of classic favorites and new delights. For younger viewers, Santa’s Holiday (RTÉ One, 5.15pm) promises an Irish-made animated adventure following elf Maeve and her dog Rocket as they attempt to convince a workaholic elf to take a break.
As the evening progresses, Christmas in Kilmainham (RTÉ One, 6.20pm) returns as a beloved tradition. Hosted by Marty Whelan from Dublin’s Royal Hospital Kilmainham, the concert features Imelda May, Garron Noone, The High Kings, backed by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and the Daughters of Jerusalem choir from Palestine, offering a mix of sing-along moments and quieter reflections.
For a dose of timeless animation, The Snowman (Channel 4, 7.15pm) continues to enchant with its wordless storytelling and Howard Blake’s iconic score. A lighter, more contemporary offering comes with the High Road Low Road Winter Special (RTÉ One, 8.00pm), as chef Kevin Dundon and comedian Kayleigh Trappe explore the culinary delights of Austria.
No Christmas Eve would be complete without a classic comedy fix. The Father Ted Christmas Special (RTÉ2, 8.30pm) remains endlessly quotable, with Ted’s quest for a quiet Christmas hilariously derailed at every turn. Rounding out the evening, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Christmas Special (Channel 4, 9.00pm) delivers festive fun with Jimmy Carr and a stellar panel.
A Dramatic Interlude: “Goodbye June”
Netflix offers a compelling drama with Goodbye June, a family story set just before Christmas. The series, marking Kate Winslet’s directorial debut, explores the chaos and tensions that surface when a mother’s health takes an unexpected turn, featuring a star-studded cast including Toni Collette, Johnny Flynn, and Helen Mirren.
Christmas Day: Blockbusters and Beloved Specials
Christmas Day is traditionally reserved for big-screen favorites and festive specials. Start the day with the classic musical White Christmas (RTÉ One, 8.05am), offering “old-school Hollywood comfort” with its musical numbers and gentle pace.
The afternoon brings a rebooted dose of action with the Gladiators Celebrity Special (BBC One, 3.35pm), featuring celebrities Joe Wicks, Nicola Adams, Vogue Williams, and Sam Thompson battling it out in the arena. For a unique Irish offering, Nollaí (TG4, 4.50pm) presents a new animated special telling the story of a deer who discovers he may be the last of his kind.
The evening schedule is packed with sparkle. Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special (BBC One, 5.30pm) promises polished routines and festive cheer with a new lineup of celebrities. Wonka (RTÉ One, 6.15pm), a vibrant and family-friendly origin story, is a genuinely great Christmas Day film choice. For those seeking a nostalgic sing-along, Westlife 25: Live at the Royal Albert Hall (RTÉ One, 6.30pm) offers a chance to relive the band’s greatest hits.
Irish language programming continues with Geantraí na Nollag 2025 (TG4, 8.00pm), celebrating 20 seasons of the show with performances from Paul Brady, Tommy Fleming, and more. A two-part Call the Midwife Christmas Special (BBC One, 8.15pm and Fri 26 Dec, 8.30pm) delivers a heartwarming and dramatic story spanning Poplar and Hong Kong, while Mrs Brown’s Boys (RTÉ One, 9:05pm) provides a dose of familiar festive chaos.
St. Stephen’s Day: Sci-Fi, Silliness, and Reflection
St. Stephen’s Day offers a diverse range of options to wind down after the Christmas festivities. Fans of science fiction can dive into Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 (Netflix, 1.00am Ireland), with the final three episodes dropping simultaneously.
For lighter entertainment, The Masked Singer Christmas Special (Virgin Media One, 7.35pm) offers a festive twist on the popular guessing game, featuring new costumes and celebrity performers. Keys To My Life: Jim Sheridan (RTÉ One, 8.00pm) provides a more reflective offering, exploring the director’s life through the places that shaped him.
The day concludes with the annual The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2025 (Channel 4, 9.00pm), hosted by Jimmy Carr and featuring a panel of comedians battling to recall the year’s biggest moments.
With such a diverse range of programming, there’s truly something for everyone to enjoy this festive season.
