The 7 Best Christmas Specials on TV
In our latest blog post we are going through our 7 favourite TV Christmas specials to watch this year!
Christmas TV reigns supreme to all other TV. There’s something about these festive one-off episodes that seem to carry us through all the emotions, whether that be laughing till our stomachs hurt or weeping into the chocolate tin.
You know the festive season has really begun when the Christmas specials hit our screens, so to get us all into the spirits, we’re going to be sharing with you our top 10 festive TV episodes that are just too good to not watch year after year.
Gavin & Stacey
It’s a classic but for some reason, it just seems to get better every year.
First released in 2008, this one and only Gavin & Stacey Christmas special had us both laughing and crying for the duration of the episode.
We saw Nessa and Smithy have a heart to heart like no other, Gavin announced the move to Barry we never thought we’d see and Pam, well her vegetarian lies finally came to light.
The whole series of Gavin & Stacey was genius but the Christmas special was an episode we’ll never forget.
The Royle Family
The Royle Family really are the family you’re glad will never be inviting you round for dinner but their festive episodes never disappoint and are bound to have you in stitches from start to finish.
From the witty one-liners to the weird Christmas traditions, you can’t help but laugh when watching one of the Royle Family Christmas specials.
Friends
Now, there’s 10 series of Friends to go at (now all available on Netflix, btw) but the Christmas special with the ‘Holiday Armadillo’ will forever be one of the best.
Everything Ross ever did was a combination of uncomfortably weird and uncontrollably funny but the one where he dressed up as a ‘holiday armadillo’ to try and rival Santa was definitely a moment we’ll never forget and just can’t stop watching on repeat.
Call the Midwife
More of a cosy, might have a little cry kind of Christmas special as opposed to double over laughing, Call the Midwife has the power to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside whenever you watch it, especially at Christmas.
Their previous Christmas specials are favourites for some, so there are high expectations for the 2018 special that according to The Sun, will hit our screens on Christmas Day, probably around 7pm.
Mrs Brown’s Boys
Another series that blesses us with a Christmas special year after year, Mrs Brown’s Boys is hilarious all year round but throw in a little bit of festive cheer and you’ve got an hour of comedy like no other.
Radio Times have teased that this year’s festive episode of Mrs Brown’s Boys is likely to air on Christmas Day, usually after 10pm, so we know exactly where we’ll be taking our old fashioned sweets and leftover Christmas dinner at that time… in front of the TV!
Only Fools and Horses
Throwing it back a bit now to the 80’s and 90’s when Only Fools and Horses was one of the most popular shows on our screens, did you know they released 18 Christmas specials during their time on air?
They’re some of the best in all honesty with many saying the 1988 special, titled ‘Dates’ being the best. If you’re unsure which one this is, cast your mind back to Del Boy meeting Raquel… Raquel the stripper… yep, you’re up to speed!
Comedy gold!
The Office
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant really nailed it when they created The Office but after letting down fans by refusing to write a third series, they blessed us with a two-part Christmas special that was just enough to soften the blow that this show would never hit our screens again.
A kind of ‘where are they now’ style format, a festive reunion is on the cards at the end of part one and the comedy continues in the 2nd instalment but we won't give away too many spoilers because this is a December must watch for everyone!
Christmas TV is as an essential part of the festive celebrations as Christmas sweetie gifts and as much as we’re awaiting this year’s Christmas specials with anticipation, you can’t beat the classics!
What’s your favourite thing to watch on TV at Christmas? Let us know on Facebook or Instagram!
