2023: British TV Christmas Specials on BritBox (US)
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Last Updated on November 29, 2023 by Stefanie Hutson
In the UK, it's traditional for the major channels to create special programming for the days around Christmas. Many of the most-loved TV shows create special episodes designed to be aired on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Boxing Day – often, but not always, with a Christmas theme.
Many long-running sitcoms and dramas do at least one or two Christmas specials – and some shows do one almost every year. Some shows end, only to live on in specials (with no new seasons in between).
To help you find the Christmas specials more easily, we've put together a list of what's on offer at BritBox. Fair warning: This guide is LONG.
The first section covers Christmas specials ALREADY available on BritBox, while the second section looks at what will be added in December 2023.
Looking for Christmas movies instead? Check out 30+ of the Best British Christmas Movies.
2023 BRITISH TV CHRISTMAS SPECIALS ON BRITBOX: ALREADY AVAILABLE
Note: When we note something as S1E7, that simply means “Season 1, Episode 7”.
Mrs. Brown's Boys – This long-running comedy has done quite a few Christmas specials, and they'll be adding another one this year. For now, you can find the existing specials listed as S2E7, S3E7, Mammy’s Tickled Pink, Mammy’s Christmas Punch, Mammy’s Forest, Mammy’s Mummy, Exotic Mammy, A Wonderful Mammy, Mammy's Mechanical Merriment, Shining Mammy, and Mammy's Hair Loom. (listed under “Specials” on BritBox or Seasons 4-5-6-7-9 on Amazon). They also have New Year’s specials.
Are You Being Served? – This department store-based sitcom has five Christmas specials: S3E9, S4E7, S6E6, S7E8, S8E8
The Royal – This period drama had one Christmas special: S3E6
Jonathan Creek – Alan Davies stars in this light mystery series about a man who designs magic tricks while solving murders on the site. There are two Christmas episodes. Watch them: S2E7, S5E4 (Daemons’ Roost)
Extras – Ricky Gervais stars in this sitcom about an actor who never seems to rise above bit parts. The series had one Christmas special. Watch it: S2E7
Father Brown – This Cotswolds-based mystery has two Christmas specials: S5E1, S6E1
The Darling Buds of May – This 1950s-based period dramedy had two Christmas specials: S1E7 and S2E7.
My Family – This long-running family comedy had quite a few Christmas specials over the years. They were: S3E14 “Ding Dong Merrily”, S4E14 “Sixty Feet Under”, S5E15, S5E16 “Glad Tidings, Parts 1 & 2”, S6E8 “The Heart of Christmas”, S7E10 “Ho Ho No”, S8E8 “Have an Unhappy Christmas”, S9E10 “2039: A Christmas Oddity”, S10E10 “Mary Christmas”
Taggart – Scottish crime drama Taggart had three Christmas episodes: S3E3, S4E3, S6E4
Cranford – The “second season” of this lovely period drama is often referred to as the Cranford Christmas special. In the US, it's marked as “Return to Cranford” (listed as Season 2 if you subscribe through Amazon)
Lark Rise to Candleford – This fun period drama has plenty of familiar faces, along with one Christmas special: S2E1
Sherlock Holmes – Not to be confused with the more modern Benedict Cumberbatch adaptation, this classic series sees Jeremy Brett in the iconic role. For a bit of murdery Christmas cheer, check out “The Blue Carbuncle”. You'll find it at: S1E7
Agatha Christie’s Poirot – Even Poirot had a Christmas special. You'll find it at: S6E1
Upstairs, Downstairs (1974) – This classic period drama had one Christmas special, and you'll find it at: S3E9
Absolutely Fabulous – Enjoy Christmas with Edina and Patsy in: S5E8
To the Manor Born – This fun Penelope Keith-led Britcom had one Christmas special: S1E8, S4/”Specials”
Blackadder – This period comedy has one Christmas special, “Blackadder’s Christmas Carol” (listed as S0E1 on Amazon).
Death in Paradise – This Caribbean cozy mystery unleashed their first Christmas special in 2021, followed by another in 2022. Watch them: S11, E101 and S12, E100
Boon – This late 80s/early 90s drama/detective series had two Christmas specials: S5E13, S6E14
The Cleaner – On Christmas day, Wicky is hoping to win a horse in a local pub's Christmas raffle. Instead, he finds himself stuck at a gruesome crime scene in an ice cream parlour getting harassed by a regular customer who just wants his peach melba ice cream. Watch it: S2, E1 “A Clean Christmas”
Chef! – This groundbreaking 90s comedy had one Christmas special. Watch it: S1E7 “A Bird in the Hand”
Gavin & Stacey – This Wales/Essex-based comedy had one Christmas special in their original run, but then they came back 10 years later to do another. They are: S2E8, S4E1
The League of Gentlemen – This unusual sketch comedy has one Christmas episode: S2E7
Miranda – This quirky comedy had two Christmas specials, S2E6 and S3E1.
The Office – This workplace comedy has a two-part special listed under a separate season on BritBox: Christmas Special E1 & E2
Rev. – Enjoy a hilarious Christmas in an inner-city parish here: S2E7
‘Allo ‘Allo – This bawdy WW2-era comedy had two Christmas specials: S2E7, S8E1
Ballykissangel – This gentle Irish dramedy had one Christmas special, and you can find it at: S3E1
Inside No. 9 – If you're looking for a heartwarming, sappy Christmas special…look somewhere else. “The Devil of Christmas” isn't that (but it does have Krampus, which we love). Find it at: S3E1
Father Ted – The classic Irish comedy had one Christmas special: S2E11
The Good Life (aka Good Neighbors) – This still-wonderful 1970s sitcom about suburban self-sufficiency had one Christmas special: S4E8
Dad’s Army – This vintage classic had several Christmas specials: S4E14, S7E6, S8E7, S8E8
Keeping Up Appearances – You might assume there's a right way and a wrong way to do Christmas in the Bucket (that's Bouquet!) household – and you'd be right. There are four different Christmas specials to help show us the way truly distinguished ladies celebrate the occasion. S2E11, S4E8, S4E9, S5E11
One Foot in the Grave – This classic pensioner comedy had several Christmas specials: S4E7, S5E1, S5E7, S5E8, S5E9
Porridge (1975) – S2E7, S2E8 (under a season called “Porridge Christmas” on the BritBox app)
QI – This quiz/panel show nearly always does a Christmas special. For the ones available on BritBox, seek out: Season J, E14 (S10E14 on Amazon), Season K, E14 (S11E14), Season L, E12 (S12E12), Season M, E8 (S13E8), Season N, E9 (S14E9), Season O, E9 (S15E9), Season P, E9 (S16E9), Season Q, E9 (S18E9), Season R, E13 (S19E3), Season S, E8 (S19E8), Season T, E7 (S20E7).
Upstart Crow – This Shakespearean comedy has a couple of Christmas specials: “A Christmas Crow” and “A Crow Christmas Carol” (S2E7, S3E7 on Amazon)
Vicar of Dibley – It's only proper that a show about a village vicar should have some Christmas specials. Look for: S1E8 (under “Specials – The Christmas Lunch Incident” on BritBox app), S3E2. There are further specials under the “Specials 2004-2006” tab.
Would I Lie to You? – This comedy panel series has several Christmas specials: S8E0, S9E0, S10E10, S11E10, S12E7, S13E6, S14E1
Rising Damp – This retro Britcom has one Christmas special, and you'll find it at: S2E8
Shakespeare & Hathaway – This light mystery has done one Christmas special, “No More Desire a Rose” – and you'll find it under S4E10.
Open All Hours – Though this classic comedy never did a full-length Christmas episode, they did do an 8-minute short during a 1982 Christmas special called “The Funny Side of Christmas”. It's not on BritBox, but you can find it if you Google it. We only mention it here for those who want to make sure they're seeing ALL the Open All Hours/Still Open All Hours episodes.
Still Open All Hours – This follow-up to Open All Hours had six Christmas specials: S1E1, S2E1, S3E1, S4E1, S5E7, S6E7
Waiting for God – Enjoy Christmas at the Bayview Retirement Community in: S3E11
Only Fools & Horses – S1E7, S2E8, S3E8, S5E7, S5E8, S5E9, S7E9, S7E10. Christmas Trilogy 1996 (known as S8E1, S8E2, S8E3 on Amazon), Christmas Specials 2000 (known as S9E1, S9E2, S9E3 on Amazon)
A Ghost Story for Christmas
There's a long British tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas. While there are conflicting opinions on exactly how the tradition started and how long it's been around, many believe it has links with pre-Christian solstice festivals that viewed mid-winter as a time when the veil between the living and dead is at its thinnest.
A Ghost Story for Christmas: Original Run (1971 to 1978)
The Stalls of Barchester – 1971 – Robert Hardy (All Creatures Great & Small) and Clive Swift (Keeping Up Appearances) star in this tale of a cleric who murders an elderly archdeacon at Barchester Cathedral. Afterwards, he's stalked by a hooded figure and an ominous black cat, which seem to be embodiments of the carvings on the cathedral's walls.
A Warning to the Curious – 1972 – Peter Vaughan (Porridge, Game of Thrones) and Clive Swift (Keeping Up Appearances) star in this film about an amateur archaeologist who travels to a coastal town in Norfolk in hopes of finding the lost crown of Anglia. Legend says there are three lost crowns in total, and that they protect the country from invasion. After he digs up the crown, the archaeologist is stalked by a mysterious figure.
Lost Hearts – 1973 – Like the previous two, this is another story based on the M.R. James story of the same name. When an orphan moves in with his older cousin, he's disturbed by strange visions of ghostly children. His cousin is a reclusive alchemist obsessed with the idea of becoming immortal. The young boy isn't sure, but he thinks the visions may be a warning to be wary of his cousin's efforts.
The Treasure of Abbot Thomas – 1974 – Medieval history scholar Reverend Justin Somerton and his protégé uncover clues about the hidden treasure of a disgraced monk. Though not present in M.R. James' original story, the protégé character allows for the smooth introduction of many important plot details.
The Ash Tree – 1975 – The Ash Tree is the final M.R. James tale from the show's original run, and it tells of an aristocrat who inherits his family estate and finds himself tormented by visions of an ancestor who participated in a witchcraft trial.
The Signalman – 1976 – Based on The Signal-Man by Charles Dickens, this adaptation was written by someone whose name will surely be familiar to many British TV fans – Andrew Davies (Pride & Prejudice, House of Cards, Sanditon). In this one, a railway signalman tells of an apparition that's been haunting him with warnings of danger that only he can hear.
If you ever watched the Doctor Who episode “The Unquiet Dead” from 2005, you might remember the Doctor telling Dickens he likes “the one with the ghost”. Dickens thinks he means A Christmas Carol, and he clarifies that he meant The Signal-Man.
Stigma – 1977 – Stigma was the first of the ghost stories to be written specifically for the TV series (by Clive Exton), and it was also the first to be set in the year it was made. British TV fans will likely recognise Peter Bowles (To the Manor Born, Executive Stress) in the role of Peter. Kate Binchy, Maxine Gordon, Jon Laurimore, and Christopher Blake also starred alongside him.
This one is less of a classic Christmas ghost story than the ones before it, but it's still an intriguing and fun little film. It follows a family that has just moved to the countryside…near an ancient stone circle (the “Indian burial grounds” of British TV and film). When some workmen try to move a stone in their garden, an ancient curse is unleashed.
The Ice House – 1978 – This is the last of the A Ghost Story for Christmas films from the 1970s, and it was another original story – this time, by John Bowen (Hetty Wainthropp Investigates). In this one, a man called Paul has left his wife and moved to a health spa in an old country house. As strange things begin to happen around him, he begins to suspect a mysterious flower growing in an old ice house on the premises.
This one's not terribly ghostly, but if you enjoy creepy older shows like Thriller or Chiller or Hammer House of Horrors, you'll probably find it an enjoyable watch.
A Ghost Story for Christmas: Revival Episodes (2005 to present)
A View from a Hill – 2005 – Going back to its roots, the first film in the revived series is an M.R. James classic adapted by Peter Harness (Doctor Who, McMafia). The story unfolds around a historian who's been asked to catalogue and value an archaeological collection at an old country house.
The historian, Dr. Fanshawe, waits for his ride at the railway station, only to eventually give up and ride a bicycle. Along the way, his binoculars are broken. When he goes out walking later, he borrows a pair from the owner of the house, only to have a disturbing experience while using them.
Number 13 – 2006 – Based on an M.R. James story by the same name, this one stars Greg Wise (Sense & Sensibility) as an academic staying in room 12 of an old hotel in a cathedral town. He notices the room numbers jump from 12 to 14…until one night when room 13 mysteriously appears.
C.B. Strike fans will enjoy seeing Tom Burke acting alongside his father, David Burke (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes).
Whistle and I'll Come to You – 2010 – This adaptation of M.R. James' “Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad” was written by Neil Cross (Luther) and stars John Hurt (Harry Potter films), Gemma Jones (Bridget Jones series, Gentleman Jack), and Leslie Sharp (Scott & Bailey).
The adaptation removes one of the key elements of James' original tale (a whistle that, when blown, unleashes an evil supernatural force), instead following a retired astronomer who goes on holiday after leaving his wife in a care home. She has an advanced case of dementia, and he takes a break to visit one of their favourite coastal towns during the off-season.
When he finds a wedding ring in the sand, he picks it up – after which he finds himself being followed by a still figure dressed all in white.
The Tractate Middoth – 2013 – This M.R. James adaptation marks the first one of several by Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Doctor Who). In it, a library employee looks for a Mishnaic tractate for a library patron called John Eldred. As he's searching, he meets a mysterious clergyman who also seeks the text.
The clergyman smells of mould and is covered in cobwebs, and this gives the poor librarian such a shock that he faints – leading him to head to the seaside to recover. Unfortunately, his time at the coast doesn't help him escape the riddle of what happened. Even worse, he learns there's a connection between the book and the owners of the boarding house he's staying in.
The Dead Room – 2018 – Simon Callow (Chance in a Million, The Rebel) stars in this film about a veteran radio presenter who realises his past isn't as far in the past as he might have believed. Fans of A Fine Romance will enjoy seeing Susan Penhaligon in the role of Joan.
Martin's Close – 2019 – This adaptation of M.R. James' story includes Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who), and it follows the trial of a man accused of murdering a young woman who may have been seen after her death.
The Mezzotint – 2021 – Rory Kinnear will star in this adaptation of this M.R. James tale about a university art museum curator who receives a mezzotint that changes each time he looks at it. Robert Bathurst (Cold Feet) will also appear. This new adaptation completed filming in February, and will premiere for Christmas this year.
Count Magnus – An inquisitive travel writer heads to Sweden and learns of a merciless and long-dead nobleman named Count Magnus, known for branding his tenants when late and burning down houses too close to his land. Unfortunately, our travel writer soon learns that Count Magnus does not lie easy in his tomb.
2023 British TV Christmas Specials on BritBox: New For 2023
Even though BritBox already has loads of Christmas specials, there are more to come throughout the month. Please note that while a couple have set dates, most are still listed as TBD.
Remember: This is NOT the complete list for BritBox's December premieres. You can view the full BritBox December 2022 premiere listing HERE.
Premiering December 4th
Maid Marian & Her Merry Men – This historical comedy tells a version of the classic Robin Hood tale in which Maid Marian was the brains and poor Robin was just a posh, cowardly tailor. The series had one Christmas special, S3E7 “Maid Marian & Much the Mini-Mart Manager's Son”
Premiering December 12th
Sister Boniface Mysteries Christmas Special (2023)
As this Christmas special opens, Britain is in the midst of the worst winter on record. Sister Boniface and her fellow passengers are stranded in a train after a frozen coupling snaps, the last few carriages left alone in the snow. When a precious gemstone is stolen from its safe and another passenger is found murdered, Sister Boniface will have to use her unique set of skills to figure out who's responsible.
Of course, they'll also have to deal with a more pressing issue. With no signs of rescue and a failing generator, the possibility of freezing to death might pose more of a threat than the murderer.
Premiering December 20th
DCI Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn) and her team return to solve a wintry mystery in the long-running, smash-hit series’ first ever Christmas special. The upcoming special will be based on Cleeves' most recent Vera Stanhope novel, The Rising Tide.
Christmas Specials With Dates TBD
These next few items were announced as BritBox US Christmas specials without specific air dates, so they could premiere anytime roughly around Christmas – keep an eye on your BritBox home screen as we get closer to Christmas and they'll probably have more details available.
It's also very possible that further specials could be announced. Death in Paradise, for example, is making a Christmas special for 2023 – but it didn't appear on the BritBox premiere list for December.
Beyond Paradise Christmas Special 2023
On Christmas Eve, the detectives of Shipton Abbot are tasked with solving a case involving break-ins and mysterious gifts. Kris Marshall returns as DI Humphrey Goodman.
Lot No. 249, A Ghost Story for Christmas
Written and directed by Mark Gatiss (Sherlock), this year's installment of A Ghost Story for Christmas adapts Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's short story Lot No. 249. Kit Harrington (Game of Thrones) stars alongside Freddie Fox (The Great), and the story follows a group of Oxford students undertaking research on Ancient Egypt. As they work, strange things happen around the mysterious Lot No. 249.
You can read both the story and some interesting background HERE on the Arthur Conan Doyle Encycolopedia.
Mrs. Brown's Boys Christmas Special 2023
Brendan O'Carroll returns for another Christmas in Finglas in this half-hour special.
Here We Go Christmas Special
The Jessop family returns, with youngest son Sam documenting a series of everyday challenges – changing careers, keeping romance alive, trying to get healthy, kidnapping a dog, destroying a pool, and sabotaging a wedding.
If the series doesn't feel familiar to you like some of the others, it's probably because Here We Go is a relatively recent sitcom. You can catch up on season 1 HERE.
Premiering December 31st
Gardeners' World Winter Specials 2023
Monty and the team celebrate the joy that the gardening year brings with a selection of brand new stories of cultivation, inspiration, and discovery in the exuberant world of horticulture.
Not Enough Christmas For You?
If these aren't enough for you, check out some of our other Christmas posts:
