Dramatic Christmas TV treats Yule love

Downton Abbey, the return of Ab Fab and a new Great Expectations… we’re in for so many TV treats this Christmas that you’d better set the box to record right now or else carefully plan your catch up viewing. Here are just a few highlights:

Christmas Eve

Outnumbered, BBC1, 9.20pm

In the ever excellent Outnumbered sitcom, the Brockmans have decided to fly out to Tenerife on Christmas day. But there are various unexpected Christmas curveballs to dodge including Granddad’s hospitalisation and Sue’s bonkers friend Jane who is minding the house. Expect festive laughs as everyone wonders if it was wise to give Ben a metal detector.

Timeshift: Epic – A Cast of Thousands, BBC4, 10.40pm
It’s not so much this hour long documentary which is a highlight. It’s more the fact it serves as a highly entertaining introduction to BBC4’s Epic Films season, in which the channel pays homage to big budget feature films set in Ancient Greece or Rome, often featuring a muscular Charlton Heston in a skimpy loin cloth. Gasp at the expense and effort that went into films such as Ben Hur and Cleopatra in this programme narrated by Tom Baker, then watch El Cid on the channel on Christmas day, 7pm.

Christmas Day

March of the Penguins 9.25am ITV1 and Happy Feet, 3.10pm, ITV1

If you’re up early enough on Christmas day you can follow a flock of emperor penguins as they make their annual arduous pilgrimage to their breeding ground in the Antarctic. This simple nature documentary, voiced by Morgan Freeman, sees the adorable awkward penguins brave their austere environment encapsulated by Morgan Freeman’s entertaining and informative narration. If you can’t get enough of the fluffy creatures then watch the animated version later in the Oscar winning film Happy Feet featuring the voices of Robin Williams and Nicole Kidman.

Doctor Who, 7pm, BBC1

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a Doctor Who special these days. The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe ticks all the festive family TV boxes. Family tragedy set during the Second World War, a Narnia-esque magical adventure, and trees which grow their own baubles. What more could you ask for? Oh yes, the return of the marvellous Matt Smith as the Doctor not to mention a star turn from Bill Bailey.

Downton Abbey, 9pm, ITV1

ITV must be raising their sherry glasses in glee in honour of this two hour special which is sure to be a massive ratings hit, perhaps the biggest over the festive period.

It’s been described as “gripping”, “funny” and “a period drama wonderland” as well as a return to form by TV critics who’ve already seen it. It has humour, pathos, and new blood (Nigel Havers plays old family friend Lord Hepworth and Sharon Small is Lady Rosamund’s new maid).

The “will they, won’t they?” relationship between Lady Mary and Matthew that’s had us entranced continues, as her controlling fiancé Carlisle tightens his blackmailing grip.

Creator Julian Fellowes presents us with a crisp, witty script (the Dowager Countess played by Dame Maggie Smith delivers even more killer lines apparently – hooray) and the production is more sumptuous than ever. Beginning with the dramatic lighting of the huge Christmas tree. However, Bates isn’t around to see it as he’s still in prison waiting trial for his wife’s murder. Poor Anna. Married for a night before he was arrested.

Expect a bumper Christmas cracker of a show with plenty of emotional highs and lows.

Absolutely Fabulous, 10pm, BBC1

Bolly hockey sticks! Edina and Patsy return after a six year absence in this first of three programmes to mark the 20^th anniversary of the series next year. And like a fine wine, they’ve got better over the years because they’re even more desperate than before. Joanna Lumley sparkles as the IQ bereft fashionista Patsy while Jennifer Saunders shines as self-obsessed PR woman Eddy. The rest of the gang also make a welcome return including Eddy’s daughter, the sensible Saffy (Julia Sawalha), and bonkers Bubble (Jane Horrocks). You’re going to love it Sweetie.

Boxing Day

The Borrowers BBC1, 7.30pm

A brilliant cast lead this contemporary drama based on Mary Norton’s books about the little people who live under the floorboards. There’s Stephen Fry who plays the nutty professor keen on researching the tiny ones, Victoria Wood as the intimidating grandmother who owns the house and Christopher Eccleston as a Borrower. Lovely family entertainment.

Bank holiday Tuesday

Great Expectations BBC1, 9pm

Televisual tributes to the bicentenary of Charles Dickens’s birth next year have begun already. But none so splendid as this new three part adaptation of the dramatically dark Great Expectations. Gillian Anderson plays the crumbling Miss Havisham while Ray Winstone is the menacing Magwitch. Most of us know the story of poor young orphan Pip who helps escaped convict (said Magwitch) before meeting wealthy, elderly spinster Miss Haversham, jilted at the altar years earlier, and her adopted daughter Estella. But the stellar performances, costumes and set could give Downton a run for its period drama money.

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Christmas on BT Vision