It’s nearly time to grab a highlighter, throw on your favourite wacky Christmas sweater and select the finest of the festive TV programming for 2023.
Isn’t that something that no one does anymore? Is it just us?
The BBC has promised a jam-packed Christmas lineup with Disney and Pixar classics, as well as Ncuti Gatwa’s debut appearance in Doctor Who and the return of Top of the Pops.
Official dates and timetables have yet to be revealed, although Toy Story 4 will air on BBC One on Christmas Day following King Charles III’s 3pm speech.
Pop chart enthusiasts, on the other hand, will be excited to tune in to the TOTP comeback since it features musical performances by some of 2023’s most talked-about performers.
TOTP standard editions were regrettably ended in 2006 after years of dwindling ratings following its peak popularity in the 1970s.
However, specials and reruns have continued to air for the past 17 years.
The 2023 edition will undoubtedly remind fans of a bygone period when the pop music show’s golden era ended with a massive Christmas special.
TOTP has made an hour-long year-end special a tradition in previous years, with a little format tweak culminating in the development of TOTP Review of the Year.
Clara Amfo, a Radio 1 DJ who has previously hosted special editions of the iconic chart music show, will host the special.
The 60th anniversary trilogy for Doctor Who closes on December 9, just in time for Ncuti Gatwa to seize the reins of his first Doctor adventure on Christmas Day.
The debut of Tabby McTat, an animated Christmas story about a cat and a gifted busker, is also among the top options.
The programme is based on Julia Donaldson’s picture book and stars Rob Brydon, p Drs, Jodie Whittaker, and Joanna Scanlon.
There’s also the debut of The Famous Five, the newest TV version of Enid Blyton’s children’s tales, promoted as a’modern reworking’.
Two further episodes of the three-part miniseries, starring Game of Thrones’ Jack Gleeson as the most-despised tyrant Joffrey Baratheon, will debut in 2024.
Caroline Aherne will also be honoured in a new documentary film titled Comedy Queen, which will include previously unseen pictures as well as contributions from a cast of her lifelong friends, including Steve Coogan, Jon Thompson, and Craig Cash.
Call the Midwife, Mrs. Brown’s Boys, Carols from King’s, Songs of Praise, Strictly Come Dancing, The Hit List, MasterChef, Death in Paradise, The Great British Sewing Bee, and many more are all preparing Christmas specials.
The BBC has also confirmed that Christmas specials of Ghosts, Gavin and Stacey, Line of Duty, Shetland, Man Like Mobeen, Call the Midwife, This Country, Not Going Out and The Royle Family will air throughout the holiday season.
In addition to Toy Story 4 on Christmas Day, audiences should look out for The Witches, The Lion King remake, Belfast, House of Gucci, Marry Me, and Peter Rabbit 2 in the holiday TV guide.
Watch all of the above on the BBC and BBC iPlayer.
Source My Celebrity Life.