Santa’s magical little helpers spread Christmas cheer in The Repair Shop at Christmas 2023 while the Strictly Come Dancing special brims with festive feeling
- The Repair Shop Christmas Eve special certainly packs a few emotional punches
- READ MORE: The Repair shop star Jay Blades says ‘friend’ King Charles is ‘just a normal geezer’ as he recalls iconic experience of having the royal on his show
Jay Blades and co’s heartwarming festive stories will move you to tears
The Repair Shop at Christmas 2023
Christmas Eve, 8pm, BBC1
When people bring their treasured heirlooms into The Repair Shop to be restored and reveal the emotional stories behind them, it’s not just viewers who are moved to tears.
Although he keeps his cool as he introduces them, presenter Jay Blades is often overwhelmed too – especially at this time of year. ‘I well up all the time,’ he says. ‘But you can feel the magic at Christmas. Every year we do it bigger and better – and I can’t wait for viewers to see this year’s show.’
The Christmas Eve special certainly packs a few emotional punches, none more so than when Jo Thomas from Wales brings in a broken record player with deep sentimental value.
Jay Blades (second from right) and the Repair Shop team in the Christmas-themed barn
Her son Ben gave it to her on the last Christmas before he died in January 2006, aged just 11. Playing records on it reminds her of dancing with Ben to Abba songs before cancer cruelly cut his life short.
Audio expert Mark Stuckey is tasked with fixing it. ‘That story got to me,’ says Mark. ‘I could feel the pain this family has gone through.
‘That an 11-year-old considered he was dying and wanted to leave something solid behind for his mother – you just think, “Wow!” We complain about our aches and pains, but when you hear some of the stories that come into the barn you think, “What the heck do we have to moan about?”’
Also working her magic is paper restorer Angelina Bakalarou, who tackles 100-year-old cardboard Santa decorations passed down through three generations to Sheila from Newcastle.
‘The biggest challenge was their textured surface,’ explains Angelina. ‘I made a paste to create the texture. I spent about four days repairing them, they were my little guys!’
Though the episode was filmed in September, the barn certainly looks as Christmassy as Santa’s grotto with snow, beautiful fairy lights, trees and Christmas jumpers galore.
‘We have got an amazing team of set designers,’ says Jay. ‘One day the barn looked as it usually does, and then the next it looked really Christmassy.’
And after a break last year, the experts then do a round of Secret Santa, surprising each other with handmade gifts.
‘It’s always a little bit competitive and we love to see what we’ve chosen for each other,’ says Jay. ‘Without giving too much away, it gets a bit emotional.’
That’s the show’s stock-in-trade of course, and Jay’s convinced this episode will deliver another warm and moving holiday glow. ‘It’s always special in the barn,’ he says. ‘But Christmas Repair Shop is magical.’
Bradley Walsh: My Comedy Heroes
Saturday 16 December, 9.05pm, Channel 5
Bradley gets us chuckling with this three-part series in which he picks his favourite comedians and shows.
Bradley’s best-of-the-best list includes national treasures such as Victoria Wood and Morecambe & Wise, and he’ll share clips from shows such as Dad’s Army and Blackadder.
Showbiz mates Alison Steadman and Alexander Armstrong will also reveal their stories from working in comedy and reflect on what makes our sitcoms world-class.
Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball
Sunday 17 December, 5pm, ITV1
The nation’s biggest Christmas party is back with highlights from the two-night event at London’s 02 Arena earlier this month.
‘It’s the start of Christmas for me!’ exclaims Roman Kemp, co-host of the show with his Capital Radio breakfast colleagues Chris Stark and Siân Welby.
Favourites on the bill in this poptastic kick-start to Christmas include Take That, Rudimental, Alicia Keys, S Club, Rita Ora, Raye and Busted.
DIY SOS: EastEnders Special
Monday 18 December, 8pm, BBC1
DIY SOS’s Chris Frediani (left) pictured with Colin Salmon, who plays George Knight in Eastenders
Nick Knowles and his band of merry fixer-uppers team up with the EastEnders gang for this tear-jerking special instalment of the home-improvement show.
We’ll see which of the Walford crew pick up tools in aid of mental health hub Butterfly Effect Wellbeing. Before, the charity operated out of a Portakabin, but now has a new home that requires extensive renovation.
They must all work together to transform the space into a welcoming haven.
Celebrity Masterchef: Christmas Cook-Off
Wednesday 20 December, 9pm, BBC1
Boyband Blue’s Duncan James (pictured) is one of the famous faces taking part in this year’s Celebrity Masterchef: Christmas Cook-Off
Break out the cooking sherry for a competition with former contestants eager for another chance to win the Golden Whisk.
Singer Mel Blatt, actor Richard Blackwood, Blue’s Duncan James and Love Island’s Faye Winter don festive aprons to make an Australian-themed dish from mystery ingredients.
They’ll present to Gregg Wallace and Aussie natives John Torode and Peter Andre.
The Great British Sewing Bee: Celebrity Christmas Special
Thursday 21 December, 9pm, BBC1
Ghosts star and former Sewing Bee Christmas Special contestant Kiell Smith-Bynoe hosts as four celebrities get their bobbins out in this holiday special. It’s his first time taking over as host of the show – he’ll continue his duties in the upcoming series, too.
Punk legend Toyah Willcox, comedian Jessica Knappett, After Life star Kerry Godliman and Black Ops’ Hammed Animashaun will be tasked with creating Christmas stockings with their own unique twist, turning puffer coats into kids’ fancy dress and whipping up dream outfits for Christmas Day.
And it all takes place under the watchful eye of judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant.
The Great Christmas Bake Off 2023
Christmas Eve, 8.15pm, Channel 4
The Great Christmas Bake Off 2023 team: Noel Fielding (top left), Alison Hammond (top right), Paul Hollywood (bottom left) and Prue Leith (bottom right)
Half a dozen ghosts of Bake Offs past join for this festive special, one baker from each series since the show moved to Channel 4.
They’re asked to whip up mince pies, cinnamon bread and a ‘redemption bake’ – to make up for a disaster they experienced on the series.
The tone is lighter than a twice-baked soufflé, with even Paul Hollywood ditching his Scrooge persona.
Britain Get Singing
Christmas Eve, 9pm, ITV1
Can Kate Garraway carry a tune? Find out in this festive sing-off pitting the stars of our favourite shows against one another.
Hosted by Roman Kemp, the special will see Kate singing as part of the Good Morning Britain team against EastEnders, Coronation Street, Love Island and The Masked Singer.
Jonathan Ross joins the judges this year, alongside singers Adam Lambert, Alesha Dixon and will.i.am. But which group of musical talents has what it takes to emerge victorious?
Although Corrie has the mighty Claire Sweeney on its side, The Masked Singer boasts previous contestants Russell Watson and Aled Jones and appears to be a shoo-in. But as the old saying goes, it’s not over till the fat lady sings.
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special
Christmas Day, 4.40pm, BBC1
Strictly Come Dancing presenters Claudia Winkleman (left) and Tess Daly are joined by six celebrities for the Christmas special
For those missing their weekly dose of dance-floor magic, Strictly waltzes back in its traditional Christmas Day slot.
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly invite six celebrities for a twirl around the ballroom with a pro – EastEnders’ Jamie Borthwick, BBC Breakfast’s Sally Nugent, actress Tillie Amartey, rugby player Danny Cipriani, Sugababe Keisha Buchanan and historian Dan Snow – while a performance from Eurovision wonder Sam Ryder and two fab-u-lous group routines will add to the festive feeling.
The Masked Singer: Christmas Special
Christmas Day, 7.30pm, ITV1
ITV’s hit talent show gets its first festive special ahead of its new series. There’s a Christmassy vibe to this sing-off in which four celebrity contestants hide beneath festively flamboyant costumes, each hoping to stump the celebrity panel and viewers about their identities.
Jonathan Ross, Rita Ora, Davina McCall and Mo Gilligan will be joined by Leona Lewis as a guest panellist, with host Joel Dommett struggling not to laugh at some of their wilder guesses.
The Piano At Christmas
Christmas Day, 8.45pm, Channel 4
The Piano experts Lang Lang (left) and Mika perform at London’s King’s Cross station for the Christmas special
The moving hit show is back with a holiday special, in which six amateur pianists from the first series return to perform Christmas tunes on a piano at London’s King’s Cross station.
They include Harry, 92, who brought viewers to tears with his attempts to connect with his wife who had dementia, and 13-year-old Lucy, whose talent despite her disabilities astonished show experts Lang Lang and Mika.
Peaky Blinders: Rambert’s The Redemption Of Thomas Shelby
New Year’s Day, 9.25pm, BBC4
The Rambert Dance Company perform a piece telling the story of gangster Tommy Shelby and his family
This innovative dance piece written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and performed by Rambert Dance Company tells the story of ruthless gangster Tommy Shelby and his family.
Filmed at the Birmingham Hippodrome, it follows Tommy as he builds his empire in post-war Birmingham and becomes transfixed by a mysterious woman who may have an ulterior motive.
The late poet and Peaky Blinders star Benjamin Zephaniah performs the spoken word segments, while a band belts out iconic songs from the show.
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