Hey readers,
The best comedy on TV this Christmas mixes brand-new specials, returning favourites and a few nostalgia‑heavy treats, with BBC, Channel 4 and streaming all offering solid options for festive laughs.
From the Two Doors Down Christmas special to Amandaland, Taskmaster and a star‑studded Bake Off Christmas episode, there’s plenty to keep you giggling between the turkey and the Quality Street.
Two Doors Down.
Awkward Neighbours, Peak Chaos
If Christmas with your own neighbours feels like a sitcom, Two Doors Down is about to make you feel gloriously seen.
The BBC is serving up a brand-new Christmas special this year, with Eric and Beth once again trying to keep the peace on Latimer Crescent as festive chaos erupts around them.
Expect passive‑aggressive comments, overfamiliar guests and that uniquely British mix of politeness and simmering rage that feels all too familiar after a few sherries.
What makes Two Doors Down such brilliant Christmas viewing is how close it sits to real life: this isn’t glossy, picture‑perfect festive TV, it’s paper hats, overcooked sprouts and neighbours who just pop in and never leave.
The cast includes Arabella Weir, Alex Norton and Elaine C Smith know these characters inside‑out, so every line lands with the weary energy of people who have been doing this dance for years.
If you like your Christmas comedy dry, awkward and a tiny bit too real, this is unmissable.
Amandaland Christmas Special.
School‑Gate Satire In Tinsel
Fans of Motherland have been counting down to Amandaland, the spinoff that finally puts PTA queen Amanda centre stage and this year she’s getting her own Christmas special on BBC One.
Amanda’s perfectly curated life meets the chaos of festive expectations, from school concerts to family politics, with Lucy Punch leading the charge in full passive‑aggressive mum‑mode.
The Christmas episode promises all the festive feels with a savage edge, plus guest stars including Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley, reuniting decades after Absolutely Fabulous.
This one is ideal if you love sharp, middle‑class satire and want something that skewers the pressure to have an Instagram‑worthy Christmas while you’re actually eating supermarket yule log in your dressing gown.
Stick it on once the kids are in bed and enjoy the send‑up of every school‑gate drama you’ve ever silently judged.
Taskmaster & Panel‑Show Giggles.
If your idea of a perfect Christmas evening is shouting “HOW is that your plan?” at the TV, festive Taskmaster will sort you out.
Greg Davies and Alex Horne are back with more bizarre challenges, roping in comedians to do everything from festive crafts to deeply unhinged problem‑solving for the sake of a golden trophy and eternal humiliation.
It’s silly, chaotic and ideal background viewing while you demolish a cheese board you definitely didn’t save for Boxing Day.
Alongside Taskmaster, there’s a strong line‑up of comedy panel and quiz shows in festive mode.
Expect special episodes of Richard Osman’s House of Games, with comedians like Mel Giedroyc and Harriet Kemsley taking on gloriously pointless challenges in Christmas jumpers, plus radio favourites like The Unbelievable Truth and Unspeakable with David Mitchell and Susie Dent offering wordplay, trivia and sneaky festive jokes.
These shows are low‑effort, high‑reward viewing perfect for that food‑coma window when your brain can only handle people pressing buzzers and laughing at innuendos.
Bake Off Christmas Special.
Comfort TV With Extra Icing
Nothing says British Christmas quite like watching other people bake while you eat a shop‑bought mince pie straight from the box.
This year’s Great British Bake Off Christmas special has gone big: Channel 4 is hosting a Peep Show mini‑reunion with Olivia Colman and David Mitchell stepping into the tent, alongside fellow former castmates Isy Suttie and Matt King.
They’ll be tackling challenges themed around the beloved sitcom, mixing nostalgia with sugar and a healthy dose of chaos.
This is comfort TV turned up to eleven: familiar theme tune, twinkly lights, light innuendo and bakes that are either masterpieces or complete collapses.
It’s the kind of cosy comedy where the jokes are gentle, the stakes are low and the biggest drama is whether someone’s ganache will set in time.
Stick this on for family‑friendly laughs that work for grandparents, cousins and that random plus‑one who’s pretending they don’t care about cake but is secretly very invested.
New Gems: Stuffed, Finding Father Christmas & More.
Alongside the returning big‑hitters, there are a few newer comedy titles worth adding to your watchlist this Christmas.
BBC’s line‑up includes Stuffed, billed as a modern Christmas caper about a family heading to Lapland, and Here We Go returning for more domestic mayhem around New Year.
These shows lean into relatable family chaos think dodgy travel plans, missed connections and the kind of big, messy affection that defines the holidays.
Another title to look out for is Finding Father Christmas, which blends heartfelt festive storytelling with light comic touches and has been tipped as one of the December standouts in seasonal guides.
While it may sit closer to dramedy than out‑and‑out sitcom, it’s a good pick if you like your festive viewing with jokes, emotion and a bit of escapism.
Pair these with the more traditional specials and you’ve got a nicely balanced Christmas TV menu: some big laughs, some warm fuzzies and just enough chaos to feel true to life.
How To Build Your Own Festive Comedy Marathon.
With so much choice, the easiest way to enjoy Christmas comedy this year is to build your own mini‑marathon.
Start with a classic sitcom‑style special like Two Doors Down or Amandaland when everyone’s awake and chatty, then drift into panel shows and Taskmaster once the post‑dinner slump hits and concentration levels drop.
Keep Bake Off or the gentler new comedies for later in the evening when you want cosy vibes and minimal emotional effort.
Most of these shows will also land on iPlayer or Channel 4’s streaming service, so if the family schedule descends into chaos (spoiler: it will), you can catch up in that strange limbo between Christmas and New Year.
However you watch, this year’s festive comedy line‑up proves that even if the Christmas Day schedule looks a bit lighter than in years gone by, there are still plenty of reasons to laugh and sometimes, that’s exactly what’s needed when the turkey goes wrong and the Monopoly board comes out.
Cheers for reading X
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