PICKS OF THE WEEK: 22-28 DECEMBER 2025, WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

Our picks of what to watch during the week ahead.

TASKMASTER CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

Monday, Channel 4

The five former champs greedy for more glory are: Andy Zaltzman, John Robins, Maisie Adam, Mathew Baynton and Sam Campbell, all of whom have made startling costume choices for their tilt at immortality. The fiendish tasks they attempt will of course be administrated by the world’s most efficient assistant, Alex Horne, while Greg Davies will hand down the judgements that will decide the fate of this fantastic fivesome.

 STUFFED

Tuesday, BBC One

After he receives an unexpected £8,000 Christmas bonus at work, Arslan Farooqi (Guz Khan) and his multi-faith family set off on the trip of a lifetime when they swap Coventry for the magic of Lapland.

His wife Hannah (Morgana Robinson), his two daughters and brother-in-law Jamie (Theo Barklem-Biggs) are all set for the ultimate festive adventure. However, when office worker Arslan discovers the bonus was a mistake and must be repaid immediately, Christmas chaos ensues - and disaster follows the family at every turn.

Together with new holiday friend Lily (Sue Johnston), they must find a way out of this predicament and hope for a Christmas miracle that can save Arslan’s job and the family’s livelihood. Stuffed is a modern-day Christmas caper for the whole family to enjoy this yuletide season.

 TWO DOORS DOWN

Wednesday, BBC One

When Eric and Beth put their tree up earlier than usual, they unwittingly kick off the Christmas season in Latimer Crescent. What starts as a labour-saving convenience quickly turns into a flurry of festive activity, as neighbours start to gear up for the holidays in their own unique ways.

Colin and Cathy find themselves pondering the perfect gift for each other, while Ian and Gordon plan for a quieter, scaled-back Christmas. Meanwhile, Alan and Michelle wrestle with transport issues that threaten to derail their festive plans, and Christine is busy arranging a very special trip, ensuring that the season is full of surprises, laughter, and the kind of neighbourly chaos that only Latimer Crescent can provide.

 FINDING FATHER CHRISTMAS

Wednesday, Channel 4

Follows 16-year-old Chris (BAFTA TV Award winner Lenny Rush, Am I Being Unreasonable?, A Woman of Substance), who still wholeheartedly believes in Father Christmas. His concerned dad (BAFTA TV Award nominee James Buckley, The Inbetweeners) decides it’s finally time to have “the talk” and tell him the truth. But Chris refuses to give up on Santa and embarks on a madcap mission to prove his dad wrong. 

Joined by his cousin Holly (Ele Mckenzie, Funboys), Chris’s journey takes him into the heart of a Christmas conspiracy. Along the way he meets a cabal of scientists and thinkers – including Stephen Fry, Hannah Fry, Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock, and Jason Fox – who seem to know the truth about Santa and may have cracked the science behind his apparent magical feats. 

 ALL CREATURES GREAT & SMALL

Wednesday, 5

It’s Christmas 1945, the first peacetime Christmas after the war. With Helen feeling under the weather, it’s fallen on James to take on the Darrowby Nativity play. Siegfried is back at Mrs Stokes’ Farm to see Hilda the goat, who’s been up to more mischief and, true to form, gives Siegfried the run-around. Will Siegfried’s drench solution do the trick?

Christmas dinner is in very short supply this year, so Mrs Hall is keen to enter the Drovers' darts competition and scoop the first prize; a fresh turkey. Maggie reminds Tristan he’s supposed to be supplying the Christmas tree and he covers himself, but of course, he’d forgotten. Charlotte resolves to help him.

 AMANDALAND

Thursday, BBC One

Amanda and the family head to Aunt Joan’s country house, but the plans change when Mal and Anne tag along and she struggles to recreate the magical Christmases she spent there as a child.

Anne’s in despair at being separated from her family, and Felicity is increasingly irritated by her sister’s constant high spirits. Meanwhile Mal sees a hidden photo that seems to reveal a deep family secret…

 THE MASKED SINGER

Friday, ITV1

Four famous faces take to the stage and compete in elaborate costumes keeping their identities hidden - as each celebrity performs, our superstar panel of detectives try to unravel the clues and work out their identities of TV’s best-kept secret. Who will be gifted The Masked Singer crown this Christmas?

The award winning show is hosted by Joel Dommett, who is joined by panellists Jonathan Ross, Maya Jama, Davina McCall and Mo Gilligan. Also joining the show will be a host of pantomime icons spreading their Christmas cheer with extra clues for the panel... but will these extra presents help our panel decipher who’s hiding behind the mask?

 ANT & DEC'S LIMITLESS WIN

Saturday, ITV1

Presented by Britain’s favourite double act Ant & Dec, the hit primetime quiz show is back with a festive Christmas special. This Christmas, the show takes on an even more heartwarming twist as, for the first time ever, two unsuspecting members of the audience are given the surprise of their lives - the chance to take on the Limitless Ladder with a celebrity partner and climb their way to a fortune.

 DEATH IN PARADISE

Sunday, BBC One

The office Christmas party of a lifetime takes a dark turn when four co-workers wake up to find a stranger dead in the pool of their villa. DI Mervin Wilson and the team identify the murder weapon, but they’re left baffled when they find that it was locked in a drawer when the murder took place... thousands of miles away from the crime scene, in Swindon!