TOP TOYS OF ALL TIME: ALISON HAMMOND AND JONATHAN ROSS TO FRONT CHANNEL 4 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Alison Hammond and Jonathan Ross are to front a new Channel 4 Christmas special exploring the best toys of all time, with exclusive after-hours access to Hamley's toy store in London.

Revealed by Broadcast, the 90-minute special will feature Hammond and son Aidan, Ross and daughter Honey, plus comedians Lou Sanders and Harriet Kemsley.

ITN Productions’ deputy head of UK factual Jeremy Daldry said: "Running amok in Hamleys is every big kids’ dream, and it’s just as exciting to have that access as a producer. This is an unashamed feel-good documentary, celebrating the classic toys, games and crazes from the last 200 years. Our celebrities get to relive their favourite toys through the magic of Hamleys after hours and we all get to indulge in some nostalgia for Christmases past through the heart-warming archive."

Meanwhile, Channel 4 will air Dear Father Christmas, a heart-warming and hilarious 1x75’ festive drama written by Mark Chappell (BAFTA Film Award nominated See How They Run, Is This Thing On?, A Young Doctor’s Notebook, Cold Feet), produced by Big Talk Studios, and co-produced by South Shore Productions.

Dear Father Christmas W/T 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 Mackenzie, 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. 

On his adventure Chris encounters a variety of Santas and Santa experts, but will he find the real Father Christmas? Also starring are BAFTA TV Award nominee Greg Davies (The Cleaner, Man Down), Asim Chaudhry (BAFTA TV Award winning People Just Do Nothing), and Rochenda Sandall (Line of Duty, The Rig, Amandaland).

Blending comedy, adventure and heart, the film celebrates the magic of Christmas and the bond between father and son, while honouring the memory of Chris’s late mum and the traditions she cherished most. 

Jonah Weston, Commissioning Editor Specialist Factual said: “Dear Father Christmas is Channel 4’s big festive treat for 2025. Mark Chappell’s brilliant script weaves together family comedy, heartfelt drama and a playful look at the science of Santa, brought to life by a cast packed with some of Britain’s best-loved stars. It’s a film full of joy, adventure and wonder, and we’re thrilled to be sharing it with viewers this Christmas.”

Kenton Allen, Executive Producer, Big Talk Studios, said: “At its heart, Dear Father Christmas is a joyful celebration of belief, family and the enduring magic of Christmas. Mark Chappell’s brilliant script brings together an extraordinary cast – from comedy icons to national treasures – who all share in telling a story that is both laugh-out-loud funny and genuinely moving. We can’t wait to share it with Channel 4 audiences this Christmas.”

Andrew Mackenzie, Executive Producer, South Shore Productions, said: “It’s been a joy to see Mark and the talented folk at Big Talk bring this magical story alive.”  

More details will be announced in due course.