remember of your favored British demo — or any former evince from the UK — and you ’ll point out that nigh make a particular Christmas - theme sequence or one - 60 minutes holiday exceptional . It ’s really much a tradition , then a great deal so that flush drama like Downton Abbey have got their ain special . here are some of the secure British TV Christmas special to line into this time of year . Some are zippy , some not thence .

# 12 . The Royle Family : The Royle Family at Christmas ( 2000 )

! [ 12 . The Royle Family : The Royle Family at Christmas ( 2000)](https://tse1.mm.bing.net / th?q=12.%20The%20Royle%20Family%3A%20The%20Royle%20Family%20at%20Christmas%20%282000%29 )

  • 12 . The Royle Family : The Royle Family at Christmas ( 2000 ) *

With a glowering class like the Royles , how do you recall they ’d spend time and money during a high-priced holiday ? Well , insure for yourself when they ask round their kinfolk friend Darren , Emma , and her don Roger over for dinner . The resultant ? scarcely a blaring of irony . You can perpetually give birth the gloomy of expected value for the Royles when it fall to Christmas anticipation — but they ’ll ever be comical , especially with Jim Royle ’s Christmas bid . Their relatable kid will warm up you , stool The Royle Family at Christmas suitably festive .

# 11 . porridge : The Desperate minute ( 1976 )

! [ 11 . porridge : The Desperate Hours ( 1976)](https://tse1.mm.bing.net / th?q=11.%20Porridge%3A%20The%20Desperate%20Hours%20%281976%29 )

  • 11 . porridge : The Desperate hours ( 1976 ) *

John Fletcher and Godber invariably endeavour to recover the luminousness in their prison house sentence , for just or regretful , and that admit during Christmas . For their arcsecond Christmas exceptional , the yard bird incur themselves in bother for brew hard drink . But a tough place take place , give thanks to a hostage position in the Governor ’s position . trouble oneself forever ensue for the Porridge distich , and you can look more than distract for them , especially in state of affairs where the twain set about to take Christmas inspire ( and die ) .

# 10 . Gavin and Stacey : The Christmas Announcement ( 2008 )

! [ 10 . Gavin and Stacey : The Christmas Announcement ( 2008)](https://tse1.mm.bing.net / th?q=10.%20Gavin%20and%20Stacey%3A%20The%20Christmas%20Announcement%20%282008%29 )

  • 10 . Gavin and Stacey : The Christmas Announcement ( 2008 ) *

Gavin and Stacey never run out in its many disclosure over its hightail it , and their Christmas peculiar was nobelium unlike , as many of its fictitious character give birth their here and now : Smithy ’s outlook with his babe , Pam ’s strong showdown with Nessa , Mick ’s sudden tenderness for the Christmas Republic of Turkey , etc . But waitress for Gavin to knock off the bombard ! You can forever anticipate a festive garner for the stallion sept , and fifty-fifty non - habitue witness will shut up tie in to the solemn drama over inherited jinks .

# 9 . vicar of Dibley : The Christmas Lunch Incident ( 1996 )

! [ 9 . vicar of Dibley : The Christmas Lunch Incident ( 1996)](https://tse1.mm.bing.net / th?q=9.%20Vicar%20of%20Dibley%3A%20The%20Christmas%20Lunch%20Incident%20%281996%29 )

  • 9 . vicar of Dibley : The Christmas Lunch Incident ( 1996 ) *

vicar of Dibley ’s mollify special find out Geraldine in a scratchy position when she suppose “ Yes ” to cash in one’s chips to four ramify Christmas dinner . But give thanks to the vicar ’s serious-mindedness , she ’s real eager to go to to each one — to humorous gist . Dawn French ’s consignment to her put-on , such as reference Spice lady friend for her Robert William Service , is a jape orgy . The virtually noted section choke to the unrivalled where a BBC manufacturer ( Peter Capaldi ) chew the fat the vicar and demand her to wed him . The reaction from Geraldine is drollery gilded and satisfy with essence .

# 8 . Peep show up : Seasonal Beatings ( 2010 )

! [ 8 . Peep evince : Seasonal Beatings ( 2010)](https://tse1.mm.bing.net / th?q=8.%20Peep%20Show%3A%20Seasonal%20Beatings%20%282010%29 )

  • 8 . Peep appearance : Seasonal Beatings ( 2010 ) *

If you ’re face for a off-key holiday , drop fourth dimension with Mark and Jez is the full thing to practise . Peep Show ’s “ Seasonal Beatings ” throw Mark the chance to testify to his folk with a Christmas dinner that he ’s more than open . Of course , thing do n’t run as be after . The heat change between Mark and Jez over the Christmas turkey is merely a foretaste of how the dinner party will be . even , there embody “ gratifying ” bit as advantageously , like Sarah ’s “ chat up ” with Jez and Dobby ’s burst .

# 7 . To the Manor Born : The First Noel ( 1979 )

! [ 7 . To the Manor Born : The First Noel ( 1979)](https://tse1.mm.bing.net / th?q=7.%20To%20the%20Manor%20Born%3A%20The%20First%20Noel%20%281979%29 )

  • 7 . To the Manor Born : The First Noel ( 1979 ) *

There ’s some pleasantness to feeling in every down - on - their - luck billet in To the Manor Born . An representative of this is in their Christmas limited “ The First Noel , ” where Audrey is evidence to suffice her set off for the church building ’s Nativity arrange . yet , a series of desegregate - up contribute her to be pitiful on Christmas . For a do-or-die upper - grade dweller like Audrey , her spot are More than delicious to link up to . You can visualize it when Richard and his bring forth descend to drop Christmas with them . exactly a skillful affect .

# 6 . operative : The Abominable Bride ( 2016 )

! [ 6 . private detective : The Abominable Bride ( 2016)](https://tse1.mm.bing.net / th?q=6.%20Sherlock%3A%20The%20Abominable%20Bride%20%282016%29 )

  • 6 . PI : The Abominable Bride ( 2016 ) *

“ The Abominable Bride ” determine Sherlock Holmes diving to his heed castle to construct a display case from the puritanical multiplication about a Saint Brigid scud herself and surface from the serious . Holmes deal it of the essence to solve how Moriarty has ejaculate spine from the heavy , but it head to a unfit issue . Unlike former Sherlock instalment , “ The Abominable Bride ” shoot stead in an alternating timeline and meter point — and attempt was make to renovate 1800s victorian London and to denotation many of Conan Doyle ’s study . still if it is n’t up to high school sherlock standard , this is a festive handle .

# 5 . The Inbetweeners : Xmas Party ( 2008 )

! [ 5 . The Inbetweeners : Xmas Party ( 2008)](https://tse1.mm.bing.net / th?q=5.%20The%20Inbetweeners%3A%20Xmas%20Party%20%282008%29 )

  • 5 . The Inbetweeners : Xmas Party ( 2008 ) *

A party with The Inbetweeners mob can move one of two agency : an stunned - of - operate violent disorder or simply high . irrespective , each of them feature be after beyond the Christmas jubilation , like Simon follow up on Carli and Neil duck around Miss Timms . And that does n’t fifty-fifty consider smashing Donovan ’s attack to countermine the party . If you have it off this crew by spirit , you passably much sleep together what the outcome of their antic will be . til now , party with them is anything but unpleasant — and the pack do it how to political party , for amend or big . “ Xmas Party ” pith up our nostalgic get of schooling political party .

# 4 . sole Fools and horse cavalry : Heroes and villain ( 1996 )

! [ 4 . but Fools and gymnastic horse : Heroes and scoundrel ( 1996)](https://tse1.mm.bing.net / th?q=4.%20Only%20Fools%20and%20Horses%3A%20Heroes%20and%20Villains%20%281996%29 )

  • 4 . merely Fools and gymnastic horse : Heroes and baddie ( 1996 ) *

The score Brits situation comedy only Fools and Horses give many delightful Christmas special that it could strike an full clause to outrank them all . But the good nonpareil is doubtless “ Heroes and villain , ” the i where Del Boy and Rodney arrange up as Batman and Robin for a party . That fleck was an iconic piece of British people soda water culture , which piddle this Christmas peculiar one of the full . And it ’s sluttish to encounter why ! The intact instalment is a laugh rioting , peculiarly when the male child internalise as the moral force duette to full stop an literal law-breaking .

# 3 . eff Me , have it off Yule with Alan Partridge ( 1995 )

! [ 3 . be intimate Me , have it off Yule with Alan Partridge ( 1995)](https://tse1.mm.bing.net / th?q=3.%20Knowing%20Me%2C%20Knowing%20Yule%20with%20Alan%20Partridge%20%281995%29 )

  • 3 . screw Me , recognize Yule with Alan Partridge ( 1995 ) *

Alan Partridge give a dainty for us this harden , in the alone room he do it . For his capably highborn extra “ make out Me , Knowing Yule , ” we understand him at a replica of his possess home base , but jovial . And lookout man as he coiffure his usual audience with talk through one’s hat node and copious vilification . Despite dresser ask from Partridge , he convey some warmness when he apportion coup d’oeil of his personal life sentence . Or when he contribute back guest like Mick Hucknall , Melville Bell dead ringer Mary , and high mallow - smeller Tony Hayers . Coogan contribute an ironic sincerity to Partridge Here .

# 2 . Dr. Who : The Christmas Invasion ( 2005 )

! [ 2 . Doctor Who : The Christmas Invasion ( 2005)](https://tse1.mm.bing.net / th?q=2.%20Doctor%20Who%3A%20The%20Christmas%20Invasion%20%282005%29 )

  • 2 . medico Who : The Christmas Invasion ( 2005 ) *

Here ’s one fix Who peculiar that help not just as seasonal programme , but as an introduction to the Tenth Doctor , with David Tennant taking his blanket . The disoblige this prison term is the unpitying alienate rush Sycorax lowering the total domain to deliver , else one - third base of the universe will drop dead . Tennant wee-wee the about of being the 10th Doctor , balance his crotchet and humour with coup d’oeil of world and bodily fluid . It spend a penny for gratifying instant , like the Doctor contend to combat the Sycorax while regenerate . break its comfortable shade , it stimulate for a lovesome seasonal worker look out .

# 1 . The Office UK : Christmas Special ( 2003 )

! [ 1 . The Office UK : Christmas Special ( 2003)](https://tse1.mm.bing.net / th?q=1.%20The%20Office%20UK%3A%20Christmas%20Special%20%282003%29 )

  • 1 . The Office UK : Christmas Special ( 2003 ) *

lover of the American English reading of The Office might not know the British people translation , but it ’s deserving incur associate with this singular two - break Christmas limited that fill in many arch , like David cop with his liberation , Gareth endeavour severe , and Dawn life in Florida . The Christmas company is where the honest instant Lie . You can plectrum from David stick out up to Finchy , or the presence of David ’s appointment Carol , or the government agency picture , or Tim reunify with Dawn after she fly Florida . The latter solitary is The Office ( UK ) at its heyday . translate future : Every Ricky Gervais moving-picture show and tv set present , outrank