Published: 17 December 2025
Can’t agree on what to watch with the kids this Christmas? Don’t worry, the BBC has you covered with a brilliant line-up of festive fun and entertainment for the whole family.
From magical pantos and animated adventures to laugh-out-loud comedies and heartwarming stories, here’s what’s coming up over the Christmas period:
CBeebies Panto: Cinderella
BBC One, 24 December – 9.15am and available on BBC iPlayer now
What better way to kick off Christmas Eve than with a little sparkle in CBeebies Panto: Cinderella. Filmed at Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre, this retelling of the classic fairytale is packed with music, magic, and festive fun (Warning: may cause warm fuzzy feelings.).
Pudsey and the Thread of Hope
Pudsey stars in a new animation (Images: BBC Children in Need / BBC Studios / CBeebies)
BBC One and BBC iPlayer, 24 December – 10.20am
Later, BBC Children in Need icon Pudsey makes his animated debut in Pudsey and the Thread of Hope. Written by Tom Fletcher, this moving story follows Jai and Pudsey on a journey of healing, hope, and adventure.
Bluey
BBC One, Christmas Day – 11am and available on BBC iPlayer now
On Christmas morning, as you wrestle with wrapping paper and wonder why you bought glittery gift tags, join family favourite Bluey for Bluey’s Christmas Bundle a collection of festive episodes from everyone’s favourite Australian canine.
Shaun the Sheep
Shaun the Sheep: Fleece Navidad – BBC One, Christmas Day – 4.35pm
Shaun the Sheep: Shirleyverse – BBC One, Boxing Day – 9.30am
And in the afternoon, Aardman icon Shaun the Sheep and the gang try to create the perfect Christmas card photo in Fleece Navidad because nothing says season’s bleatings like a sheep in a festive jumper. Shaun returns on Boxing Day too with Shirleyverse, a portal-hopping adventure that proves even sheep can get lost in the multiverse.
For the older kids, there’s also plenty to watch on BBC One and iPlayer during that mysterious time between Christmas and New Year (Betwixmas?) when you’re 50% cheese, 50% chocolate, and 100% confused about what day it is…
Dexter Procter: The 10-Year-Old Doctor
BBC One, Sunday 28 December – 11.35am
Make sure you tune in for Dexter Procter: The 10-Year-Old Doctor, a laugh-out-loud comedy based on Adam Kay’s bestselling book, starring a host of comedy legends including Christmas royalty Sue Johnston, Peter Serafinowicz, and Mike Wozniak.
The Famous Five
BBC One, Monday 29 December – 9.35am
And it’s not Christmas without a dose of The Famous Five, as the gang race to save an injured pilot and uncover a dangerous secret in Big Trouble on Billycock Hill.
Across BBC iPlayer
And for CBeebies fans, there is so much more exciting festive content on iPlayer from everyone’s favourites. Hey Duggee: The Christmas Badge sees Duggee help his old pal Clarence rediscover his Christmas cheer, whilst in Big Lizard: Happy Proximas, Cosima and family celebrate planet Proxima B’s first Christmas (because why should Earth have all the fun?) and in Super Happy Magic Forest: The Snow Day, the heroes wake up on Snow Day to find there isn’t a snowflake in sight!
And you can keep the celebrations going with two festive episodes of Grizzy and the Lemmings – World Tour as the Lemmings and Grizzy collide with Santa’s sled while fighting in Well Deserved and there’s a battle for the last carrot left in the house, in the episode Glacial Carrot.
And there’s loads of real-world fun for 7+ audiences on iPlayer including Stage Stars: Christmas is Coming which features a heartwarming festive performance and Bros in Control: A Christmas Cracker which sees the bros battling it out in gingerbread houses, gift wrapping, and tree decorating challenges.
In Cooking Buddies: Rocking Around The Christmas Pud, Buddy and Conker serve up delicious festive treats, in Go Get Arty: A Christmas Special goes full festive mode with cosy snowglobe sweaters and DIY crackers, and in One Zoo Three: Winter Wonderland the brothers create a magical winter wonderland for the animals (because even penguins deserve a Christmas party!)
So gather the family, grab some snacks, and make this Christmas one to remember with the BBC’s magical line-up.
Follow for more
