TV HIGHLIGHT: Royal Carols: Together at Christmas The Princess of Wales hosts a carol service at Westminster Abbey to celebrate individuals and organisations who have supported their local communities.
Christmas Eve 7.30pm, ITV1 (repeated Christmas Day, 6am)
RADIO HIGHLIGHT: Sunday Feature: Skid Row Messiah Every December, a group of homeless men and women join professional musicians from the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Master Chorale to perform Handel’s Messiah at the Midnight Mission on Los Angeles’s “Skid Row”.
Sunday (22 December) 7.15pm, Radio 3
TELEVISION: Saturday 9.15am (BBC2) The Bishop’s Wife A fantasy comedy starring Cary Grant, in which an angel helps a bishop.
7.30pm (Channel 5) Royal Palaces at Christmas Stories from years past.
9pm (Channel 5) Royal Christmas Traditions: Then and Now How the Royal Family plan and create their perfect Christmas.
Sunday 1.15pm (BBC1) Songs of Praise Aled Jones presents a candlelit celebration of favourite carols from Croston, in Lancashire.
9pm (BBC4) Inside Classical: Hallelujah: The Gospel Messiah Marin Alsop conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Chorus, and the London Adventist Chorale in the European première of Gospel Messiah, Alsop’s reimagining of Handel’s Messiah. Recorded at the Royal Albert Hall in December 2023.
Christmas Eve 2.30pm (ITV1) It’s a Wonderful Life James Stewart stars in the classic film in which George Bailey, contemplating suicide, meets his guardian angel.
6pm (BBC2) Carols from King’s The annual celebration from King’s College, Cambridge, of music, readings, and prayer (repeated Christmas Day, 8am).
BBC Studios/Tom HaywardIn Lucy Worsley’s Christmas Carol Odyssey (Christmas Eve, 10.40pm, BBC 4), the historian reveals the surprising stories behind the nation’s favourite Christmas carols
10.40pm (BBC4) Lucy Worsley’s Christmas Carol Odyssey The historian follows the story of the carol from Protestant Britain to the events behind “Silent night” (repeat).
11.30pm (ITV1) Christmas Carols Louise Redknapp leads a celebration from St Elisabeth’s, Stockport.
11.40pm (BBC1) Midnight Mass from St Mary’s Church, Warwick The Team Rector, the Revd Angus Aagaard, celebrates mass. The preacher is the Bishop of Goma, the Rt Revd Martin Gordon.
Christmas Day 10.15am (BBC1) Christmas Morning Service from Halifax Minster The Vicar, Canon Hilary Barber, leads a live service, including the blessing of the crib with live animals. The preacher is the Bishop of Huddersfield, the Rt Revd Smitha Prasadam.
3pm (BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, R4, and Classic FM) The King His Majesty’s annual broadcast to the nation and the Commonwealth.
8pm (BBC1) Call the Midwife Fears grow when two escaped prisoners head for Poplar (1/2).
11.55pm (BBC1) On Christmas Night Kate Garraway narrates the story of the first Christmas, from Luke’s Gospel.
Boxing Day 7.30pm (BBC1) Call the Midwife Sister Julienne celebrates her last Christmas of the 1960s, and the community come together to help the Buckles (2/2).
Friday 10pm (ITV1) Tsunami: The wave that shook the world A documentary marking the 20th anniversary of the disaster which killed 230,000 people and displaced another 1.4 million, featuring first-hand accounts.
Saturday 1pm (C4) The Ten Commandments The Hollywood epic starring Charlton Heston as Moses.
Sunday 10.55am (BBC1) Celebration Kitchen: Hanukkah A special edition, celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
1.15pm (BBC1) Songs of Praise Pam Rhodes and her fellow presenters reflect on some of their favourite hymns.
3.45pm (BBC1) The Sound of Music The classic family musical.
New Year’s Eve 9am (BBC2) Jesus Christ Superstar The rock-opera film version of the musical, in which Jesus’s life is recounted from the point of view of Judas.
RADIO: Friday 1.30pm (World Service) Heart and Soul Members of Turkey’s Jewish community examine the country’s history of Judaism, and how the fabric of society has changed over this year.
7.30pm (R3) Friday Night is Music Night: Sounds of Christmas The BBC Singers and the BBC Concert Orchestra perform live at Snape Maltings Concert Hall. Works include the carols “O holy night” and “The Carol of the Bells”.
Saturday 3pm (R4) Drama: The Ambridge Mystery Plays The first part of a promenade production around Ambridge, telling the story of the nativity (1/2) (repeat).
6.30pm (World Service) Amazing Sport Stories The story of the Christmas truce during the First World War.
8pm (R4) Archive on 4: A Child’s Christmas Cerys Matthews explores Christmas tales written through the eyes of a child. Authors include C. S. Lewis (repeated Christmas Day 6am).
Sunday 8.10am (R4) Sunday Worship The Chapel Choir of Methodist College, Belfast, sing at a service for the Fourth Sunday of Advent at Fisherwick Presbyterian Church, Belfast.
3pm (R3) Choral Evensong A repeat of this week’s service live from Llandaff Cathedral.
Monday to Friday 4pm (R3) Composer of the Week: Christmas in Latvia Donald Macleod explores the Christmas music and traditions of Latvia, and learns why choral singing became part of Latvian identity (1-5/5).
BBC/Somersault Studio/Kirsten McTernanIn Christmas with Gareth Malone (Monday and Christmas Eve, 5pm, Radio 3) the choirmaster and broadcaster picks some of his favourite seasonal classical music
Monday and Christmas Eve 5pm (R3) Christmas with Gareth Malone The choirmaster and broadcaster picks some of his favourite seasonal classical music (1-2/2).
Christmas Eve 3pm (R4 and World Service) A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Live from King’s College, Cambridge, the traditional service of music and readings (repeated Christmas Day 1pm, R3 ).
4.30pm (R4) Beyond Belief Mona Siddiqui and guests discuss the jollity often associated with religious festivals (4/7).
6pm (Classic FM) Carols from St Paul’s, Knightsbridge A traditional service, recorded on 3 December.
8pm (Classic FM) Christmas from St Martin’s A concert given by St Martin’s Voices and Strings at St Martin-in-the-Fields. Recorded on 5 December.
11.30pm (R4) Midnight Mass The Roman Catholic Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd Marcus Stock, celebrates mass in his cathedral.
Christmas Day 7am (R4) Christmas Service Carols, readings, and reflections recorded in the Royal Albert Hall, led by Major Jo Moir, of the Salvation Army.
9.30am (R3) Christmas Morning Live Carols sung by the choir of Holy Trinity, Sloane Square, in London.
1pm (Classic FM) The Nation’s Favourite Carol Will it be “O holy night” for the ninth year running?
3.05pm (Classic FM) Christmas from Buckingham Palace with Alan Titchmarsh A concert given by the choir of the Chapel Royal. Recorded on 18 December.
4.45pm (Classic FM) The Christmas Story Stephen Fry narrates a retelling of the nativity, with music by Thomas Hewitt Jones (repeat).
7pm (Classic FM) The King’s Foundation Carol Concert Recorded in St Paul’s, Knightsbridge, on 12 December.
8pm (R2) Beverley’s Great British Gospel Christmas Beverley Knight hosts a celebration of British Gospel, festive songs, and traditional carols
10pm (R2) Trevor Nelson’s Soul Christmas A concert given by the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Kingdom Choir with soloists. Recorded in the Royal Albert Hall on 16 December.
Boxing Day 12.15am (R4) Christmas Meditation The actress Samantha Morton reflects on Christmas and what it means to her.
Friday 1.30pm (world Service) Heart and Soul Colm Flynn talks with five people who say that the restoration of Notre-Dame has had an impact on their faith.
Saturday 3pm (R4) Drama: The Ambridge Mystery Plays The second part of a promenade production around Ambridge, portraying the life of Jesus from his baptism through to the resurrection (2/2) (repeat).
Sunday 8.10am (R4) Sunday Worship The French theologian the Revd Dr Isabelle Hamley visits Notre-Dame to reflect on what both differentiates and unites France and the UK.
3pm (R3) Choral Evensong From Girton College, Cambridge. Recorded on 28 November.
7.15pm (R3) Sunday Feature: An organ for the Sultan Ben Cottam discovers the story of Thomas Dallam, who built the original organ in the chapel of King’s College, Cambridge; with contributions from the current Director of Music of King’s, Daniel Hyde.
New Year’s Eve 3.30pm (R4) Beyond Belief Canon Giles Fraser and guests discuss religion and detective fiction (5/7).
New Year’s Day 3pm (R3) Choral Evensong From St James’s, Sussex Gardens, in west London, sung by the Rodolfus Choir. Recorded on 29 December.