The latest coronavirus restrictions mean meeting over the festive period will be limited this year.
So it would therefore be understandable if a lot more of us fancy sitting back on the couch and enjoying all the festive specials that the small screen has to offer.
Here, we outline some of the best festive TV and film specials over the next couple of weeks.
From timeless classics to brand new episodes, we scoured through the Radio Times listings to find the best of the best:
Christmas Eve
What: The Snowman
When: 5.10pm
Channel: Channel 4
Made a Scottish favourite by the Irn-Bru parody, Raymond Brigg’s wordless delight features the song everyone loves to sing along with – Walking in the Air.
What: The Great Christmas Bake Off 2020
When: 7.40pm
Channel: Channel 4
After the success of Edinburgh’s Peter Sawkins on this year’s baking show, GBBO is back for a festive special with some old show favourites – as well as a performance from Alexandra Burke.
What: Still Game
When: 9pm
Channel: BBC Scotland
Join Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill as Jack and Victor for a repeat of a classic favourite – the Christmas special ‘Cold Turkey’ episode of Still Game.
What: Scot Squad – The Chief’s Festive Message
When: 9.30pm
Channel: BBC Scotland
A Christmas message from Scot Squad’s chief Cameron Miekelson (Jack Docherty), who reminds viewers that despite the pandemic, there’s still a few triumphs in Scotland that people can be grateful for.
Christmas Day:
What: Lorraine
When: 9am
Channel: STV
Scotland’s very own Lorraine Kelly is joined by guests including Kylie Minogue, Michael Ball, Alfie Boe and Chris Kamara for this festive special edition of the morning show.
What: Top of the Pops
When: 11.55am
Channel: BBC One
Fearne Cotton and Clara Amfo review the biggest songs of the last 12 months - plus the Christmas number one is revealed.
What: The Queen
When: 3pm
Channel: BBC One
Her Majesty’s annual address to the nation and the people of the Commonwealth.
What: Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas Special
When: 10pm
Channel: BBC One
The family that you love to hate are back on our small screens for a Christmas special: ‘Mammy of the People’.
Boxing Day:
What: Racing
When: 12.55pm
Channel: STV
Live from Kempton, STV are bringing all the Boxing Day races including the King George VI Steeple Chase.
What: Rangers v Hibs
When: 12pm
Channel: Sky One/Sky Sports
Rangers take on Hibs, with full coverage before kick-off at Ibrox at 12.30pm.
What: Hamilton V Celtic
When: 2.45pm
Channel: Sky One/Sky Sports
Hamilton take on Celtic, with full coverage before kick off from the SuperSeal Stadium at 3pm.
What: Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave
When: 4.30pm
Channel: BBC Two
A timeless classic, the Oscar-winning characters are back with this re-run of their third adventure – A Close Shave.
What: Scot Squad
When: 11pm
Channel: BBC Scotland
A special festive edition of the much-loved Scottish Police Force crew, “spreading goodwill this Christmas by locking up Bad Santas”.
What: Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2020
When: 9.05pm
Channel: Channel 4
Question-master Jimmy Carr is joined by a panel of celebrity quizzers looking back at some of the most memorable moments of the last 12 months.
December 27
What: Two Doors Down
When: 9pm
Channel: BBC Scotland
The Two Doors Down gang are back for another Christmas special – swapping Latimer Crescent for plush lodge in the Highlands, what could possibly go wrong?
What: Mock The Week
When: 10.45pm
Channel: BBC Two
Mock The Week is back again with a Christmas special, showing some seasonal material, fond favourites and previously unseen bits.
What: How Auld Lang Syne Took Over The World
When: 9.55pm
Channel: BBC Scotland
Dougie Vipond looks at how Robert Burns’ 18th-century poem – traditionally sung around the world on New Year’s Eve, became one of Scotland’s best-known musical exports.
December 28
What: Billy Connolly: It’s Been a Pleasure
When: 9.30pm
Channel: STV
Celebrating the comedian’s greatest performances, this special programme was made to mark Billy Connolly’s retirement from stand-up.
Hogmanay
What: Only an Excuse?
When: 10.25pm
Channel: BBC One
A mix of classic sketches, famous faces and up-to-date skits tackling 2020 from a hilarious perspective.
What: Rab C Nesbitt
When: 10.30pm
Channel: BBC Scotland
The BBC Scotland channel are running a repeat of the 1994 Christmas special, in which Rab is bewildered at the prospect of becoming a father-in-law.
What: Jool’s Annual Hootenanny
When: 11.15pm
Channel: BBC Two
The piano man returns with his annual New Year music show – but with a few changes this year.
What: Hogmanay 2020
When: 11.30pm
Channel: BBC One
Susan Calman and her guests bring in the bells, with music from the likes of Deacon Blue, Amy Macdonald and more – with live reports from Edinburgh Castle at midnight.
What: Still Game
When: 12.40am (Jan 1)
Channel: BBC One
A New Year favourite, BBC One are putting on a repeat of the festive Still Game episode ‘The Party’ – featuring the hilarious moment when Jack and Victor get stuck in a lift at Hogmanay.
January 1
What: Doctor Who
When: 6.45pm
Channel: BBC One
Jodie Whittaker is back for a New Year Doctor Who special – with fan favourite Captain Jack back to help the gang in this episode, ‘Revolution of the Daleks’.
What: Frankie Boyle’s 2020 New World Order
When: 10pm
Channel: BBC Two
With the help of Miles Jupp Sophie Duker, the comedian tries to make sense of the bewildering year that was 2020.
What: Mrs Brown’s Boys New Year Special
When: 10pm
Channel: BBC One
The second of two festive specials of the comedy, written by and starring Brendan O’Carroll.
January 2
What: Rangers v Celtic
When: 12.30pm
Channel: Sky Sports
Sky will have all the coverage from the first Old Firm meeting of 2021, with Rangers hosting Celtic at Ibrox.
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here