For those festive warm-and-fuzzies.
19 of the Best Christmas TV Specials to Get Cosy With This Holiday Season
For those festive warm-and-fuzzies.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! We love everything about Christmas and the end-of-year festivities, and that includes getting tucked into bed or on the couch wrapped in our favourite linen throw to binge some Christmas TV episodes.
They are something of an English invention: for decades, British television shows have been celebrating the festive season with one-off episodes that are all about Christmas, and they are the perfect viewing to get into the festive mood.
From Downton Abbey to Mr. Bean, here are a few of our very favourites to binge throughout the holiday season.
1. Ted Lasso: “Carol of the Bells” (Season 2)
Part of the show’s second season, Ted Lasso’s “Carol of the Bells” episode might just be the perfect half-hour or so of television. The episode is split into a few different perspectives: Keeley and Roy planning to have a ‘sexy Christmas’. Rebecca delivering gifts to children in need. Ted celebrating on his own, far from his ex-wife and son in America. And the Higgins family, who regularly open their door to the players who aren’t able to make it home for the holidays.
Each of these strands comes together in the most wonderful way, so much so that by the end of the episode, when a wonderful Christmas meal is laid out at the Higgins’ home, who have to commandeer an ironing board and a surfboard to stretch the table to accommodate all who come to visit, we had tears in our eyes.
2. Downton Abbey: “Christmas Special” (Season 6)
There are several Downton Abbey Christmas specials, in fact, one aired for every season of the show. All of them are great, although at least one of them – spoiler alert, for anyone who hasn’t yet watched all of Downton Abbey – contains a moment of great tragedy.
If what you’re looking for is more happy and uplifting, then the final Christmas special attached to the sixth season is just the ticket. However, we’re also partial to the second Christmas special, attached to the second season, when snow falls at Highclere and romance abounds between Cousin Matthew and Lady Mary. Sigh.
3. Abbott Elementary: “Winter Show” & “Winter Break” (Season 4)
Abbott Elementary is one of the most refreshing feel-good comedies to emerge in recent years, so it's no surprise that its festive specials are especially fun. Episodes seven and eight form a two-part instalment: one following the students as they perform an end-of-term show and the other lets us in on the various Christmas traditions of the teachers.
Between the humour and antics, a common thread in both episodes is the emphasis on inclusivity and acceptance. In Winter Show, the old-school yet nurturing Barbara transforms her usual Christmas programme into a celebration that all students can participate in. Meanwhile, in Winter Break, Melissa hosts a traditional family dinner while navigating tensions with close-minded relatives. These episodes are not only witty and heartwarming, but they also avoid sitcom clichés, offering an enjoyable escape into the world of Abbott Elementary.
4. Friends: “The One With the Holiday Armadillo” (Season 7)
Along with giving us some of the best Thanksgiving episodes of all time, Friends always delivered on the Yuletide front. We dare say the most memorable of the 10 Christmas episodes that aired? “The One With the Holiday Armadillo”, in which Ross tries to get his son as excited about Hanukkah as he is about Christmas and, while failing to secure a Santa suit two days before Christmas, winds up dressed as a ‘Holiday Armadillo’ – iconic.
5. New Girl:“The 23rd” (Season 1)
Widely considered New Girl’s best Christmas special – and the series did have some good ones – the inaugural episode was the perfect first holiday with Jess and the gang. Besides all the shenanigans at Schmidt’s office party (with Schmidt dressed up as ‘sexy Santa’, no less), Nick reconciling with his family and Winston entertaining a new career, the episode’s magic moment sees the crew taking Jess to Candy Cane Lane to witness the entire street lit up for Christmas, reminding us that a little holiday spirit – and quality time with your friends – can go a long way.
6. Black-ish, "Black Santa/White Christmas" (Season 1)
The first Black-ish Christmas special is a perfect example of what the show did best: tackle important conversations using humor. The Johnson family patriarch, Dre, successfully petitions to take on the role of Santa Claus but thwarts his colleague Angelica's dreams of donning the costume in the process. There's a lot going on in this episode: Rainbow choreographs an autotune-heavy Christmas carol performance, Grandma Ruby is caught lying about her "home-cooked" Christmas dinner, and there's a whole lot of workplace Santa sabotage. The episode questions the tension between tradition and inclusion against the backdrop of family, cultural identity, and the workplace. Also, “I’m putting my stank on Christmas" is an iconic line.
7. Doctor Who: “The Voyage of the Damned” (Season 3)
Every year, Doctor Who releases a Christmas special that is must-watch viewing for sci-fi fans. We have a very fond place in our heart for “Voyage of the Damned”, an episode in which the 10th Doctor, played by David Tennant, has to save the world from a starship coming towards it on a collision course. The series features an iconic cameo from Kylie Minogue, who plays a waitress named Astrid, who gets to share a Christmas snog with the time-travelling Doctor at the end of the episode.
8. Sherlock: “The Abominable Bride” (Season 3)
There was only one Christmas special episode of Sherlock, which makes it all the more special. Truly a gift for Sherlock fans, it featured a time jump between 19th century England, with Cumberbatch and co-star Martin Freeman frocking up in historic dress as Holmes and Watson, as well as their modern-day counterparts, both investigating the same murder. The game was well and truly afoot in this one!
9. The Office: “Christmas Party” (Season 2)
Like Friends, The Office has many a memorable holiday season episode, but if we had to pick just one, it would have to be “Christmas Party” from season two. Nominated for two Emmy Awards, it was the show’s first-ever Christmas episode, and between the office’s underwhelming Secret Santa turning into a chaotic “Yankee Swap” and some early Jim-Pam romantic tension, it’s always a winner in our books.
10. Gossip Girl: “Roman Holiday” (Season 1)
While Gossip Girl is better known for its scandalous Thanksgiving episodes, the show’s debut season gave us a solid Christmas edition. We saw Serena and Dan agree to a gift budget after she splashes out, struggling to top Vanessa’s present to Dan – a byline in The New Yorker – only for her DIY present to mark one of their sweetest moments as a couple.
Meanwhile, Blair’s Noel plans are derailed when her dad unexpectedly shows up for the holiday with the man he left her mother for in tow. She gets up to her scheming ways, and we get some delightful scenes of ice skating in New York while she tries to ice out (pardon the pun) her dad’s new beau before the Waldorfs finally have the perfect blended family Christmas, Upper East Side-style.
11. The Mindy Project, "Christmas" (Season 3)
While the Christmas specials in the first few seasons were more lighthearted, season three's offering explored some of the more complicated parts of the titular character's relationship. Don't worry though, it's The Mindy Project, so there's still plenty of laughs. In this episode, Danny grapples with the pressure of proposing to Mindy after reading in her diary that she wants a ring by Christmas. Meanwhile, Mindy decides to apply for a prestigious eight-month Stanford fellowship. The mix of humour, relationship drama, and holiday charm makes for a memorable and emotionally layered instalment.
12. How I Met Your Mother: ”How Lily Stole Christmas” (Season 2)
This How I Met Your Mother Christmas episode reminds us that ‘found’ families can be just as special as ‘real’ ones. In it, Ted’s excited to spend the holidays with his friends, while Lily is busy transforming the apartment into a “Winter Wonderland”. While decorating, she discovers an old answering machine with messages from when she and Marshall were broken up – featuring one with Ted calling her a “Grinch” (the show’s festive euphemism for a far-worse word). Hurt and angry, Lily removes all Christmas decorations in the apartment as revenge, until a sweet Christmas gift from Marshall reminds her that Ted’s a true friend after all.
13. Gilmore Girls: “The Bracebridge Dinner” (Season 2)
One of our favourite comfort shows, Gilmore Girls season two’s Christmas episode is practically mandatory viewing during the holidays. When a special convention at the inn is cancelled due to snow, Lorelai and Sookie get stuck with an elaborate old English dinner and no guests to eat it – so they invite everyone in Stars Hollow to enjoy the feast. With the entire town in one place, kooky interactions between characters who don’t otherwise mingle ensue, complete with horse-drawn sleigh rides and a snowman-building contest. We also get the excellent dialogue between Rory’s grandparents Emily and Richard, a revved-up rivalry between Jess and Dean as they vie for Rory’s affections, and Lorelai and Luke’s still slowly burning romance to round it all off.
14. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: “Christmas Show” (Season 2)
Fun fact? This was the first-ever episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to feature Carlton’s now-iconic ‘The Carlton’ dance. A Christmas comedy of errors, the Banks’ ski resort family reunion goes off the rails when all their presents are stolen. Having no choice but to give gifts from the heart, the family turns Christmas around and gives us all the warm-and-fuzzies in the process.
15. Schitt’s Creek: “Merry Christmas, Johnny Rose” (Season 4)
Schitt’s Creek’s one and only Christmas special might be some of the sweetest festive viewing on Netflix. Last minute, Johnny decides to throw an elaborate Rose Christmas party like the ones they hosted when they were rich – however, with the hopes that they will have more quality time together than they did at parties past. After many a preparation mishap, the Roses are reluctant to go ahead with the party but realise just in time what it means to Johnny, and throw him a heartwarming gathering that lifts his – and our – spirits.
16. Glee: “A Very Glee Christmas” (Season 1)
If you like your Christmas TV on the mayhem and musical side, you can’t go past this early Glee special. Between the classic Christmas song covers – Rachel’s dramatic rendition of “Last Christmas” and Kurt and Blaine’s “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” duet are standouts – the Glee Club banding together to maintain Brittany’s innocent belief in Santa and a parody of How the Grinch Stole Christmas courtesy of Sue, it’s both hilarious and brimming with holiday spirit.
17. Mr. Bean: "Merry Christmas Mr. Bean" (Season 1)
The iconic “Merry Christmas Mr. Bean” episode never fails to deliver some giggles. An excited Mr. Bean continues his usual chaotic shenanigans across the festive season, bringing new meaning to 'dressing' a turkey and making a shambles of a department store toy section. This episode is a great watch for families and is injected with plenty of festive cheer.
18. Call The Midwife: "Christmas Special" (Season 5)
Like many British shows, there are several Christmas special episodes of Call The Midwife, the long-running BBC period drama following the midwives helping deliver babies in East London in the ‘50s. How to pick a favourite of all the Christmas specials!
The one in Shetland, far north Scotland, is perfect for cosy, Christmas vibes, but we also love the one from season five, which follows a missing nun, a secret relationship between a nurse and a midwife, a carol service, a measles outbreak and… a lot of snow. It doesn’t get better than that!
19. The OC: "The Best Christmukkah Ever" (Season 1)
And last, but certainly not least, is The OC’s special Christmas episode, or should we say “Chrismukkah”. This is the holiday made up by Seth (Adam Brody), as he combines the traditions of Christmas and Hanukkah in one, bringing his friend Ryan (Benjamin McKenzie) into the fold. This episode is full of nostalgia feels for us, and also is a vision of a California Christmas that is not too dissimilar from our own Australian one.
