ITV announce exciting Christmas TV shake-up as fan favourites including The Larkins, Coronation Street and Emmerdale become available to watch BEFORE their evening broadcast

ITV have announced an exciting Christmas TV schedule shake-up which gives fans a chance to watch their favourite shows hours before their evening broadcast.

Viewers will no longer have to wait to unwrap their festive TV treats over the festive period as special Christmas episodes of the likes of The Larkins, Emmerdale and Coronation Street will now become available to watch on the morning of the broadcast.

The change means that fans won't have to wait until later in the evening to get their fix of their favourite programmes and will now be able to indulge in the shows on the ITV Hub earlier in the day (available from 7am). 

ITV's festive TV shake-up will no doubt be a welcome by avid TV fans as they'll be able to stream their much-loved shows at their own convenience rather than sticking to the TV schedule. 

Soap fanatics will be spoilt for choice as the festive drama from the Dales and Weatherfield will be available to watch in special episodes on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

While Bradley Walsh fans will get an extra helping of the star as he's set to appear on both The Larkins and The Chase's Christmas specials.  

The feature-length episode of The Larkins at Christmas will see talk in the village of the pantomime and an ongoing spate of burglaries, with Miss Pilchester, the Normans and Johnny Delamere among the victims.

Whilst PC Harness applies his limited gifts to finding the culprit, Mariette and Charley take their love to the next level.

Elsewhere, Pop and Ma are overjoyed to have the pair back for Christmas, but when Charley’s parents arrive to meet the Larkin clan, and the entire village is left without lighting and heating following a power cut, chaos descends on the Larkins farm.

Not content appearing on The Larkins on Christmas Day and The Chase on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, Bradley, 61, will also join son Barney in Bradley and Barney: Breaking Dad at Christmas. 

Quiz show fans will also be in for a treat as Tipping Point: Lucky Stars Christmas Special airs on Christmas Eve, while Celebrity Catchphrase: Christmas Special hits screens on Boxing Day. 

The packed Christmas TV special will also see the likes of Gino's Italian Family Adventure: A Festive Feast and Christmas Comedy Club with Lost Voice Guy airing on Christmas Eve. 

Christmas Day sees Paul O Grady: For The Love of Dogs at Christmas and The Masked Singalong on screens.

While Boxing Day's offerings include Saturday Night Takeaway Presents: Double Trouble, All Star Musicals at Christmas and Billy Connolly: My Absolute Pleasure.

Elsewhere, rival channel BBC also revealed their Christmas line-up earlier this month, with a mixture of lifelong favourites and gripping dramas set to delight viewers over the festive period.

Leading the schedule is the return of Mrs Browns Boys, which will once again hit screens with two festive specials, and Doctor Who, which will kick off 2022 with a star-studded New Year's Day special.

Also filling the lineup are festive versions of game show favourites The Wheel and The Hit List, as well as the debut of the much-anticipated period drama A Very British Scandal.

Other shows set to air this Christmas include Call The Midwife, Would I Lie To You?, Death In Paradise, Strictly Come Dancing and Worzel Gummidge.

Charlotte Moore, BBC's Chief Content Officer says: 'Christmas 2021 is a time to reunite with friends and family once more, and this year's line-up of must-see shows will bring everyone together to share the festive season on the BBC. 

'There's a stocking full of special programmes to enthral and enchant featuring your favourite stars and characters, whatever your mood. The BBC is the place to be entertained this Christmas and New Year.'