BBC releases Christmas Day schedule for 2021

The BBC has unveiled its Christmas Day schedule for 2021, and after the weird year we've all had, it'll be comforting to know that Call the Midwife and Strictly Come Dancing are back for their festive specials as usual. Mrs Brown's Boys is also back with a new special.

But let's start earlier in the day. December 25 will see BBC One show Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas at 11.35am. Top of the Pops at midday, and The Secret Life of Pets 2 at 1.15pm, followed by Julia Donaldson's Superworm at 2.30pm and The Queen's Speech at 3pm.

Mary Poppins Returns then makes its TV debut at 3.10pm, leading straight into Strictly Come Dancing at 5.10pm. Then a double bill of gameshows: Michael McIntyre's The Wheel will air at 6.25pm and Blankety Blank at 7.25pm. Then, at bang on 8pm, it's a special Call the Midwife.

At 9.35pm, we'll see if the EastEnders lot getting all dramatic and festive, while Mrs Brown's Boys finish off the new specials at 10.20pm.

A repeat of The Vicar of Dibley's penultimate episode 'The Handsome Stranger' takes us from 10.50pm to the News and Weather at 11.50pm, ending the big day.

BBC Two's Christmas Day is mostly made up of repeats, but there are some absolute classics in there: Casablanca at 11.10am, Meet Me in St Louis at 12.50pm, The Two Ronnies from 3.10pm, and Morecambe and Wise from 7pm.

A Musical Family Christmas with the Kanneh-Masons is new at 8.35pm, while the 2019 film Pavarotti premieres at 9.35pm. A showing of Pavarotti at Hyde Park carries you into Boxing Day.

Speaking of which, BBC One on Boxing Day (December 26) is bringing us the first two parts of Around the World Days, starring David Tennant, from 5.50pm. Then there's the Death in Paradise special at 7.30pm, the beginning of A Very British Scandal at 9pm, and more from EastEnders at 10pm.

Of course, the BBC's festive content will be available on iPlayer too.