Spending Christmas with family members you sometimes don’t see for months on end can often be stressful – especially when the TV remote is involved.
But in a bid to make things as pain-free as possible over what to watch on the box over the festive period, we’ve rounded up the best shows either in the schedules or available to stream to watch with specific members of the family.
You can thank us later.
To watch with your nostalgia-filled grandparents
The Crown, Netflix
The Crown is perfect to watch with older generations of your family, as not only will they be taken back in time for a dose of royal nostalgia, but they will be able to give you an insight into how the events you see on screen actually played out in real life. A win-win.
To watch with that relative who needs their mind broadening
Pose, BBC iPlayer
Listen, we’ve all got that one relative whose worldview differs greatly to our own and if you’re looking to broaden their horizons, you could start at worse places than Pose.
Set against the backdrop of ball culture in 1980s New York, the series is an important lesson in queer history as it follows the story of Blanca Rodriguez, a trans woman who decides to start her own house to give back to the community when she discovers she is HIV+. Both series are all on iPlayer, and come complete with a fabulous soundtrack too.
To watch with your mates
Kylie’s Secret Night, Christmas Day, 10.30pm, Channel 4
After her triumphant Glastonbury and Brighton Pride sets, Kylie has helped make many memories for a lot of people this year, so prepare to gather up your friends once again as the Princess Of Pop rounds off 2019 with her own special on Channel 4, hosted by the hilarious Alan Carr.
To watch with the adventure-loving pre-teen
Doctor Who, New Year’s Day, 6.55pm, BBC One
With the end of the holidays looming, the kids will likely be feeling a little bit jaded by the time New Year’s Day rolls round, but you can serve them one last Christmas gift in the shape of a brand new series of Doctor Who, which will make for ideal 1 Jan viewing. Jodie Whittaker is back in the title role and the series opens with her battling to save the day when intelligence agents come under attack from aliens.
To watch with your Dad who needs to up his banter game
Jack Whitehall: Christmas With My Father, Netflix
If your dad likes a bit of a laugh and a joke but his banter is getting tedious, then perhaps sit him down in front of Jack Whitehall’s Christmas special as he invites his notoriously stuffy father onstage in London’s West End for a Christmas comedy extravaganza.
To watch with your rom-com loving Mum
Hugh Grant: A Life On Screen, Monday 23 December, 9pm, BBC Two
Watch your mum get all misty-eyed as Hugh Grant takes a walk down memory lane to tell the story of his success in classic rom-coms such as Four Weddings And A Funeral, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Love Actually, Notting Hill and About A Boy.
To watch with your boxset-loving siblings
Line Of Duty, Netflix
Line Of Duty has amassed a whole new legion of fans since it moved to BBC One in its fourth series, but how many of you have gone back and binged your way through the first three? If you’ve got plenty of time to kill with your siblings over the holidays, who like you are obsessed with binge-watching, this is just the solution as the first four series are all available on Netflix.
To watch with your boozed-up Nan
Jane McDonald’s Christmas Spectacular, Saturday 21 December, 9.20pm
If your Nan is anything like ours, she will love having a few cheeky sherries before having a little sing along, so who better to do this with than everyone’s favourite northern crooner Jane McDonald, who will be celebrating the festive season with Aled Jones, Russell Watson and, errrrrm, Lee from Blue.
To watch with your ever-disagreeing parents
Winter Animals, Monday 30 December, 7pm, BBC One
If you’re sick of your parents squabbling about whether to watch Coronation Street or old war documentaries, then Snow Animals could be just the solution. It’s a documentary with all the drama of t’cobbles – with added cuteness thrown in. What’s not to love?
To watch with the whole family
Strictly Come Dancing, Christmas Day, 4.40pm, BBC One
We know this gets said a lot, but it really is true when people say that Strictly Come Dancing is entertainment for all the family, so there is no better show to truly bring you altogether on Christmas Day.
This year, six famous faces are returning to the ballroom for some festive fun, including Mark Wright, Debbie McGee and Chizzy Akadolu.
To watch with your young kids
The Tiger Who Came To Tea, Christmas Eve, 7.30pm, Channel 4
The Snowman, The Snowdog and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt have proven to be charming viewing for the young ones over the last few Christmases, and this year the same makers have adapted another classic picture book, which was written and illustrated by Judith Kerr.
To watch with the dog-lover of the family
Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs At Christmas, Boxing Day, 6pm, ITV
They say a dog is not just for Christmas, but we would quite happily spend the whole festive season watching Paul O’Grady playing and caring for a load of adorable wee doggies. His Christmas special is a must-watch for any other dog lovers in the family.
