Christmas Eve TV: Joanna Lumley is spooky in a festive ghost story | television

A Christmas Ghost Story: The Room in the Tower

10pm on BBC Two
Delightfully wicked fare for Christmas Eve; This chilling tale by Mark Gatiss is an adaptation of a short story by E. F. Benson. Tobias Menzies plays Roger Winstanley, who has been haunted by a strange dream since childhood. As he crouches in an air-raid shelter (the story takes place during the attack, with flashbacks to a bygone era), he shares his vision with a sympathetic stranger. But as the earth shakes with bombs, too much imagination is dangerous. Phil Harrison

The Great British Christmas Sewing Bee

7.25pm, BBC One
Delicious chaos as more hapless celebrities pick up needles and thread. Lucy Beaumont, Susan Wokoma and new host Sophie Whelan bring a Taskmaster vibe, while tough judge Anton du Beke and wrestler Tom Wilson also step out of their comfort zone. pH

Find Father Christmas

7.30pm on Channel 4

Chris (Lenny Rush) is 16 and too old to believe in Father Christmas. But despite the truths his father (James Buckley) tells him, he refuses to let his dream die. A journey of discovery begins, including big-minded characters like Maggie Adrien Pocock, Professor Hannah Fry, and Special Forces veteran Jason Fox. Charming stuff. pH

Mortimer and Whitehouse: Went Christmas Hunting

9pm on BBC Two

It’s hard to think of a more meaningful way to spend Christmas Eve than spending Christmas Eve in the company of Bob, Paul and Ted the dog. This time, they’re in Devon and Cornwall and heading out to sea – which is often a recipe for disaster. Back on Earth, they are joined by Dawn French and Dr. Anand Patel. pH

Two doors down Christmas special

10pm, BBC One
In a welcome return to the slow-burning Scottish sitcom, the early reveal of the Byrds’ Christmas tree sends out a smoke signal signaling the start of the festive season. Much to the disdain of Beth (Arabella Weir), the house is soon filled with friendly neighborhood faces, ordering mince pies and discussing their fairy tale New York. Nicole Vasil

Midnight Mass of Our Lady of the English Martyrs, Cambridge

11.50pm on BBC One
The traditional First Mass of the Nativity of Christ is a meditative way to usher in Christmas Day. Direct from one of the UK’s largest Roman Catholic churches, the celebration includes Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Francis Poulenc’s choral piece O Magnum Mysterium, as well as readings, carols and a blessing of the nativity. Graeme Virtue

Choose a movie

Goodbye June (Kate Winslet, 2025) Netflix
In her directorial debut, a tear-jerking tale of family and death in the run-up to Christmas, Kate Winslet has wisely stuffed it with quality actors. So we have Helen Mirren as the titular terminally ill mother, and Timothy Spall as the somewhat weak father. Their four grown children are played by Toni Collette, Johnny Flynn, Andrea Riseborough and Winslet herself. The script by Joe “Kate’s Son” Anders keeps the Nordic minimalist (despite the presence of young children), with most of the action taking place in a setting far removed from the hospital festivities. Simon Wardle

Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941), 9am, BBC Two
Widely cited as the greatest film ever made, Orson Welles’ meditation on power and unity has a reputation you can see from space. Subverting convention with its cavalier approach to presentation and structure, its ambition is clear from the first scene. It’s true that in the decades since its release, its power has been diluted by parodies and copyists, but that makes it all the more ripe for reconsideration. And what could be more Christmassy than the tragic tale of a man who has everything except the thing he really wants? Stuart Heritage

ET: The Extra-Terrestrial (Steven Spielberg, 1982), At 1.35pm on ITV1
A slew of billboards recently indicated that Steven Spielberg is about six months away from releasing another alien movie. But it would be a miracle if his new endeavor contained a tenth of ET’s heart. Equal parts sci-fi adventure and childhood fever dream, this is the story of lonely boy Elliot (Henry Thomas), who befriends a stranded being from another world and learns about connection, wonder, and the importance of home. ET is now 43 years old, and the fact that he can still turn people into puddles is proof that it’s a cool classic. Sh