CHRISTMAS is upon us which means a bumper selection of television and radio to keep you entertained amidst the festivities.<\/strong><\/p>\n There is so much in store for the weeks ahead \u2013 and plenty of it comes with an Irish edge too.<\/p>\n So here is our round up of the shows you won\u2019t want to miss as 2025 comes to a close.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Nolla\u00ed, BBC1 Northern Ireland\/BBC Iplayer, 4.10pm<\/strong><\/p>\n The magical new animated film Nolla\u00ed will air this month \u2013 bringing viewers on a heart-warming fantasy adventure led by an ordinary deer with an extraordinary secret.<\/p>\n Co-commissioned by BBC Northern Ireland, TG4 and S4C, the film has been produced by Belfast-based Taunt Studios with support from Northern Ireland Screen\u2019s Irish Language Broadcast Fund (ILBF) and Screen Fund, and Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n.<\/p>\n Nollaig \u2013 or Nolla\u00ed as he is known \u2013 is a young Irish deer on a journey of self-discovery.<\/p>\n A little tall for a deer, Nolla\u00ed has always been told he\u2019s \u2018big boned\u2019.<\/p>\n He has spent his life on the farm with his human family \u2013 after being found one wintry night 10 years ago, at the stone circle on the mountain.<\/p>\n When the opportunity arises to live with his own kind, he has a difficult decision to make.<\/p>\n Oppenheimer, BBC2, 9pm<\/strong><\/p>\n Catch Cillian Murphy at his absolute best in Christopher Nolan\u2019s intense biopic of J Robert Oppenheimer.<\/p>\n The drama, released in 2023, won multiple Oscars for its depiction of the man who was one of the fathers of the atomic bomb.<\/p>\n Cork native Murphy starred as the eponymous Oppenheimer in the blockbuster and secured the Best Actor Oscar for his efforts.<\/p>\n The film follows the development of the bomb, which was created during the Second World War.<\/p>\n Its star-studded cast also includes Kenneth Branagh of Belfast fame, Robert Downey Jr, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Rami Malek and Josh Hartnett.<\/p>\n Woman\u2019s Hour, BBC Radio 4, 10am<\/strong><\/p>\n Dublin-born Women\u2019s Hour host Nuala McGovern will on the airwaves on Christmas Day morning.<\/p>\n McGovern and co-host Anita Rani will use their festive hour to explore the role rituals play in making Christmas special.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the customs passed down the generations to brand new traditions being created, we explore how women are involved in making and maintaining the special moments that bring families and friends together,\u201d they state.<\/p>\n \u201cWe explore the psychology of rituals to understand why they make us feel relaxed, bonded and safe.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd in this fast paced and often disconnected digital world, we explore how nostalgia and rituals could help us find deeper connection, and sense of belonging.\u201d<\/p>\n The Scarecrows\u2019 Wedding, BBC1, 3.10pm<\/strong><\/p>\n Two Irish stars lead the cast in the BBC\u2019s adaptation of a Julia Donaldson classic.<\/p>\n The Scarecrows\u2019 Wedding tells the tale of two devoted scarecrows, Betty O\u2019Barley and Harry O\u2019Hay, who are planning a wedding to remember.<\/p>\n When Harry insists on leaving the farm to collect one last thing for their big day, a smooth-talking scarecrow named Reginald Rake swoops in with plans of his own. Chaos ensues, and soon everything\u2019s at risk.<\/p>\n The half-hour animated special features an all-star voice cast with Co. Kerry native Jessie Buckley as Betty O\u2019Barley, and Dubliner Domhnall Gleeson as Harry O\u2019Hay.<\/p>\n Rob Brydon voices Reginald Rake while Sophie Okonedo in in place as the Narrator.<\/p>\n Gladiators – Celebrity Special, BBC1, 3.35pm<\/strong><\/p>\n Four famous faces will take on one of the toughest gameshows on telly this Christmas, as they battle against the mighty Gladiators.<\/p>\n Hosted by Bradley and Barney Walsh, this one-hour special sees the nation\u2019s PE Teacher, Joe Wicks pitted against presenter Sam Thompson whilst boxing legend Nicola Adams takes on Dublin-born podcaster Vogue Williams.<\/p>\n They\u2019ll face the ultimate test of speed, strength and skill before going head-to-head in the iconic eliminator.<\/p>\n Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, BBC1, 5.30pm<\/strong><\/p>\n This year\u2019s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special will see six couples battle it out under the glitterball to be crowned the Strictly Christmas Champion.<\/p>\n Former Westlife star Brian McFadden, who hails from Dublin, is one of them.<\/p>\n He will battle it out under the festive glitterball with professional dancer Michelle Tsiakkas.<\/p>\n Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will oversee the festivities for their final time, while Head Judge Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke will all be on hand to dish out sleigh-loads of advice.<\/p>\n Expect a winter wonderland full of festive magic, dazzling group dances, live music and more in what will be the perfect antidote to the post-Christmas Dinner slump.<\/p>\n Amandaland, BBC1, 9.15pm<\/strong><\/p>\n The festive instalment of the BBC hit comedy Amandaland features a reunion of Absolutely Fabulous\u2019 Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders.<\/p>\n Saunders joins the show for a one-off appearance as Aunt Joan, the sister of Lumley\u2019s character Felicity, who is Amanda\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n Amanda (Lucy Punch) and family will all be spending Christmas as their aunt\u2019s house, as will her long-suffering friend Anne, who is played by the brilliant Irish actor Phillipa Dunne.<\/p>\n Mrs Brown\u2019s Boys, BBC1, 10.15pm<\/strong><\/p>\n Mrs Brown returns for more Christmas capers and festive frolics this year. The first instalment of fun comes with Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas – Mammy’s Bottles on Christmas Day night.<\/p>\n In it, Mrs Brown rediscovers the meaning of family as she gathers those closest to her together for a Christmas photo.<\/p>\n Buster unveils another of his signature Christmas trees with maximum impact and Cathy frets about what presents to buy everyone.<\/p>\n Heart and Soul: The Lord and Dance \u2013 Michael Flatley, BBC Radio 4, 1.30pm<\/strong><\/p>\n Michael Flatley is the most famous Irish dancer in the world, rising to stardom for his leading roles in Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.<\/p>\n In this Heart and Soul Christmas special, Colm Flynn travels to meet Flatley at home, where he reflects on the highs of his remarkable career and the personal experiences that shaped his outlook on life and faith.<\/p>\n Born in Chicago to Irish parents, Flatley grew up surrounded by music, dance, and the values of hard work and perseverance.<\/p>\n His groundbreaking performance in Riverdance at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 brought Irish dance to a global audience, and his later productions redefined what Irish traditional dance could be.<\/p>\n Yet, as he explains in this conversation, the drive to succeed came with challenges \u2014 moments of exhaustion, doubt, and the constant search for meaning beyond the stage.<\/p>\n Big Fat Quiz of the Year, Channel 4, 9pm<\/strong><\/p>\n Second generation Irish comedian Roisin Conaty is among the guests on the 2025 instalment of the Big Fat Quiz of the Year.<\/p>\n The star will join the likes of Jonathan Ross, Nick Mohammed and Katherine Ryan as panellists on the comedy quiz show, which is presented, as ever, by Jimmy Carr.<\/p>\n Wheel of Fortune Christmas Special, ITV, 7.30pm<\/strong><\/p>\n Graham Norton returns with the festive edition of Wheel of Fortune kicking off series three of the popular Saturday night game show.<\/p>\n Contestants will once again be invited to spin the wheel and take their chances at winning the coveted \u00a350,000 prize, as well as a variety of special prizes on offer along the way.<\/p>\n The show, which relaunched last year, has cemented itself as ITV\u2019s biggest entertainment launch since The 1% Club.<\/p>\n Its second series, which aired earlier this year, welcomed 20 million viewers.<\/p>\n “I can’t wait to get back to the wheel!\u201d Graham Norton\u00a0said.<\/p>\n \u201cPlaying word games and giving away money seems like a pretty perfect combination to me.”<\/p>\n Judi Dench: My Family and Me, Channel 4, 9pm<\/strong><\/p>\n Dame Judi Dench is one of Britain\u2019s greatest Shakespearean actors.<\/p>\n In\u00a0this new documentary, the Oscar winning star, whose parents hailed from Dublin, turns history detective to solve a great mystery in her family\u2019s past.<\/p>\n Did one of her ancestors actually meet her hero, William Shakespeare?<\/p>\n Having played nearly every key female part in the Bard\u2019s canon, Dame Judi looks back on the special place the words and worlds of Shakespeare have had throughout her luminous career on stage and screen.<\/p>\n Titanic Sinks Tonight, BBC2, 9pm<\/strong><\/p>\n When she left Belfast in April 1912, the RMS Titanic was believed to be \u2018unsinkable\u2019. Four days into her now infamous maiden voyage, the ship hit an iceberg in the icy waters of the Atlantic.<\/p>\n On BBC2 this Christmas a four-part series pieces together the events, minute by minute, to reveal exactly what happened to the 2,208 passengers and crew that night.<\/p>\n Building on a vast archive of eyewitness testimony, including letters, interviews, memoirs and public enquiries into the disaster, the series uses actors – carefully cast to resemble the survivors – in order to bring these vivid first-hand accounts to life.<\/p>\n Four one-hour episodes begin on December 28 at 9pm and continues each night at the same time until New Year\u2019s Eve.<\/p>\n The Celebrity Apprentice Christmas Specials, BBC1, 9pm<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n This festive season, a host of famous faces are stepping into the boardroom as The Apprentice returns with two celebrity Christmas specials in aid of BBC Children in Need.<\/p>\n Irish presenter Angela Scanlon is among the celebrities taking part.<\/p>\n The Co. Meath native stars alongside AJ Odudu, Charlie Hedges, Eddie Kadi, Jake Wood, JB Gill, Kadeena Cox, Matt Morsia, Rob Rinder, Sarah Hadland, Shazia Mirza and Tom Skinner.<\/p>\n In this two-part Christmas special, the celebrity candidates are split into two groups and sent to Lapland, the official home of Santa, to develop their own gingerbread biscuits.<\/p>\n The second instalment of the show takes place on December 30 at 9pm.<\/p>\n A Long Winter by Colm T\u00f3ib\u00edn, BBC Radio4, 10.45pm<\/strong><\/p>\n Enjoy an unforgettable story about loss and new love from one of Ireland\u2019s most accomplished writers.<\/p>\n Brooklyn and Long Island author Colm T\u00f3ib\u00edn published A Long Winter in September of this year.<\/p>\n It begins one snowy morning when, after arguing with her husband, Miquel\u2019s mother walks out from their home high up in the Pyrenees and does not return.<\/p>\n With his younger brother stationed far away on military service and his father cast out by the people of the town, Miquel and his father are left to fend for themselves.<\/p>\n Together they will be forced to battle the elements, and their resentment of each other, through the long winter.<\/p>\n Kiss Me, Kate, BBC2, 3.15pm<\/strong><\/p>\n Line of Duty\u2019s Adrian Dunbar and Broadway royalty Stephanie J. Block lead a stellar cast in a sizzling new production of Cole Porter\u2019s legendary musical comedy, Kiss Me, Kate.<\/p>\n Filmed especially for the big screen and accompanied by a full orchestra, the show tune classics keep coming – from Brush Up Your Shakespeare to Too Darn Hot, Always True To You (In my Fashion) and Tom, Dick or Harry.<\/p>\n Directed for the screen by Brett Sullivan and filmed live in London at the Barbican Centre, the show saw Fermanagh man Dunbar make his musical debut.<\/p>\n He won critical acclaim for his performance at the Barbican, so this one-off show for television is bound to be a crowd-pleaser.<\/p>\n The Graham Norton New Year’s Eve Show, BBC1, 10.30pm<\/strong><\/p>\n Graham Norton\u2019s Bafta Award-winning chat show returns for its traditional New Year\u2019s Eve edition this month.<\/p>\n Expected sparkling chat, jokes and music as the Dublin-native, who was raised in Co. Cork, welcomes a sofa full of stars to mark the end of 2025.<\/p>\n Ringing in the New Year with Norton is actor Tom Hiddleston; Oscar winner Laura Dern and comic actor Will Arnett.<\/p>\n Owen Cooper, the young star of the TV phenomenon of 2025, Adolescence, will also be there, alongside triple Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan and comedian Tim Key.<\/p>\n Musical guest Alison Limerick will perform her classic dance hit Where Love Lives<\/p>\n Ronan Keating & Friends: A New Year\u2019s Eve Party, BBC1, 11.30pm<\/strong><\/p>\n Get ready for the ultimate New Year\u2019s Eve party as global music legend Ronan Keating takes centre stage to lead the celebrations into 2026.<\/p>\n Ronan Keating & Friends: A New Year\u2019s Eve Party, promises a night packed with incredible performances, big surprises, and feel-good hits as the former Boyzone star performs some of his greatest songs alongside a lineup of very special guests.<\/p>\n As the clock ticks down to midnight, the nation will join the Dubliner and his all-star guests for an electric night of live entertainment, before cutting to London\u2019s world-famous fireworks display to officially welcome the new year.<\/p>\n Then, the party continues as Ronan and friends keep the celebrations going well into 2026.<\/p>\n Harlan Coben\u2019s Run Away, Netflix<\/strong><\/p>\n Launching on Netflix on New Year\u2019s Day, James Nesbitt stars in the latest adaptation of a Harlan Coben thriller.<\/p>\n The eight-episode series Run Away – inspired by Coben\u2019s 2019 novel of the same name \u2013 sees the Northern Irish actor leading the cast as Simon, a man whose perfect life starts to crumble after his daughter Paige (Ellie de Lange), well, runs away.<\/p>\n However, his journey will unearth untold violence that threatens to destabilise his family for good.<\/p>\n Nesbitt is joined by co-stars Ruth Jones, Minnie Driver, Alfred Enoch, and Lucian Msamati.<\/p>\n Shedites, BBC1, 10.35pm<\/strong><\/p>\n This new half-hour comedy by Mrs Brown\u2019s Boys star Paddy Houlihan is set in and around a men\u2019s shed in a village in Ireland.<\/p>\n It also features a host of top Irish acting talent, including his Mrs Brown\u2019s Boys colleague Brendan O\u2019Carroll, comedian Deirdre O\u2019Kane and Shane Casey of The Young Offendors.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a place where men make themselves useful building and repairing things, and along the way find company through unlikely friendships, a sense of purpose, and a mug of strong tea,\u201d a BBC spokesperson explained.<\/p>\n \u201cFor many, the men\u2019s sheds offer a new lease of life, and the Rathbowen shed is no exception.\u201d<\/p>\n The group set out to build a new bike from recycled parts to try and win the local \u201cSanta Spin\u201d race.<\/p>\n But what follows is plenty of shenanigans, bruised pride and a fair dose of stubbornness.<\/p>\n Mrs Brown\u2019s Boys, BBC1, 10.05pm<\/strong><\/p>\n The second festive instalment from Brendan O\u2019Carrol\u2019s hit sitcom is Mrs Brown’s Boys New Year – Stormin’ Mammy.<\/p>\n Tensions are high as Agnes and the gang prepare for an incoming storm.<\/p>\n Buster\u2019s flying high as he nervously awaits his birthday parachute jump, Winnie receives a shock to the system, and a lost nun looks for help.<\/p>\n Sunday, December 21<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Cillian Murphy stars in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer<\/div>\nChristmas Day<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Woman’s Hour presenter Nuala McGovern<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/media.irishpost.co.uk\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10154430\/Scarecrows-Wedding.jpg\")
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Brian McFadden stars in the Strictly Christmas Special<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/media.irishpost.co.uk\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10154446\/Amandaland.jpg\")
Amandaland returns this Christmas<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/media.irishpost.co.uk\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10154335\/Mrs-Browns-Boys.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBoxing Day<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Michael Flatley pictured at The Irish Post Awards 2024<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/media.irishpost.co.uk\/uploads\/2025\/11\/28183555\/Roisin-Conaty-wins-outstanding-contribution-to-comedy.jpg\")
Roisin Conaty will compete in the Big Fat Quiz of the Year<\/div>\nSaturday, December 27<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nSunday December 28 <\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nMonday, December 29<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Colm T\u00f3ib\u00edn (Photo: Brigitte Lacombe)<\/div>\nNew Year\u2019s Eve<\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nNew Year\u2019s Day<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Shedites airs on New Year’s Day<\/div>\nOne moment please…<\/h2>\n
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