Ghosts gets a surprise prime slot as BBC One's Christmas Day schedule is revealed

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Ghosts takes center stage as BBC One announces its Christmas Day schedule

Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe) in a blue checked shirt and Alison (Charlotte Rtichie) in a grey jumped looked stunned at a slice of toast in the Button House kitchen in Ghosts.
(Image credit: BBC)

The BBC One Christmas Day schedule has been revealed and in a surprise, the Ghosts festive special has been given a prime slot alongside Call the Midwife.

Ghosts has enjoyed Christmas specials before but not on Christmas Day, appearing two days before the big day last year.

However, in the ultimate accolade for a BBC comedy, the Ghosts Christmas special 2022 will air actually on Christmas Day just before Call the Midwife.

Here's what the BBC One Christmas Day afternoon and evening schedule looks like:

2.30 The Smeds and the Smoos

3.00 The King's Christmas Broadcast

3.10 Aladdin (2019)

5.10 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas 2022 special

6.25 Michael McIntyre's Christmas Wheel

7.25 Ghosts

7.55 Call the Midwife

9.25 EastEnders

10.25 Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas Special

Nurse Lucille Anderson (LEONI ELLIOTT), Nurse Trixie Franklin (HELEN GEORGE), Nurse Nancy Corrigan (MEGAN CUSACK) have a snowball fight in Call the Midwife Christmas 2022

Call the Midwife will air on Christmas Day (Image credit: BBC / Neal Street Productions)

Ghosts star Charlotte Ritchie spoke to us last year to say how pleased she was that the show had a festive special saying: "It’s a huge thing for a show we feel so proud of. Knowing how much viewers care about Ghosts is special, for some people, it's a family event. That feels right for Christmas.”

She will no doubt be even more delighted now it's been given a Christmas Day slot.

Meanwhile, ITV1’s Christmas Day schedule features a Chase Christmas special, plus festive episodes of Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

It will also be a bittersweet moment for Doc Martin fans as the last ever episode will air on Christmas Day.

Here’s ITV1’s Christmas Day afternoon and evening schedule:

2.00 Ainsley’s Festive Flavours

3.00 H M The King

3.10 Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow Christmas special

4.10 Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway Presents: Polter Guys

4.45 News

5.00 The Chase Celebrity Christmas special

6.00 Emmerdale

7.00 Coronation Street

8.00 Ant and Dec’s Christmas Limitless Win

9.05 Doc Martin Christmas special

Check out our Christmas TV guide for a run down of all the big festive shows and when they’re on.

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David Hollingsworth
David Hollingsworth
Editor

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough. 

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!