Winter on the Farm and Jamie's Cook-Along Christmas: TV highlights

Words by Roger Crow

Last Christmas, Gavin and Stacey gave us their heart, but in 2025 it’s anyone’s guess which show will help win the seasonal ratings battle.

One thing we can guarantee is there will be plenty of festive cheer in this look back at a golden period of British TV, before streaming dominated the box.

Hayley Tamaddon narrates the nostalgic special featuring Susan Calman, Lucy Porter, Richard Blackwood, John Sergeant and Rufus Hound, among others.

Christmas TV We’ve Loved and Lost reflects on an era from the 1960s through to the early 1990s, an era when great Christmas TV was as essential as turkey, sprouts and crackers.

Though some viewers in 2025 might not have a clue about the magic of the Queen’s Speech on December 25, Vanessa Feltz does; she recalls her family standing for that annual TV special featuring the much-missed monarch.

Jeremy Vine recalls his love of seasonal specials such as lolly-sucking copper Kojak, and Dick Emery. In case you didn’t know it, the latter was one of the best-loved comedians of his day, whose TV shows left millions in hysterics. Emery’s catchphrase “Ooh… You Are Awful,” formed the title of his only big-screen offering as a leading man. Though a massive flop, movieland’s loss was TV’s gain. Dick died in 1983, leaving a legacy of comedies which seemed to vanish into the twilight zone of ‘cancelled’ TV shows, though some have found a new audience in recent years.

If someone asked contributor Cheryl Baker what was her favourite festive memory, she would have no problem making her mind up. The Bucks Fizz veteran recalls the buzz of appearing on Christmas Top of the Pops, a show which was a December 25 staple in many houses.

‘The lovely’ Debbie McGee shares her passion for seasonal TV circuses, and Yorkshire farmers Rob and Dave Nicholson recall the halcyon days of Bruce Forsyth and The Generation Game.

If you’re none the wiser, back in the 1970s, the sight of Brucie and Anthea “Give us a twirl” Redfern winding up contestants while trying to help them remember what was on the conveyor belt was the stuff of TV gold.

By the 1980s, the ratings war between ITV and the BBC for biggest audience share during the festive season inspired some unforgettable soap episodes. In 1986, EastEnders featured a knockout moment: Den handing wife Angie divorce papers at the Queen Vic. It was as gripping as the last toffee in the box clinging onto a filling as 30 million fans recovered from the inevitable ‘duff duff’ ending.

A year later, Coronation Street’s poignant Hilda Ogden farewell in the Rovers Return ensured some of the 27 million viewers were left sobbing into their Christmas pudding.

No tribute show like this would be complete without a look at those must-see Morecambe and Wise Christmas Day specials. Between 1969 and 1977, Eric and Ernie’s BBC offerings had A-list stars lining up to take part. That final BBC One festive spectacular in the year of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee became the stuff of TV legend. A whopping 28 million folks sat down to savour the 1977 Christmas offering; around half the population of the UK at the time. Little wonder it was one of the most-watched comedy programmes in British television history, and it definitely hit all the right comedy notes in the right order.

The War Between the Land and the Sea (Sunday 07/12/25, BBC One, 8.30pm & 9.15pm)

Words by Sarah Morgan

It hasn’t been an easy few weeks for Doctor Who and its fans.

The previous series ended in dramatic style, with Ncuti Gatwa’s Time Lord appearing to regenerate into Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler, but then came the news that Disney+ had pulled the plug on their partnership with the BBC, putting the show’s future in doubt.

However, Lindsay Salt, Director of Drama, BBC, made a statement that provided some comfort: “We’d like to thank Disney+ for being terrific global partners and collaborators over the past two seasons… The BBC remains fully committed to Doctor Who, which continues to be one of our most loved dramas, and we are delighted that Russell T Davies has agreed to write us another spectacular Christmas special for 2026.

“We can assure fans, the Doctor is not going anywhere, and we will be announcing plans for the next series in due course which will ensure the Tardis remains at the heart of the BBC.”

But more than a year between episodes is a long time for Whovians to wait. Thankfully, the Beeb has an ace up its sleeve.

The War Between the Land and the Sea has been described by Salt as: “another utterly unique and gripping drama from Russell T Davies and we’re delighted to welcome the show to The Whoniverse! Featuring a stellar cast, with Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw taking on leading roles, this brand new epic mini series will leave audiences on the edge of their seats as they watch UNIT take on one of their biggest battles to save humanity.”

With the Doctor unavailable (no doubt he’s off saving a different world), it’s up to UNIT to step in when an ancient species re-emerges from the ocean, triggering an international crisis. They are, of course, the Sea Devils, who were first seen in 1972. In fact, at 7pm, over on BBC Four, there’s a chance to see their debut in a specially edited version of the story, starring Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning and Roger Delgado as the Time Lord, his assistant Jo Grant and the villainous the Master respectively.

Watching that followed by the first two episodes of the new series should be a lot of fun.

In the latter, Tovey plays Barclay, a low-level UNIT staff member who becomes humanity’s ambassador when the mysterious Salt (Mbatha-Raw) appears at a summit near the River Thames.

Jemma Redgrave reprises her role as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, alongside fellow Who semi-regulars Ruth Madeley and Alexander Devrient, while Colin MacFarlane returns as Torchwood’s General Pierce.

The War Between the Land and the Sea has, however, had a tricky birth. It was initially due for release this year, was then pushed back until 2026 and then brought forward again. Hopefully the five-part plot will be less difficult to follow than its journey to our screens.

And Davies reckons there’s no excuse for not watching it either: “All five episodes will combine to make a terrific box set to watch over the Christmas holidays.”

Maybe things really are looking up for Doctor Who fans everywhere.

Jamie’s Cook-Ahead Christmas (Monday 08/12/2025, Channel 4, 8pm)

Words by Roger Crow

Jamie Oliver is back on the box, and if you want some culinary tips this festive season, but don’t have time to sit through a six-part series, then he has just the recipe to win you over.

Take chunks of mouthwatering TV packed with great advice and demonstrations. Turn up the heat for around 45 minutes each (or an hour if served with adverts), and then let all that inspiration simmer in the minds of viewers. They may hope a large portion of Oliver magic will transfer through the TV screen and into their resulting concoctions.

For millions of us that’s the dream, even if the reality might be about as successful as Bridget Jones’ infamous blue string soup.

In this episode, Jamie shows us yummy festive dishes, sides and sauces that we can make weeks before Christmas, using the freezer to store those edible secret weapons in the battle for December 25 dining supremacy.

Jamie crafts a versatile gravy that starts life vegan and gluten free, so it’s ready for whoever is coming for dinner. Bursting with flavour, it can be enjoyed as is or combined with turkey juices (sorry veggies) on the big day.

Oliver also shares a ‘get-ahead’ stuffing that can be meat or vegetarian, and frozen ahead of time so it’s ready for the festivities.

In case you’re thinking, ‘That’s all very well. But how can I create some clever flavoured butters that can be made in advance to give my veggies a quick boost without the fuss?’ then the eponymous chef also has your back.

He creates fresh parsley, watercress and hot horseradish butter to melt over your steamed greens, and a white wine, orange and cumin butter to give those carrots a delicious kick on the big day.

Other mouthwatering recipes include a potato and fennel al forno that can either be made and frozen as a ready-to-go side dish or wrapped in a short walnut pastry for an amazing veggie centrepiece.

Finally, he creates a simple homemade ice cream that can easily be turned into an Arctic Roll.

Jamie has come a long way since the early days of 1997, when he was just another member of the public with a flair for rustling up a great meal. However, BBC documentary Christmas at the River Cafe helped to change all that.

When a fresh-faced Oliver made his debut, it was the BBC’s bosses who wanted more of his food, glorious food. Fast forward to April 1999, and via his own series The Naked Chef, Jamie proved that everyday folks could be just as good in the kitchen as seasoned TV stars like Keith Floyd and Delia Smith.

Oliver’s inaugural Channel 4 series, Jamie’s Kitchen, followed the establishment of Fifteen restaurant in London, which trained young adults from a disadvantaged background.

He’s enjoyed huge success in the years since, but also suffered heartbreaking disaster when his chain of Jamie’s Italian restaurants collapsed. It’s been a tough few years since Covid led to the closure of many high street eateries, but to paraphrase Friedrich Nietzsche, what doesn’t kill Jamie Oliver makes him stronger, as this show proves.

However, Jamie’s Cook-Ahead Christmas may lead to a serious attack of the munchies during the ad break, so dieters, you have been warned.

Cooper & Fry (Tuesday 09/12/2025, 5, 8pm)

Words by Roger Crow

For newcomers, this four-part drama is based on the successful series of novels from Stephen Booth, a journalist-turned-author.

Back in 2000, the first Cooper and Fry novel, Black Dog, hit the bookshelves. The tale of a missing teenager and the subsequent murder case investigated by DCs Ben Cooper and Diane Fry found an audience, picked up an award, and led to a lucrative literary series.

Booth penned at least one Cooper and Fry book a year until 2018, and where there’s a page-turning crime saga, there’s usually a TV company hoping to transform it into a small-screen smash on a par with Vera or Shetland.

And this final offering proves to be a pre-Christmas cracker. When the body of local photographer Jenny Westlake is found lying among the stones at popular tourist spot the Nine Virgins, Cooper and Fry are called in to investigate her untimely death.

The crime-busters learn about the belief that the stones represent women who danced on the Sabbath and had the ability to grant wishes. A similar attack on local woman Maggie Crew a few weeks earlier seems more than a coincidence, and Fry suspects this assault could be an integral factor in finding the murderer, if Maggie can remember it, that is.

After receiving hostile responses from farmers, the eponymous duo run out of leads. But then a man’s burned body is found nearby, and a truth begins to unravel that leaves the team reeling.

Cooper & Fry is the latest feather in the cap of actor Robert James-Collier. As just about every thespian with a pulse has been in the running for the next James Bond, Amazon bosses have no doubt considered the former Coronation Street star.

A few years ago, one bookmaker rated him as 66-1 to be the next 007, and over the past three years his star has continued to rise. The Downton Abbey movies alone have made almost $400 million between them, but it now looks like we’ve seen the last of Collier’s character Thomas Barrow.

We still have a wait until the news drops on if he has landed the most coveted role in showbusiness, though fans will be left shaken and stirred by this episode.

Like Corrie veteran Robert, Mandip Gill also honed her acting skills in a beloved soap. The Leeds-born thespian became a star after playing Phoebe Jackson/McQueen in Hollyoaks, and then took on one of the biggest roles of her career as Yasmin Khan in Doctor Who. And for many TV fans of a certain age, it’s easy to feel like we’ve stepped into a Tardis of our own and hurtled forwards a few decades in the blink of an eye.

Back in 1993, Cooper & Fry co-star Lorcan Cranitch was hired for an ITV series that many thought would be here today and gone tomorrow. Of course, Cracker became one of the most talked-about dramas of the decade; Lorcan’s sinister screen character became one of its most reviled, and it also helped launch the career of future Time Lord Christopher Eccleston.

You’d need some sort of time travel device to predict whether Cooper & Fry will still be around in a few years. However, given the pedigree of this series, there’s a good chance the season finale won’t be the last we see of Ben and Diane.

Winter on the Farm (Wednesday 10/12/25, 5, 8pm)

Words by Sarah Morgan

Perhaps Helen Skelton, JB Gill and Jules Hudson should consider moving into Cannon Hall Farm – they’re rarely away from the place.

Their latest sojourn in South Yorkshire sees them showcasing some of the seasonal jobs agricultural workers across the land will be facing over the coming months. It’s not the first time they’ve done such a thing, but as regular viewers will know, there’s always something new and fascinating happening.

Skelton will, of course, throw herself into whatever tasks need to be carried out – she’s spent her career tackling major challenges, starting with her spell on Blue Peter, during which she took on ultra marathons, kayaked the Amazon and travelled to the South Pole; you could describe her as the 21st century’s answer to John Noakes.

Most recently, while hosting Coastal Adventures with Helen, Jules & JB, it was she who took on the wildest tasks, throwing herself – literally – into the sea whenever it was called upon.

In the three episodes of Winter on the Farm broadcasting on consecutive days this week, she, Gill and Hudson find out how young Highland cattle are trained for an end-of-year show in Carlisle and hear uplifting stories from the Farmy Army. They also meet a 91-year-old farmer who has spent his life championing the Suffolk Punch horse before learning how we can all help wildlife deal with the colder months.

And if you want more farming fun, stay tuned after Wednesday’s edition for The Yorkshire Vet: A Decade in the Dales, which celebrates the show’s ongoing success.

As for Skelton, she hit the showbiz headlines a couple of years ago after announcing her intention to stand down from her presenting duties on Radio 5 Live so she could spend more time with her three young children at their home in Cumbria.

Then, last September, she began fronting a tongue-in-cheek campaign from bread-maker Warburtons highlighting the “ludicrous expectations of parenting being pedalled on social media. (It’s) really about shining a light on normal life and the reason 45 per cent of people feel guilty that the lunchboxes they send their kids out with are without those picture-perfect, Instagrammable lunches. And I think that’s probably something most of us can relate to.”

She added: “My work is my social life, so I have really strict boundaries about when I’m able to work, and I make sure I’ve got more time with my kids than anything else… I’m really lucky, I work with my best mates.”

Skelton certainly remains busy, both professionally and privately – but could a new job be on the horizon? After finishing as a runner-up on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022, she knows the programme inside out. As we know, there are a couple of vacancies coming up on the show – could Helen foxtrot her way into one of them?

She’s playing her cards close to her chest for now, claiming that whoever does take over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will have “big shoes to fill.” But why shouldn’t it be Skelton? After all, as we know, she does love a challenge.

Play for Today: Special Measures (Thursday 11/12/2025, 5, 9pm)

Words by Richard Jones

Ten years ago, Jessica Plummer was at a crossroads in her career.

The London-born star was a member of girl group Neon Jungle, and after having success with their singles Trouble and Braveheart and album Welcome to the Jungle, they announced they were splitting.

Still in her early 20s, Jessica, who had made her TV debut in October 2013 in Wizards vs Aliens, decided to take acting more seriously and appeared in 2015 romantic comedy film How to Talk to Girls at Parties opposite Ruth Wilson, Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning and Matt Lucas.

There and a half years later, after becoming a mum, Jessica got what would turn out to be her big acting break when she joined the cast of EastEnders, playing Chantelle Atkins, who was involved in a high-profile domestic abuse storyline.

After leaving the soap in September 2020, it was revealed that Jessica would be taking part in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, alongside another former Albert Square actor, Shane Richie.

She finished seventh, and having also been named Best Actress at the Inside Soap Awards, she found herself very much in demand.

Jessica went onto to star as Emma in the BBC’s 2021 miniseries The Girl Before, which earned her British Academy Television Awards and NTAs nominations.

Then, at the beginning of 2025, the actress also received plaudits for her role as Stacey Embalo in Netflix’s adaptation of Harlan Coben thriller Missing You.

Jessica, now 33, is back on the box tonight in the fourth episode of 5’s reboot of the BBC’s influential drama strand Play for Today.

The series kicked off with Never Too Late, starring Anita Dobson, Nigel Havers and Tracy Ann-Oberman, Big Winners, with Sue Johnston and Paul Copley, and psychological thriller A Knock at the Door, featuring Alan Davies and Nikki Amuka-Bird. All three episodes are available to view on My5.

Tonight’s Play for Today, Special Measures, written by screenwriter Lee Thompson and directed by Jack McLoughlin, is a state-of-the-nation drama looking at the growing pressures facing schools in the UK.

Manor Lane High, in the heart of Liverpool, is a school on the edge. Underfunded and overwhelmed, its staff are stretched thin.

Jessica’s character, deputy head of English Amy Harrison, is striving to be the best teacher she can be.

However, just before the day begins, Drew Westhead, the exhausted head of English, abruptly resigns for good.

Already reeling from the result of a pregnancy test, Amy has to step in and steady the ship.

But she barely has time to gather her thoughts – Chris, the frantic deputy head, breaks the news: Ofsted inspectors are arriving in 15 minutes for a surprise inspection.

As Amy attempts to juggle irate parents, guide a trainee teacher through his first lesson and provide much-needed attention to distressed year 10 pupil Callum McNeill (Austin Haynes), she is caught between burnout and bureaucracy.

Throughout a tumultuous school day filled with an Ofsted inspection, disrupted lessons, fiery confrontations, a new job offer and a difficult heart to heart with her husband Joe (Shaun Fagan), Amy is left wondering how – or if – things will ever get better.

Much like Jessica a decade ago, Amy is at a pivotal crossroads in her career and life.

Live: SU2C (Friday 12/12/2025, Channel 4, 7.30pm)

Words by Richard Jones

Nearly one in two of us will get cancer at some point in our lives.

But despite that sobering stat, at least nine million people in the UK are not up to date with their cancer screening – a proven way to detect the disease early which means treatment is more likely to be successful and, in some cases, can prevent it developing in the first place.

As the SU2C telethon returns tonight, Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 are making a special push so the public can easily find out which NHS and PHA cancer screenings they are eligible for and get helpful advice.

Since its launch in 2012, Stand Up To Cancer UK has raised over £113million, funding 73 clinical trials and projects involving over 13,000 cancer patients nationwide.

Adam Hills and Hannah Fry are joined by a few special guests as they kick off the annual fundraising extravaganza.

They’ll be taking a look at the new Screening Checker tool, as well as showcasing a week of celebrity stunts and heartfelt moments.

Adam says: “All week we will be asking famous faces to do some incredible and silly things all in the name of entertainment – to raise money for cancer research and to help remind everyone to use our online screening checker to bust myths around cancer screening.”

Then, at 8pm, there is a pioneering new programme presented by Davina McCall.

In a live broadcast from inside Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, we’ll meet patients and their families whose cancer journeys have been followed for several weeks from diagnosis to results to treatment.

For the first time on UK television, audiences will see clinical consultations with cancer specialists from Addenbrooke’s and Royal Papworth Hospitals unfold in real time.

The aim is to demystify what happens inside a cancer clinic, tackle the fear that prevents many from seeking help and show the life-saving impact of early diagnosis.

The programme also explores the UK’s screening services and the crucial role that they play in saving lives.

Davina, who recently shared her own breast cancer diagnosis and that she’s undergone surgery, says: “I want to take the fear out of cancer screening and show everyone that they are not on their own in this.

“I’ve been part of Stand Up To Cancer UK since it started in 2012 and I knew for this year’s campaign I wanted to step out of the TV studio and speak to real people facing a cancer diagnosis.”

Following the trip to Addenbrooke’s and Royal Papworth Hospitals, a SU2C favourite, Celebrity Gogglebox, returns for another year as stars join the Gogglebox regulars to react to the week’s TV shows.

Then, following more moving personal stories, comedy and inspiring fundraising moments, Adam Hills hotfoots it across London to The Last Leg studio to join Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker for a Stand Up To Cancer special.

The trio are joined in the studio by guests Jon Richardson and Matt Forde to dissect the biggest news stories of the week.

The night concludes with another chance to see Rhod Gilbert: A Pain in the Neck for SU2C (12.10am).

The intimate, inspiring and humorous documentary follows the comedian through 18 months of hope and hell as he confronts his illness, which was, thankfully, caught in good time to allow him to receive effective treatment.