The Best TV To Watch Over The Christmas Break

Sweden, 1863. A country not much visited by Englishmen. An exception is the inquisitive Mr Wraxhall, whose innocent rummaging through the archives of the noble de la Gardie family takes a sinister turn. Wraxhall becomes fascinated by the long-dead founder of the dynasty, the fearsome Count Magnus, a tyrannical ruler who dabbled in alchemy and who once made a strange journey to the Holy Land on unholy business. Despite the warnings of his hosts, Wraxhall is drawn ever deeper into the Count’s dark world and discovers that the dreaded aristocrat may not lie easy in his tomb...

Charlie Mackesy’s book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse has been adapted for the small screen. Narrated by Idris Elba, the story follows four friends who share a deep, unshakable bond. Through a series of profound conversations, the unlikely group explore themes of kindness, compassion and building connections with those from all walks of life.

King Charles III will address the nation for the first time as head of state following Queen Elizabeth II’s death. His Majesty is expected to address some of the biggest issues facing the country today, from the ongoing cost-of-living crisis to climate change.

Shirley and Linda are surprised when Janine invites them for Christmas dinner, leading to a vicious row as Shirley tries to expose her son's fiancé. But the arrival of another unexpected guest only adds to the tension – and leaves Mick wondering about the woman he is marrying. Meanwhile, Alfie has a plan to create a magic Christmas for Kat and the kids by dressing as Santa and abseiling from the roof of the Mitchell house.

Jimmy Carr hosts this annual end-of-year quiz. Stephen Merchant, Katherine Ryan, Richard Ayoade, Maisie Adam, Jonathan Ross and Rose Matafeo are quizzed on the strange events of 2022. As ever, Charles Dance, Jon Snow and the children of Mitchell Brook Primary School are on hand to help Jimmy ask his questions.

In the summer of 1986, Jimmy (Martin Compston) and Tully (Tony Curran) start a brilliant friendship based on music, films and the rebel spirit. With school over and the locked world of their fathers before them, they rush towards the climax of their youth – a magical weekend in Manchester, the epicentre of everything that inspires them in working-class Britain. There, against the greatest soundtrack ever recorded, a vow is made: to go at life differently. Thirty years on, half a life away, the phone rings. Tully has the worst kind of news, and a request that will test their friendship, love, and loyalty to the limit…

This eight-part period drama starts tonight. Based on the life of the young French queen, Marie Antoinette (Emilia Schüle) is drawn into a dark, manipulative court of Versailles. Her duty is to bear an heir, but her fate will set a country on fire.

Based on the novel by Don DeLillo, White Noise stars Oscar nominees Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig and Don Cheadle. A Noah Baumbach film, it will land on Netflix on 30th December. At once hilarious and horrifying, White Noise dramatises a contemporary American family's attempts to deal with the mundane conflicts of everyday life while grappling with the universal mysteries of love, death and the possibility of happiness in an uncertain world.

Jools Holland will be on hand for another year of music and festivities to ring in 2023. Expect performances from a mix of music royalty and recent breakout acts including George Ezra, Self Esteem, Cat Burns, Andy Fairweather, Gabrielle and more.

The three-part series will tell the life and times of disgraced Labour minister John Stonehouse (Matthew Macfadyen). In the early 70s Stonehouse became embroiled with Czech intelligence and had a scandalous affair with his secretary. To cover it all up, he hatched a far-fetched plan to leave behind his loving wife Barbara (Keeley Hawes) and their three young children to disappear.