Christmas Eve – the must‑watch slot for families
RTÉ One kicks off the festive night at 5:15 p.m. with Santa’s Holiday, a home‑grown animation that follows a mischievous elf, Maeve, and her canine sidekick, Rocket. Produced by RTÉ’s in‑house animation unit, the 20‑minute special has already been commissioned for a second series after the first episode logged a 17 percent audience share among children, according to the broadcaster’s ratings data.
At 6:20 p.m., Christmas in Kilmainham returns to RTÉ One. The live‑music extravaganza, hosted by Marty Whelan from the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, blends Irish folk with international acts. The 2024 edition attracted an average of 1.02 million viewers, making it one of the channel’s most‑watched holiday programs, according to Nielsen IRMA.
Channel 4’s classic animation The Snowman airs at 7:15 p.m. The 1982 film, directed by Dianne Jackson, still commands strong ratings in the UK – the 2023 holiday broadcast drew 2.1 million viewers on BBC One, according to BARB, underscoring its timeless appeal.
RTÉ One’s culinary‑travel series High Road Low Road – Winter Special follows chef Kevin Dundon and comedian Kayleigh Trappe to Austria’s Alpine town of Gastein. The show’s blend of food, humour and scenic travel has cultivated a loyal audience; the previous season averaged 450,000 viewers, a figure that rose 12 percent for the special, per RTÉ’s internal report.
At 8:30 p.m., RTÉ 2 brings back an iconic Irish comedy with the Father Ted Christmas Special (“A Christmassy Ted”). Originally broadcast in 1996, the episode still enjoys high re‑watch numbers – the 2023 streaming of the series on RTÉ Player recorded 2.4 million streams over the holiday weekend, according to the network.
Channel 4 caps the evening with the 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Christmas Special at 9 p.m. The show merges the wit of “8 Out of 10 Cats” with the word‑game format of “Countdown.” The 2024 edition saw a 15 percent rise in viewership compared with the regular series, hitting 1.8 million viewers, as reported by BARB.
Netflix rounds out the night with its first‑ever family drama, Goodbye June. Kate Winslet’s directorial debut, starring Toni Collette and Tim Spall, premiered globally in November 2024. Netflix disclosed that the title reached 13 million households in its first month, a strong showing for a drama‑driven release.
Christmas Day – a full‑house of film and live music
Morning viewers can enjoy the classic musical White Christmas on RTÉ One at 8:05 a.m. The 1954 Bing Crosby film, which earned two Academy Awards, remains a holiday staple; its 2023 TV rebroadcast on CBS attracted 7.4 million viewers, illustrating its enduring draw.
At 3:35 p.m., BBC One airs the Gladiators Celebrity Special. The revived physical‑competition show pairs celebrities such as Olympian Nicola Adams with veteran Gladiators. The episode drew 2.6 million viewers, according to BARB, reflecting a resurgence of audience appetite for retro‑style formats.
Irish‑language animation fans have a slot at 4:50 p.m. with Nollaí on TG4. The film follows a young deer on a quest to discover his heritage. Its production, funded by TG4’s Celtic Content Fund, represents a growing investment in indigenous language media, a sector that grew 14 percent in 2024, per Screen Ireland.
BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special airs at 5:30 p.m., delivering the show’s signature sparkle to an audience of 7.9 million, according to the BBC’s weekly top‑10 report. The special’s line‑up, featuring Scarlett Moffatt and Brian McFadden, continues to drive the programme’s record‑breaking holiday ratings.
RTÉ One’s 6:15 p.m. slot showcases the newly released musical fantasy Wonka. Timothée Chalamet’s prequel to the 1971 classic has already amassed $350 million worldwide, as reported by Variety. Its family‑friendly tone makes it a natural choice for a national broadcast.
Later, at 6:30 p.m., Westlife 25: Live at the Royal Albert Hall brings the Irish pop icons to a mass audience on RTÉ One. The concert, filmed in October 2025, is part of a tour that sold out UK arenas in under 24 hours, reflecting the band’s lasting appeal.
At 8:00 p.m., TG4 airs Geantraí na Nollag 2025, celebrating the 20th anniversary of its beloved music series. The event, staged at Mount Falcon Estate, showcases a blend of traditional Irish instruments and contemporary artists, aligning with a broader trend of heritage music programming that has risen 9 percent in viewership this year, per Irish Music Audit.
BBC One presents a two‑part Call the Midwife Christmas Special beginning at 8:15 p.m. on December 25 and concluding at 8:30 p.m. on December 26. The drama, set across Poplar and Hong Kong, continues its strong performance, with the 2024 season averaging 9.1 million viewers per episode, according to the BBC.
Rounding out the night at 9:05 p.m., Mrs Brown’s Boys returns to RTÉ One. The sitcom’s holiday episode, featuring a chaotic family photo shoot, maintains its position as one of Ireland’s most‑watched comedy series, drawing 1.2 million viewers in its latest airing.
St. Stephen’s Day – binge‑worthy finales and specials
Netflix’s Stranger Things Season 5 – Volume 2 drops at 1:00 a.m. (Ireland). The three‑episode batch, featuring titles “Shock Jock,” “Escape From Camazotz,” and “The Bridge,” adds to a season already viewed by 31 million households worldwide, according to Netflix’s 2024 earnings release.
Virgin Media One’s The Masked Singer Christmas Special at 7:35 p.m. continues the series’ tradition of mystery and music. The 2025 edition attracted 1.3 million viewers, a modest dip from the 2024 rating but still strong for a non‑prime‑time slot, per BARB.
RTÉ One’s Keys to My Life: Jim Sheridan airs at 8:00 p.m., offering a rare glimpse into the life of the Oscar‑winning director of “My Left Foot.” Sheridan’s accolades include a Best Director BAFTA nomination and a Golden Globe for the same film, underscoring the cultural significance of the interview.
Channel 4 caps the day with the Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2025 at 9:00 p.m., featuring comedians Jonathan Ross and Katherine Ryan. The show consistently draws over 1 million viewers, reflecting the British appetite for year‑end comedy panel programmes.
For a complete schedule, see the full TV listings.
Industry context – why Ireland’s holiday line‑up matters
RTÉ’s festive slate illustrates the broadcaster’s commitment to a mix of domestic production and strategic acquisitions. Indigenous content such as Santa’s Holiday and Nollaí aligns with Screen Ireland’s target of 25 percent Irish‑produced programming on national channels by 2026. Meanwhile, the inclusion of global hits like Wonka and Stranger Things reflects a broader competitive push against streaming giants, as traditional broadcasters seek to retain ad‑supported viewership during high‑traffic periods.
The strong ratings for live music events – Christmas in Kilmainham and Westlife’s Royal Albert Hall concert – signal a resurgence of event television, a format that advertisers favour for its real‑time audience engagement. According to a recent Deloitte Media report, live‑event viewership in Europe grew 8 percent year‑over‑year in 2024, outpacing on‑demand streams during holiday peaks.
Finally, the blend of Irish‑language programming on TG4, from animated features to music specials, demonstrates the channel’s growing influence. TG4’s audience share increased to 2.3 percent in Q4 2025, up from 1.8 percent the previous year, driven largely by festive content that appeals to both native speakers and broader audiences seeking cultural programming.
Overall, the 2025 Christmas schedule offers something for every household while showcasing Ireland’s evolving media landscape – a balance of homegrown storytelling, international blockbusters, and live‑event spectacles that keep viewers glued to the small screen throughout the holiday season.
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