Four of the best Christmas themed TV episodes

With everyone talking about the final Christmas episode of Gavin & Stacey...

We thought we'd explore some of the best Christmas specials of our favourite programmes. 

Author -  Liam Chadwick

Seasonal Beatings - Peep Show (Series 7, Episode 5)

Christmas with Mark, Jez and Superhans. What could possibly go wrong. Mark invites his parents over for Christmas lunch, but Jeremy gets overexcited and Dobby and Super Hans also show up. The boys try to celebrate a traditional family Christmas, but things go wrong. 

Afternoon Delight – Arrested Development (Series 2, Episode 6)

Christmas is a time for families to come together, but it rarely goes as smoothly as planned. When the banana stand is vandalised by teenagers, Michael turns to his son George Michael for help. However, when George Michael is unavailable, Michael worries he’s losing his son’s attention. Feeling lonely without her mum, Maeby steps in to assist, and the two end up singing “Afternoon Delight” at the office Christmas party – oblivious to the song’s inappropriate undertones at first. Things get even more chaotic when Oscar mistakes “Afternoon Delight” for a strain of cannabis, sneaks some into Lucille’s brownie, and she subsequently crashes into the banana stand. Meanwhile, Lindsay and George Michael also attempt the song, only to realise mid-performance that it’s far from family-friendly. This festive episode epitomises Arrested Development’s strength in hilarious misunderstandings and chaotic family dynamics.

The One With the Holiday Armadillo – Friends (Series 7, Episode 10)

Ross is determined to teach his son, Ben, about Hanukkah, but without a Santa costume, he improvises by dressing up as the ‘Holiday Armadillo’. The situation takes a hilariously bizarre turn when Chandler turns up dressed as Father Christmas and Joey joins the fun as Superman. This unforgettable episode combines humour and holiday spirit, perfectly capturing the show’s charm.

A Very Sunny Christmas – It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Series 6, Episode 13)

Christmas with the gang from Paddy’s Pub is as chaotic as ever, complete with profanity, absurdity, and plenty of shouting. In this hour-long special, Frank selfishly buys Dee’s and Dennis’s dream gifts for himself, prompting them to plot a revenge scheme straight out of A Christmas Carol. Meanwhile, Mac discovers his family’s tradition of robbing homes on Christmas Day, and Charlie confronts a Santa in an unforgettable meltdown, screaming, “Did you sleep with my mum, Santa Claus?” after realising his mum had flings with men dressed as Father Christmas. The chaos continues as Frank attempts to make amends with gifts that ultimately get stolen, but it all ends on a bizarrely heartwarming note with the gang pelting rocks at trains. It’s the perfect blend of madness and festivity, true to the show’s style. In other news, we wonder what Christmas is ĺike in Wrexham?

A Special Christmas – Gavin & Stacey

No list of iconic Christmas TV episodes would be complete without Gavin & Stacey. This festive instalment sees the Shipmans and Smithy travelling to Barry to celebrate Christmas with the Wests. While a lot has changed in ten years, Nessa still has one very particular thing on her mind, leading to laughs and heartfelt moments in equal measure.