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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment magazine in the UK“, we check out the most highly anticipated Christmas TV Specials of 2023.
Every December, our screens light up with a dazzling array of festive offerings, from heartwarming classics to laugh-out-loud comedies and everything in between. And this year is no different, with a veritable smorgasbord of specials just waiting to fill your stockings with seasonal cheer.
But with so many yuletide treats to choose from, where do you start? Fear not, fellow festive fanatics, for here is your jolly guide through the most highly anticipated Christmas TV specials of 2023!
The research, conducted by online casino website CZR, used Google Keyword Planner to analyse nationwide searches for this year’s upcoming Christmas specials, from April through to October, to identify which have seen the biggest interest to date.
Interestingly, almost all of the most in-demand Christmas specials are shown on BBC One – suggesting it’s the must-watch channel on the big day – excluding All Creatures Great and Small, which broadcasts on Channel 5.
Sitcom Ghosts comes out on top as the special people are most excited for this Christmas. Achieving 9,600 searches from April to October this year, the special has attracted 179% more interest than the average reported across the top analysed shows (3,439 searches).
The BBC supernatural comedy was always going to be a popular Christmas special this year, as it promises to wrap up the show with a heartwarming finale – as the seasonal installment is actually set to be the final show of the series.
The Ghosts Christmas Special 2023 will air on Christmas Day on BBC One at 7.45 pm.
The iconic sci-fi series Doctor Who’ continues to surprise and captivate viewers, now more than ever. The recent special episodes – marked by the unexpected return of the beloved David Tennant – has injected a fresh surge of enthusiasm among fans.
The enthusiasm is only set to continue into the Christmas special, the data shows, as it’s attracted 5,860 searches over a six-month period. This year’s episode will give more insight into the Fifteenth Doctor, played by Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa.
The Doctor Who 2023 Christmas Special will be available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 5.55pm on Christmas Day.
The festive tradition continues as Call the Midwife returns for another Christmas special, and it appears people are still as excited as ever for this year’s episode. The special ranks as the third most highly anticipated Christmas special with 2,370 searches.
The popular BBC show is sure to deliver a mixture of heartwarming festive cheer and gripping drama – making it the ideal addition to elevate the excitement of Christmas day.
The Call the Midwife Christmas special 2023 will air on Christmas Day at 8.15 pm on BBC One.
Taking the fourth spot in the ranking is Death in Paradise with 2,710 searches, with the special promising to deliver mystery, excitement, and suspense.
The show has been a key part of British TV since it first aired in 2011 and tells the story of an uptight London cop learning to adjust to the Caribbean culture and climate while solving crimes – and fans are clearly excited to see what the special has in store.
The Death in Paradise’s 2023 Christmas special will air on Boxing Day at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Dancing its way into the hearts of the British public, the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special never fails to attract viewers who are looking for some glitz and glamour.
Ranking in fifth place, this dazzling dance show was searched for 1,710 times in the run-up to Christmas. The special is sure to feature spectacular performances, festive cheer, and quintessentially British charm, making it the perfect Christmas show.
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special will air at 5.10pm on Christmas Day on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Nothing says cosy Christmas like exploring rural Yorkshire life with the show All Creatures Great and Small. Ranking in sixth place with 1,330 searches, it’s clear plenty of people are excited for this year’s Christmas special.
The modern adaptation of the classic book series encapsulates the charm and whimsy of rural Britain, following a trio of veterinarians working in the Yorkshire Dales in 1937.
The All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special 2023 will air on Thursday 21st December at 9pm on Channel 5.
Not to be forgotten, the iconic British soap Eastenders is back for yet another Christmas special, securing the 7th spot in the ranking with 1,030 searches.
Since over 30 million people tuned in on Christmas day in 1986 to see Dirty Dave hand his wife Angie divorce papers, the soap’s Christmas special has been a staple of the British holiday season and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
The Eastenders Christmas special 2023 will air on Christmas Day at 9.45 pm on BBC One.
| Rank | Christmas TV Specials 2023 | Total Search Volume(April – October 2023) |
| 1 | Ghosts | 9,600 |
| 2 | Doctor Who | 5,860 |
| 3 | Call the Midwife | 2,370 |
| 4 | Death in Paradise | 2,170 |
| 5 | Strictly Come Dancing | 1,710 |
| 6 | All Creatures Great and Small | 1,330 |
| 7 | Eastenders | 1,030 |
It’s interesting to see which Christmas TV specials people are most excited for this year, and it’s always great to see the classic Christmas specials have made the list such as Call the Midwife, Strictly Come Dancing and Eastenders as it’s a testament to the British public’s loyalty to their favourite shows.
One noteworthy aspect of the ranking is that the long-awaited Doctor Who special episodes featuring David Tennant which aired earlier this month are likely to cause a further increase in interest in the Christmas special – especially given the initial reaction to Ncuti Gatwa’s new doctor has been positive. It remains to be seen who’ll dominate the viewing figures this Christmas, but clearly, BBC and BBC iPlayer will be a staple in many people’s homes.
-expert from CZR
Sources: Google Keyword Planner
Methodology: The data was collated via Google Keyword Planner, which provides monthly and annual Google search volume for key phrases and terms across the UK. Keywords related to each Christmas special were used to identify the most searched for 2023 Christmas special.
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