BBC unveils Christmas 2025 schedule including Kiss Me, Kate & Big Night of Musicals compilation [Updated]

The BBC has announced its Christmas 2025 line-up of shows for BBC TV and BBC iPlayer, including a number of West End and theatre related programmes.

Highlights include the TV premiere of the London stage production of Kiss Me, Kate starring Adrian Dunbar and Stephanie J Block; a compilation of performances from previous Big Night of Musicals concerts; and the Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker.

Also, Blue Peter’s Christmas Cracker will see three lucky competition winners go behind the scenes on the set of Strictly Come Dancing to meet the stars of the show; get a starring role in the CBeebies Panto; and the cast of hit London show Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular join the fun for a show-stopping performance inspired by The Greatest Showman.

Kiss Me, Kate

The West End production of Cole Porter’s joyous musical Kiss Me, Kate is coming to the BBC this Christmas, staring Line of Duty’s Adrian Dunbar and Tony Award-winning Broadway star Stephanie J. Block.

Filmed especially for the big screen and accompanied by a full orchestra, the show boasts glorious songs including Brush Up Your Shakespeare to Too Darn Hot, Always True To You (In my Fashion) and Tom, Dick or Harry.

Directed by Bartlett Sher (My Fair Lady), Kiss Me, Kate is directed for the screen by Brett Sullivan and was filmed live in London at the Barbican Theatre.

The cast also features Charlie Stemp (Crazy For You, Mary Poppins) as Bill Calhoun, Georgina Onuorah (The Wizard of Oz, Oklahoma!) as Lois Lane, Hammed Animashaun (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Black Ops) and Nigel Lindsay (Victoria, Shrek The Musical) as the gangsters, and Peter Davison (Dr Who, All Creatures Great and Small) as the General.

This filmed version was also screened in cinemas late last year.

Read our reviews round-up of Kiss Me, Kate.

Biggest Night of Musicals

Jason Manford hosts a celebration of the most memorable performances from previous Big Night of Musicals concerts, in Christmas special Biggest Night of Musicals by the National Lottery show songs.

The TV show will feature show-stopping numbers from some of the biggest West End and touring productions including West End blockbusters Wicked, Les Misérables, Matilda The Musical, The Phantom of the Opera and Back to the Future The Musical.

Touring productions featured include Mary Poppins and The Bodyguard.

An A-list line-up of West End stars performing include Alfie Boe, Beverley Knight, Michael Ball, and a dazzling performance of Electricity from Billy Elliot.

The Nutcracker from the Royal Ballet

Sir Peter Wright’s acclaimed production of the Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House takes centre stage in the lead-up to Peter Wright’s 100th birthday year.

Set to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky music, Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker was first performed by the Royal Ballet in 1984 and this production was filmed in 2023 at Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House.

Other highlights for Christmas 2025 include:

• An animated adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s The Scarecrows’ Wedding, featuring the voices of Rob Brydon, Jessie Buckley, Domhnall Gleeson and Sophie Okonedo
• Paddington and Paddington 2 movies scheduled for 24 and 26 December
• Tom Hiddleston returns in season 2 of The Night Manager
• An Amandaland Christmas Special, with Jennifer Saunders playing Joanna Lumley’s on-screen sister
• Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas special, including special guests Scarlett Moffatt, Melanie Blatt and Jodie Ounsley
• Two Doors Down Christmas Special
• Here We Go: Our New Year’s Fireworks Fantasaganza
• The Traitors is back as Claudia Winkleman returns to the Scottish Highlands with an all new civilian series
• Dame Joanna Lumley and Tobias Menzies star in The Room in the Tower by E.F. Benson, this year’s Ghost Story for Christmas from Mark Gatiss
• Bafta and Olivier Award-winner Monica Dolan gives a captivating performance reading of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, and Steffan Rhodri (Gavin and Stacey) gives an enchanting performance reading of C.S. Lewis’s timeless story of Narnia

Christmas in the West End 2025: Explore our guide to all the shows playing during Christmas in London and the West End >

UPDATES: First published 25 November 2025: Updated 3 December 2025

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