The Night Before Christmas, The Grinch, The Snowman and the Snowdog, Outnumbered

Our pick of the best on the box this festive season

Snowman and the Snowdog; 8 Out of Ten Cats; Peep Show; Outnumbered

It’s Christmas Eve, and with a whole day of festive telly ahead of you, why not start early with the festive cult hit Tim Burton’s The Night Before Christmas (BBC 2 9.10am)? Other pre-lunch silliness includes The Muppet’s Christmas Carol (Channel Four 11am).

You could do nothing but watch films all day long. Why not, it’s Christmas! Catch the family-friendly comedy The Santa Clause (BBC 1) at 12:25pm, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (Channel 4) at 2:50pm, creepy bah humbug The Grinch (ITV) at 4:45pm, and for something less festive, but still worth a watch, the Walt Disney classic The Lady and the Tramp (BBC 1) at 5:05pm.

If you’re not fed up with films by 8:30pm, switch to BBC 3 for the 2007 Pixar movie Ratatouille. The story of a rat who wants to be a chef in Paris will certainly put a smile one your face - and might get you thinking about Christmas dinner.

Sing along to Carols from King’s, live from King’s College Cambridge on BBC2 at 6.15pm, an undisputed annual highlight.

Don't miss Channel 4 follow-up to Raymond Brigg’s The Snowman, The Snowman and the Snowdog, at 8:00pm.

You won’t be short of comedy either as Jimmy Carr hosts a festive 8 Out of Ten Cats (Channel 4) at 9pm and at 9:35pm the Brockmans throw a Christmas party for their friends and neighbours in the Outnumbered Christmas Special (BBC 1).

Fans of Peep Show (Channel 4) won’t want to miss the season finale at 10pm. Ex-boyfriend Simon offers Dobby a new job in New York, but will she leave Mark for the Big Apple?

If you haven’t fallen asleep after one too many sherries, the Jonathan Ross Show Christmas Special (ITV) is on at 11.15pm, and he’ll be chatting to a host of famous names including Michael McIntyre, Sienna Miller, and Jamie Oliver.