Don't miss these comedy gems this Christmas
Anna Lowman
BBC iPlayer
The BBC’s Christmas schedules have just been announced, so – like any good telly fan – we’ve grabbed our (virtual) red pen and (virtually) circled some of the comedy shows we’re particularly excited about.
'It’ll be, what I call, emotional...' Miranda Hart’s sitcom comes to an end this Christmas
When it comes to comedy, the spirit of Christmases past is at the heart of this year’s festive listings.
Miranda Hart has always worn her love of traditional comedy on her sleeve, with her Morecambe and Wise looks to the camera, and those ‘You have been watching’ credits. On Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, Miranda brings her heart-warming, prat-falling, M-People-singing sitcom back to BBC One for two very special, very final episodes.
Back in 2010, the real Miranda told us that making the sitcom is “a dream come true” – we’ll have to wait and see whether her alter-ego gets a happy ever after of her own.
Of course, Sir David Jason has been central to some of comedy’s best-loved festive moments - glass of vin ordinaire, anyone?
After 2013’s one-off episode of Still Open All Hours, he’s back with a full series. Arkwright’s re-opens its doors for business on Boxing Day, where Granville is once again joined by his son Leroy (James Baxter) and the ever-pessimistic Eric (Johnny Vegas).
Teaser trail: Sam and Phil are banged up abroad in all-new episodes
The Wrong Mans might be a thoroughly modern sitcom, but don’t think we haven’t noticed that classic straight man/funny man dynamic between Sam (Mat Baynton) and Phil (James Corden). Laurel and Hardy would be proud. Sam and Phil find themselves in another fine mess in two hour-long specials on Monday, 22 December and Tuesday, 23 December, which take them to the US as they attempt to prove once again that criminals and crime-busters alike have got the wrong mans.
If you’re after that quintessentially British comedy staple 'angry middle-aged man barely concealing his frustrations', look no further than the special Christmas edition of Cuckoo.
Dale (Taylor Lautner) and Ken (Greg Davies) get ready for Christmas
Because there’s nothing more festive than watching Ken (Greg Davies) go the full Basil Fawlty at Dale's infuriating New Age-ery is there? Catch Cuckoo on BBC Three on Christmas Eve.
It’ll probably be a more traditional Christmas round at the Browns – although when previous years have seen Mammy riding the tree like a rodeo bull, who knows?
Mammy means mayhem: Mrs Brown gathers the family for another chaotic Christmas
The ultimate matriarch and her family are back with their particularly chaotic take on the festive season on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day on BBC One. In the meantime, you can read Brendan O’Carroll’s own thoughts on Agnes – whom he calls “a complete contradiction... [with] a fishwife’s tongue.”
2014 was the year we very sadly lost Rik Mayall – a performer who ripped up the traditional comedy rule book before smashing it over Adrian Edmondson’s head.
Comedy stars celebrate the man behind Lord Flashheart and The Young One’s Rik
He inspired many tributes, including one of our own, and BBC Two will salute the People’s Poet with a new retrospective documentary on Saturday, 20 December. The programme will feature contributions from Simon Pegg, Lenny Henry, Alexei Sayle and Ruby Wax, and you’ll be able to see Mayall in action in Blackadder and The Young Ones the same evening on BBC Two.
And finally, if what you really want for Christmas is something guaranteed to unite the family (or friends, neighbours, and general hangers-on that you ended up cooking for) around the telly, The Muppets will surely do the trick. On BBC One on Monday 29th December, Kermit gets the old gang back together to try and save their old studio. We’re already feeling warm and fuzzy... or should that be Fozzie? Wocka wocka!
Anna Lowman is an assistant editorial manager for BBC iPlayer.
Miranda is on Christmas Day at 7.15pm and New Year's Day at 8pm on BBC One and BBC One HD.
Still Open All Hours is on Boxing Day at 6.25pm on BBC One and BBC One HD.
The Wrong Mans is on Monday, 22 December and Tuesday, 23 December at 9pm on BBC Two and BBC Two HD.
Cuckoo Christmas Special is on Christmas Eve at 10.25pm on BBC Three and BBC Three HD.
Mrs Brown's Boys is on Christmas Day at 10.05pm and New Year's Day at 9.35pm on BBC One and BBC One HD.
Rik Mayall Lord of Misrule is on Saturday, 20 December at 10.05pm on BBC Two and BBC Two HD.
Bells from Blackadder is on Saturday, 20 December at 9.35pm on BBC Two and BBC Two HD.
Interesting from The Young Ones is on Saturday, 20 December at 11.05pm on BBC Two and BBC Two HD.
The Muppets is on Monday, 29 December at 6.20pm on BBC One and BBC One HD.
Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.
