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Your Christmas and New Year viewing sorted

Pairs well with the Dominos festive menu.

THE FESTIVE PERIOD is when you get to flop on the couch and put your feet up – after a long year, you’ve earned it. 

But what to watch across the Christmas and New Year period, when there’s so much out there to choose from on TV and streaming?

Have no fear – here’s our guide to the top shows and films to catch from 24 December to 1 January. 

Christmas Eve

  • Die Hard: TG4, 9.45pm

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Kick the festivities off with an all-time classic. Bruce Willis stars as hardened NYC cop John McClane, who is already anticipating a miserable Christmas when his wife’s office Christmas party gets hijacked by nefarious criminals.

Christmas Day

  • Stranger Things, Christmas Day/New Year’s Eve

stranger-things-season-5 Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, and Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers in Stranger Things: Season 5 Netflix Netflix

Time for part two of season 5 of Stranger Things – three episodes will drop on Christmas Day, followed by a feature-length finale on New Year’s Eve. Will the young ‘uns of Hawkins defeat the evil Vecna and banish the Upside Down from their lives forever? We shall wait and see.

  • Amandaland Christmas Special: BBC1, 9.15pm

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This spin-off from Motherland is an absolute hoot. It follows the character Amanda (Lucy Punch) who’s trying to make her own way after a divorce. Her odious but hilarious mother Felicity is played by the one and only Joanna Lumley. In this Christmas special, the pair head to Aunt Joan’s house for Christmas Day. The best part? Aunt Joan is played by Lumley’s Ab Fab co-star Jennifer Saunders. What a treat to see these two reunited.

  • Réalt an Rince: TG4, 10.05pm

Fan of old Hollywood films? Then check out this new documentary about the Singin’ in the Rain star, and how he reconnected with his Irish heritage. 

Saturday 27 December

  • Banshees of Inisherin: RTÉ One 9.40pm

Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell play two warring former best friends in this dark tragicomedy from Martin McDonagh. A great chance to catch this if you haven’t seen it yet.

28 December

  • The Deer Hunter: RTÉ One, 11.10pm 

This 1978 epic film is an absolute classic. There’s an incredible cast here – it includes Meryl Streep, Robert de Niro and Christopher Walken for starters – and the storyline is gripping. It’s about three steelworkers and friends whose lives are forever changed when they fight in the Vietnam War. 

  • Rory McIlroy: A Battle Won: RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, 9.30pm 

2025-masters-tournament-final-round A victorious Rory McIlroy Erick W. Rasco / Sports Illustrated via Getty Images Erick W. Rasco / Sports Illustrated via Getty Images / Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Golfer Rory McIlroy had quite the 2025: his win at the Masters made him a Grand Slam champion. This documentary looks at the road to this success, in particular the mental impact on McIlroy.

29 December

  • Death on the Nile: BBC Two, 3.45pm

There’s absolutely nothing better than a classic Agatha Christie murder mystery. In this 1978 film, Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov) investigates the murder of an heiress on board a paddle steamer in Egypt. The late, great Angela Lansbury co-stars.

30 December

  • Rocketman: Channel 4, 9pm 

Taron Edgerton transforms himself into Elton John for this biopic, which tells the story of the iconic musician’s life and career.

New Year’s Eve

  • The Late Late New Year’s Eve Show: RTÉ One, 10.25pm

rte-late-late Patrick Kielty gets ready to ring in the New Year on RTÉ One. Andres Poveda. Andres Poveda.

Kick off the New Year’s Eve celebrations with Patrick Kielty and his guests, who include David Gray, Lyra and Sharon Shannon. 

  • Cartlann Christy Moore: TG4, 10.10pm

Legendary folk singer Christy Moore sits down with Liam O’Connor, director of the Irish Traditional Music Archive, to reflect on his career. A man as known for his activism as his music, he will surely have many fascinating stories to share.

1 January - New Year’s Day 

  • Live Premier League: Sky Premiere League, 5pm

Itching to watch some live sport? Crystal Palace take on Fulham on New Year’s Day in this Premier League game.

  • The Traitors: BBC1, 8pm

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Hurray – time for the return of the delightful Traitors. Claudia Winkleman is back to introduce us to 22 people from across the UK who will battle it out to win up to  £120,000. Will they be as dastardly as the contestants in The Traitors: Ireland? We shall have to wait and see…

  • The Night Manager: BBC1, 9.05pm

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Fans have been asking for the Night Manager to return to our screens for the past decade. Finally, they get their wish. Tom Hiddleston is back as Jonathan Pine, an ex-soldier and MI6 asset who’s living under a new identity when he has to return to the field. He even has to don a new identity… Sounds thrilling.

Once you have your viewing sorted, the next step is to put your feet up and order off the Domino’s festive menu – which is available for a limited time.

The festive menu includes The Festive One Pizza with pulled turkey, sausage, bacon, and cranberry drizzle, and the new Mince Pie Cookies. Or try the Festive Loaded Fries, topped with turkey, bacon, and cranberry drizzle, and the popular Hot & Cheesy Dip with Twisted Doughballs. Order now at Dominos

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