Shaun the Sheep premiere leads Sky’s festive highlights

From eagerly anticipated returning dramas and laugh-out-loud comedy specials to blockbuster films, fascinating documentaries and a spectacular sporting calendar, Sky is bringing plenty of festive entertainment to screens this Christmas and New Year.

Whether viewers are looking for the perfect Christmas Day watch, a gripping new series to binge over the holidays or live sporting action to keep everyone entertained, Sky and NOW have a winter schedule packed with something for everyone.

Leading the line-up are the highly anticipated return of Sky Original The Trip to the Northern Lights, the second series of dark comedy thriller Sweetpea, and a host of exciting Sky Cinema premieres, including Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom and By Any Means.

Big returns and brilliant new dramas

One of the biggest highlights is The Trip to the Northern Lights, which sees Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon reunite more than five years after their last adventure. The fifth instalment of the acclaimed comedy series takes the pair across Sweden and Norway, where they explore spectacular scenery, enjoy fine food and deliver their trademark blend of witty observations, friendly rivalry and hilarious conversations.

Directed by Michael Winterbottom, the six-part series promises another entertaining mix of comedy, travelogue and self-reflection as the duo debate everything from ageing and ambition to family, fame and their respective careers. It arrives in December on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

Also returning is Sweetpea, with Ella Purnell reprising her role as Rhiannon Lewis in the second season of the darkly comic thriller. Returning on 26 November, Rhiannon faces a new promotion, a romantic rebound and the threat of a copycat killer who could expose her secrets. With a growing kill list and new faces entering her life, the question remains: is Rhiannon really a monster?

For fans of gripping American drama, The Good Daughter arrives on Sky Atlantic on 12 November. Based on Karin Slaughter’s bestselling novel, the suspenseful series stars Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy as sisters Charlotte and Samantha Quinn, whose lives were shattered by violence two decades earlier. When another attack rocks their hometown, buried secrets and painful memories come to the surface.

Meanwhile, December brings the return of the lavish period drama The Gilded Age for its fourth season, taking viewers back to the social rivalries and extravagant world of 1880s New York.

Festive laughs and family entertainment

Never Mind The Christmas Buzzcocks | Preview (Sky Max)

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a healthy dose of comedy, and Sky has plenty lined up.

Never Mind the Christmas Buzzcocks returns with two festive specials, featuring Kelly Osbourne and Alesha Dixon as guest captains alongside regulars Greg Davies, Noel Fielding and Jamali Maddix. Expect musical nostalgia, surprises and the wonderfully chaotic humour that has made the show a favourite. A special post-Christmas edition, The Hangover, will also celebrate that strange period between Christmas and New Year when nobody quite knows what day it is.

Stand-up fans can enjoy two big comedy performances, with Josh Widdicombe bringing his latest show, Not My Cup of Tea, to Sky, while Jason Manford delivers A Manford All Seasons, featuring his trademark observational humour.

For something with a little extra festive warmth, Danny and Dani Dyer bring Christmas cheer to The Dyers’ Caravan Park: A Merry Elfing Christmas. The pair are determined to give the residents of Priory Hill their biggest-ever Christmas celebration, complete with a festive feast for 200 people, a spectacular nativity and a magical Santa’s grotto. But, as their ambitious plans begin to unravel, the race is on to save Christmas.

Families can also look forward to Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, a brand-new Sky Original film from Aardman. When Farmer accidentally destroys the flock’s beloved pumpkin patch, Shaun takes matters into his own hands with a little mad science. The result is a monstrously entertaining adventure involving a missing Farmer and a mysterious beast roaming the woods. Featuring Dani Dyer in her first animation voice role, the film arrives on Sky Cinema and NOW in December.

Other entertainment highlights include Dynamo Vs Houdini, following the magician as he travels across America in the footsteps of the legendary escapologist, taking on extraordinary challenges inspired by Houdini’s famous feats.

Documentaries packed with fascinating stories

For documentary lovers, Sky’s winter offering brings music nostalgia, Hollywood history and compelling real-life investigations.

Available from 1 November, Boyzone: One for the Road takes fans behind the scenes as the iconic Irish boyband prepares to reunite for the final time. Following the success of Boyzone: No Matter What, the new documentary explores the band’s unresolved tensions, decades of shared history and determination to give themselves and their fans the farewell they deserve.

Meanwhile, The Pembrokeshire Murderer revisits one of Britain’s most high-profile cold cases. This three-part documentary examines the convictions of John Cooper for the murders of Richard and Helen Thomas and Peter and Gwenda Dixon, exploring new questions raised by journalist Andy Chandler and legal assistant Hayley Wood. With archive footage, unseen material and expert analysis, the series examines the evidence and the continuing search for answers.

Film enthusiasts can also discover Blockbusters, a documentary exploring the Hollywood gold rush of the 1980s. Through the stories of producing duos Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, and Peter Guber and Jon Peters, it looks back at the era that gave audiences global movie sensations such as Top Gun and Batman, while revealing the ambition, rivalry and darker forces behind the industry.

Sky Cinema brings the big-screen experience home

Sky Cinema is also delivering a selection of exciting premieres for cosy nights in.

By Any Means, premiering this winter, is inspired by a true story and stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as a young FBI agent sent to 1960s Mississippi to investigate a series of brutal killings targeting civil rights leaders. Forced to work alongside notorious mafia hitman Greg Scarpa, played by Mark Wahlberg, he finds himself caught in a dangerous mission where justice and vengeance become increasingly difficult to separate.

For something darker, Obsession follows Bear, a lonely music store clerk whose wish for his crush Nikki to love him more than anyone else in the world goes horribly wrong. After purchasing a mysterious collectible called a One Wish Willow, Bear discovers that getting exactly what he wished for comes with terrifying consequences.

Romantic comedy fans can look forward to Finding Emily, in which a lovesick musician teams up with a driven psychology student after being given the wrong phone number for his dream girl. Their search sparks a hilarious campus-wide frenzy that challenges both their hearts and ambitions.

There is also plenty of American entertainment coming to Sky One. DIG, created by Amy Poehler and Mike Schur, follows four women archaeologists whose discovery of an ancient artefact draws them into an international conspiracy. And Seth MacFarlane returns with TED: The Animated Series, reuniting the familiar characters for more irreverent comedy as Ted and John navigate marriage, parenting and adult life.

A festive season of unmissable live sport

For sports fans, the festive schedule is just as exciting, with Sky Sports bringing some of the biggest events of the winter directly to viewers.

Football takes centre stage, with 29 top-flight festive fixtures scheduled between 26 December and 7 January, including seven Premier League matches on Boxing Day. Highlights include Hull against Liverpool and Manchester City travelling to Newcastle in a live double-header. The action continues on Super Sunday, 27 December, with Coventry boss Frank Lampard returning to Chelsea, followed by Manchester United against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace against Arsenal.

Formula 1 fans can look forward to a dramatic conclusion to the season, with the championship heading towards its final two races in Qatar (27–29 November) and Abu Dhabi (4–6 December). Mercedes teammates Kimi Antonelli and George Russell lead the Drivers’ standings heading into the finale, with Antonelli chasing the chance to become the youngest world champion ever.

Darts fans are also in for a treat as the World Darts Championship returns to Alexandra Palace on 11 December, with 17 days of live action running through to 3 January. Defending champion Luke Littler will be looking to continue his remarkable success, while Gerwyn Price, Luke Humphries and Gian van Veen will all be hoping to challenge for the title.

Cricket completes the sporting line-up, with England heading to South Africa for their first Test tour of the country in seven years. The three-match Test series will be followed by three ODIs in January, all live on Sky Sports.

Your Christmas, your way with Sky and NOW

With such a varied line-up, there are plenty of ways to enjoy Sky’s festive entertainment. Viewers can watch through Sky Glass, Sky Stream and Sky Q, or enjoy flexible access to Sky’s latest films, television and live sport through NOW memberships.

Sky’s refreshed Media Village also makes it easier to explore selected pre-release content, with new apps for iOS, tvOS, Roku and Fire TV, alongside improved programme pages and TV listings.

From the return of much-loved favourites and exciting new dramas to family films, comedy, documentaries and world-class live sport, Sky and NOW are making sure there is something to look forward to throughout Christmas and into the New Year.

Whatever your festive viewing tradition, Sky’s winter line-up has plenty to keep you entertained.

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