For many, Christmas is simply the best day of the year. The 25th of December is the ultimate time for fun, family, food and general merriment. The three staple ingredients for a successful Christmas day are, of course: good presents, delicious food and great television.
The first of these vital components is largely out of your hands as, to a degree, is the third. After all, if nothing good is on, or if you don't have a TV Licence, you won’t be able to watch live broadcasts on TV or online, meaning you could miss out on classic Christmas moments as they happen.
Everyone knows that the festive season frequently sees some of the best programming of the entire year: the perfect accompaniment to an awesome Christmas feast. In traditional households, the Queen's speech is essential viewing. Broadcast at three o'clock, it is perfectly timed to be enjoyed in the post lunch lull. Available on the BBC, ITV, and for the first year it is also set to be broadcast on Sky, you can choose your favourite channel and listen to Her Majesty while your stomach recovers from what is sure to be a hard session of over-eating.
If you miss the speech due to travelling or eating or simply having too much fun, or you don’t own a licence you can always catch it again on the BBC iPlayer. For those who prefer something a little more edgy however, Channel 4's alternative Queen's speech is often hilarious, frequently controversial, but never dull.
When it comes to the perfect Christmas lunch, there are some items that simply cannot be missed. Turkey is, of course, the bird of choice for millions but, for something a little different, why not opt to splash out on a goose, duck or even pheasant? For the starters, prawn cocktails are always a favourite, as is pate and crackers. Whichever bird you decide to opt for, cooking it with lemon or in a range of juices can add an exciting touch to the final flavours.
The main course of every Christmas meal needs all the trimmings. Stuffing, ideally more than one type, sausages wrapped in bacon, roast potatoes (sweet and normal), parsnips, cranberry sauce, bread sauce, brussel sprouts, carrots and gravy are all a standard presence at the Christmas table and will be sorely missed by at least one person if they are absent. For vegetarians, nut roasts offer a delicious alternative.
For dessert, look no further than generous helpings of Christmas pudding or cake and, for a spectacular show, douse the pudding in Brandy (just remember that it’s easier to light when warm). You can also follow the tradition of hiding the coin inside a lucky piece.
After such a lunch, is it any wonder that Christmas afternoon and evening tends to pass in something of a satisfied haze? The thought of another meal at dinner time is often too much to bear for even the strongest of stomachs. Little traditional treats such as crumpets and scones tend to be the order of the day.
This year, enjoy your light tea with another British institution. Ever since it's reincarnation at the hands of Russell T Davies, Dr Who has become a key part of the Christmas television schedule. This year's special will be broadcast on BBC1 at 6.30 pm on the day itself and, as something for all the family, it's hard to beat. As Christmas Day draws to a close, fans of the hugely successful Downton Abbey can enjoy a real treat from 9 pm on ITV1 as a two hour special of the period drama beams into television sets across the country.
The days around Christmas have a tendency to merge and blur into one another, making keeping track of any sort of television schedule something of a challenge. Combine this with facing the choice of what to watch and you can quickly miss the things you wanted to see. Fortunately, a range of catch-up options is on hand to rescue any missed programmes; as well as BBC iPlayer, both 4OD and ITV Player will be carrying the best of their respective channels’ output for some time beyond the original broadcast, meaning you don't have to miss a thing.