Art telly to watch this Christmas

Published on 11 December 2024

This festive season there is enough Renaissance rivalry, villainous penguins and celebrity crafts to keep you occupied well into the New Year. Put the kettle on and cozy up on the sofa – this is your guide to what art-themed film, TV and documentaries to watch over the holidays.

Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty

16 December, 9pm
BBC Two and BBC iPlayer
This documentary and dramatisation looks at the lives and work of the “big three” Italian Renaissance artists: Leonardo, Raphael and Michaelangelo, the latter who is brought to life by Charles Dance. This is a (true) story of rivalry that is worthy of Jilly Cooper.

Antiques Roadshow

22 December, 7.30pm
BBC One
If you like your art old and possibly worth a fortune, Antiques Roadshow never disappoints. In this episode, experts descend on Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, once home of Sir John Soane RA.

Pictionary

23 December, 7pm
ITV 1
Denise Van Outen vs Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, playing the classic drawing-based game in a gameshow format. Mel Giedroyc hosts. What’s not to like?

Christmas University Challenge

From 23 December, 8.30pm
BBC Two
The picture round is an art lover's time to shine. “I just want the name of the artist.”
No sweat, Amol - we’ve got this.

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Christmas Day, 6.10pm
BBC One
We are reunited with supervillain, Feathers McGraw, who is seeking revenge on Wallace and Gromit for foiling one of the most iconic museum heists in TV history: the stealing of the diamond from the city museum in 1993’s The Wrong Trousers.

We hope no museums are harmed this time round.

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The Festive Pottery Throw Down

Boxing Day, 9pm
Channel 4
Will the four celebrity contestants be able to make wine coolers? Almost certainly not, but we’re excited to watch them give it a go.

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Cunk on Life

30 December, 9pm
BBC Two
Mockumentary superstar Philomena Cunk will be tackling the subject of life itself this festive season. Art is one of many subjects we're promised will be given the full Cunk treatment.

My National Gallery

Monday 30 December, 11.15pm
ITV 1
Is there a better way to mark the 200th anniversary of the National Gallery than a late-night love letter to the nation’s second favourite art gallery?