Steve Pratt selects the 12 shows of Christmas that you’d can’t afford to miss (or at least record for when you’ve recovered from too much turkey and Christmas pud).

1 Whistle And I’ll Come To You (Christmas Eve, BBC2, 9pm).

A ghost story at Christmas has become as traditional as Santa. In this modern reworking of the M R James Edwardian tale of terror, John Hurt is haunted by an apparition on the beach.

2 Doctor Who (Christmas Day, BBC1, 6pm).

Dickens’ A Christmas Carol gets a makeover, with Matt Smith’s Time Lord trying to save Amy and Rory – trapped on a crashing space liner – by persuading Scrooge-like Michael Gambon to change his miserable ways.

Singer Katherine Jenkins also appears.

3 Agatha Christie’s Poirot (Christmas Day, ITV1, 9pm).

David Suchet’s Belgian detective boards the Orient Express and, inevitably, finds himself investigating a murder with the train stuck in a snowdrift. Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville, Eileen Atkins and David Morrissey guest star.

4 The Royle Family (Christmas Day, BBC1, 9pm).

With Jim incapacitated due to an accident, Barbara is left to get ready for Christmas by herself. No change there then. Dave and Denise worry their recession-hit presents will seem mean.

5 Come Fly With Me (Christmas Day, BBC1, 10pm).

A sort of spoof Airport. Matt Lucas and David Walliams assume various identities in this mockumentary set at a busy airport.

6 Upstairs Downstairs (Boxing Day, Monday, Tuesday, BBC1, 9pm).

A return to 165 Eaton Place, Belgravia. One familiar face belongs to Jean Marsh’s Rose, the former Bellamy lady’s maid turned head housekeeper.

She, of course, created the series with Eileen Atkins, who also appears.

7 When Harvey Met Bob (Boxing Day, BBC2, 9.15pm).

Drama centred around promoter Harvey Goldsmith and Boomtown Rat Bob Geldof as they plan the 1985 Live Aid concerts in London and Philadelphia. Ian Hart and Domhnall Gleeson play the pair.

8 Benidorm (Boxing Day, ITV1, 9pm).

Louie Spence from the Pineapple Studios reality show checks into the Spanish hotel as Marvin, the king of the swingers in a Christmas special. Regulars such as tanned Madge are back too, along with a guest spot from Su Pollard.

9 Most Annoying People 2010 (December 27 and 28, BBC3, 9pm).

Richard Bacon, who some people find very annoying, presents a countdown of those who have irritated us during the past 12 months.

10 Just William (December 28, BBC1, 12.30pm).

Return of the troublesome schoolboy, created by Richmal Crompton and now played by Outnumbered’s Daniel Roche.

Warren Clarke and Caroline Quentin lead the adults as screaming Violet Elizabeth Bott’s parents.

11 Rock & Chips (December 29, BBC1, 9pm).

The public, if not all the critics, liked this Only Fools And Horses prequel, so the BBC has made some more episodes about Del Boy’s early life. James Buckley, one of The Inbetweeners, plays him.

12 Toast (December 30, BBC1, 9pm).

Film based on food writer Nigel Slater’s autobiography with Helena Bonham Carter as the family cleaner who teaches him about cooking. Ken Stott plays his businessman father.