It's well and truly feeling a little bit more festive this week, what with it actually being the month of December.
With one of the best 'Toy Show' episodes in recent memory kicking things off at the weekend, the full RTÉ Christmas schedule has been unwrapped this morning - and it's looking pretty stuffed full of festive cheer.
Fun for all of the family will be had when 'The Den's Christmas Special' lands on our screens December 20. This will be the final episode of the series' return from this year - but will Christmas need to be saved? Here's hoping.
Jennifer Zamparelli and Nicky Byrne will also be returning to our screens for a one-hour 'Dancing With The Stars - Putting On The Glitz' special on Sunday, December 27.
For comedy lovers, 'The 2 Johnnies' will be setting Christmas ablaze during the season, while two new episodes of 'Mrs Brown’s Boys' will unravel on RTÉ One on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. How is Agnes coping with Lockdown life? As well as the rest of us we'd imagine.
Oliver Callan will be taking a look back at 2020 in 'Callan Kicks The Year', with the satirical 'Reeling in the Fears' airing exclusively on the RTE Player, written by comedian Joanne McNally.
In terms of music, there will be bucketloads of content on the RTE Christmas schedule this year. 'The Late Late Show' will have a country special airing on December 11, with the one and only Dolly Parton joining Ryan for an interview.
'The Busk - A Decade of Christmas on Grafton Street' will air on December 18, which will celebrate the best of Irish music, songs, and stories. On the same night, 'The Late Late Show' will have some of the biggest superstars of rock music take their legendary Grafton Street Christmas Eve busk for the Simon Community indoors to the studio.
'2020: A Year In Review' will look back at this strange year, while in 'Fungie’s Kingdom' Baz Ashmawy travels to Dingle following the dolphin’s disappearance. 'The Real Field' will take a look at John B Keane’s inspiration behind his most famous work, with 'The Field' airing right after the documentary.
A Johnny Cash documentary will also air over the holidays. 'The Man Comes Around' tells the story of Cash’s tour in 1963 and his relationship with Ireland. We'll hear from the Irish people who saw him up close and personal in rural venues around the country.
The 'New Year's Eve Countdown' will be happening this year from The Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, with plenty of music, comedy, and chat live to help us ring in the new year in style. Nicky Byrne will also be presenting 'Soundtrack of My Life' on New Year's Eve, featuring the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Kodaline, Jack L, Loah, and more.
And finally, those looking for movies to fill up on won't be disappointed. The Irish TV premiere of 'Angela’s Christmas Wish' from Brown Bag Films will air on Christmas Day, featuring the voices of Ruth Negga, Jared Harris, and Catriona Balfe. A number of other Irish movies will also broadcast over the festive season, with 'Dublin Old School', 'The Overcoat', and 'Zoo' also premiering.
There will also be plenty of other family favourites in the mix, including Disney's 'Coco', 'Peter Rabbit', 'A Star is Born', 'The Greatest Showman', 'Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again', 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi', and 'Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom'.
These will join the likes of stellar favourites 'Willy Wonka', 'Home Alone 2', 'Mrs Doubtfire', 'Chitty
For a full rundown of all of the RTÉ Christmas schedule, be sure to pick up your copy of the RTÉ Guide.
