It’s time to unfold the Christmas tree, dig out those Santa socks, and make note of what’s worth watching on TV during yuletide. After all, the holiday season is fast approaching, and stretching out in front of the box is as traditional as turkey and gravy. OK, some may say catching up with loved ones, giving out presents, and overeating is all part of the rituals. But, it wouldn’t be the same without the Christmas TV specials.Throughout this holiday season, a host of must-see unscripted TV specials and season premieres are lighting up the festive month.And talking about lighting,The Great Christmas Light Fightreturns toABC, where families battle to try and outshine each other’s homes with dazzling light displays.Big Brother Reindeer Gamesgets a festive homecoming, with former BB legends returning to the gaze of the all-seeing cameras. This time round, the house guests will stay in the Big Brother house for a rapid-fire six days.
Now Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without good food, so who better to give out cooking tips this December thanGordon Ramsay.AndFOXhasn’t disappointed us with the return ofMasterChef Junior: Home for the Holidays.Ramsay, along with daughter Tilly, will be dishing out advice to the budding chefs as they cook up festive feasts.LEGO Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacularis building up to be spectacular with celebrities and LEGO builders from previous seasons going head-to-head and brick-to-brick in a two-night event.We’ve got all the specials, all the show premieres, including cast, release dates, and everything we know so far.So kick back, relax, get cozy in those festive pajamas as we give you the rundown of the top 10 reality TV specials to tune into this festive season.
10Big Brother Reindeer Games
Big Brother Reindeer Games
CBSandParamount +
Monday Dec. 11 (8 p.m. ET) Tuesday Dec. 12 (9 p.m. ET) Thursday Dec. 14 (8 p.m. ET) Monday Dec. 18 (9 p.m. ET) Tuesday Dec. 19 (9 p.m. ET) Thursday Dec. 21 (8 p.m. ET)
Coming straight in off the back ofBig Brother25,where Jag Bains was crowned the winner, the first holiday special,Big Brother Reindeer Games, premieres December 11, at 8 p.m., ET onCBS,and streams on Paramount+, anew game with rules and with nine formerBBplayers.As of now, the names of the house guests have yet to be announced. One of them will be fromBig Brother 25, which ended November 9,after racking up 100 days, 94 cameras, and 113 microphones. UnlikeBB25, which records everything unedited, from arguments over chicken toracial slurs, inBig Brother Reindeer Games,no one lives in a house. None of the tasks carried out by the contestants will be happening in real-time.In fact, the six holiday-themed episodes will all be pre-recorded before the first episode is broadcast.
So, there will be no live shows, no live feed, and no host,Julie Chen Moonvesservices are no longer required onBB Reindeer Games.Instead, the housemates will get three Santa’s Elves hosts, in the shape of formerBig Brothercontestants,Derek Xiao, season 23,Tiffany Mitchell, season 23, andJordan Lloyd, seasons 11 and 13. There is also no voting each other out. Instead, the Elves will guide the BB Legends through “the most holiday-traffic, challenging and unpredictable competitions”. According toCBS,each episode features three competitions culminating in “Santa’s Showdown”, which will see one of the players going home at the end of that episode. When they get down to four, it’s the finale and the one with the festive fortitude will walk away with the $100,000 grand prize.
9MasterChef Junior: Home for the Holidays
MasterChef Junior: Home for the Holidays
Sunday Dec. 10 (8 p.m. ET) Monday Dec. 11 (8 p.m. ET)
Gordon Ramsay’shit cooking showMasterChef Juniorwas recently renewed byFOX, with season nine scheduled for the spring or summer of 2024. For those who can’t till then,Gordon Ramsayis back for the holidays with his cast of budding young chefs.MasterChef Junior: Home for the Holidays,premieres on Sunday, Dec. 10. 8 p.m. ET onFOX. Sticking to the tried and tested format,Home for the Holidaysfeatures children aged between 8 and 13 showcasing their culinary talents in a series of challenges and cook-offs. With back-to-back shows airing over 2 nights, the Scottish celebrity chef welcomes nine young culinary contestants as they cook up seasonal dishes based on cultural and traditional celebrations including, Christmas,Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Lunar New Year. Gordon Ramsay will serve as host and judge alongside fellowMasterChef JuniorregularsAarón SánchezandDaphne Oz.Gordon will also be accompanied by an additional judge, his daughter,Tilly Ramsay, who recently signed up to join him in the new season ofMasterChef Juniornext year.The winner ofHome for the Holidaystakes home a holiday present of a $25,000 cash prize, a Viking Kitchen package, and a unique MasterChef snow globe trophy. Each of the junior chefs will leave with a kitchen-related prize, and the runner-up will also receive a Viking Kitchen package.
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8LEGO Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular
LEGO Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular
Monday 18 Dec. (8 p.m. ET) Tuesday 19 Dec. (8 p.m.ET)
Following season 4LEGO Masters, regular presenter and funnyman Will Arnett will guide both contestants and viewers through the second installment of the holiday-themed special,LEGO Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular.The show airs onFoxthis December on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 at 8 pm. ET. In teams of two, made up of celebrities andLEGObuilders, this seasonal showing offers infinite possibilities for what can be built. This is in part due to the unlimited supply ofLEGObricks available for use. Will Arnett, who is also executive producer of the show, will once again be joined on the two-night event byLEGO GroupbrickmastersAmy CorbettandJamie Berard, who will evaluate the contestant’s creativity and skills, as well as encourage the teams while they build. The special guests who will be sweating bricks as they go into battle will beNeNe Leakes, Marshawn Lynch, Kelly Osbourne,andRob Riggle. They will be paired up with former contestants and fan-favorites,David Guedes,season 3,Caleb Schilling, season 2,Krystle Starr, season 1, andRandall Wilson, season 2.Together, the teams will compete in jaw-dropping holiday-themed challenges for charities of their choice.Foxhas also confirmed a third season for the holiday-themed show in December 2024.
7In the Kitchen With Harry Hamlin: A Holiday Special
In the Kitchen With Harry Hamlin: A Holiday Special
AMC+andIFC
Premieres Wednesday 13 Dec (11 p.m. ET)
In the Kitchen With Harry Hamlin: A Holiday Specialpremieres on Wednesday, December 13 at 11 p.m. ET on AMC+ and IFC.Shot in Hamlin’s home kitchen, the 30-minute cooking show is a combination of cooking, dinner party, and documentary.He is the current star ofAnne Rice’s Mayfair Witches, will host the show alongside his niece and classically trained chefRenee Guilbault Hamlin. The show premieres for the holidays as the duo prepare a festive meal, adding their take on classic beef bourguignon. Harry Hamlin might be known to most as an American actor on stage, television, and films, including roles asPerseusinClash of the Titans, andMichael Kusacin the Emmy-winning TV seriesLA Law.
More recently, Hamlin can be seen inThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,he is the husband ofRHOBHstarLisa Rinna.Harry Hamlin famously made spaghetti Bolognese onRHOBHin season 11, the legendary sauce becoming a talking point throughout the series. Lisa invited the cast members over to her house for an Italian-themed meal. Harry cooked lunch for all the housewives and got rave reviews for his culinary skills. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Harry is the host and executive producer of the new holiday special, explains more about this new cooking show. “Each episode will invite viewers into our culinary happy place, the kitchen, wherewe’ll host a bunch of guests from across the pop culture spectrum, beginning with sharing traditions from our own familyfor the holiday-themed premiere episode. Join us as we go beyond Santa’s usual plate of cookies to create a fun-filled, delicious, and heart-warming seasonal experience.”
6The Great Christmas Light Fight
The Great Christmas Light Fight
ABCandHulu
Sunday 26 Nov. (10 p.m. ET) Sunday 3 Dec. (10 p.m. ET) Sunday 10 Dec. (10 p.m. ET) Tuesday 12 Dec. (9 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET) Tuesday 19 Dec. (9 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET)
Ready, set, glow. The most wonderful time of the year is here asABC’s hit decorating competition series,The Great Christmas Light Fight, returns for its 11th season and premieres on Sunday, November 26th on ABC with full episodes streaming the next day onHuluafterward. Regular hostsCarter OosterhouseandTaniya Nayakwill once again crisscross the country to find the biggest and brightest displays. Along their travels, the pair will learn the stories behind the people and the communities.This annual reality competition takes decorating your home with Christmas lights to a whole new level, with over-the-top decorations you can only imagine.The battling teams come from four families across the U.S. and will compete over four episodes. One by one, you will get to see the transformation of their homes into a winter wonderland.A breathtaking display of twinkling LED lights, and animatronic lawn ornaments will be on show, not forgetting a sprinkling of inflatable Santas, snowmen, and reindeer. This season’s offerings include a two-plane runway and a backyard train village. The grand prize ofThe Great Christmas Light Fightis $50,000, the coveted Light Fight trophy, and bragging rights.The Great Christmas Light Fightpremieres on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. The first three episodes are broadcast weekly onABCon Sundays at 10 p.m. ET with the final two weeks moving to Tuesdays with back-to-back episodes broadcasting from 9 p.m. ET.
5Superchef Grudge Match
Superchef Grudge Match
Food Network
Premieres Tuesday 26 Dec. (9 p.m. ET)
The knives are out onFoodNetworkasSuperchef Grudge Matchis back with a brand-new season of all-star contests to resolve some of the biggest personal and professional feuds that boiled over from the kitchen. In this season of goodwill, hostDarnell Fergusonwelcomes four culinary masters center stage to confront long-standing grievances and personal rivalries.“The grudges are bigger and badder this season. When these chefs collide, the culinary action is intense and the trash-talk is biting,”saidBetsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery in an official statement. “Darnell’s energy and bold personality make him the ideal host to settle these scores.” In the first match, acclaimed ChefMatt Klumcalls out his former boss and restaurateur ChefDana Downsto prove she made a huge mistake letting him go ten years ago. In the second match, ChefDanny WilsonchallengesFood NetworkStar runner-upJay Ducotein a head-to-head tussle to prove when it comes to Southern cuisine, who reigns supreme. When the dust settles, judgesCatherine McCordandJustin Sutherlandchoose who will walk away with a $10,000 cash prize, a special knife from the losing chef, and, most importantly, bragging rights.Superchef Grudge Matchpremieres Tuesday, December 26, at 9 p.m. ET onFood Network.
4Single’s Inferno
Single’s Inferno
Premieres Tuesday 12 Dec. Released globally (12:00 a.m. PT)
For all those channel surfers looking for a different type of reality dating show to watch during the holiday season, the Korean wave is rolling out a third seasonSingle’s Inferno, which premieres on December 12, on Netflix.Single’s Infernogained a global audience for its more emotion-driven outlook on love and romance. The show’s synopsis explains the concept. “Stranded and ready to mingle, flirty singles search for love on a deserted island they can only escape as couples for romantic date nights in paradise.” Season 3 of the Korean dating competition show promises a few new twists and surprises. “What used to be ‘Paradise’ and ‘Inferno’ will change completely,” Yoo Ki Hwan,Netflix’s unscripted lead for Korea, toldTudumearlier this year.“Especially when it comes to ‘Paradise’ it won’t just be a luxurious resort, but more of a special and intimate place where the couples have a chance to dive deeper into each other’s emotions, elevating the romance.”The series follows a group of single men and women in search of love and a potential partner. There are a few rules, such as not knowing each other’s careers or ages until reaching Paradise.Throughout the episodes, they are given various challenges, and the winners get to couple up and leave the Inferno for a romantic date.Paradise, a place far away from the Inferno base camp,is where the couples spend a night of getting to know each other.Singles Inferno 3on August 06, 2025, onNetflix. Viewers can also stream the first two seasons on the platform.
3Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidays
Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidays
Food NetworkandMax
Premieres Thursday 30 Dec. (8 p.m ET)
An American singer, songwriter, and actressSelena Gomezis cooking up some holiday cheer this Christmas.Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidayspremieres Thursday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. ET onFood Network. It will also be available to stream onMAX.Throughout the series, she invites an all-star cast of chefs to share their favorite dishes and culinary skills in her home kitchen, so they can cook up perfect holiday meals to share with friends and family.The celebrity chefs offering up the knowledge areEric Adjepong, Alex Guarnaschelli, Michael Symon, andClaudette Zepeda.
Speaking toFood Network, Selena Gomeztalks about her new show. “The holidays have always meant so much to me. It was an honor to have these amazing chefs in my kitchen to introduce some of their favorite foods and that makes the holidays special for them,” said Gomez.Throughout the four specials, the chefs will guide Selena and her best friend, Raquelle Stevens, through their culinary paces.The first show sees Selena + Alex preparing roast beef and Chantilly mashed potatoes for a tree-trimming party. In Selena + Michael, the pair tackle steaks and lobster.Selena + Claudette, cook a Mexican feast with a traditional Latin Christmas dish of tamales and a unique twist on a historic salad. Then, in Selena + Eric, it is time to ring in the New Year for a brunch that includes shrimp and banana Grits and Malva Pudding. Special guest appearances by Gomez’s Papa, Nana, and sister Gracie make this a family affair.
2The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy
The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy
Thursday 14 Dec. Released globally (2:00 a.m. PT)
The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY LegacybringstogetherKelly Killoren Bensimon, Luann de Lesseps, Dorinda Medley, Sonja Morgan, Ramona Singer, andKristen Taekmanas they fly out to St. Barts, in the heart of the Caribbean Islands, for an epic adventure of a lifetime.RHONY Legacyairs Thursday, Dec. 14, with the first three episodes followed by new episodes weekly on Thursdays. The show will be broadcast exclusively on Peacock, meaning the episodes are longer and less censored than they would be onBravo. Based on the trailer that debuted in November atBravoCon, it looks like RHUGT viewers are in for a wild ride, especially with Luann and Sonja who appear to have more on their minds than just hanging out with the cast.“I’m wondering if there’s gonna be some cute guys there,” says Luann, 58, as Sonja, 59, responds, “Oh, there’s always somebody to f—.“Missing from the trip is RHONY iconBethenny Frankel,who said on herJust Bpodcast that she was asked about returning for the legacy series. “I got a text from, you know, the powers that be in the Bravosphere saying, ‘Is there a chance? Is there a chance? Just asking, is there a chance?’ Meaning,would I come back,” she added, “When asked, I say, ‘There’s a number, but I don’t think you may afford it.”
1The Great British Baking Show: Holidays
The Great British Baking Show: Holidays
Friday 8 Dec. Released globally (12:00 a.m. PT)
The Great British Baking Show: Holidaysis back for another festive special on the US streaming platformNetflix.UnlikeTheGreat British Baking Show,the series where 12 of Britain’s best amateur bakers showcase their cake-baking, pastry, bread-making, and pâtisserie skills, over 8 weeks,The Great British Baking Show: Holidaysgives a cast of celebrities one episode to show off their baking skills, or not as the case may be.Not to add further confusion to viewers,The Great British Baking Show: Holidaysis not the U.S. adaptation of this iconic British baking series.The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday,which began streaming on Roku on November 10, is a different show.
OK, back to the British version, this December, five celebrities will step into the Bake Off tent as they take on aSignature, Technical,andShowstopperchallenge in a bid to impress judgesPrue LeithandPaul Hollywood. The show, whichNetflixhas an exclusive license, airs on July 26, 2025. Stepping up to the challenge in a bid to be crowned this year’s festive champ are broadcasterTerry Christian, TV presenterGaby Roslin, actorSir Tony Robinson, PopworldpresenterMiquita Oliver,and actressClaire Sweeney. The celebrity bakers were first tasked with making eight mini-bauble cakes for the Signature Bake. Next, in the technical challenge, they had to make a tear and share a Christmas tree with baked camembert and cranberry sauce. Next up was the Showstopper, where the celebrities had to make a sweet festive wreath made out of either a meringue or choux pastry. At the end of the episode, one of the celebs will be named this year’s festive star baker.
