Let's face it, Christmas telly isn't what it used to be. Fortunately, Netflix is awash with festive fun from down the years to keep you entertained over the Christmas break.
Blackadder's Christmas Carol
Probably the most ambitious Christmas special we've ever seen, this one-off special - produced between series 3 and 4 - drops in on the Blackadder dynasty in Dickensian times and finds Ebernezer Blackadder, an unusually nice member of the family, in festive mood.
What follows is a fun reversal of the usual Christmas Carol story backed by an all-star cast including all the series regulars alongside Robbie Coltrane's excellent ghost.
Knowing Me Knowing Yule
If you've ever wondered how Alan Partridge went from national TV to working an unappealing slot on a digital-only radio channel, this excruciating hour of television will give you a very good idea.
With chat show Knowing Me Knowing You not yet renewed for a second series, Alan resorts to desperate measures to secure one during his live Christmas special. It all goes about as well as you'd expect.
Steve Coogan is, as ever, excellent as the increasingly desperate Partridge as events spiral out of control around him.
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas (S6E13)
'Sunny', as it's known to its fans, is one of Netflix's best-kept secrets - a virtually unknown but riotously funny sitcom with 12 seasons (and counting) to catch up on.
Largely improvised by an ensemble cast including Danny DeVito, the show charts the often surreal and always foul-mouthed adventures of a bunch of absolute losers who own a bar.
This double-length festive special is as good a place to jump in as any, though be warned it's most definitely not family viewing - Charlie's encounter with Santa Claus, in particular, is not one for the kids.
Bottom: Holy (S2E5)
Arguably Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson's finest hour, Bottom has a timeless humour to it that's aged surprisingly well.
This Christmas episode is a joy from start to finish as Eddie and Richie invite mates Spudgun and Dave Hedgehog round for a thoroughly underwhelming Christmas dinner culminating in a beautifully-worked riff on the Nativity scene.
Peep Show: Seasonal Beatings (S7E5)
Peep Show was past its best by the time it got around to giving us a Christmas episode, but a past-it Peep Show is still better than most shows at the top of their game.
Taking place entirely inside Jez and Mark's flat, the episode nevertheless takes Robert Webb and David Mitchell's characters out of their comfort zone as Mark's uptight family, girlfriend Dobby and the scurrilous Super Hans clash over turkey and charades.
Doctor Who: The Christmas Invasion (S2E1)
The Doctor Who Christmas special has become a fixture in the Christmas Day schedules of late, and while you're waiting for Peter Capaldi to make his final bow this year you can whet your appetite with all the specials so far.
Netflix has them all, but for us the best Doctor Who Christmas special is still probably this one: the very first, which gave us our first glimpse of fan favourite David Tennant.
Unusually, the Doctor spends most of the episode unconscious in bed while Billie Piper's Rose does her best to sort out an alien invasion without him, but Tennant's debut when it comes is well worth the wait.
An honourable mention for The Next Doctor (S4E15), a playful episode which was fun at the time but doesn't quite work now that we know that guest star David Morrissey wasn't really going to land the role.
Fireplace For Your Home
Okay, this one isn't technically a Christmas TV special, but it is something special for your TV at Christmas. If you just want something on in the background that will make your home seem nice and festive, you can't go far wrong with hours of footage of a roaring log fire in glorious high definition. Several different types of wood and even an option to watch in 4K resolution - what's not to love?
Honourable mentions
We've tried to keep this list to standalone episodes that can be enjoyed in their own right without necessarily being familiar with the series that spawned them - things that missed the cut under this rule included the bittersweet two-part conclusion to The Office and the various festive episodes of The Royle Family.
Still, if we've missed out your favourite, let us know in the comments!
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