Tinsel on the Shelf: The Festive Episodes UK Box Sets Keep Forgetting

The problem with Christmas

December is coming, which means the annual ritual of pulling a festive box set off the shelf, making a cup of tea and discovering that the Christmas special you were looking forward to is not where it should be. It might be missing entirely. It might be buried in a bonus features menu. It might be there, but in a version that has been trimmed, retitled or stripped of its original ad-break bumpers.

For UK collectors, the Christmas special is a peculiar format. It is not quite a series episode. It is not quite a film. It often sits outside the numbering, which means it can fall through the cracks when a distributor assembles a box set. Sometimes it is included. Sometimes it is sold separately. Sometimes it is there on the disc but hidden away like a leftover Quality Street.

With that in mind, here is a guide to the festive specials worth hunting down separately, and how to spot the editions that actually include them.

1. Only Fools and Horses

The undisputed king of the British Christmas special. From ‘The Jolly Boys’ Outing’ to the 1996 trilogy, Only Fools and Horses practically invented the idea of the festive event episode. The good news is that the complete collection usually includes them. The bad news is that ‘complete’ has meant different things on different releases.

If you own a series-by-series set, check whether the Christmas specials are on a separate disc or absent altogether. Look for releases labelled ‘The Complete Collection’ or ‘The Christmas Specials’. The standalone specials discs are worth owning if you want the episodes without navigating a labyrinthine menu.

2. The Office

The Christmas specials are essential viewing, and they are included in the complete collection. But if you bought the series sets individually, you may find yourself without them. The final specials wrap up the Tim and Dawn story and give the show its emotional landing. Do not assume they are in the series two box just because they aired around the same time.

Check the back cover for ‘Christmas Specials’ or ‘The Complete Collection’. If you are buying second-hand, look at the episode listing carefully.

3. Gavin & Stacey

The Christmas special is one of the most beloved festive episodes of the modern era, and it has been released in various configurations. The complete box set is the safest bet, but individual series releases can be patchy. If you want the special without doubling up, look for a standalone edition or a set that explicitly lists it.

4. Doctor Who

Doctor Who is a law unto itself. Christmas specials have been released separately, bundled with series sets, and collected in dedicated box sets. The BBC has been fairly good at making them available, but the sheer number of editions means it is easy to buy the same episode twice or miss one entirely. Check the episode list, not the cover art.

5. Downton Abbey

The Christmas specials are part of the Downton story, but they have often been treated as separate events. Some box sets include them; others do not. The complete collection is the obvious answer, but if you are buying individual series, check the final disc carefully. The festive episodes are not always labelled as such.

6. The Royle Family

The Royle Family Christmas specials are among the most quietly devastating pieces of British comedy ever made. They are also scattered across releases. The complete collection is the best way to get them all, but older individual discs may omit them. Look for ‘The Complete Collection’ and check the runtime.

7. Blackadder’s Christmas Carol

A festive one-off that has been included in some Blackadder box sets and sold separately in others. It is short, sharp and essential. If you own an older series-by-series release, check whether it is there. The remastered complete set is the safer option.

8. The Vicar of Dibley

The Christmas specials are part of the show’s DNA, and they have been included in complete collections. But individual releases can be inconsistent. The same rule applies: check the episode listing before you buy.

How to spot the editions that include them

First, read the episode list. Not the blurb, not the cover, the actual list on the back or the menu. Second, check the runtime. A Christmas special is usually longer than a standard episode. Third, look for words like ‘Complete’, ‘Collection’, ‘Special’ and ‘Bonus Disc’. Fourth, check collector forums and reviews. UK DVD collectors are a diligent bunch, and someone has almost certainly already done the work.

If you are buying second-hand, ask the seller for a photo of the back cover. If you are buying online, check the catalogue number. Different pressings of the same title can have different contents.

The bigger point

There is something fitting about the Christmas special being the awkward extra. It arrives outside the normal schedule, disrupts the rhythm of the series and often feels like a gift. The fact that it can also be the thing most likely to go missing from a box set is deeply annoying, but also very British.

So this December, before you settle down with the tin of roses and the remote, check your shelf. The special you want might be there. It might be on a separate disc. It might be in a box you forgot you owned. And if it is not, the hunt is part of the ritual. Happy collecting.