Join Ben Shephard, Cat Deeley, Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary for a Christmas morning

For the fifth consecutive year, This Morning’s Christmas Day special is set to be a cracker…

The ITV1 and STV show will be hosted this Christmas Day morning by Ben Shephard, Cat Deeley, Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary from 10am on ITV1, STV, STV Player and ITVX.

The long-running show is casting aside its controversies to open with a sequence inspired by the Keira Knightly scene from ‘Love Actually’. Standing at Ben and Cat’s dressing room door, Alison and Dermot reveal a series of messages, clearly not from Philip Schofield, that read: ‘Dermot and I love you both so much’ and ‘2024 has been the best year ever’, before suggesting that all four hosts present this year’s festivities together.

Joining them in the studio, Josie Gibson surprises her friends as she transforms into the ‘festive fizz fairy’ and sparkles in a bespoke skirt, full of refreshments to share. Josie explains: “I’m going to be in this all day long, I’m the ultimate ‘festive fizz fairy’.” Laughing, she adds: “I don’t know how I’m going to get up the stairs and I don’t know how I’m going to get to the loo at this stage but I’ll make it work!”

Cat gives Ben a certificate that officially confirms he is finally a member of The Council Of Bens, who have previously appeared on the show, and after impressing viewers with their moves on air, Ben enlists the help of professional dancer Ian Waite to surprise Cat – before Ian and Cat perform a dazzling routine and impressive lift, which the other hosts judge.

Ahead of the long-awaited Gavin & Stacey finale, Rob Brydon is in the studio to talk about his experience filming the final scenes while as soap fans prepare to say farewell to Helen Worth’s character of Gail, This Morning regular Sharon Marshall visits the set to chat with Coronation Street performers Tina O’Brien, Jack P Shepherd and Ben Price, who share memories of working with their on-screen mum.

This Morning will also enlist the help of Santa himself at Blenheim Palace to surprise a family who believe their dad, who’s in the military, will be away this Christmas. Little do they know, he is hiding in the grotto ready to surprise his two young children.

The chorus and orchestra of the English National Opera will also soundtrack the two-hour special and Britain’s Got Talent‘s Sydnie Christmas will also perform a magical version ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ in the studio.

This Morning’s Christmas Day special from 10am on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player