Doctor Who will return for it’s festive episode on the BBC, with other Christmas highlights including a French and Saunders reunion.

Comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders are together again for the first time in 10 years, to mark their 30th anniversary.

Victoria Wood is being celebrated with Our Friend Victoria, which will show clips of the late comedian.

The two Mrs Brown’s Boys episodes, which will air over Christmas and New Year, come after recent revelations that three of its actors were allegedly involved in a tax avoidance scheme.

Leaked documents showed Patrick Houlihan and Martin and Fiona Delany transferred their fees to companies in Mauritius and sent money back as loans. The trio did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment when the story broke last month.

Our Friend Victoria will include anecdotes from Wood’s famous friends, including Dame Julie Walters, Anne Reid and Reece Shearsmith.

Shearsmith also returns with Steve Pemberton, Mike Gatiss and Jeremy Dyson for three new episodes of The League of Gentlemen on BBC Two.

Other highlights include:

• Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders learn about their favourite tipple in Absolutely Champers
• Sports Personality of the Year
• The Apprentice final
• Michael McIntyre’s Big Christmas Show
• Pointless Celebrities and Celebrity Mastermind
• David Walliams’ Grandpa’s Great Escape
• Mary Berry’s Christmas Party
• Gospel Christmas on BBC Two

Mary Berry is being reunited with Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins for the first time since the trio left the Great British Bake Off.

Big Christmas Thank You will see them visit a community centre in South Wales to bring festive cheer.

• League of Gentlemen returns for Christmas specials
• Strictly Christmas line-up announced
• Contestants return for Festive Bake Off

Berry will make a special Christmas dinner for residents while Mel and Sue help give the centre a makeover.

Doctor Who fans will see Peter Capaldi take on his final battle before he regenerates into the 13th Doctor – played by Jodie Whittaker – in the show’s Christmas special.

Dramas include the crime thriller McMafia starring James Norton, and adaptations of Little Women, starring Dame Angela Lansbury, Sir Michael Gambon and Emily Watson, and Jessie Burton’s The Miniaturist.

Despite the fact they’re celebrating 30 years together, the French and Saunders special is called 300 Years of French & Saunders.

It promises new material as well as never-before-seen footage from their back catalogue. Lulu is going to be among the special guests.

The usual specials from programmes like Call the Midwife, Still Open All Hours, Not Going Out, Top of the Pops and Strictly Come Dancing will also be on offer.

From the stage, Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella and A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong will both feature along with Puccini’s opera La Boheme.