13 h. ago Tragic 'Soviet spy' backstory of King Charles' song choice used in Christmas speech

In a moving Christmas broadcast, the King called for unity and neighbourly spirit amid global divisions, with a stirring performance of "Carol of the Bells", a song with a tragic backstory

Events

16 h. ago Buddy the Elf fan pays nearly £250K so they can look like Christmas movie character

Elf is one of the most iconic and well-known Christmas films made, capturing the hearts of everyone over the world - and now one fan has bought the original outfit worn by Will Ferrell for an eyewatering price

Economics

20 h. ago Christmas Quiz 2025: Here are 25 bits of fiendish seasonal trivia to ask in your festive family quiz

From Christmas songs and movies to Rudolph, Santa, and strange traditions - these headscratchers will test your festive knowledge.

Politics

22 h. ago Film 4 Christmas Day movie 'should be blue print for all rom

The 1999 romantic comedy is available to watch on Film 4 this evening

Culture

24 h. ago Harry Potter fans settle debate on whether Philosopher's Stone is a Christmas film

The Harry Potter films are a festive watch for many people but they are not technically Christmas movies.

Politics

28 h. ago Georgia Toffolo reveals her surprising cameo in a VERY popular Christmas movie

The former Made In Chelsea star, 31, took to her Instagram Stories to host a festive 'Xmas catch-up' Q&A with her fans

Culture

37 h. ago Peaky Blinders fans lose their minds over first movie trailer: ‘Best Christmas present ever’

Cillian Murphy will return as Tommy Shelby in ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’

Culture

44 h. ago ‘I plugged in Zelda and everything changed’: developers share their fondest Christmas gaming memories

From a family showdown on Guitar Hero III to the winter levels in Diddy Kong Racing, the designers of some of today’s top titles recall the gifts and moments that lit up their childhoodsThere is a viral video that tends to get passed around at this time of year. It’s an old home movie showing a boy and a girl on Christmas morning eagerly unwrapping a present that turns out to be an N64 console – the boy is, to put it mildly, extremely pleased. It’s a scene a lot of us who play games will recognise: the excitement and anticipation provided by that big console-sized parcel, or the little DVD-shaped package that could be the latest Super Mario adventure. Although I never got a games machine at Christmas, I remember one year being given Trivial Pursuit on the Commodore 64 and the whole family gathered around the TV to play. It was one of the few times my mum and my sisters showed any interest in the computer, and I loved getting them involved.Veteran designer Rhod Broadbent of Dakko Dak...

Politics

48 h. ago Home Alone villain is living very different life 35 years after iconic Christmas film

Home Alone remains a family favourite during the Christmas period – even though it's 35 years since the movie came out. In fact, many of the actors are living very different lives now

Society

62 h. ago 'Most loved Christmas movie of all time' is now streaming for free

An "underrated" gem of a Christmas film has been bringing fans "to tears" for decades.

Politics

63 h. ago National treasure stars in 'perfect' Christmas film hailed 'new favourite'

An Oscar Award-winning festive film has been labelled the "best Christmas movie ever".

Politics

64 h. ago The Apartment: Billy Wilder’s Christmas classic is the blueprint for romcoms everywhere

The 1960 film about a downtrodden insurance worker and his burgeoning crush is full of staccato repartee and unforgettable jokes. It’s barely aged a dayFor romantic comedies and Christmas movies alike, a little misery can go a long way. No one understood this balancing act more than Billy Wilder, whose films ran the gamut from bottomless cynicism (Ace in the Hole) to gender-bending farce (Some Like it Hot). His 1960 film The Apartment splits the difference.Like another yuletide classic, Carol, the film finds inspiration in David Lean’s Brief Encounter, which depicts an extramarital affair briefly consummated in the bed of a friend’s apartment. In an old interview, Wilder says he was compelled by a character “who comes back home and climbs into the warm bed the lovers just left”, and so The Apartment’s hero, CC “Bud” Baxter, was born. Continue reading...

Politics

66 h. ago My weirdest Christmas: I sat on a desk chair watching the strangest film I’ve ever seen

Away from our families, my flatmate and I hung out in his bedroom, Christmas lunch on our laps, watching a poorly written, jarringly inappropriate movieIn 2022, I was living in a flat in north London above a chicken shop, with two flatmates and a cockroach infestation (what did we expect, said the landlord, living above a takeaway?). My flatmate was from Lithuania, and was due to go home in January, and our other flatmate, his girlfriend, was away for Christmas. I’d been home to Canada the month before, so for Christmas Day itself it was just the two of us.I bought a small chicken to roast, and served it with stuffing I’d brought back from Canada – it’s the same concept as the stuffing in the UK but somehow fluffier and with more texture – and some pasta. I made brussels sprouts, trying to recreate a dish I like from a restaurant in my home town by cooking them with bacon, maple syrup, parmesan and a mayonnaise drizzle. It wasn’t very nice. We had some prosecco that my flatmate had ...

Politics

66 h. ago Miracle on 34th Street's Mara Wilson now after turning back on Hollywood

Mara Wilson who was the child star of Miracle on 34th Street looks completely different 31 years after the Christmas movie propelled her to the dizzy heights of fame

Politics

2 d. ago Harry Potter fans finally reach verdict on whether they're actually Christmas films

After over 24 years since the release of the first Harry Potter film, fans have now determined whether or not the movie franchise can be categorised as Christmas films

Sport

3 d. ago Inside the enchanting English village where one Christmas classic movie was filmed

The famous Christmas film stars Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black and Jude Law

Culture

3 d. ago Best Christmas films of all time according to The Independent’s film writers

From heartfelt classics to offbeat gems, The Independent’s film writers share their ultimate festive watches.

Politics

3 d. ago Is Die Hard a Christmas film? The Independent finally settles the debate

Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? That’s the question that has been the subject of pub arguments and online debates for decades.

Events

3 d. ago 5 underrated Christmas movies, from In Bruges to Terrifier 3

Had just about enough of real-life Santas and 8-year-olds with booby traps? Kevin E G Perry rounds up a handful of darker and deranged movies that still deliver Christmas cheer

Events

3 d. ago Why this year’s ‘Boxing Day bounce’ could be the perfect time to find your new home

The day after Christmas is traditionally one where interest in moving spikes - and this year looks more favourable than usual

Politics