Rowan Atkinson is set to return as French detective Jules Maigret on ITV on Christmas Day, facing off with BBC big hitters including Call The Midwife and EastEnders.
The Mr Bean star sparked mixed reviews when he made his debut as the pipe-smoking detective earlier this year.
Airing between 9pm and 11pm on ITV One, Maigret will cross over with Call The Midwife, the Christmas Day special of EastEnders, and Mrs Brown’s Boys – which was named best British sitcom of the 21st century earlier this year.
Call The Midwife will broadcast between 8-9.30pm on BBC One, followed by an hour-long EastEnders which stars a returning Max Branning (Jake Wood).
Brendan O’Carroll’s foul-mouthed Irish matriarch Agnes Brown will take the channel up to 11pm.
BREAKING NEWS!
— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) November 29, 2016
The Return of Doctor Mysterio is on @BBCOne at 5.45pm on Christmas Day!
🎄#DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/qgipuWmBi7
Meanwhile the BBC revealed the timing of the new Doctor Who on Tuesday, announcing it would return at 5.45pm on Christmas Day.
The programme will compete with hit ITV soap Emmerdale while Coronation Street will run in the 9pm slot before Maigret.
Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas special, which will star singer Frankie Bridge, Olympian Denise Lewis and a host of other stars, is to air at 6.45pm against ITV’s Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs.
