10 reasons Finding Father Christmas is the best festive TV of the year

1. Lenny Rush is pure festive magic

Bafta winner Lenny Rush plays Chris, a 16-year-old who still wholeheartedly believes in Father Christmas – even while juggling GCSE stress. His performance is full of heart, humour and just the right dose of teenage defiance. It’s completely endearing, never cringe.

2. James Buckley shows a softer side

Yes, he’ll always be Jay from The Inbetweeners to some, but here Buckley plays a single dad quietly navigating grief and fatherhood with real tenderness. As Nicholas, Chris’s postman dad, he’s subtle, dry and genuinely touching.

3. It helps kids believe in Santa a little longer

If your child is asking the big “Is Santa real?” question, Finding Father Christmas is the perfect watch. It leans into science, storytelling and sheer wonder to suggest Santa could be real – and that the grown-ups might just be covering something up. It’s clever, funny and leaves just enough mystery to keep the magic alive.

4. It deals with grief in a gentle, child-friendly way

Chris’s mum has died – and while that’s never the main focus, the film touches on his grief with warmth and sensitivity. It’s never too heavy, but it’s honest – showing how the joy of Christmas can sit alongside sadness, especially when someone is missing.

5. It's a science lesson in disguise

Real-life scientists, from Prof Hannah Fry to Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock, pop up to help Chris uncover the truth. Using everything from wormholes to quantum physics, they explain how Santa might do the impossible in one night – and somehow make it all make sense. It’s geeky, yes, but also really fun.

6. Stephen Fry + Greg Davies + Jason Fox = unexpected genius

From Stephen Fry giving a chalkboard lecture in his front room to Greg Davies as a warehouse-dwelling Santa, the celebrity cameos are as surreal as they are brilliant. It’s giving Christmas special with range.

7. It’s genuinely funny – for grown-ups, too

There are sly jokes about air fryers, podcast culture, and even Royal Mail allegedly shredding kids’ letters to Santa (don’t worry, it’s not that dark). There’s plenty here for adults to laugh at – especially if you’ve ever tried to wrap presents at 2am while someone insists Santa isn’t real.

8. Holly the cousin is chaotic good

Chris’s partner-in-crime is his cousin Holly (Ele McKenzie), a podcasting, slightly feral teen who agrees to skip school and break into a warehouse to help him find Santa. We never quite find out why she’s so up for it – but she’s a delight.

9. It celebrates curiosity, belief and growing up

At its heart, Finding Father Christmas is about the magic of asking questions – and how belief doesn’t have to end with childhood. Chris’s determination to prove his dad wrong is about more than Santa – it’s about finding hope, truth and connection. It’s a smart, modern take on growing up that still feels comforting.

10. It leaves you wanting a sequel – in the best way

By the time the credits roll, you’ll want more time with these characters. Chris and his dad deserve a second adventure (we vote: road trip with Santa and the physicists). For now, it’s a perfectly imperfect one-off that still manages to feel like a classic.

The MadeForMums Verdict

Funny, emotional and packed with star power, Finding Father Christmas is more than just good festive telly – it’s a gentle reminder that belief, imagination and family matter more than ever at this time of year. Ideal for tweens, teenagers, and their grown-ups too. So grab the Quality Street, and let yourself believe – just a little longer.

• Stream 'Finding Father Christmas' on Channel 4