Ready for some R&R?

Christmas telly is a key part of the annual kick-back on the couch, but if you’d rather skip Christmas in Carrigstown and you’re not wild about the annual festive catastrophe on Eastender’s Albert Square, there’s still plenty of good stuff to amuse you during the holidays.

Here are five alternative picks to add to your TV and radio schedule in the next few days:

1. The Overcoat

Watch it: 12.35pm, RTE Two, Christmas Day 

This delightful Irish-made animation by Dublin based animation house, Giant, tells the story of an office worker who saves all his money to buy a new coat in time for Christmas, only to have fate take a ghostly hand.

The lead character voiced by Cork’s own Cillian Murphy.

2. Christmas on air

Listen: RTÉ Radio 1, Christmas Day 

On Christmas morning you can jump out of bed to the sounds of Christmas played by Lilian Smith, while Michael Comyn offers a festive mix of warmth, music, inspiration, and humour from 8am.

Christmas Miscellany brings listeners a festive mix of new writing and complimentary music, a much-loved staple of Christmas morning on RTÉ Radio 1 for over fifty years. The writers this year include Dónal Ryan, Paul Howard and Christine Dwyer Hickey.

Miriam O’Callaghan will have some seasonal readings until John Creedon rocks us around the Christmas tree with his own unique blend of music and tunes from all genres. You can listen to the John Creedon Show’s best picks on Spotify too.

3. Rory Gallagher Live at Montreux

Watch it: TG4, December 28th, 00:25

Legendary Cork guitarist Rory Gallagher played the renowned Montreux Festival on five occasions, spanning his breakthrough years in the mid-1970s right up to the year before his tragic premature death at the age of 47 in 1995.

This classic 1975 performance features Rory at the height of his powers, including classics such as Tattoo’d Lady, Cradle Rock and Laundromat.

4. Casablanca

Watch it: RTE One, 2.15am, December 24th

If you’re still up waiting on Santa to arrive in the early hours of Christmas morning, this is a classic everyone should see at least a handful of times.

The story? The owner of a Moroccan nightclub is reunited with an old flame who needs his help to escape the country. A romantic drama, starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rain, you can catch it on RTE One, December 24th.

Here’s looking at you, kid.

5. Viva

Watch it: 11.30pm, RTE Two, Sunday, December 27th

This moving tale follows the story of a hairdresser and make-up artist for a troupe of drag performers in Havana, who is forced to quit the arena to appease his father.

A drama, starring Héctor Medina, Viva is directed by Paddy Breathnach and written by Mark O’Halloran and was selected as the Irish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards.