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Christmas TV 2017: BBC challenge Netflix with boxset offer featuring Peaky Blinders, Taboo and Doctor Who

Be assured that you probably won't be short of something to watch during the holidays

Roisin O'Connor
Wednesday 29 November 2017 04:15 EST
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The BBC has offered a challenge to Netflix and other TV streaming services with a huge boxset offer ahead of Christmas.

Some of its best series will appear in full on BBC iPlayer, including the first three seasons of Peaky Blinders, hit series Taboo, and the Golden Globe-winning adaptation of Wolf Hall.

Every series of Line of Duty and Happy Valley, along with series three and four of Sherlock, will appear on the streaming service.

Fans of EastEnders will be able to watch classic Christmas episodes, including the affair between Max and Stacey (2007) and Den and Angie's divorce (1986).

The full original series of 2001's Blue Planet, 2006's Planet Earth, last year's Planet Earth II and 2011's Frozen Planet will be available, as will every regeneration episode of Doctor Who since the 2005 reboot.

Most series will be made available for 30 days from 16 December, so you'll have plenty of time to binge on your favourites over the holiday season.

Charlotte Moore, director of content at the BBC, said: "There is no need to go anywhere else this Christmas because we have an even richer offer across the BBC than ever before."

BBC director general Tony Hall previously said he wanted to increase iPlayer's profile: "We need it to make the leap from a catch-up service to a must-visit destination in its own right," he said.

If you do manage to get through all of those series, you can also check out what will be on offer on Netflix during the Christmas season.

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