BBC gives viewers a festive treat by announcing that Doctor Who, Sherlock and Planet Earth boxsets will go online over Christmas

The broadcaster is making several of its best-loved shows available in full 
Christmas treat: The BBC is making several of its most popular shows available to watch on iPlayer over Christmas
BBC/Hartswood Films/Colin Hutton
Aime Grant Cumberbatch29 November 2017

The BBC is hoping to rival streaming services Netflix and Amazon Prime by making boxsets of some of its most popular shows available to watch on iPlayer over the festive period.

Viewers will be able to rediscover hit series like Line of Duty, Planet Earth, Happy Valley and Sherlock.

BBC director of content Charlotte Moore said: “It’s fantastic to give audiences a special gift on iPlayer to complement our schedules.”

“Sit back and indulge as we curate some of the most loved shows you may have missed first time round or favourites you want to watch again.”

All four series of police drama Line of Duty will be available, as will the original and new series of Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Frozen Planet, series three and four of Sherlock, both runs of Happy Valley with Sarah Lancashire, and all four series of Peaky Blinders.

Comedy fans can look forward to catching up with the entire series of Inside Number 9, Fleabag and This Country, with favourite episodes of Gavin and Stacey, Bad Education, Josh, Murder in Successville and Him & Her.

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There’s also something for soap addicts, as the BBC will be featuring classic Christmas episodes of EastEnders including Tiffany Mitchell’s death in 1998 and Den and Angie’s split in 1986.

Those looking forward to seeing Doctor Who change into a woman for the very first time can get in the spirit by watching the Time Lord's previous transformations, as the broadcaster will be streaming every regeneration episode of the sci-fi show since 2005.

Period pieces Taboo and Wolf Hall will also be able to watch in their entirety.

The new content will go live on the BBC iPlayer from December 16 onwards.

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