These are the best festive food TV specials in time to inspire for Christmas feasts

The halls are decked, the pressies are wrapped — but what on earth are you popping on the table for Christmas lunch?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you sorted. From Nigella’s jacket potatoes to Clarissa’s Asian-inspired ham and Jamie’s Sicilian cannolis, these festive food TV specials are dishing up plenty of Christmas inspo in the run-up to the big day.

Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Extravaganza (7Plus)

It’s just not Christmas until Johanna, Dr Harry, Adam and the gang are giving you their festive hot tips. This one sees the show’s newest recruit, Clarissa Feildel, giving us her fabulous Asian-inspired take on a festive favourite — the good old glazed ham. This one has a ginger and soy glaze, and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Meanwhile Colin Fassnidge is cooking up panna cotta trifle with fresh raspberries — count us in!

Maggie Beer’s Christmas Feast (ABC iView)

Maggie Beer’s Christmas recipes have been a mainstay in Aussie households for years now. In this special, she’s inviting viewers — and some special guests — to share the big day with her, for the “ultimate Australian Christmas feast” under the gum trees at her stunning Barossa Valley estate. There’s something mesmeric about watching Maggie massage a turkey — worth it for that alone.

Christmas With The Australian Woman’s Weekly (10Play)

There’s nothing as Christmassy as thumbing your way through that doorstopper festive edition of AWW for inspo. This great special brings some of the recipes to life, giving viewers a practical look at how to assemble the feasts they’ve been reading about. First off, Khan Ong is putting his spin on a butterflied turkey roast, before everyone’s faves Julie Goodwin and the delightful Poh step into the kitchen for a double-act cook-off. An absolute delight.

Is It Cake? Holiday (Netflix)

Is it cake? Is it a Christmas ham? Who cares — either way we’re tucking in. Full disclosure: this show doesn’t provide much in the way of festive recipe inspo, but it certainly brings the joyful Christmas vibes. And gosh knows we all need a bit of a cheer-up during the manic run-up to the big day. It’s always such good fun to join the show’s celebrity guests as they try to guess whether an ice skate is, in fact, edible. Silly fun.

Donal Shekan: Home Cook (Christmas Special)

Tuesday, December 24, 8pm, SBS Food

Who doesn’t love a cheeky Irish chappy in the kitchen at Christmas? Literally no one. Luckily, SBS has Donal Skehan on hand, coming through with the goods with some seriously great ideas. In this special he’s cooking up some traditional favourites. Believe me when I say his sticky toffee pear cake with rum and maple drizzle looks absolutely delectable.

The Naked Chef: Christmas Party Special (9Now)

This show first came out in 2001 — an eternity ago! It’s worth a look for Jamie Oliver’s classic hair and fashion alone (your teens will think his Y2K vibe is super cool’). Despite its age, the recipes still stack up — in this, he’s preparing for a warehouse-style Christmas party, alongside his pregnant wife Jules. Keep an eye out for his finger-food ideas and Sicilian cannoli.

The Chocolate Queen: A Very Chocolatey Christmas (SBS on Demand)

Honestly — this had us with the title. It sees Kristen Tibbals, aka The Chocolate Queen, fashioning up some truly decadent chocolate creations for Christmas. Expect to see cardamon-spiced macaroons, white choc pav and a yule log that actually looks like something you’d want to eat. This one’s for all the chocaholics out there.

Nigella’s Christmas Kitchen (ABC Iview)

Calories don’t count at Christmas, right? Well, that’s what we’re telling ourselves, because British cook Nigella Lawson is cooking up some seriously delicious — and seriously calorie-dense — festive fare. There are two series airing on iView, so plenty of inspo to be found. And not all of it’s fancy — keep an eye out for her Christmassy baked potato recipe, her favourite “guiltless pleasures”.