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There’s no need to pay for expensive streaming platforms to catch some great Christmas films.
Sometimes it seems like you need to have about 100 subscriptions to catch the best films and television - a costly business in these straitened times.
While it’s true that many films are exclusive to channels like Netflix and Disney+, there’s also an option that you’ve probably already paid for without thinking about it.
For the price of a TV Licence you get access to a large library of ever-changing films on the BBC iPlayer, while the likes of 4 on Demand, the STV Player, and My5 also have a catalogue of movies to choose from.
In the runup to Christmas, we’re looking at the best festive films you can catch without paying a penny - from classics of the genre, to cult gems and slightly rubbish-but-fun tv movies.
Here are 14 to get you feeling festive.
13. Snowed Inn Christmas
Available on STV Player. Blurring the line between Stockholm Syndrome and romance, 'Snowed Inn Christmas' sees two work collegues set off on a writing assignment only to become snowed in (at an inn). They seem to be polar opposites, but given they both have nowhere else to be at Christmas they at least have one thing in common. | Contributed
14. A Merry Scottish Christmas.
Available on My5. Channel 5's streaming service is a treasure trove for Christmas films of variable quality - they have over 80 on offer this year. 'A Merry Scottish Christmas', which does at least try to do something different, being less reliant on the familiar festive romance tropes. Lacey Chabert and Scott Wolf play estranged siblings Lindsay and Brad who they travel to Scotland at Christmas to reunite with their mother Jo. They are unaware that a big family secret is about to be revealed. | Contributed