The Festive Finish Line brings the beloved quiz-racing hybrid format to Christmas audiences with a special week of celebrity-focused episodes. Hosted by Roman Kemp and supported by Sarah Greene, the festive special sees well-known personalities compete in a thrilling combination of racing and quizzing across five daily episodes in December 2025. This special edition represents the format’s expansion into festive entertainment, combining the fast-paced, knowledge-based racing action that has made The Finish Line a daytime television success into a celebrity-driven spectacular.
The Festive Finish Line airs Monday, December 15th through Friday, December 19th at 5:15 PM on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, positioning it as part of the BBC’s late-afternoon festive entertainment offering—the perfect time when families prepare for evening meals and gather around television sets for entertainment.
The Format: Knowledge Meets Speed in a Racing Track
The Finish Line represents a genuinely innovative gameshow format that revolutionizes traditional quizzing by incorporating dynamic racing elements. Unlike static quiz shows where contestants sit motionless while answering questions, The Finish Line combines knowledge and speed into a unique audiovisual experience.
The Core Mechanics:
Qualifying Rounds: Five contestants begin by competing in qualifying rounds that determine their lane assignments. These qualifying games—featuring formats like picture identification, missing letters, and pairs matching—determine bracket positions. The fastest correct answer getter receives Lane 1, the second-fastest Lane 2, continuing through Lane 5.
The Racing Rounds: Once lane positions are established, contestants stand at moving podiums positioned on parallel racing lanes. As host Roman Kemp asks questions in rotation (starting with Lane 1 and cycling through), correct answers cause contestants’ podiums to advance forward along the track. Incorrect answers stop their podium’s forward motion.
The Finish Line Victory: The first contestant to cross the finish line with their podium wins the round, advancing through the competition structure. Each round eliminates contestants, building dramatic tension as the field narrows and stakes increase.
The Final Showdown: The ultimate survivor faces a final challenge: beating the track itself. Successfully answering final questions while the track moves generates excitement and genuine jeopardy, with £5,000 on the line for victory.
The Celebrity Lineup: Five Days, Five Different Ensembles
The Festive Finish Line features an extraordinary array of celebrity contestants across five daily episodes, each bringing distinct personalities and competitive energies to proceedings:
Monday, December 15th Lineup: Christopher Biggins, Rachel Riley, Danny O’Carroll, Joel Mawhinney, Emily Campbell
Tuesday, December 16th Lineup: Tim Vine, Cheryl Baker, Kéllé Bryan, Will Best, Tia Kofi
Wednesday, December 17th Lineup: Russell Kane, Claire Richards, Josie d’Arby, David James, Jodie Grinham
Thursday, December 18th Lineup: Joe Pasquale, Luxmy Gopal, Zoe Alcroft, Charlie Brooks, Rav Wilding
Friday, December 19th Lineup: Layton Williams, Emma Barton, Mark Pougatch, Karenjeet Kaur Bains, Dr Punam Krishan
These lineups represent diverse entertainment backgrounds: comedians (Russell Kane, Joe Pasquale, Tim Vine), television personalities (Rachel Riley, Cheryl Baker), actors (Layton Williams, Emma Barton), medical professionals (Dr Punam Krishan), journalists (Mark Pougatch), athletes (David James), and reality television stars—creating dynamic competition and entertainment value across the week.
Roman Kemp: Host and Entertainment Guide
Roman Kemp brings charismatic energy and genuine enthusiasm to The Finish Line hosting duties. The accomplished television personality, known for Capital Breakfast radio hosting, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! appearances, and Celebrity Gogglebox involvement, brings warmth and spontaneity to proceedings.
In promotional commentary, Kemp expressed his excitement about the festive special: “I’m so happy that The Finish Line is coming back to Northern Ireland to film for a fourth series and that we get to gift audiences with a Christmas special to get everyone in the festive spirit. The contestants are, as ever, a highlight. Watch out for some more bonkers answers in a race to get over the line, and the celebrity guests for Christmas are going to be a real treat!”
Kemp’s hosting approach balances genuine engagement with contestants against comedic detachment, creating entertaining television while maintaining the show’s competitive intensity and time pressure.
Sarah Greene: Co-Host and Race Commentator
Sarah Greene, the accomplished television presenter known for Blue Peter and Dancing on Ice appearances, serves as Kemp’s co-host and narrative guide. Greene provides crucial context and commentary, functioning as the audience’s eyes and ears as races unfold at rapid speeds.
Greene’s role transcends mere co-hosting—she provides color commentary that makes the racing action comprehensible to viewers while simultaneously offering motivation and acknowledgment to contestants as they race toward the finish line. Her warmth and genuine investment in contestants’ performances transforms technical quizzing into human drama.
Production and Format Expansion: Series Four Recognition
The Festive Finish Line arrives as The Finish Line Series 4, representing the show’s expansion and continued success. The regular daytime series earned recommissioning for a fourth season, demonstrating sustained audience engagement and critical appreciation.
Production Details: The show is produced by Potato (with funding from Northern Ireland Screen) in partnership with Nice One Productions. Executive producers include Martin Scott and Jim Connolly from Potato, alongside Chris Jones from Nice One Productions. Rob Unsworth (Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak Commissioning) commissioned the special, with Alex McLeod serving as Commissioning Editor for BBC Daytime.
The production structure reflects BBC confidence in the format—investment in multiple production partners, Northern Ireland Screen funding, and dedicated commissioning infrastructure indicate institutional belief in The Finish Line’s creative validity and audience appeal.
Why The Finish Line Succeeds: Format Innovation and Emotional Investment
The Finish Line distinguishes itself from traditional quiz show formats through its innovative combination of knowledge and physical racing, creating genuine jeopardy and entertainment value simultaneously. As Roman Kemp characterized it: “Fast, furious, brains!”
Unlike static quiz shows where excitement derives purely from correct/incorrect answers, The Finish Line generates visual drama—watching contestants’ podiums move forward, slow down, and race toward the finish line provides immediate gratification and genuine tension. The knowledge component determines outcomes, while the racing format visualizes those outcomes compellingly.
Additionally, the random question rotation order creates inherent unpredictability. Lane assignments determine who answers first, creating dramatic variation across rounds. A contestant might answer perfectly but still lose if positioned unfavorably in question order, introducing strategic elements beyond pure knowledge.
Broadcast and Streaming Details
The Festive Finish Line airs Monday, December 15th through Friday, December 19th, 2025 at 5:15 PM on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Following each episode’s broadcast, the special will remain available on BBC iPlayer for on-demand streaming, allowing viewers to watch individual episodes or binge the entire festive week at their convenience.
The 5:15 PM timeslot positions the special during BBC One’s late-afternoon programming block, capturing families preparing for evening meals and seeking entertainment during that transitional period before prime-time programming.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Festive Finish Line air?
The special airs Monday, December 15th through Friday, December 19th, 2025 at 5:15 PM on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Who hosts the show?
Roman Kemp hosts while Sarah Greene serves as co-host, providing commentary and race analysis.
How many celebrities compete each day?
Five celebrities compete each day across five different daily episodes, creating 25 total celebrity participants throughout the week.
What is the prize money?
Winning the final round results in £5,000 for the victor.
How does the racing format work?
Contestants answer quiz questions while standing on moving podiums positioned on racing tracks. Correct answers advance their podium forward; incorrect answers stop progress. First to cross the finish line wins the round.
Can I watch after broadcast?
Yes, episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer for on-demand streaming following initial broadcast.
Is this different from regular Finish Line episodes?
The Festive Finish Line features celebrity contestants rather than members of the general public, but maintains the show’s core racing-quiz format and gameplay mechanics.
Will regular Finish Line return?
Yes, Series 4 of regular The Finish Line has been recommissioned, with filming occurring in Northern Ireland
