Shaun the Sheep – Fleece Navidad, the festive episode from Aardman’s Series 7 (launched May 2025), brings beloved characters back to CBBC and BBC iPlayer with charming Christmas competition and heartwarming chaos. When Farmer Ben delivers his perfect Christmas card, Shaun and the gang secretly knit festive jumpers in an ambitious attempt to ensure Mossy Bottom Farm’s card proves even more spectacular. The episode captures the show’s signature appeal—relatable everyday situations with a rural twist transformed into comedy gold—while adding yuletide warmth and the gentle chaos that defines the Flock’s endeavors.
Fleece Navidad airs on Monday, December 1st, 2025 at 7:00 AM on CBBC, arriving as part of Series 7’s extensive broadcast schedule and coinciding with broader Christmas programming across BBC channels.
Shaun the Sheep: A Global Phenomenon and Cultural Institution
Shaun the Sheep, the beloved stop-motion animated character created by Richard Starzak at Aardman, first appeared in 1995 in the Academy Award-winning Wallace & Gromit short “A Close Shave.” Over three decades, Shaun evolved from supporting character into international phenomenon, now broadcast in 170 territories worldwide with 190 episodes of 7-minute content produced to date.
2025 Commemorates Shaun’s 30th Anniversary: The decision to launch Series 7 specifically in 2025 reflects celebration of this milestone. The BBC coordinated special programming—including broadcast of “A Close Shave” on May 24th and extensive Series 7 promotion—to acknowledge Shaun’s cultural longevity and continued relevance for contemporary audiences.
Cultural Significance Beyond Entertainment: Shaun transcends typical children’s programming through multiple vectors. The character’s association with Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day demonstrates how animation can support charitable causes. Shaun recently reprised his role as “Head of Wool” for the 2024-2025 Christmas Jumper Day campaign, with Aardman creating an exclusive animation showing the Flock preparing festive jumpers for the fundraising initiative.
Series 7 Overview: 20 Episodes of Classic Mossy Bottom Mischief
Shaun the Sheep Series 7 represents the show’s continuation of established appeal. The 20-episode series, launched across CBBC, BBC One, and BBC iPlayer from May 24th, 2025 onwards, features classic Shaun the Sheep scenarios—relatable, everyday situations with a rural twist—spun into comedy gold by the Flock.
Series Highlights Include:
- The Shirleyverse – A two-part double episode (first Shaun two-part episode ever), exploring Shaun wishing away Bitzer and facing unexpected consequences
- Bake It Easy – The Flock accidentally eats the Farmer’s birthday cake, requiring Shaun to secretly bake a replacement
- Shelf Life – Bitzer’s DIY project goes catastrophically wrong
- Bed Lamb – Shaun fakes illness to take a day off, with the Flock joining in on his deception
- Spare Parts – Confusion erupts when flat-pack furniture pieces get mixed up
- Sleep On It – An all-night gaming session turns the Farmer and Bitzer into sleep-deprived zombies
- Fleece Navidad – The Christmas episode featuring secret jumper-knitting and Christmas card competition
The Fleece Navidad Premise: Competition and Collaborative Chaos
“When Farmer Ben delivers his perfect Christmas card, Shaun and the gang secretly knit jumpers to try and make sure the Mossy Bottom Farm card is even more spectacular. But getting everyone to pose for the photo proves to be harder than it looks.”
This premise captures Shaun the Sheep’s essential appeal perfectly. The initial concept—creating matching jumpers to improve the farm’s Christmas card—represents genuine community endeavor and creative collaboration. However, the execution spirals into characteristic chaos as coordinating “everyone to pose for the photo proves to be harder than it looks.”
The Comedic Elements:
Secret Knitting: The clandestine nature of the jumper-knitting project—”secretly knit jumpers”—suggests the Flock is hiding their efforts from someone (likely the Farmer), creating dramatic irony common to Shaun’s schemes.
Competitive Spirit: The motivation to make Mossy Bottom’s card “even more spectacular” than Farmer Ben’s “perfect” card drives the episode’s emotional through-line. Shaun’s ambitious nature—wanting to one-up the Farmer’s efforts—generates recognizable comedic tension.
Photography Chaos: The final obstacle—getting everyone to pose for the photo—transforms from creative ambition into logistical nightmare. This mirrors real-world family photo-taking challenges, providing relatable humor for family audiences.
Production Details: Aardman’s Award-Winning Excellence
Shaun the Sheep Series 7 is produced by Aardman Animations, the multi-award-winning Bristol-based studio known for Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run.
Production Leadership:
- Original Series Creator: Richard Starzak
- Director: Seamus Malone
- Producer: Danny Gallagher
- Senior Producer/Executive Producer: Jacqueline White
- Studio Executive Producers: Carla Shelley, Sarah Cox
- Executive Producers (overall): Sarah Cox, Jacqueline White, Peter Lord, Nick Park, Carla Shelley, Alison Taylor
- BBC Commissioning: Sarah Muller, Lucy Pryke (Commissioning Executive)
International Co-Production: Series 7 is part-financed by CBBC (UK) and WDR (Germany), with pre-sales confirmed to ABC (Australia), SVT (Sweden), YLE (Finland), DR (Denmark), VRT Ketnet TV (Belgium), NRK (Norway), and additional international partners.
This production structure reflects genuine international cooperation ensuring series viability across multiple territories while maintaining creative control at Aardman’s Bristol studio.
Awardning Track Record: Excellence Across Decades
Shaun the Sheep has achieved consistent critical and popular recognition:
- 1995: Academy Award for “A Close Shave” (Wallace & Gromit short introducing Shaun)
- 2021: Emmy Award for “The Flight Before Christmas” (half-hour special)
- Series 6: International Kids Emmy award
- Continuous Broadcast: Uninterrupted television production spanning three decades
This awards record demonstrates that Shaun the Sheep maintains artistic and technical excellence across evolving animation technologies and storytelling approaches.
Broadcast Schedule: Accessible Across BBC Channels
Fleece Navidad airs on Monday, December 1st, 2025 at 7:00 AM on CBBC, alongside broader Series 7 scheduling:
- Weekend Premieres: Saturdays on BBC One (additional episodes)
- Weekday Broadcasts: 7:00 AM weekdays on CBBC (from May 26th onwards)
- On-Demand Access: All episodes available on BBC iPlayer from launch date onwards
This multi-platform scheduling ensures maximum accessibility for family audiences—whether watching live broadcast, recording for later, or streaming on-demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Fleece Navidad air?
Monday, December 1st, 2025 at 7:00 AM on CBBC.
What is the premise of Fleece Navidad?
When Farmer Ben delivers his perfect Christmas card, Shaun and the gang secretly knit jumpers to make Mossy Bottom Farm’s card even more spectacular. Getting everyone to pose for the photo becomes chaotic.
When did Shaun the Sheep Series 7 launch?
Series 7 launched on Saturday, May 24th, 2025 on CBBC, BBC One, and BBC iPlayer.
How many episodes are in Series 7?
Series 7 includes 20 episodes of 7-minute content.
Who creates Shaun the Sheep?
Richard Starzak created the original character. Seamus Malone directs Series 7. Production is by Aardman Animations.
Is 2025 special for Shaun the Sheep?
Yes, 2025 marks Shaun’s 30th anniversary (first appearance in 1995). The BBC and Aardman are celebrating with special programming.
Can I watch after broadcast?
Yes, all Series 7 episodes are available on BBC iPlayer for on-demand viewing.
Where is Shaun the Sheep produced?
Aardman Animations produces the series at their Bristol, England studio.