The movie revolves around the personal relationships of a variety different protagonists, and how they manage to overcome their difficulties and find love in time for Christmas.
Billy Mack is a rock-and-roll singer who is releasing his Christmas single in the hopes that it will become number 1. While he seems like he might just be over the hill, he does manage to make the single a hit and celebrates Christmas with his long-time manager and friend, Joe.
Juliet and Peter are a recently married couple. Peter’s best friend is Mark, who does not appear to get along with Juliet. Mark is also the cameraman for their wedding so when Juliet stops by at his house one day to see the recording, she realizes that he only filmed her throughout, indicating that he harbors feelings for her. On Christmas day, he comes by to tell her he loves her and she gives him a parting kiss.
Jamie, a crime novelist, has recently been cheated on by his girlfriend. He goes to France to write, where he meets Aurélia, a Portuguese housekeeper. They develop feelings for each other despite not being able to communicate in the same language. When he returns back to the UK, he attempts learning Portuguese, traveling to Portugal to propose to her.
Harry and Karen are a highly successful, happily married couple with children. Harry employs a new secretary, Mia, who is much younger and begins to flirt with him. He likes the attention so much that he buys her a Christmas gift, an expensive necklace, which Karen discovers and assumes is her present for Christmas. However, on Christmas, Karen receives a Joni Mitchell CD and realizes that the necklace must have been for another woman. She confronts Harry and he admits he was a fool, but Karen feels betrayed.
David is the new Prime Minister of the UK and Natalie is a member of his staff. He feels attracted to her and she to him. However, the President of the US comes on a visit and makes sexual advances towards Natalie. Feeling betrayed, David has Natalie moved to another department. When she sends him a Christmas card expressing her romantic interest in him, he goes to her house and they attend her niece and nephews' Christmas play.
Daniel's wife has recently died and he is attempting to raise his stepson Sam. Sam is in love with a classmate, Joanna, and Daniel urges him to tell her how he feels. They both go the airport where Joanna is getting ready to leave for the US, and she gives him a kiss.
Sarah and Karl have been working together for years and are attracted to each other. One day they decide to get together but Sarah is interrupted by a call from her mentally ill brother. The evening ends abruptly and later Karl wishes her a merry Christmas but does not pursue anything else. Sarah spends Christmas with her brother.
Colin is a waiter who has been unlucky in love. He decides to go to America to find love, convinced that American girls love British guys just for having British accents. He meets Stacey, Jeannie, Harriet, and Carol-Anne, beautiful American women who invite him to stay with him during his trip.
John and Judy are body doubles taking part in a sex scene for a film. However, they have a connection and end up pursuing a relationship offscreen.
