Christmas TV

For many years now, families have gathered together on Christmas Day to enjoy Christmas lunch and Christmas telly.
Below you can find listings of every programme broadcast on British television on December 25th during the twentieth century.

<< Christmas Day 1955 >>

This year saw the launch of the first three ITV regions (South, Midlands and North) offering a wider variety of entertainment for the family at Christmas.
Interestingly, ATV London included a production of Alice in Wonderland - this had been the first book the BBC had dramatised for Christmas Day telly back in 1937.


\| BBC TELEVISION SERVICE \| ATV LONDON \|

	BBC TELEVISION SERVICE
	00.00	Closedown
	11.00	Welcome to the New Born King
			Family Service for Christmas morning from St. Martin's, Birmingham Parish Church; conducted by the Rector, the Rev. Canon Bryan Green, assisted by the Rev. G. C. Potts Processional hymn: Hark! the herald-angels sing (A. and M. Rev. 60) Prayers Carol: Ding dong merrily on high (Cambridge Carol Book. 8) Lesson: St. Luke 2, vv. 1-20 While shepherds watched their flocks by night (A. and M. Rev. 62) Creed and Collects Carols round the Christmas tree: The holly and the ivy The Infant King Once in royal David's city (A. and M. Rev. 432) Address Away in a manger (BBC H.B. 43) Blessing Recessional hymn: O come, all ye faithful (A. and M. Rev. 59) Organist, Geoffrey Fletcher
	15.00	A Christmas Message to the Commonwealth from Her Majesty THE QUEEN
			Sound only
	15.15	A Christmas Visit to Disneyland
			A programme based on films from the Hollywood studios of Walt Disney, featuring: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto The Three Little Pigs, Dame Clara Cluck Johnny Appleseed, Uncle Remus, Davy Crockett Introduced by Peter Haigh Presented by Greeve del Strother
	16.45	Watch with Mother
			For the Very Young Andy Pandy Andy comes to play on Christmas Day with your small children and he invites them to join in songs and games arranged specially for today Audrey Atterbury and Molly Gibson pull the strings Gladys Whitred sings the songs Script, music, and settings by Maria Bird
	17.00	Children's Television
			Excerpts from ' Robinson Crusoe on Ice ' From the Westover Ice Rink, Bournemouth Book, production, and choreography by John Moss and Westover Ice Rink Corps de Ballet Vocal' Quartet: Maureen Lawson. Great Sholl Donald Wynn. Paul Sherridan Ice Rink Orchestra Directed by Percy Pearce Music arranged by Percy Pearce and Leonard Morris Decor and costumes by ' Erik ' Scenery painted by John Lewis Commentator, Cliff Michelmore Presented for television by Nicholas Crocker A special performance before an invited audience Sunday at Six A Christmas message from a friend of yours
	19.30	News
			The Weather
	19.45	Music For You
			Beniamino Gigli, Joan Hammond
			Musical Associate, James Turner Orchestrations by Arthur Wilkinson The Concert Orchestra (Leader, David McCallum) Designer, Norman James Producer, Patricia Foy (Beniamino Gigli was filmed by courtesy of the Italian Television Service and appears by arrangement with S. A. Gorlinsky, Ltd.; Violetta/Elvin appears by permission of the General Administrator, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Ltd.; Edric Connor is in 'Summer Song' at the Opera House, Manchester; Roberto Ximenez, Monolo Vargas, Ana Mercedes, and Enrique Trigo appear-by permission of Harold Holt, Ltd.)
	21.00	Christmas Box
			This year BBC Television takes you out to join in the fun and games at Christmas parties in Sheffield, Bournemouth and London Shirley Abicair Eve Boswell Carl Brisson Charlie Chester Sooty with Harry Corbett Jimmy James Bill Maynard ' Bob Monkhouse Jon Pertwee, Edna Savage Terry Scott, Shani Wallis (Continued in next column) Your hosts for Christmas Box: McDonald Hobley, Peter Haigh Cliff Michelmore Party games by Dennis Yates Orchestra directed by George Clouston Designer. Stephen Taylor Production by Ronnie Taylor, Nicholas Crocker Douglas Fleming and Bryan Sears (Bob Monkhouse appears by arrangement with the Majestic Hotel, Bournemouth; Shani Wallis is appearing in ' Aladdin at the Golders Green Hippodrome; Eve Boswell is in ' Mother Goose ' at the Coventry Hippodrome; Charlie Chester is in Emile Littler ' s ' Jack and Jilt ' at the Empire Theatre, Sheffield; Terry Scott is in ' Sleeping Beauty ' at the Theatre Royal, Leeds)
	21.45	Bird in Hand
			starring Terry-Thomas
			A comedy by John Drinkwater Produced by Douglas Allen Cast in order of appearance: Joan Greenleaf... Jacqueline MacKenzie Alice Greenleaf... Beatrice Varley Thomas Greenleaf... Herbert Lomas Gerald Arnwood... Eric Lander Mr. Blanquet... Charles Victor Cyril Beverley... Terry-Thomas Ambrose Godolphin, Q.C.... William Mervyn Sir Robert Amwood... Robert Speaight Others taking part: Edward Higgins, Brian Moorehead Dudley Buttrum, Alice Esmie-Bell, Ronald Clarke, Dudley Williams Designer, Richard Wilmot
	23.15	Today in Bethlehem
			Many of the scenes around Bethlehem remain the same as at the time of the Nativity of Our Lord This film shows ' the little town of Bethlehem' as it is today
	23.25	News Summary The Weather and Close Down

	ATV LONDON
	14.00	Christmas Afternoon
			A programme devised by John Irwin on the theme: "Nothing Interests People so much as Other People." Voice of the People Questions put by John Ennis and Don Everitt. Our Guests Nilakshi Glose, a visitor from Bengal, in conversation with Anthony Wedgwood Benn. Peter Brook in Moscow A film shot exclusively for ATV of the recent visit of the Phoenix Theatre Production to play Hamlet in Moscow. What Would Have Aunt Matilda Have Said? Max Adrian. Women: No. 1 The Socialite "If you want to know about women, ask another woman." Memory Man Leslie Welch challenges our studio audience and gives £30 to any challenger who defeats him within 30 seconds. Profile In which Ludovic Kennedy presents a mosaic of a well-known personality. Making Music Yvonne Arnaud. Poetry The Farewell of Sir Henry Lee to Queen Elizabeth I when he gave his title of Champion of the Tilt 1590.
	15.00	Her Majesty the Queen
			The Queen's Christmas Day message to all her peoples is broadcast on sound only, from Sandringham.
	15.15	Alice in Wonderland
			A preview of Lou Bunin's production of Lewis Carroll's immortal classic
	16.00	Liberace
			A special Christmas programme with Liberace introducing you to members of his family.
	16.30	Junior TeleVision
			Vincent Ball invites you all to join the children of Paddington Green Children's Hospital at their special Christmas Party where you will meet among other guests Noddy Enid Blyton's delightful children's character. Roy Rogers The King of the Cowboys. and Robin Hood with his Merrie Men.
	18.00	Close-down till 7.0
	19.00	Christmas Carol Service
			The Children of Paddington Green Children's Hospital invite you to join them in a Christmas Carol Service led by a choir of Hospital Staff and Students. The Service will be introduced by The Rev. H. T. Johnson Vicar of St. Mary's Church, Paddington.
	19.30	Movie Magazine
			John Fitzgerald brings you news and scenes from popular films.
	19.45	Christmas Night at the London Palladium
			With Max Wall, Alma Cogan and American crooner Vic Damone. Other stars will compete in Beat The Clock.
	21.00	Theatre Royal
			A Present from Bessie
			by Giles Cooper based on a story by Cyril Hare with Griffith Jones A Towers of London Production for The Incorporated Television Programme Co. Ltd.
	21.30	I Love Lucy
			The Amateur Hour
			Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz with William Frawley and Vivian Vance in America's No. 1 comedy programme. Lucy decides to go baby-sitting but find it less peaceful than she had hoped.
	22.00	The Jack Jackson Show
			In Record Time Favourite Recording Personalities in the special feature Sing with the Stars Take a seat in the studio and join in with the fun.
	22.30 - 23.00	Celebrity Spot
			Emlyn Williams tells a ghost story.
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<< Christmas Day 1955 >>