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 1957 >>

This was the first year the Royal Family's Christmas Message was filmed, so it could now be seen as well as heard. Although produced by the BBC it was also simulcast on ITV. It was also the first year that both channels showed a made-for-cinema movie on Christmas Day, a tradition that continued for the rest of the century.


\| BBC TELEVISION SERVICE \| ASSOCIATED-REDIFFUSION \|

	BBC TELEVISION SERVICE
	01.00	Weather: Close Down
	10.30	He Came Down to Earth from Heaven
			An Act of Worship for Christmas Day from the recently re-consecrated Church of St. Andrew in the City of Plymouth Conducted by the Vicar The Rev. W. H. Alan Cooper The Bells Introduction O come, all ye faithful (A. and M. 59) Christmas Bidding Prayer The Lord's Prayer; Versicles and Responses The Expectation of the Coming of Christ O little town of Bethlehem (A. and M. 642) The Prophecy of Isaiah: Chapter 9. vv. 2, 6. 7 The Proclamation of his Coming Te Deum laudamus The Good News according to St. Luke: Chapter 2, vv. 1-20 Benedictus The Faith founded by his Coming The Apostles' Creed The Lord's Prayer; The Collects Our Response to his Coming Hark! the herald-angels sing (A. and M. 60) Sermon Angels from the realms of glory (A. and M. 482) The Blessing Organist and choirmaster. Harry Moreton Assistant organist. Philip W. Liddicoat Captain of the Ringers. T. G. Myers
	14.30	Royal Prologue
			Crown and Commonwealth Twenty-five years of Christmas broadcasts
	15.00	Her Majesty THE QUEEN
	15.15	Billy Smarts Family Party
			A King of Circus holds Court at Christmas and his entire family invite children of all ages to join them and hundreds of young guests In a real live family show Including Children's Circus Fairground Fun The Unrideable Mule The Chimps Teaparty and stars of the circus ring with Jon Pertwee as Ring-Master of Ceremonies Raymond Baxter the man with the mike and Sid Phillips on the circus bandstand Television presentation from Winkfield Zoo, near Windsor by Derek Burrell-Davis
	16.00	The Sleeping Beauty
			Children's Television
			In this film Johnny Morris re-tells the story of the beautiful young princess who fell into a deep sleep for a hundred years, to be woken by the kiss of a handsome prince Adapted by Tony Soper from a film made by FWU, Munich
	16.20	Mrs. Mike (1949)
			DICK POWELL and EVELYN KEYES
			Leaving the security of Boston far behind her, the young bride of a 'Mountie' sergeant accompanies him into the isolated but beautiful country of the Canadian north. This new life proves very different in many surprising ways...
	18.00	News Headlines: Weather
	18.05	Today's Sport
			Today's football results and other sporting highlights Introduced by Kenneth Wolstenholme
	18.15	Opera from Germany
			The German Television Service in their Munich studios present part of Act 1 of 'DON JUAN' An opera by MOZART to a libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte (sung in German) sung by SUZANNE DANCO sung byJOSEF TRAXEL sung by PAUL SCHOEFFLER sung by WALTER BERRY sung by MARIANNE SCHECH sung by ERICA KOTH sung byHEINZ MARIA Lins Chorus and Orchestra of the Bavarian Radio Conductor. HERMANN SCHERCHEN Producer, KURT WILHELM Synopsis : The dissolute Don Juan, attempting to seduce Donna Anna, has accidentally killed her father, who had come to her rescue, and has escaped unrecognised. She and her fiance, Don Ottavio, swear vengeance. Meanwhile Don Juan hears a lady lamenting that she has been deserted, and is about to console her when he finds that she is his own old flame Donna Elvira : he manages to palm her off on to his servant. Leporello. At a country wedding celebration Don Juan is attracted to the prettv bride. Zerlina. He invites the whole party to his castle, taking care to keep the bridegroom out of the way: but Elvira reappears and wains Zerlina of the Don's true character. Donna Anna is seeking Don Juan's aid in her plan for vengeance when Elvira enters to denounce him for his betraval. He pretends that she is out of her mind, but, as he speaks, something brings to Anna the realisation that he is her father's murderer.
	18.55	Christmas Appeal
			Wireless for the Blind Appeal on behalf of the British Wireless for the Blind Fund (registered in accordance with the National Assistance Act, 1948) by Viscount Hailsham, Q.C. Contributions will be gratefully acknowledged, and should be addressed to Lord Hailsham, [address removed]
	19.00	News
	19.05	Gene Kelly
			Songs- and dances from some of his films Introduced by Peter Haigh From ' If You Feel Like Singing ': 'All for you,' with Judy Garland From 'An American in Paris': ' 'S Wonderful' with Georges Guetary and a ballet sequence with Leslie Caron From ' Singin' in the Rain ': ' You Were Meant for Me,' with Debbie Reynolds and ' Moses,' with Donald O'Connor From ' It's Always Fair Weather's ' I Like Myself ' From 'Les Girls': 4 You're Just Too Too,' with Kay Kendall Script by Ernest Betts Directed by Richard Evans Produced by ALAN SLEATH Film sequences by courtesy of M.G.M.
	19.30	Pantomania
			Television's Annual Frolic presents THE BABES IN THE WOOD
			Produced by Graeme Muir Among those taking part: Eamonn Andrews, Isobel Barnett The Beverley Sisters, Derek Bond Kenneth Connor, Sam Costa Peter Dimmock, Charlie Drake Peter Haigh, Tony Hancock Derek Hart, Benny Hill, Sidney James Lenny the Lion, with Terry Hall Alex Macintosh, Bill Maynard Jean Metcalfe, Cliff Michelmore Pete Murray, Jack Payne Sylvia Peters, Ted Ray Geoffrey Johnson Smith, Peter West Huw Wheldon, Frankie Vaughan The Dancers Choreography by Denny Bettis The George Mitchell Singers and Orchestra conducted by George Clouston Designer, Malcolm Goulding Written by Brad Ashton. S. C. Green Dick Vosburgh, R. M. Hills
	20.30	FRANK PETTINGELL HELENA PICKARD. MARK DIGNAM in WHEN WE ARE MARRIED
			by J. B. PRIESTLEY Pianist, Sybilla Marshall Designer, Fanny Taylor Production by VIVIAN A. DANIELS The action takes place on Sept. 5, 1908, at the home of Alderman Joseph Helliwell in Clecklewyke, Yorkshire.
	22.00	ERIC ROBINSON introduces and conducts MUSIC FOR YOU
			Produced by Patricia Foy with RAMON VINAY, ADELE LEIGH VENTSISLAV YANKOFF, BEBNABD MILES LOS INDIOS EDMUND DONLEVY, GBACE O'CONNOR The programme includes: ' The Land of Snow ' from Tchaikovsky's ' Casse Noisette staged by ALFRED RODRIGUES with MARINA SVETLOVA AND OLEG BRIANSKY and THE BALLET KAMBEBT Also appearing: Elizabeth Boyd, Joan Bramhall Ursula Connors. Ellen Dales Helen Hillier, Jean Allister Peggy Butler, Gillian Knight Nora Ogonovsky Edward Darling, John Ford Edward Morgan, Charles Draper Kenneth Fawcett. John Lawrenson Vernon Rees, Vernon Williams, John Larsen Chorus-Master, Marcus Dods Orchestrations: Arthur Wilkinson ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA (Leader, Steven Staryk ) Designer, Richard Levin
	23.00	News and Weather
	23.10	The Epilogue
			Unto Us a Boy is Born The Matron of Queen Charlotte's Maternity Hospital tells of the tremendous reality which Christmas has for her and her staff
	23.20	Closedown

	ASSOCIATED-REDIFFUSION
	00.00	First Eucharist of Christmas
			from Southwark Cathedral Celebrant The Very Rev George Reindorp Provost of Southwark The Choir of Southwark Cathedral An ATV Network Presentation Close-down
	11.30	Christmas Morning Service
			from St. Martin-in-the-Fields Conducted by the Vicar The Rev Austen Williams Christians Awake (Songs of Praise, 73) Prayers Veriscles and Responses Venite Gloria Lesson: St Luke 2, vv 1-20 Psalm 100 Creed and Collect Carol: While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night (Songs of Praise, 82) Intercessions Carol: O Come All Ye Faithful (Songs of Praise, 78) Sermon Carol: Hark, the Herald Angels Sing (Songs of Praise, 74) Blessing An Associated-Rediffusion Network Presentation
	12.15	Close-down till 12.45
	12.45	Christmas Box
			with The Lunch Box Gang A special edition of the popular Midlands daily programme featuring Noele Gordon, Jerry Allen, Lionel Rubin, Alan Grahame, Ken Ingarfield, David Galbraith, Sheila Buxton, Terry Burton and guests An ATV Network Production
	14.00	Mantovani And His New Music
			present A Christmas Day Programme with guest stars Dave King, Jacqueline Delman, George Elrick, The Bournemouth Girls' Choir An ATV Network Production
	15.00	Her Majesty The Queen
			For the first time television cameras visit Sandringham when Her Majesty The Queen broadcasts her Christmas Day message to her people this afternoon
	15.15	The Lady From Boston (1951)
			starring Paul Henreid, Merle Oberon Boston schoolmistress Elizabeth Rockwell inherits a chateau in France. She finds it full of unusual tenants.
	16.30	Cool for Cats
			Introduced by Kent Walton An Associated-Rediffusion Network Presentation
	16.45	Rin Tin-Tin
			Rusty Volunteers
			To prevent rebel leader Don Cortez from capturing the US Ambassador en route to Mexico, Lt Rip Masters is ordered to pose as the Ambassador.
	17.15	Popeye
			The popular cartoon character brings viewers 30 minutes of laughter
	17.45	The Big Top
			presented by Wolf Mankowitz A Russian film of some of the world's greatest circus acts Narrator John Ellison A Gala Telefilm An Associated-Rediffusion Network Presentation
	18.45	News
			from the studios of Independent Television News
	19.00	Home At Christmas
			With friends from near and far Introduced by The Rev Derrick Greeves, Minister of the Westminster Methodist Central Hall
	19.28	Weather Forecast
			Prepared by Laurie West
	19.30	Spot The Tune!
			Ken Platt and Marion Ryan are joined by Margaret Lockwood, Petula Clark, Thora Hird, Ted Heath, Ronald Shiner, Tony Wright in a special Christmas edition of this popular musical quiz. There will be plenty of fun and excitement as guest stars play for prizes of toys which will be given to a children's home
	20.15	The Carroll Levis Christmas Show
			Carroll Levis introduces discoveries who are guests at his Christmas party with Jerry Allen and his Trio An ATV Network Production
	20.45	You Were Never Lovelier (1942)
			Film of the Week presents
			starring Rita Hayworth and Fred Astaire with Adolphe Menjou, Leslie Brooks, Larry Parks and Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra An ATV Network Presentation
	22.25	News, Weather
			The latest from the studios of ITN, followed by a final weather forecast
	22.30	The Adventures Of The Scarlet Pimpernel
			The Christmas Present
			with Marius Goring as the immortal character created by Baroness Orczy How is Sir Percy to keep the aristo children calm and unafraid in their perilous dash to escape the guillotine? It is Christmas, and Sir Percy has an inventive mind...
	22.55	The Epilogue and Close-down
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<< Christmas Day 1957 >>