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 1961 >>

This year Christmas Day fell on a Monday so included the first ever Christmas edition of Coronation Street (Episode 108).


\| BBC tv \| ASSOCIATED-REDIFFUSION \|

	BBC tv
	01.30	Closedown
	09.00	Gwyl Y Geni
			Gwasanaeth ar gyfer y Nadolig Ymunwn mewn myfyrdod, gweddi a mawl, dan arweiniad Y Parchedig Glyn Parry-Jones Unawdydd, lona Jones C6r: Cantorion Cymreig y BBC Arweinydd, Arwel Hughes Y cynhyrchu gan IFOR REBS Recordiad y BBC The Nativity Festival: a Christmas Service
	09.29	Headline News
	09.30	Good Christian Men, Rejoice
			A programme of Christmas carols, hymns, and music presented by the boys of Chethams Hospital School Manchester Items arranged by GERALD LlTTLEWOOD who conducts the singers A section of the school orchestra conducted by JOHN GITTINS Commentary by JAMES R. GREGSON Produced for television by TREVOR HILL
	10.00	Sambo and the Snow Mountains
			A second showing of the BBC film of a story by WALTER DE LA MARE with music specially composed by John Addison Narrated by Norman SheUey starring DUDLEY HTJNTE as Sambo featuring GLADYS YOUNG as Miss Bleech BECKETT BOULD as Dr. Grimble with SYDNEY BROMLEY, BOSCOE HOLDEY HENRY KAY, SHEILA CLARKE MARY HENDERSON ROSEMARY MATTHEWS PETER DELMAR, IAN PERCY MALCOLM RANSON Music recorded by SINFONIA OF LONDON Leader, Leonard Hirsch Conducted by JOHN ADDISON Photographed by Peter Sargent Film editor. Harry Hastings Designer, Clifford Hatts Adapted and produced by MARGARET DALE
	10.30	O Come, All Ye Faithful
			Morning Service for Christmas Day from St. Werburgh's Parish Church, Derby r Conducted by the Vicar, the Rev. Clifford Smith assisted by the Rev. Charles Buckmaster and the Rev. Brian Rice Organist. Arthur Pope Family worship from an ancient church in an industrial city, with living tableaux of scenes from Christ's Nativity staged by St. Christopher's Home for Railway Children. TV presentation by Barrie Edgar
	11.30	Max Bygraves
			Invites you to Meet the Kids in hospital this Christmas One of Britain's favourite entertainers joins BBC live Outside Broadcast cameras for a Christmas morning call in words and music at ... The Hospital for Sick Children In Great Ormond Street, London Produced by BRYAN COWGILL
	12.20	Citizen James
			starring SIDNEY JAMES with SYDNEY TAFLER and MARJOBIE RHODES and featuring Carl Bernard, Hugh Lloyd Roger Avon, Robert Langley Sid Green, Dick Hills Amy Dalby, Howard Douglas Michael Stainton, Leon Cortez ' Sheree Winton Written by SID GREEN and Dick HILLS Incidental music by Gordon Franks Designed by Lawrence BroadhouBe Produced by JOHN STREET
	12.50	Be My Guest
			This Christmas Day says JOAN REGAN Also invited are: LENNY THE LION WITH TEBRY HALL BILLY DAINTY SERGIO FRANCHI THE POLKA DOTS PALL ROBERTS Woolf Phillips and his Orchestra Musical associate, Bert Waller Staging by Malcolm Goddard Designer. Tony Abbott Produced by ALBERT STEVENSON
	13.25	Tenderfoot
			Stranger in the Town
			A programme from the popular Western series starring the young cowboy adventurer who is also a student of the law Tom unwittingly earns a reputation as a professional gunman and is faced with the dangerous consequences.
	14.10	Appeal
			on behalf of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf by Sir Malcolm Sargent Contributions, preferably by crossed postal order or cheque, will be gratefully acknowledged and should be addressed to Sir Malcolm Sargent, R.N.I.D., [address removed]
	14.15	The Christmas Music
			from MESSIAH by HANDEL Recorded at Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff by permission of the Dean and Chapter Heather Harper (soprano) Marjorie Thomas (contralto) Roger Stalman (baritone) The Glendower Singers Chorus-Master, Mansel Thomas The Shelley Singers Chorus-Master, Eiddwen Griffiths The Lyrian Singers Chorus-Master, Bryn Williams BBC Welsh Orchestra Leader, Philip Whiteway Conducted by Mansel Thomas Harpsichord, Leonard Morris Music associate. Alwyn Jones Produced by CHRISTIAN SIMPSON
	15.00	The Queen
			Her Majesty's recorded Christmas Message to the Commonwealth 0
	15.07	Billy Smart's Circus
			Ten Nations Christmas Gala A gala performance from Britain's largest circus screened throughout Europe. The peoples of France, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Holland join families at home for this fabulous Christmas Circus HARRY TOWB The ' Flying' Father Christmas Introduces THE SEVEN LEOTARIS Europe's greatest flyers THE MANDOS SISTERS Glamour on the aerial anchor BILLY SMART JNR. and his elephants OLD REGNAS The donkey and the dogs HENRY DOMIS Somersaults on the wire Space Ship arrival of GINA The Girl in the Moon THE FIVE MEDIFRED8 Italy's ace jugglers THE MUNOZ- LUFTMANN TROUPE Portugal's great musical clowns THE SEVEN HERWIKS from the Hungarian State Circus In addition: Clowns Harty, Alby Austin, and Gonzales The Digger Pugh Girls The SIoan Family's Carnival Capers Circus Orchestra directed by BERNARD WELLER Ringmaster, CHRIS CHRISTIAN Circus presentation by RONNIE AND DAVID SMART An Outside Broadcast recorded under the Big Top Produced by DEREK Burrell-Davis
	16.05	The World of Walt Disney
			David Jacobs looks at the world of wonder and fantasy, of nature, of music and laughter, that Walt Disney has created, and takes you to Hollywood to meet Walt Disney himself and join in a back-stage party With scenes from: PINOCCHIO BAMBI SONG OF THE SOUTH MELODY TIME BEAR COUNTRY THE VANISHING PRAIRIE PERRI NIKKI , WILD DOG OF THE NORTH MOON PILOT BON VOYAGE THE CASTAWAYS THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER BABES IN TOYLAND Films by courtesy of Walt Disney Productions Editor, Keith Latham Produced for television by RICHARD EVANS
	17.15	Just William's Luck
			with WILLIAM GRAHAME as William and GARRY MARSH LESLIE BRADLEY A film based on a book by RICHMAL CROMPTON Directed by Val Guest William leads his pals, 'The Outlaws', in an adventure in which it is difficult to say who is hunted and who is haunted.
	18.45	The News
	18.55	Christmas at Canterbury
			The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Michael Ramsey gives a Christmas address in a Service of Lessons and Carols from the Cathedral Church of Christ, Canterbury. Processional hymn: O come, all ye faithful Carol: Away in a manger Lesson: St. Luke 2, w. 8-16 read by THE REV. DR. F. J. SHIRLEY Canon Residentiary Carol : I saw three ships Lesson: St. Matthew 2, vv. 1-12 read by the DEAN DR. HEWLETT JOHNSON Carol: Coventry Carol Carol: Up good Christian folk ADDRESS BY THE ARCHBISHOP Carol: There is no rose (J. Joubert ) Blessing Carol: Unto us is born a son Canterbury CATHEDRAL CHOIR Organist and Master of Choristers, ALLAN WICKS Sub-Organist, Gwilym Isaac Produced by INNES LLOYD
	19.25	This is Your Life
			says EAMONN ANDREWS Story written and research by Nickola Sterne Story editor, John Sandilanda Incidental music conducted by James Turner Directed by Yvonne Littlewood Produced by T. LESLIE JACKSON This Is Your Life was devised by Ralph Edwards
	20.00	The Black and White Minstrel Show
			starring THE MITCHELL MINSTRELS Conducted by George Mitchell and also starring LESLIE CROWTHER GEORGE CHISHOLM SEMPRINI PENNY NICHOLLS JOHN BOULTER, DAI FRANCIS TONY MERCER, BENNY GARCIA THE JACKPOTS THE TELEVISION TOPPERS Puppets by Paul and Peta Page Dance direction by Larry Gordon Vocal arrangements by George Mitchell Orchestrations by Alan Bristow and Ray Terry MINSTREL ORCHESTRA Conducted by Eric Robinson Settings by Stanley Dorfman Devised and produced by GEORGE INNS
	21.00	Rebecca (1940)
			A film drama starring LAURENCE OLIVIER and JOAN FONTAINE Directed by Alfred Hitchcock front the novel by Daphne du MAURIER Produced by David 0. Selznick To marry an attractive widower, and to be haunted by the spirit of his dead wife-this is the fate of the shy, un-spoilt girl who is swept off her feet to become the second wife of the wealthy but mysterious Maxim de Winter. The combination of Daphne du Maurier's best-selling story, Alfred Hitchcock's skilful direction, and the acting of a star-studded cast has resulted in an outstanding film.
	23.05	Late Night News
	23.10	Television Dancing Club
			Fourteenth Year A special Christmas edition featuring VICTOR SILVESTER and his BALLROOM ORCHESTRA from the Carlton Rooms, Maida Vale Demonstrations by Olga and Felipe Tony Clark and Gladys Mortimer Dimitri Petrides and Nina Hunt The Ken Bateman Teenage Formation Team from Slough * and presenting the 6th heat of the 1&61/62 competition for the TELEVISION DANCING CLUB TROPHIES Victor Silvester's Dancing Lesson assisted by Doreen Freeman Hostess, Rosalie Ashley Produced by Richard Afton
	23.55	The Power of Gentleness
			A postscript to Christmas by the Dean of Trinity College, Cambridge

	ASSOCIATED-REDIFFUSION
	11.15	High Mass
	12.30	Music For Christmas
	13.00	News
	13.05	Christmas Box
	14.00	The Cyril Stapleton Show
	15.00	Her Majesty The Queen
			The Queen's Christmas Message to the Commonwealth
	15.07	Chipperfields All Star Christmas Circus
	16.20	Close Up
	17.00	Cartoon Time
	17.55	News
	18.05	His Grace The Archbishop of Canterbury
	18.15	The Weather Forecast
	18.17	Christmas Alone
	18.45	Here and Now
	19.00	All Our Yesterdays
	19.30	Coronation Street
	20.00	Gunsmoke
			Apprentice Doc
	20.55	News
	21.05	A Merry Mix
			with Max Bygraves
	22.05	The Pickwick Papers (1952)
	23.57	Epilogue
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<< Christmas Day 1961 >>