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 1966 >>

This was the last Christmas Day broadcast by ATV London. ATV in the Midlands would continue celebrating Christmas Day for another 15 years until the company was dissolved.


\| ATV London \| BBC One \| BBC Two \|

	ATV London
	09.50	A Merry Christmas from Tingha and Tucker; A Preview of Sport; A Last Thought for Christmas Day
			Followed by the Weather Forecast

	10.20	The Light Shineth
	11.00	Manchester Cathedral
			Christmas Eucharist
	12.10	The Royal Palaces of Britain
			The Royal Palaces of Britain, their history and their art treasures are presented for the first time on television. Sir Kenneth Clark tells the story of the kings and queens who built these palaces and filled them with the greatest private collection in the world.
	13.10	Gala Opportunity Knocks!
	14.00	Cliff Richard and The Shadows
			Wish Upon a Wishbone
	15.00	The Queen
	15.07	Sabrina Fair
	17.05	Thunderbirds
			Give or Take a Million
	18.00	News from ITN
	18.15	Weatherwise
	18.35	The Happy Birthday
			Music, poetry and prose for Christmas evening from St. Albans Cathedral with The English Chamber Orchestra and The New English Singers.
	19.25	Secombe, Friends and Relations
	20.55	Young at Heart
	22.15	News from ITN
	22.25	Young at Heart
	23.05	The Eamonn Andrews Show
			Followed By The Weather Forecast
	23.55 - 00.25	Rome, Sweet Home

	BBC One
	01.05	Closedown
	09.30	Welcome Christmas
			Judith Chalmers and Michael Aspel bring you morning greetings-in songs and words Singers: 4 Ian Wallace Marian Davies Allan Smethurst Special Christmas greetings from Val Doonican Dandy Nichols Stratford Johns Music: The Johnny Patrick Quartet BBC Midland Light Orchestra Leader. JAMES HUTCHFON Conductor, Gilbert Vinter Designer, Charles Carroll Producer. PHILIP Lewis
	10.10	Mak the Sheep-stealer
			Music by HERBERT CHAPPELL Libretto by DON TAYLOR The first production of this new opera for children by HOLLAND PARK SCHOOL Director of Music. ERIC FAIRHAM Designer, Colin Shaw ^ Produced by JOHN VERNON
	11.00	Christmas Morning Service
			from CHRIST CHURCH, COTHAM, BRISTOL Service conducted by The Rev. Raymond G. Morris and The Rev. Howard H. Bryant Sermon by The Rev. Dr. Frederic Greeves Readings from the Revised Standard Version: Isaiah 9. vv 2, 6. and 7 read by GORDON CHIVERS from the New English Bible: St. Luke 2. vv. 1-4 and 20 read by A JUNIOR CHURCH MEMBER Hymns (from Methodist Hymn Book): Nos. 117. 131, 123, 860. 125, and 118 TV direction by KENNETH Savibgi
	12.00	Leslie Crowther
			invites you to Meet the Kids in hospital at Christmas with George Chisholm. Tony Hart and The Bert Hayes Trio An outside broadcast direct line Queen Mary's Hospital for Children. Carshalton. Surrey Produced by RAY COLLEY
	12.44	The Weather Man
	12.45	The Lucy Show
			A comedy film series with never a dull moment starring If it's laughter you're after ... Lucy and George Burns .. are the tops!
	13.10	The Andy Williams Show
			Christmas greetings from the series featuring song. music, and comedy and the best from the world of entertainment starring ANDY WILLIAMS and his family with THE OSMOND BROTHERS THE GOOD TIME SINGERS THE NICK CASTLE DANCERS A programme recorded in the U.S.A.
	14.00	The Royal Palaces of Britain
			The Royal Palaces of Britain, their history, and their art treasures, are presented for the first time on television In this hour Sir Kenneth Clark tells the story of the Kings and Queens who buiit these palaces and filled them with the greatest private collection of art in the world Music composed and arranged by SIR ARTHUR Buss Master of the Queen's Musick Sinfonia of London Conducted by Muir Mathieson Photographed by Arthur Englander, F.R.P.S. Camera operator, Ken MacMillan Stills photographer, Mike Sanders Film editor, Roy Fry Dubbing mixer, Brian Watkins Recordist, Stan Nightingale Research, Simon Buxton Executive producer, DAVID Windleshau Directed by ANTHONY DE LOTBiNiERg Produced by BBC Television and Independent Television
	15.00	The Queen
	15.05	Billy Smart's Circus
			A gala performance from the Big Top of the World's greatest touring circus where Father Christmas walks the wire Elephants dance Horses fly and Master of Song David Hughes as Britain's first singing ringmaster welcomes viewers from ten European countries and introduces WALKING ON AIR Miracles of balance higher than a house The four daring Cimarros BALLERINA ON THE SILVER WIRE On the points of her toes she dances on a single thread. At only sixteen she's Katharina the great BLOOMERS ON A HORSE It's laughter they're after Brilliant clowning on horseback by The Ascots BEDTIME FOR CHIMPS On stilts, on bicycles, or in bed Willi Meyer's Chimps steal the show ACROBATICS ON PNEUMATICS Stars of the Czechoslovakian State Circus, the excitingly mobile Valla-Bertini Troupe CLOWNING GLORY From Brussels with a boxing machine the hilarious Belgian clowns Les French SUPERB HIGH-SCHOOL RIDING From Portugal with his wonderful stallion Toro comes the world-famous exponent of haute ecole Don Meyaro AERIAL REVOLUTION A death-defying toehold at the top of a forty-foot revolving mast by Sweden's star aerialists The Aeristos FIFTEEN ELEPHANTS AND BILLY SMART JR. The world's finest trained elephants in a brand-new routine THE CIRCUS IS A WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT Flying horses, scores of performers, and our singing ringmaster in a fantastic FIREWORK FINALE Circus direction by Mr Billy Smart's sons: Ronnie. DAVID, BILLY JR. Musical director, KEN Griffin Assistant producer, Mary David Produced by DEREK Burrell-Davis See facing page
	16.00	Disney Time
			Rolf Harris with the help of Coojeebear introduces this year's Christmas programme of Walt Disney films, in which the accent is on comedy and music. With scenes from: Lady And The Tramp Peter Pan Wind In The Willows Follow Me Boys Ballerina Fighting Prince Of Donegal Mary Poppins Winnie The Pooh And The Honey Tree Films by courtesy of Walt Disney Rolf Harris is your guide to this afternoon's Disney time. Who's a good bear then? Coojeebear, of course. Why? Because he's helping Rolf Harris to show you some of your favourite Walt Disney characters this afternoon. The little koala bear is mischievous but Rolf can always just about manage him, so if Coojeebear doesn't knock over too many things in the studio you should be able to see Peter Pan, Toad of Toad Hall, and of course Mary Poppins this afternoon. There will also be excerpts from Lady And The Tramp, Follow Me Boys (with Fred MacMurray), Ballerina (the Royal Danish Ballet), and many others among the familiar Disney favourites.
	16.40	Aladdin
			Arthur Askey and Roy Castle are appearing in 'Babes in the Wood' at the Wimbledon Theatre, London; Alan Curtis' is in 'Babes in the Wood' at the Palace Theatre, Manchester; Charlie Cairoli in 'Merry King Cole' at the Empire Theatre, Liverpool; Mary Millar is appearing at The Poor Millionaire, London See facing page Part 7 of 'The Three Musketeers' will be shown tomorrow at 5.30 p.m.
	18.05	THE NEWS and THE WEATHER MAN
	18.10	Robert Dougall Appeals
			for THE ROYAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF Contributions, preferably by crossed cheque or postal order, will be gratefully acknowledged and should be addressed to: [address removed] To those who never hear or utter a recognisable sound in their lives, who cannot even read because they scarcely know what language is, vision is as essential as hearing is to the blind. It is to explain how serious and important television is for the deaf that Robert Dougall appeals this evening.
	18.15	Journey to Bethlehem
			John Betjeman has just returned from his first visit to the Holy Land. This film is a record of what he saw Produced and directed by CHRISTOPHER MARTIN Repeated on Thursday at 11.12 p.m. See page 11
	18.45	Christmas Carols
			from the CHAPEL OF KING'S COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE A programme for the Festival of Christ's Nativity PROCESSIONAL HYMN Ones in royal David's city (H J. Gauntlett, harmonised A. H. Mann ) Introduction: THE DEAN PROCESSIONAL HYMN From east to west. from shore to shore tplainsong. Mode 111) FIRST LESSON The birth of Jesus St. Luke 2, vv. 1 and 3-7 Reader: A CHORISTER CAROLS Tomorrow shall be my dancing day (Trad. English, arr David Willcocks ) Balulalow (Louis Halsey ) SECOND LESSON The shepherds go to the manger St. Luke 2, vv. 8-16 Reader: THE LAY DEAN CAROL The shepherds' cradle song (Trad. German. arr. C. Macpherson) THIRD LESSON The wise men are led by the star to Jesus St. Matthew 2. vv. 1-11 Reader: THE VICE-PROVOST CAROLS Personent hodie <J4th century German, arr. Gu.ttav Hoist) All in the morning tTrad. English, arr. Vaughan Williams) FOURTH LESSON The Beatitudes Reader: A FELLOW CAROL In dulci jubilo 114th century German, arr. R. L. de Pearsall ) EPILOGUE AND PRAYERS: THE DEAN HYMN It came upon the midnight clear (Trod. English, arr. Sullhxin) Diiector of Music, David WILLCOCKS Organist, ANDREW Davis Presented for TV by Barrie Edgar
	19.25	The Black and White Minstrel Show
			starring THE MITCHELL MINSTRELS with JOHN BOULTER DAI FRANCIS TONY MERCER also starring Don Arrol Margaret Savage Don Cleaver The Television Toppers Delia Wicks Penny Jewkes Les Rawlings Wilf Todd and his Trio ' Stretch ' and Delia Limbo Dancers Dance direction by Roy Gunson Vocal arrangements by George Mitchell Orchestrations by Alan Bristow Orchestra conducted by George Mitchell and Eric Robinson Settings by Brian Tregidden Devised and produced by GEORGE INNS Will Todd and his Trio arc appearing at the Palm Bench Club. London: The BlaiK and White Minstrel Show is at the Vkiorta Palace. London, and the King's Thtatre. Glasgow
	20.00	The Ken Dodd Show
			starring KEN DODD with THE BACHELORS Guest stars: GRAHAM STARK JOHN LAURIE PATRICIA HAYES RITA WEBB featuring David Mahlowe Roger Stevenson The Diddy Men with Penny Nairn Wally Lamb Jeanette Rossini Jimmy Mac Orchestra directed by Bernard Herrmann The Lissa Gray Singers Script by KEN DODD and EDDIE BRAREN Designed by John Burrowes Produced by MICHAEL Hurll
	20.45	The Comancheros (1961)
			A Western film starring JOHN WAYNE with STUART WHITMAN, LEE MARVIN, INA BALIN Directed by Michael Curtiz Produced by George Sherman
	22.25	THE NEWS and THE WEATHER
	22.30	Dr. FINLAY'S CASEBOOK
			The Gifts of the Magi
			Created by A. J. Cronin starring ANDREW CRUICKSHANK, BARBARA MULLEN, BILL SIMPSON written by HARRY GREEN The series produced by arrangement with Graham Stewart Designer. Cwen Evans producer. DOUGLAS ALLEN Directed by JOAN CRAFT Andrew Cruickshank is appearing In An Alibi for a Judge at the Savoy Theatre. London
	23.20	The Weather Man
	23.22	The Christmas Story
			The birth of Christ illustrated by Italian pictures and music ORCHESTRA The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Directed by NEVILLE MARRINER HARPSICHORD George Malcolm HOIR Schola Polyphonica CHOIRMASTER Henry Washington SOLOISTS Margaret Price, Patricia Clark CONDUCTOR David Wiilcocks READER John Westbrook producer. HAL BURTON Margaret Price sings by arrangement with the General Administrator. Royal Opera House Covent Garden First shown on BBC-2 Close Down

	BBC Two
	15.00	The Queen
			Her Majesty's Christmas Message See BBC-1
	15.05	The World of Jacques-yves Cousteau
			The incredible world of tha famous French underwater explorer and inventor-55 fathoms beneath the Mediterranean Produced by the NATIONAL Geographic SOCIETY and David L. Wolpkr Written by James Duc. an and Irwin ROSTF. N Music by Lalo Schifrin Filmed by Philippe Cousteao Narrated by Orson Welles See page 11
	16.00	Oh Mr. Porter (1935)
			The comedy film classic starring Will Hay Directed by MARCEL VARNEL Fraud and blustering incompetence, but a trainload of laughter is the order of the day when William Porter takes, over as Stationmaster.
	17.20	The Leningrad State Kirov Ballet
			Three pieces from the programme danced by the oldest ballet company in the world during their recent visit to The Royal Opera House Covent Garden SWAN LAKE: Act 2 Music by Tchaikovsky Choreography by PETIPA and Ivanov New choreography by KONSTANTIN SERGEYEV with THE CORSAIR Classical duet Music by Riccardo Drigo Choreography by ALEXANDER Chkkfugih Kaleriya Fedicheva and Yuri Soloviev TARAS BULBA Zaporozhtse Dance Vsevolod Uchov, Oleg Sokolov and Alexander Pavlovsky Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden Leader, Charles TAYLOR Conducted by Victor Fedotov and Victor Shirokov Artistic director, KONSTANTIN Sergiy M Introduced by James Monahan TV presentation by JOHN VERNON Televised by arrangement withVictor Hochhauser Ltd. and lbs Royal Opera House Covent Ciardeu
	18.10	Newsyear '66
			News Review presents the story of the year as filmed by cameramen all over the world Home: THE QUEEN AND PARLIAMENT POLITICIANS, SEAMEN, AND CAR-WORKERS THE ABERFAN DISASTER THE HUNT FOR ROBERTS AND BLAKE RADIO PIRATES AND NORTH SEA GAS CHI-CHI AND THE LONGLEAT LIONS MISS WORLD AND THE WORLD CUP Abroad: THE WAR IN VIETNAM THE QUARREL BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA RHODESIA'S YEAR OF U.D.I. MORE WIND OF CHANGE IN AFRICA THE NEW COMMONWEALTH LEADERS THE GIBRALTAR ISSUE AMERICA'S LOST H-BOMB THE DUTCH ROYAL WEDDING THE FLOODS IN ITALY Space: THE EARTH. THE MOON, AND THE ASTRONAUTS with the pictures is a commentary designed to be seen and not heard Written and produced by BILL NORTHWOOD
	19.25	Horizon CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
			Hand me my Sword, Humphrey by RICHARD WADE with DUDLEY FOSTER and PRUNELLA SCALES It is Christmas Day in the house of Hastings. The time (the 1830s), the place (a suburban Victorian home). and the atmosphere (after the pudding with the children waiting to be entertained) are ripe for father to stun his audience with his knowledge of the world of natural philosophy. It is a world of exploding biscuit tins, unpredictable hard-boiled eggs, singing drainpipes, and enough amateur science to make young enthusiasts reach for their bunsen burners, and mothers for their smelling salts Produced by RAMSAY SHORT Directed by PETER R. SMITH Edited by R. W. Reid
	20.00	Die Fledermaus
			The new Sadler's Wells production
	22.10	Meet the Swingles
			in a programme of eighteenth-century music arranged by Ward Swingle Wtth their great joy in making music, they perform Bach with an authentic respect for phrasing and tempo ... I find the Swingles excellent. Yehudi Menuhin Designer. Chris Robilliard Producer. HERBERT CHAPPELL I A shortened version of the programme originally shown on April 23, 1965
	22.30	Late Night Line-Up
			and PLUNDER present a special Christmas night programme Reminiscences of Childhood with poetry, prose, and film drawn from the BBC Archives
	23.30	Monsieur Beaucaire
			A film comedy starring BOB HOPE with JOAN CAULFIELD PATRIC KNOWLES Produced by Paul Jones Directed by George Marshall Screenplay by MELVIN Frank and NORMAN PANAMA Based on the novel by Booth Tarkington
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<< Christmas Day 1966 >>