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 1967 >>

BBC Two had started broadcasting in colour earlier this year so this was the first Christmas Day you could enjoy colour TV - but only on BBC Two - it would be another two years before BBC One upgraded! On Boxing Day this year, BBC One broadcast The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour film - in black and white! It was repeated on BBC Two, January 1968, in colour.


\| REDIFFUSION \| BBC ONE \| BBC TWO \|

	REDIFFUSION
	09.00	I Saw Three Ships ...
	09.30	Comedy Time
	10.00	David and the Donkey
	10.30	A Tale of Canterbury
	11.00	A Service for Christmas
			from The Church of St. James', Bierton, Bucks
	11.45	A Christmas Stocking; A Tale of Canterbury

	12.30	The Beverly Hillbillies
			The Beautiful Maid
	13.00	News Headlines
	13.02	The World of Roy Castle
	14.00	All Kinds of Music
	15.00	The Queen
			Her Majesty's Christmas message to the Commonwealth
	15.10	Fancy Pants
	16.43	Many Moons
	17.05	Sexton Blake
			The Vanishing Snowman
	17.55	News
	18.09	Alice in Wonderland; The Weather Forecast

	19.00	Coronation Street
	19.30	Aladdin
	21.05	The Singer Not The Song
	22.00	News at Ten
	22.15 - 23.45	The Singer Not The Song

	BBC ONE
	01.00	Closedown
	09.00	We Wish You a Merry Christmas
			Three thousand children sing a Christmas greeting at the ROBERT MAYER CAROL CONCERT Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Leader, JOHN RONAYNE Organist, JOHN BIRCH Introduced and conducted by Trevor Harvey From the Royal Festival Hall, London Presented for television by JOHN VERNON
	09.30	THE NEWS and THE WEATHER MAN
			George Luce
	09.40	Jackanory
			with Mike Hope and Alby Keen It's pantomime time all this week to Jackanory, beginning today with The Splendid History of Mother Goose and her Golden Eggs
	09.55	The Sooty Show
			featuring Sooty and Sweep assisted by Harry Corbett in Christmas Shopping Additional manipulation by LESLIE and MARJORIE CORBETT Produced by TREVOR HILL From the North Harry Corbett is appearing at the May Fair Theatre. London
	10.05	The Charlie Chaplin Comedy Theatre
			presenting CHARLIE CHAPLIN in The Cure Charlie takes the waters, but drives everyone else to drink. A special television version of the famous Chaplin comedy film with Edna Purviance and Eric Campbell
	10.30	Nina and Frederik
			in The Christmas Tree A new version of Hans Andersen's Christmas story Music, PATRICK HARVEY and FREDERIK Designer, Paul Allen Director, PETER RIDSDALE Scon Producer, MOLLY Cox
	11.00	Morning Service
			for Christmas Day from ST. GEORGE'S PARISH CHURCH. STOCKPORT, CHESHIRE Preacher, The Rev. Canon W. Garlick Chaplain to the Queen Service conducted by The Rev. B. Jackson and The Rev. K. G. Routledge Organist, ARTHUR ROOKE TV presentation by Raymond Short
	11.45	Leslie Crowther
			invites you to Meet the Kids in hospital at Christmas with The Monkees Davy Jones, Peter Tork Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith in Hollywood Pierre the Clown Tony Hart The Bert Hayes Trio and A Lion Cub from Longleat An outside broadcast direct from Queen Mary's Hospital for Children, Carshalton, Surrey Produced by RAY COLLEY Leslie Crowther is appearing In ' Let Sleep. ing Wives Lie ' at the Garrick Theatre. London; Pierre the Clown appears by permission of Billy Smart's Circua
	12.30	Z Cars
			starring JOSS ACKLAND, JOSEPH BRADY JAMES ELLIS, JOHN SLATER in Family Affair: part 1 by GEOFFREY TETLOW with David Daker Bernard Holley, Stephen Yardley Producer, RONALD TRAVERS Directed by PADDY RUSSELL For cast see page 43
	12.55	THE NEWS and THE WEATHER MAN
			George Luce
	13.05	A Spoonful of Sugar
			Whom would you like to meet? Where would you like to go? What would you like to see? A special Christmas edition from THE STAR AND GARTER HOME FOR DISABLED SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AND AIRMEN. RICHMOND, SURREY Keith Macklin and Sheila Tracy talk to some of the members of this famous Home and have their usual supply of surprises in store Appearing as guests: The Westminster Abbey Choir and two of the most popular stars in the history of Show Business Produced by NICK HUNTER from the North
	13.35	Three-way Christmas Quiz
			A special holiday contest in which The Ask the Family ' winners The Dupre Family in Frant, Sussex challenge The two ' Top of the Form' Finalists Burnt Mill School, Harlow and either: The Regis School, Tettenhall or: Kirkton High School, Dundee (depending on result of contest on December 21) Chairman, Robert Robinson Question-Masters: Geoffrey Wheeler and John Edmunds Questions set by BOSWELL TAYLOR Outside broadcasts directed by JOHN McGONAGLE, PETER MASSEY and TONY BROUGHTON Produced by PATRICIA OWTRAM and MARY EVANS
	14.05	Top of the Pops '67
			Xmas Special - Part 1
			A look at the top pop scene over the last twelve months featuring discs by THE BEACH BOYS THE BEATLES (No. 1) PETULA CLARK (No. 1) THE FOUNDATIONS (NO. 1) THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK (No. 1) TOM JONES (No. 1) SANDIE SHAW (No. 1) FRANK AND NANCY SINATRA (No. 1) THE TREMELOES (No. 1) THE WHO with Jimmy Savile, Alan Freeman, Pete Murray Top of the Pops Orchestra Directed by Johnny Pearson Design, Roger Lowe Production, JOHNNIE STEWART Part 2: tomorrow at 5.25 See page 24
	15.00	The Queen
			Her Majesty's Christmas Message to the Commonwealth
	15.10	Billy Smart's Circus
			From the Big Top of the world's largest travelling show Mrs. Smart and her Sons proudly present a gala performance for Europe COME TO THE CIRCUS A Christmas welcome from the circus world WITH A WING AND A PRAYER The airborne Antares defy gravity COMEDY SENSATION The incredible young Veterans HUNGARIAN TRICK CYCLISTS The State Circus Bocskay Troupe FIFTEEN ELEPHANTS Presented by Billy Smart and Elephant Boy Gary Jahn DEE-JAY DARE Birma the famous elephant performs her ' Walk of Death * over six celebrated disc jockey* GLAMOUR OH GLOBES The fabulous Dior Sisters FEATS OF STRENGTH The great Markus-strong man HIGH TRAPEZE The high ' flying ' Palacys CIRCUS OF CHIMPS Rudi and Sue Lenz with their horse-riding, toe-dancing, acrobatic, musical chimpanzees KING-KONG Man or Monkey? WORLD'S GREATEST SPRINGBOARD ACT The first time in Britain from the Hungarian State Circus The Seven Faludis LEOPARDS AND BLACK PANTHERS trained and presented by Richard Incidental clowning by Maxo, Toto, and Co. Incidental commentary by Jimmy Young Musical director, KEN GRIFFIN Produced and directed by DEREK BURRELL-DAVIS See facing page
	16.15	Disney Time
			Dick Van Dyke opens Walt Disney's Jungle Book of Animals and introduces some new faces and some old favourites With scenes from: SHOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS BAMBI FANTASIA BEAR COUNTRY MARY POPPINS THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE BLACKBEARD'S GHOST NEVER A DULL MOMENT THE JUNGLE BOOK Films by courtesy of Walt Disney Productions Produced by Richard EVANS
	17.00	Cinderella
			BBC-l's Christmas pantomime
	18.30	The News
			with Robert Dougall followed by THE WEATHER
	18.35	War on Want
			A Christmas Appeal by James Mossman Please send donations, preferably by crossed postal order or cheque, to: James Mossman, War on Want, [address removed] World hunger is a fact of which the public is becoming increasingly aware. Since 1951, War on Want has been combating this problem, concentrating mainly on long-term projects of self-help. Its work is entirely dependent on voluntary contributions.
	18.40	Christmas Night with the Stars
			See columns 1 and 2 and page 23
	20.40	Ken Dodd
			in The Ken Dodd Christmas Show starring THE SEEKERS Guest stars, GRAHAM STARK PATRICIA HAYES JOHN LAURIE with SILVAN The Tiller Girls Precision routines by Barbara Aitken Choreography by Sylvia Blake Peter Knight and the Orchestra The Michael Sammes Singers Musical associate, Pete Moore Script by KEN DODO and EDDIE BRADEN Design, Norman Vertigan Production by MICHAEL HURLL See page 23
	21.40	The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
			The great John Ford film starring JAMES STEWART JOHN WAYNE with Vera Miles Lee Marvin Edmond O'Brien Screenplay by JAMES WARNER BELLA. and WILLIS GOLDBECK from a story by DOROTHY M. JOHNSON Produced by Willis Goldbeck Directed by John Ford An Easterner, armed only with his law school training, sets about ridding the town of Shinbone of a ruthless gunman ... the notorious Liberty Valance. See page 23
	23.35	The News
			with Robert Dougall followed by THE WEATHER
	23.40	Suliotis Sings
			Another chance to see the British d6but of a new world opera star -at the age of twenty-four Introduced by Arthur Jacobs The Pro Arte Orchestra . Leader, MAX SALPETER Conducted by Edward Downes Designer, Roger Andrews Produced by PATRICIA FOY and STEPHEN HEARST Edward Downes appears by arrangement with the Genera] Administrator. Royal Opera House Covent Garden See facing page

	BBC TWO
	11.00	Play School
			A programme for children at home Useful Box Day Presenters this week, Carole Ward, Brian Cant In the story chair, Roy Castle And all the bells on earth shall ring. On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day, And all the bells on earth shall ring. On Christmas Day in the morning. A star, a stable, a manger, a baby. The story of the First Christmas will be retold today by Roy CASTLE with new illustrations by CHARLES KEEPING .
	15.00	The Queen
			Her Majesty's Christmas Message to the Commonwealth
	15.10	The Royal Palaces of Britain
			In this unique film originally shown on Christmas Day last year Sir Kenneth Clark tells the story of the kings and queens who built these palaces and filled them with the greatest private collection of art in the world Music composed and arranged by SIR ARTHUR Bliss Master of the Queen's Mustek Sinfonia of London Conducted by Muir Mathieson Executive producer, DAVID WINDLESHAM Directed by ANTHONY DE LOTBINIÃˆRE Produced by BBC Television and Independent Television
	16.10	Amahl and the Night Visitors
			An opera in one act Words and music by GIAN-CARLO MENOTTI AMBROSIAN OPERA CHORUS Chorus-Master, JOHN MCCARTHY DONARE DANCE GROUP Choreographer. PHILIPPE PPRROTTET New Philharmonia Orchestra Led by ERNEST SCOTT Associate conductor, DAVID Too BOYD Repetiteur, MICHAEL BASSETT Designer. Eileen Diss Conductor, James Lockhart Producer. CEDRIC MESSINA Directed by MICHAEL HAYES Forbes Robinson appears by arrangement with The General Administrator. Royal Opera House Covent Garden; Don Garrard by arrangement with Sadler's WelU Opera See colour pages
	17.00	Doctor in Love
			starring MICHAEL CRAIG VIRGINIA MASKELL JAMES ROBERTSON JUSTICE Screenplay by NICHOLAS PHIPPS Based on the novel by RICHARD GORDON Directed by Ralph Thomas Produced by Betty Box See page 24
	18.30	Red Skelton
			in Clown Alley A circus setting for a truly great clown and comedian helped-and hindered-by Martha Raye, Vincent Price Bobby Rydcll, Jackie Coogan
	19.20	The Flute and the Arrow
			A film by ARNE SUCKSDORFP Music by RAVI SHANKAR Commentary written by WILLIAM SANSOM and spoken by ARTHUR HOWARD Produced, directed, and photographed by ARNE SUCKSDORFF The idyllic life of the Muria tribe of Northern India is threatened by a ravage leopard.
	20.30	The Rumanian National Dance Company and Orchestra
			An exciting and colourful spectacular featuring the romantic music of Rumania by eighty dancers and musicians on their first visit to this country Director, PETRE NASTROVICI Conductor, VICTOR PREDESCU Introduced by Doina Tanasescu Staged by Philip Hindin Televised by arrangement with Leslie A. Macdonnell Presented for television by John VERNON
	21.15	Coral Caverns
			Narrated by Derek Jones Florida has one of the most unusual national parks in the world. THE JOHN PENNEKAMP CORAL REEF PARK Here tourists can dive into the mysterious depths for close-up views of all sorts of beautiful and fascinating marine life. Filmed and directed by DON RENN Presented for television by Suzanne Gibbs
	21.40	The Black and White Minstrel Show
			starring THE MITCHELL MINSTRELS with JOHN BOULTER DAI FRANCIS TONY MERCER CompÃ¨re, LESLIE CROWTHER Guest star, SEMPRINI also starring Margaret Savage The Television Toppers Delia Wicks, Don Cleaver Penny Jewkes, Les Rawlings Sheila Bcrnette, Peter Glaze Dance direction by Roy Gunson Vocal arrangements by George Mitchell Orchestrations by Alan Bristow Orchestra Leader. Freddie Clayton conducted by George Mitchell and Eric Robinson Settings by Lionel Radford Devised and produced by GEORGE INNS The Black and White Minstrel Show la appearing at the Victoria Palace, London, and at the Opera House, Manchester: Leslie Crowther Is in ' Let Sleeping Wives Lie at the Garrick Theatre. London See page 24
	22.25	News Summary
	22.30	Bach's Christmas Oratorio
			Parts I, 2, and 3 Conducted by Benjamin Britten The Aldeburgh Festival performance from the Great Church of the Holy Trinity Long Melford, Suffolk Heather Harper (soprano) Helen Watts (contralto) Peter Pears (tenor) Thomas Hemsley (bass) The Ambrosian Singers KEITH HARVEY (cello continuo) PHILIP LEDGER (harpsichord) ALAN BROWN (organ) The English Chamber Orchestra Leader, EMANUEL HURWITZ Producer, WALTER TODDS Directed by BAStL COLEMAN
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<< Christmas Day 1967 >>