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 1968 >>

The first Christmas Day broadcast by the newly formed Thames Television.


\| THAMES \| BBC ONE \| BBC TWO \|

	THAMES
	09.15	Christmas With Tingha and Tucker
	09.45	Carols From Ripon Cathedral
	10.30	Christmas at Southwark
	11.40	The Royal Family at St. George's Chapel, Windsor
	11.55	Freewheelers
			The Zender Plot- The Stones
	12.30	Tarzan's Savage Fury (1952)
	14.00	All Kinds of Music
	15.00	The Queen's Christmas Message
	15.10	Kelvin Hall Circus
	16.10	Do Not Adjust Your Stocking
	17.00	The Courage of Lassie (1946)
	17.50	News from ITN
	18.00	The Courage of Lassie
			Continuing this Film
	18.45	Opportunity Knocks!
			Christmas Special
	19.30	Coronation Street
	20.00	Westward The Women (1951)
	22.00	ITN News at Ten
	22.15	Christmas Horne A'Plenty
	22.45	The Sex Game
			Hippy Hippy Who Cares
	23.45	Mountbatten Interview
			Earl Mountbatten of Burma

	BBC ONE
	08.55	Carol Story
			An entertainment for Christmas morning Sung by the Choir of East Barnet Grammar School Chorus-Master. DENNIS TODD Movement by the New College Junior Drama Club Directed by PAULINE STUART Conductor, Peter Kay Designer, Roger Liminton An outside broadcast Produced by JOHN VERNON
	09.25	THE NEWS and THE WEATHER
	09.30	Jackanory
			with John Stride Christmas Stories Today: John Stride tells ' The Minstrel and the Mountain a story of peace by JANE YOLEN
	09.45	Professor in Toyland
			Some enchanting questions for enquiring minds asked by Professor Julius Sumner Miller on walking toys, singing toys, swimming toys, flying toys Do you own a toy? Did you ever own a toy? Then Julius ('Walt Disney called me a genius') Sumner Miller can provide a few scientific questions to worry you with. Directed by PETER GOODCHILD Editor, R. W. REID First shown on BBC 2
	10.15	A Spoonful of Sugar
			What would you like to see? Whom do you want to meet? Where would you like to go? Keith Macklin and Sheila Tracy introduce a special edition from THE YORKSHIRE HOME. HARROGATE The patients from this home for disabled women will be meeting, talking, and listening to famous personalities of their own choice including Norman Wisdom Moira Anderson Simon Woolf Produced by NICK HUNTER from the North
	10.45	Family Service
			for Christmas Morning from THE METHODIST CHURCH SOLIHULL, WARWICKSHIRE Conducted by the Minister, The Rev. Brian Greet Organist, MARGARET WHARAM Introduced by Philip Turner Television presentation by Barrie Edgar Appropriately for Christmas morning, this service from the modern Methodist church in Solihull is very much a family affair. The children are encouraged to bring Christmas presents to church with them as an act of thanks-giving; and they, together with young people and adults, will be helping the minister with this Christmas act of worship.
	11.30	Meet the Kids
			in hospital at Christmas with RAY ALAN and Tony Hart The Bert Hayes Trio Tich and Quackers Gus and Jaq from Walt Disney's ' Cinderella' A Chimp called Charlie from Longleat An outside broadcast direct from Queen Mary's Hospital for Children, Carshalton, Surrey Produced by RAY COLLEY
	12.15	The Charlie Drake Show
			starring CHARLIE DRAKE with HENRY McGEE THE SATIN BELLS FLIGHT FOUR The George Mitchell Singers The Show Dancers Leslie Dwyer, Doremy Vernon Dorothy Darke Musical director, HARRY RABINOWITS Choreography by Peter Gordeno Written by CHARLIE DRAKE Designer, John Burrowes Produced by ERNEST MAXIN First shown on BBC-2
	13.00	The Newcomers
			Devised by Colin Morris Christmas Day in Angleton: Vivienne goes to see Toby Smith ; the Kerrs entertain their friends; Sydney has a solution to Turner's accommodation problem. Story by JOHN CRESSWELL Script by CHRISTOPHER BOND Producer, BILL SELLARS Directed by MARY RIDGE from the Midlands For cast list see page 55
	13.25	Top of the Pops '68
			Xmas Special - Part 1
			This year's top pops including discs by: LOUIS ARMSTRONG THE BEATLES GEORGIE FAME ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK THE LOVE AFFAIR MANFRED MANN ESTHER AND ABI OFARIM CLIFF RICHARD THE ROLLING STONES THE UNION GAP Introduced by Pete Murray and Jimmy Savile Top of the Pops Orchestra Conducted by Johnny Pearson Design, David Chandler Production, JOHNNIE STEWART Part 2: tomorrow at 6.35 p.m.
	14.10	The Black and White Minstrel Christmas Show
			starring THE MITCHELL MINSTRELS with JOHN BOULTER DAI FRANCIS TONY MERCER Compere, Leslie Crowther Guest star, SEMPRINI Also starring Margaret Savage The Television Toppers Delia Wicks Don Cleaver Penny Jewkes Les Rawlings Sheila Bernette Peter Glaze Dance direction by Roy Gunson Vocal arrangements by George Mitchell Orchestrations by Alan Bristow Orchestra Leader, FREDDY CLAYTON Conducted by George Mitchell and Eric Robinson Settings by Lionel Radford Devised and produced by GEORGE INNS Leslie Crowther Is appearing In ' Let Sleeping Wives Lie ' at the Garrick Theatre. London: The Black and White Minstrel Show Is at the Victoria Palace. London. and at the King's Theatre. Edinburgh
	15.00	The Queen
			Her Majesty's Christmas Message to the Commonwealth Also on BBC-2 in colour
	15.05	Billy Smart's Circus
			From the Big Top of the world's greatest Tenting Show A Gala Performance for Europe presenting Stars from the rings of the world ft BEROSINI (U.S.A.) Swings by his heels on the high trapeze THE CAROLI RIDERS (France) The world's largest trick-riding troupe TEN TISZA (Hungary) State Circus springboard sensation KRENZOLA'S ANIMAL REVUE (Germany) with fox and goose, cat and dog. parrots and pigeons EL GRUPO RODRIGUEZ (Mexico) Olympians of the triple bar THE FRANCESCO CLOWNS (Italy) The superb comedy and music of FRANCESCOâ€”ENRICOâ€”ERNESTO DOMICOâ€”ALBERTOâ€”TINO VITTORIOâ€”etcetro ... ARMAND ELLEANO (Spain) Wire-walker extraordinary SWINGING ELEPHANTS presented by Billy Smart Jr. and featuring the 15-elephant pyramid THE FLYING OSLERS (South Africa) Four daring young men on the flying trapeze Also in the Big Top: RIA, DON SAUNDERS, MAXO, TOTO AND Co. MIKE TUCKER, ABDESLAM and Ringmaster DICK BARTON Circus direction by brothers RONNIE, DAVID, AND BILLY SMART The show introduced by John Witty Circus Band directed by KEN GRIFFIN Designer, James Bould Directed by MARY DAVID Produced by DEREK BURRELL-DAVIS
	16.10	Disney Time
			Music and comedy are the themes of this year's Christmas Walt Disney programme introduced by Val Doonican With scenes from: BAMBI MARY POPPINS PETER PAN THE JUNGLE BOOK DONALD'S SNOW FIGHT THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE NEVER A DULL MOMENT CINDERELLA Films by courtesy of Wait Disney Productions Presented for television by RICHARD EVANS
	17.00	Humpty Dumpty
			starring and ft with with The Roy Gunson Dancers and The George Mitchell Singers Musical director, BURT RHODES Musical associate, Art Day Choreographer, Roy Gunson Original book by DAVID CROFT and PHIL PARK Adapted for television by DAVID CUMMING Costume supervisor, Valerie Spooner Make-up supervisor, Anna Chesterman Design adapted for television by Andy Dimond Produced by PETER WHITMORE Leslie Crowther is appearing In I Let Sleeping Wives Lie ' at the Garrick Theatre, London: Lynda Baron is at the Carousel, Piccadilly. London; Sally Smith is in 'Cinderella' at the Hippodrome. Bristol; Alan Curtis in 'Babes in the Wood' at the Odeon. Golders Green; Kathleen West in ' Humpty Dumpty ' at the Coventry Theatre; Max Latimer in ' Where the Rainbow Ends ' at the Intimate Theatre. Palmers Green See colour feature on centre pages
	18.30	THE NEWS and THE WEATHER
	18.35	Christian Aid
			A Christmas Appeal by Judi Dench If Christ were to be born again into poverty, where could it be? The answer is, surely, almost anywhere. From Bethlehem, Judi Dench relates the first Christmas to our world in 1968. Donations, preferably by crossed postal order or cheque, to: Christian Aid[address removed]
	18.40	Christmas Night with the Stars
			A specially recorded programme featuring stars of BBC Light Entertainment in 1968 Petula Clark appears by courtesy of M.G.M. Pictures; Derek Nimmo Is appearing in 'Charlie Girl ' at the Adelphi Theatre; Robertson Hare Is In ' Oh Clarencel ' at the Lyric Theatre, London See columns 1, 2, and 3 and colour feature on centre pages
	20.45	Doddy for Christmas
			starring KEN DODD Special guest appearances of GRAHAM STARK PATRICIA HAYES DERMOT KELLY with Senor Wences The New Faces Judith Chalmers Norman Caley Jennifer Lowe Doddy's Diddymen Staged by PEGGY O'FARRELL Children of Ryebank School and A collection of Doddy-Oddities with Peter Barbour's Beanstalks Henry Vadden Watneys Silver Band Joe Gandy's Circus The Barking Playleader Drum Majorettes The Knotty Ash State Dancer Phil ' Fazakerley ' Kernott Arthur Johnson (tenor) Collins and Lopez Cuthbert Braben The Icky the Firebobby Singers Little Jimmy (from Pegrams) Ken's Cutie-Girls Cartoon film by COLIN WHITTAKER Orchestra directed by KEN JONES Script by EDDIE BRABEN and KEN DODD Design by John Burrowes Produced by MICHAEL HURLL Ken Dodd is appearing in ' Dick Whitting ton ' at the Palace Theatre, Manchester
	21.45	Some Like It Hot (1959)
			starring MARILYN MONROE, TONY CURTIS, JACK LEMMON with George Raft, Pat O'Brien, Joe E. Brown Screenplay by BILLY WILDER and I. A. L. DIAMOND Produced and directed by Billy Wilder Chicago, 1929, at the height of the Prohibition era. Two jazz musicians witness the St. Valentine's day killings and flee for their lives-by joining an all-girl orchestra!
	23.40	The News
			with Robert Langley followed by THE WEATHER MAN Bert Foord
	23.50	Quiz of the Year
			Ned Sherrin tests the wits and memories of rival teams, who might be expected to know what's been going on in 1968. Richard Ingrams William Rushton John Wells of Private Eye magazine are challenged by Linda Blandford Mary Kenny Neil Shand with sketches acted by Miriam Margolyes Malcolm Ingram Directed by PETER CHAFER Produced by ANTHONY SMITH

	BBC TWO
	11.20	Play School
			A programme for children at home Pets Day Presenters, Julie Stevens, Brian Cant Today: The Christmas Story
	11.40	Christmas Morning at Windsor Castle
			The scene as Her Majesty The Queen and other members of the Royal Family leave St. George's Chapel after attending Morning Service Commentator, Richard Baker
	15.00	The Queen
			Her Majesty's Christmas Message to the Commonwealth
	15.05	The Royal Ballet
			Director, FREDERICK ASHTON in The Nutcracker Music by TCHAIKOVSKY Ballet in two acts after the story by E. T. A . HOFFMANN The Nutcracker and the Rat King Choreography and production by RUDOLF NUREYEV The Prince's Variation and the Pastorale in Act 2 by VASSILY VAINONEN Designed by NICHOLAS GEORGIADIS starring MERLE and RUDOLF PARK NUREYEV In March this year BBC-2 presented for the first time this complete ballet in colour direct from The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden Act 1: Scenes 1 and 2 Guests ARTISTS OF THE ROYAL BALLETChildren Pupils OF THE ROYAL BALLET JUNIOR SCHOOL Act 1: Scene 3 Marines and Rats Pupils of THE ROYAL BALLET JUNIOR SCHOOL Cavalry ARTISTS OF THE ROYAL BALLET VYVYAN LORRAYNE, MONICA MASONand ARTISTS OF THE ROYAL BALLET Act 2 . Waltz ARTISTS OF THE ROYAL BALLET Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden Leader, CHARLES TAYLOR Conducted by John Lanchbery A section of the ROYAL OPERA CHORUS Chorus-Master, Douglas ROBINSON Television presentation by JOHN VERNON ACT 1 (Christmas Eve) Se. 1: Outside Dr. Stahlbaum's house Sc. 2: The children's party Sc. 3: Clara's dream-the Snowflakes ACT 2 Sc. 1: Clara's journey Sc. 2: The dream grotto Sc. 3: Divertissements Sc. 4: Clara's reawakening
	16.45	Peace on Earth
			The Christmas story illustrated by the famous alpine wood carvings A film from Europe
	17.00	Lords of the Forest
			Masters of the Congo Jungle This outstanding and unique film reveals the wildlife of the Congo jungle and discovers the affinity between man, beast, and nature. Narrated by Orson Welles and William Warfield Directed by HEINZ SIELMANN and HENRY BRANDT Executive producer, HENRI STORCK Produced by the International Scientific Foundation of Belgium
	18.30	Dimensions
			An amusing and clownish exercise in perspective A film produced by the National Film Board of Canada
	18.40	Lancelot and Guinevere (1963)
			starring CORNEL WILDE, JEAN WALLACE Screenplay by RICHARD SCHAYER and JEFFERSON PASCAL Directed by Cornel Wilde Produced by Cornel Wilde and Bernard Luber Sir Lancelot is torn between loyalty to his king and love for the king's beautiful bride Princess Guinevere. The story of Lancelot and Guinevere succeeds where other historical spectaculars fail because the characters actually have human frailties.
	20.35	THE NEWS followed by THE WEATHER
	20.45	The Merry Widow
			An operetta by FRANZ LEHAR starring MARY COSTA JEREMY BRETT also starring JOYCE BLACKHAM RYLAND DAVIES Original book by VICTOR LEON and LEO STEM English version by CHRISTOPHER HASSALL Grisettes: JILL MARTIN, MAUREEN KEETCH Soo BEE LEE, ANN HOOD CANNA KENDAL L, DELATOUR HALL Dancers: MAUREEN SIMS, MAUREEN BRIGHT MAUREEN WILLSHER, JANIS Mackintosh GAY PARKER, LOUANNE RICHARDS DENYS PALMER, PADDY MCINTYRE JERRY MANLEY, LEIGH FOSTER BARRIE WILKINSON, BILL DRYSDALE AMBROSIAN OPERA CHORUS Pro Arte Orchestra Leader, MAX SALPETER Associate Conductor, GORDON MACKIE Repetiteur, COURTNEY KENNY Costumes, Juanita Waterson Make-up, Ann Ferriggi Choreographer, NORMAN MAEN Designer, Eileen Diss Conductor, David Lloyd-Jones Producer, CEDRIC MESSINA Directed by JOHN GORRIE Jeremy Brett is a National Theatre player; Derek Hammond Stroud appears by arrangement with the Sadler's Wells Opera Probably the best loved of all operettas, The Merry Widow is a love story set in Paris with, of course, a happy ending. The music is known everywhere. Mary Costa, the American star, plays Annathe widow. She flew over to England specially for the part.
	22.30	The Harry Secombe Show
			Tonight Harry invites some of his friends from the film production of Oliver I Including: RON MOODY, SHAN. WALLIS PEGGY MOUNT, JACK WILD with LIONEL BART Special guest, MYRNA ROSE and the boys from the Barbara Speake Stage School and the Corona Stage School Frank and Peggy Spencer 's Royston Ballroom Formation Team Script by JIMMY GRAFTON, JEREMY LLOYD, GORDON CLYDE ' Open a New Window ' staged by Gillian Lynne Musical arrangements by Peter Knight. David Palmer Orchestra directed by PETER KNIGHT Design, Norman Vertigan Programme arranged in association With Floreat Productions Devised by Jimmy Grafton Produced by TERRY HUGHES
	23.25	Mr. Rossi on the Beach
			A cartoon in which the irrepressible Mr. Rossi has some seaside misadventures Written by GUIDO MANULI Drawn by FRANCO MARTELLI I Directed by BRUNO BOZZETTO
	23.40	Anchors Aweigh (1945)
			One of the greatest film musicals starring FRANK SINATRA, GENE KELLY, KATHRYN GRAYSON with JOSE ITURBI and Tom and Jerry Screenplay by ISOBEL LENNART Produced by Joe Pasternak Directed by George Sidney The adventures of two sailors on four days shore leave-but their amorous exploits do not work out according to plan.
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<< Christmas Day 1968 >>