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 1970 >>

Entertainment for all the family with both broadcasters showing films that has been in the cinema six years previous. It was also the first time London Weekend Television took part in a Christmas Day broadcast.


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

	THAMES
	00.45	Closedown
	08.15	Sing a Song of Christmas
	09.00	Anita in Jumbleland
	09.15	Parish Communion
			from the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St. Alban
	09.20 - 10.10	A Christmas Carol
	10.15	Christmas Cinema
	11.00	A Merry Morning
	11.30	Laurel and Hardy
	11.35	Tarzan's Peril (1951)
	13.00	Kelvin Hall Circus
	14.00	A Gift for Gracie
	15.00	The Queen
	15.20	The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964)
	16.45	Cinderella
	17.50	ITN News
	18.00 - 20.30	All Star Comedy Carnival
			A special Christmas programme of ITV's top shows

	LWT
	20.30	On the Buses
	21.00	The Val Doonican Show
	22.00	ITN News at Ten
	22.20	Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964)

	BBC ONE
	01.05	Closedown
	09.00	Christmas Carols
			Introduced by Michael Flanders The Wandsworth School Choir sings The Holly and the Ivy The Sussex Carol O Little Town of Bethlehem Blessed be that Maid Marie Away in a Manger Angels from the Realms of Glory Rocking Rejoice and be Merry A Boy was born Silent Night Conductor RUSSELL BURGESS During the past 10 years Wandsworth School Choir have established an enviable reputation with many public performances. Organist IAN COBB Producer PATRICIA FOY
	09.30	Basil's Christmas Morning
			with Basil Brush Derek Fowlds KEN BROOKE THE IDLE JACKS Script by GEORGE MARTIN Music by the BERT HAYES SEXTET Designer PAT JACKSON Producer JOHNNY DOWNES (Bert Hayes appears by permission of the Winter Gardens, Margate)
	10.00	Christmas Crackers
			A cartoon parade introduced by Michael Aspel The first complete Mickey Mouse cartoon on British television in colour Pluto's Christmas Tree Two chipmunks cause chaos to Mickey's decorations! A Walt Disney Cartoon Together with two Tom and Jerry classics The Night Before Christmas Tom and Jerry finally reach a seasonal truce Johann Mouse The Academy Award-winning cartoon of the dancing mouse. Presented for television by BOB FisHER
	10.25	News Summary and Weather
	10.30	A Family Service
			for Christmas Day from Netherlee Parish Church, Glasgow Conducted by the Minister, THE REV STANLEY D. MAIR Organist WILLIAM LIDDELL TV presentation mE REV RALPH SMITH
	11.40	A Christmas Appeal
			by Alvar Lidell on behalf of the Wireless for the Blind Fund The Fund relies entirely on this annual appeal to provide some 8,000 sets every year, for the newly blinded and as replacements. Today, each set costs £14. In comfort and companionship its value is incalculable. Donations, preferably by crossed po or cheque, to: Alvar Lidell, Wireless for the Blind, 1[address removed], or to any branch of the Midland or Clydesdale Banks.
	11.45	Rolf Harris
			invites you to Meet the Kids who are in hospital this Christmas. A programme for children to charm adults with Rolf Harris singing, painting, and talking to the patients. With Rolf will be COOJEEBEAR DANIELLA and the BERT HAYES GROUP Daniella is a delightful little Maltese girl, who, though she's only 9, has won several singing competitions and appeared with Rolf in his Saturday evening show on BBC1. An outside broadcast from Queen Mary's Hospital for Children, Carshalton, Surrey. Produced by MARY DAVID (It's the 'Littlies' who count: page 10)
	12.35	The Story of the Silver Skates
			starring Eleanor Parker Richard Basehart John Gregson, Cyril Ritchard with Robin Askwith An original television musical, filmed on location in Europe. Spectacular skating scenes, including a race-for-life along Holland's frozen canals, are featured in this story about young Hans Brinker who tries to help his ailing father by winning a pair of silver skates. Based on a book by MARY MAPES DODGE Music and lyrics by MOOSE CHARLAP Directed by BOB SCHEERER Produced by MMM Production Company In co-operation with NBC
	14.15	Top of the Pops 70
			Xmas Special - Part 1
			A special Christmas Day edition featuring hits of 1970 with Mr Bloe, Desmond Dekker Edison Lighthouse, Elvis Presley Lee Marvin Kenny Rogers and the First Edition Marmalade Matthews Southern Comfort Pickettywitch Simon and Garfunkel Smokey Robinson and the Miracles The World Cup Squad Introduced by Jimmy Savile and Tony Blackburn TOP OF THE POPS ORCHESTRA directed by JOHNNY PEARSON PAN'S PEOPLE Choreography by FLICK COLBY Sound RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN Lighting CLIVE THOMAS Design VALERIE WARRENDER Directed by BRIAN WHITEHOUSE (Top of the Pops 1970: see page 10) (Boxing Day edition: tomorrow, 3.30)
	15.00	The Queen
			speaks to the Commonwealth and introduces a special Christmas Day film Produced by RICHARD CAWSTON (On BBC2 at 7.20 pm)
	15.25	Billy Smart's Circus Spectacular
			New magnificence in the old tradition of the Greatest Show on Earth Springboard sensations with top flight stars The Unbelievable Urbans It's terrifying! A thin tight wire between Manfred Doval and a sheer drop of 40 ft The world's largest elephant presentation Billy Smart Jr's ' Elephant Safari' Man juggles man - with his feet the unrivalled ' Risley' of The Rios Brothers Famed throughout Europe as the greatest - The Fabulous Francesco Clowns The beautiful dancing horse of Danny Renz partners ballerina in a graceful pas-de-deux Beauty in the balance three glamorous globe-trotters The Salvadors Horse laughs for Danny Renz who gets a kick out of Roger his temperamental steed The most dangerous and the most stylish swinging trapeze act currently in Europe Gerard Edon Pyramid of eight balanced on five horses the bareback bravado of The Magnificent Carolis Introduced by DAVID SMART and FRANK BOUGH aided by members of a star-studded audience Circus direction THE SMART BROTHERS Musical director KEN GRIFFIN Designer JAMES BOULD Produced under the Big Top by MARY DAVID (A clown's Christmas in Glasgow: page 7)
	16.30	Disney Time
			Introduced by Harry Worth Presenting some famous Walt Disney animals, from cats and cougars to squirrels and snakes. Special features include: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; Pinocchio; Perri That Darn Cat; Smoke Jungle Book; The Aristocats Charlie the lonesome Cougar Script by RONNIE TAYLOR Films by courtesy of Walt Disney Productions. Presented by RICHARD EVANS
	17.10	Robinson Crusoe
			BBC Television's Christmas pantomime starring with Also appearing KEN DODD 'S DIDDYMEN THE MALJOHNS THE ROY GI'NSON DANCERS THE BOWLES BEVAN SINGERS Musical director BURT RHODES Choreographer ROY GUNSON Diddymen choreographed by PEGGY O'FARRELL Original Book by PHIL PARK Costume supervisor BARBARA KRONIG, Make-up supervisor CECILE HAY-ARTHUR Produced by TERRY HUGHES (Ken Dodd and the Diddymen are in ' The Ken Dodd Laughter Spectacular ' at the Royal Court Theatre. Liverpool; Lvn Kennington is in Cinderella' at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham'; Peter Glaze in ' The Sleeping Beauty ' at the New Theatre, Oxford)
	18.40	The Main News
			-with Kenneth Kendall and Weather
	18.45	Christmas Night with the Stars
			introduced by Cilla Black with her special guests Bob Hope Mary Hopkin Graham Kerr Jerry Lewis Nana Mouskourl Clodagh Rodgers Frank Sinatra Jack Warner plus Dad's Army Script by JIMMY PERRY and DAVID CROFT starring Arthur Lewe John Le Mesurier and Clive Dunn featuring John Laurie, James Beek Arnold Ridley and Ian Lavender with Bill Pertwee Produced by DAVID CROFT Stanley Baxter Script by KEN HOARE Produced by ROGER RACE Dick Emery Script by WARREN AND SINGER and GARY CHAMBERS Produced by COLIN CHARMAN Bachelor Father Script by RICHARD WARING starring Ian Carmichael with Pauline Yates Ian Johnson, Briony McRoberts Beverley Simons, Roland Pickering Produced by GRAEME: MUIB Terry Scott and June Whitfield Script by DAVE FREEMAN Produced by PETER WHITMORE Script by RONNIE TAYLOR Choreography IRVING DAVIES Vocal backing THE BREAKAWAYS Orchestra directed by RONNIE HAZLEHURST Design VIC MEREDITH Associate producer JAMES MOIR Produced by MICHAEL HURLL (Cilla's Christmas: page 8)
	20.15	The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show
			starring Eric and Ernie Written by EDDIE BRABEN A laughter-packed holiday special with a star-studded array of guests. Peter Gushing, William Franklyn Nina, Eric Porter Edward Woodward, and featuring KENNY BALL AND HIS JAZZMEN ANN HAMILTON, ALAN CURTIS with REX RASHLEY and JANET WEBB Orchestra directed by PETER KNIGHT Sound by ADRIAN BISHOP-LAGGETT and ADRIAN STOCKS Costumes by SONIA KERE Lighting by PETER WESSON Designed by BERNARD LLOYD-JONES Produced by JOHN AMMONDS (Eric Porter is an associate member of theRsc; Edward Woodward Is a National Theatre player) (Christmas for Eric and Ernie, page 10
	21.15	Charade (1963)
			BBC1's feature film for Christmas night stars one of the great partnerships Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn in a spy thriller with Walter Matthau, James Coburn George Kennedy From the carriage of a train speeding across the French countryside hurtles the body of a man. For Audrey Hepburn as Reggie Lambert, life becomes bewildering and sinister when she finds her flat stripped bare. Who is telling her the truth? Can she trust anybody? A slick, stylish thriller, Charade was the forerunner of a whole genre that successfully blended sex, black comedy and high camp. Screenplay by PETER STONE MUSIC by HENRY MANCINI Produced and directed by Stanley DONEN (Holiday Films: pages 13 and 15)
	23.00	The Good Old Days
			Starring Danny La Rue in a gala programme of Old-Time Music-Hall from the stage of the Famous City Varieties Theatre, Leeds. (by arrangement with Stanley and Michael Joseph ) presenting June Bronhill, Neville King Mac Lou, Carazlnl Members of the Players Theatre, London: DENIS MARTIN, GODFREY CHARLES DUDLEY STEVENS, JONATHAN DENIS MICHAEL DARBYSHIRE, DERYK PARKIN Choreography DOREEN HERMITAGE Chairman Leonard Sachs Musical Director BERNARD HERRMANN Produced by BARNEY COLEHAN (Danny La Rue is appearing in ' Danny La Rue at the Palace ', and at Danny La Rue's Club, London; Neville King Is appearing in ' The Black and White Minstrel Show ' at the Palace Theatre, Manchester) (The longer the words the more the audiences like them: page 105)
	23.50	But Seriously...
			Joyce Grenfell Cyril Fletcher and Ernie Wise At the end of another Christmas Day three entertainers explain what the story of the Nativity means to them. Producer a. T. BROOKS

	BBC TWO
	10.30	Play School
			Science Day Today: ' The Christmas Story' Presenters JULIE STEVENS, BRIAN CANT Pianist PAUL READE Designer DIANA BATES Scripted and directed by ANNE GOBEY Series producer CYNTHIA FELGATE
	11.00	Closedown
	13.30	Sammy Going South
			starring Edward G. Robinson with Constance Cummings Harry H. Corbett, Paul Stassino The story of the 4,500-mile trek by a 10-year-old boy across Africa in an effort to reach his only remaining relatives. Directed by ALEXANDER MACKENDRICK (Holiday Films: pages 13 and 15)
	15.25	The Royal Ballet
			in Cinderella Music by SERGE PROKOFIEV Choreography by FREDERICK ASHTON Scenery by HENRY BARDON Costumes by DAVID WALKER Devised and produced by FREDERICK ASHTON starring Antoinette Sibley Anthony Dowell Frederick Ashton Robert Helpmann From the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and Artists of the Royal Ballet Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden leader CHARLES TAYLOR conducted by John Lanchbery TV presentation by JOHN VERNON Act 1: A room in the house of Cinderella's father Act 2: A ball at the palace Act 3: After the ball Scene 1: A room in the house of Cinderella's father. Scene 2: An enchanted garden
	17.10	The Great Inimitable Mr Dickens
			A biography of Charles Dickens based on scenes from his novels by CARYL BRAHMS and NED SHERRIN starring JENNY AGUTTER, DOROTHY REYNOLDS KEN WYNNE, GORDON ROLLINGS JEFFREY WICKHAM, JOCELYN BIRDSALL RHODA LEWIS, GREGORY PHILLIPS and ROLAND PICKERING Directed by NED SHFRRIN (Dickens Country: page 9)
	18.40	It's a Terrible Waste of an Egg
			Written by RICHARD WADE An Edwardian After-Dinner Christmas Entertainment starring who with his children and relations each try their hand at experiments with candles, baking powder, vinegar, ice, boiled eggs, needles and decanters. Costume PENNY LOWE Make-up NATHALIE CALFE Designed by ROGER MURRAY-LEACB Directed by ADRIAN BROWN Produced by RAMSAY SHORT â€
	19.10	Julian Bream
			Britain's most prominent concert guitarist plays Bach, Diabelli and Villa-Lobos in this evening's programme
	19.20	The Queen
			speaks to the Commonwealth and introduces a special Christmas Day film. Produced by RICHARD CAWSTON
	19.44	News Summary
	19.45	Whom God Hath Joined
			by ARNOLD BENNETT dramatised by GERALD SAVORY with Mrs Ridware has been unfaithful to Mr Ridware. Mr Fearns has been unfaithful to Mrs Fearns. ' Both parties contemplate divorce. Costumes MICHAEL BURDLE Lighting JOHN SUMMERS Script editor SHAUN MACLOUGHLIN Designer SALLY HULKE Producer MARK SHIVAS Directed by JOHN DAVIESt
	21.15	Bird's-Eye View
			From Bishop Rock to Muckle Flugga An aerial journey to some of Britain's 400 islands with William Carrocher Starting where the Atlantic breaks among the Scillies rocks in the far south west, the helicopter flies 1,000 zigzag miles to Shetland in the farthest north, past the granite cliffs of Lundy; ruined abbeys of Welsh islands; motor cyclists on the Isle of Man. Then on to the Hebrides. From the Celtic islands of the west to the Viking islands of the north-to Orkney and to Foula; then the other Shetland islands, and flying through the unending twilight of the summer night past the broken fangs of Muckle Flugga. Film cameraman MARTIN BELL Film editor MALCOLM BALDWIN Produced by TIM SLESSOR Series editor EDWARD MIRZOEFF
	22.05	Thirty-Minute Theatre
			Waugh on Crime by ARDEN WINCH with 4: In Which Inspector Waugh Observes the Truth of an Old Music-Hall Song Script ed!tor DEREK HODDINOTT Designer DAVID JONES Associate producer ANNE HEAD Producer INNES LLOYD Directed by Philip DUDLEY (Jane Wenham is a National Theatre player)
	22.35	News on 2
			and Weather
	22.40	The Pentangle
			Songs from a country church Director STEVE ROBERTS
	23.00	Kiss Me Kate (1953)
			starring Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel with Ann Miller The leading singer in Cole Porter's musical, Kiss Me Kate, wants both his ex-wife and his current girl-friend to play leading roles in the production. All is well until they discover that it is an updated version of The Taming of the Shrew and their suitability for the roles of Katherine and Bianca are all too obvious. Screenplay by DOROTHY KINGSLEY Based on the play by SAMUEL and BELLA SPEWACK Music and lyrics by COLE PORTER Directed by GEORGE SIDNEY Produced by JACK CUNIMINGS (Holiday Films: pages 13 and 15) (How they made Kiss Me Kate: Wednesday 23 December, Radio 4 at 9.35 am)
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<< Christmas Day 1970 >>