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 1973 >>

Another adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice adventures, "Alice Through the Looking Glass" premiered on BBC 2 today. There was also a radio adaptation, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", today on Radio 4.


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

	THAMES
	00.45	Closedown
	09.00	Rainbow
			Christmas Games
	09.20	Sally and Jake
			Sally and Jake's Christmas Adventure
	09.30	On the Twelfth Day
	10.00	A Merry Morning
	10.30	Christmas Morning Service
			Once Upon a Birthday
	11.30	Lad: A Dog (1962)
	13.00	Chipperfields Christmas Circus
	14.00	The Glories of Christmas
	15.00	The Queen
	15.10	Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows (1968)
	16.50	Queen of Hearts
			with Danny La Rue and Peggy Mount
	18.20	ITN News
	18.30	All Star Comedy Carnival
	20.00	Tommy Cooper's Christmas
	21.00	Von Ryan's Express (1965)
			Part 1
	22.00	ITN News at Ten
	22.10	Von Ryan's Express (1965)
			Part 2
	23.20	Celebration

	BBC ONE
	00.00	Midnight Mass of the Nativity
			from the Priory Church of Christ the King, Cockfosters Principal celebrant and preacher DOM EDMUND JONES, OSB Organist and choirmaster PHILIP ASKER Introduced by FR PATRICK MCENROE Presented for television by RAYMOND SHORT
	01.00	Closedown
	09.35	Along the Trail
			A series looking at Canadian wildlife including caribou and timber wolves t
	09.50	The Selfish Giant
			A cartoon film of the fairy tale by OSCAR WILDE The children used to play in the Giant's beautiful garden. One day, he came back, built a wall round the garden and put up a notice ' Trespassers will be prosecuted.' Producers MURRAY SHOSTAK and PETER SANDER (from Canada) t
	10.15	News Headlines
			Weatherman BERT FOORD
	10.20	Family Communion
			for Christmas Day from Wimborne Minster, Dorset Celebrant and preacher CANON DOUGLAS STRICKLAND (Vicar) Organist and choirmaster BARRY FERGUSON Assistant GRAHAM DAVIES Introduced by PETER FIRTH Hymns: O come all ye faithful On Christmas night all Christians sing O little town of Bethlehem Hark the herald angels sing Service sung to settings by John Rutter and Barry Ferguson Television presentation by JOHN DOBSON
	11.25	Harry Secombe
			appeals on behalf of the National Council for One-Parent Families (formerly the National Council for the Unmarried Mother and her Child) On this day of all days the one million children living in one-parent families need all the love and help we can give them. Donations, preferably by crossed po or cheque, to: One Parent Families, [address removed]
	11.30	A Stocking Full of Stars
			opened by Michael Aspel and Hope and Keen Direct from the National Children's Home at Harpenden Two hours of non-stop Christmas morning entertainment for the whole family, with emphasis on the younger members. Among the host of favourites contributing towards the fun are: Blue Peter; Roy Castle; Charlie Cairoli; The Goodies; The Osmonds; Tom and Jerry; Top Soccer Stars; Vision On; Walt Disney; with surprise guests dropping in to say ' Happy Christmas ' Music by the BERT HAYES QUARTET Designer LOUISE VANSON Producer IAN SMITH Executive producer PHILIP LEWIS (Hope and Keen are in 'Aladdin' at the Davenport Theatre, Stockport)
	13.30	The Black and White Minstrel Show
			starring The Mitchell Minstrels featuring TED DARLING LES RAWLINGS, LES WANT KARL SCOTT, JANE MARLOW ELSPETH HANDS, DOROTHY OGDEN and THE MONARCHS: ERIC and CEDRIC THE TELEVISION TOPPERS Choreography by FRED PETERS Vocal arrangements by GEORGE MITCHELL Orchestrations by ALAN BRISTOW Orchestra (leader STAN RODERICK ) conducted by GEORGE MITCHELL, ALAN BRISTOW Designer PETER BRACHACKl Producer ERNEST MAXIN (The Black and White Minstrels are appearing at the Theatre Royal, Norwich)
	14.15	Top of the Pops 73
			Xmas Special
			A review of the year's No 1 hits from: Sweet; Donny Osmond; Suzi Quatro The Simon Park Orchestra; Slade; Dawn; Gilbert O'Sullivan; Gary Glitter; David Cassidy; 10 CC; Peters and Lee; Wizzard Introduced by Tony Blackburn and Noel Edmonds Orchestra directed by Johnny Pearson Vocal backing The Ladybirds Pan's People Choreography Flick Colby Designer Steve Brownsey Producer Robin Nash
	15.00	The Queen
			A Christmas Day programme in which The Queen speaks to the Commonwealth. Producer RICHARD CAWSTON
	15.15	Billy Smart's Christmas Circus
			A special international gala presentation of the world-famous circus from the sawdust ring beneath the Big Top. Ringmistress Yasmine Smart introduces: from South Africa, The Flying Merilees a dazzling display on the flying trapeze; from Hungary, The Pecs bareback bravado; from Spain, Williams Rueda gravity daringly defied; from Germany, Lothara high skill on the low wire; from Hungary, The Eotvos laughter calls the tune; from Denmark, Vivi's Sealions three young performers with an eye for a ball; from Spain, Miss Mara grace and strength on the solo trapeze; from Great Britain, Yasmine Smart with six spirited ponies; from Hungary, The Richters unique co-operation between man and beast Circus produced by RONNIE, DAVID and BILLY SMART Musical director KEN GRIFFIN Designer LOUISE VANSON Television presentation IAN SMITH
	16.20	Christmas Pantomime: Robin Hood
			with The Sheila O'Neill Dancers The Bowles Bevan Singers Musical director Burt Rhodes Choreography Sheila O'Neill Adapted by Austin Steele from the original book by John Morley Make-up Jean McMillan Costumes Hazel Pethig Sound Chris Holcombe Lighting Bert Oaten Designers Reg Allen and Keith Cheetham Producer Peter Whitmore (Terry Scott is appearing in 'Babes in the Wood' at the New Theatre. Oxford; Hugh Lloyd in 'Cinderella' at the Concert Hall, Lewisham; Billy Dainty in 'Aladdin' at the Davenport Theatre, Stockport; Anita Harris and Alan Curtis are in 'Peter Pan' at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool; Dana is in 'Cinderella' at the Gaumont, Doncaster)
	17.55	News
			with Robert Dougall Weatherman BERT FOORD
	18.05	Bruce Forsyth and The Generation Game
			starring Bruce Forsyth Fun for all the family in a special Christmas show with surprise star guests. Hostess Anthea Redfern Orchestra directed by Ronnie Hazelhurst Programme associate Tony Hawes Designer James Hatchard Producers Terry Henebery, James Moir
	19.05	The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show
			starring Mike Yarwood Written by Eric Davidson featuring Cheryl Kennedy and Mike's special guest Eddie Waring Musical director Alan Braden Vocal backing The Ladybirds Costumes Ken Morey Make-up Sylvia James Sound Peter Rose Lighting Alan Horne Designer Ian Rawnsley Producer James Moir
	19.35	The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show
			A star-studded holiday special starring Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise Written by Eddie Braben with special guests Vanessa Redgrave Hannah Gordon The New Seekers John Hanson and guest appearances of Yehudi Menuhin, Rudolf Nureyev, Laurence Olivier, Andre Previn featuring Arthur Tolcher Musical arrangements and orchestra directed by Peter Knight Dance director Ernest Maxin Sound Michael McCarthy, Len Shorey Special effects Bill King Costume designer Sonia Kerr Lighting Peter Wesson Designer Victor Meredith Producer John Ammonds
	20.35	The Odd Couple (1968)
			A film starring Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon After his wife has asked for a divorce, TV newswriter Felix Ungar visits his divorced sports-writer friend Oscar Madison at his vast litter-strewn apartment, where the weekly poker game is in session. Oscar, the untidiest, worst-organised man in the world, invites Felix, the world's tidiest, most domesticated male, to move in. Screenplay by NEIL SIMON based on his own play Director GENE SAKS Holiday Films: pages 17-18
	22.20	News
			with Robert Dougall and Weather
	22.30	Gala Performance
			Michael Flanders introduces: Norma Burrowes Jacques Loussier Play Bach Trio Galina Samsova Andre Prokovsky Ballet Folklorico of Mexico Nigel Kennedy New Philharmonia Orchestra Leader Desmond Bradley Conducted by John Matheson Graphics BERNARD LODGE Sound ADRIAN STOCKS Lighting DAVE SYDENHAM Designer STUART WALKER Producer PATRICIA FOY (Galina Samsova and Andre Prokovsky appear by arrangement with The New London Ballet Company; The Ballet Folklorico of Mexico by arrangement with Victor Hochhauser )
	23.35	Lost Hearts
			A ghost story for Christmas by M. R. James dramatised by Robin Chapman 'There was singing round the house for as much as an hour after they'd gone... and lights in the woods...'

	BBC TWO
	11.00	Play School
			Story: The Christmas Story Presenters Carol Chell, Johnny Ball, Lionel Morton
	11.30	To Earth from Heaven...
			Reflections for Christmas morning by The Bishop of Gloucester, Rt Rev Basil T. Guy
	11.35	White Christmas (1954)
			starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen Bing and Danny are two army buddies in tonight's famous seasonal musical. After the war, they team up in a song-and-dance act and soon there is romance in the air with the glamorous Haynes sisters - played by Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen. Director MICHAEL CURTIZ Holiday Films: pages 17-18
	13.30	Palio
			Narrated by Robert Hardy The film is the story of Violante, a beautiful German princess, and the Palio, the crazy horse race she invented to tame the hot-blooded men of Siena, deep in the Tuscan hills of Italy. The Palio is fought out in one of the most beautiful medieval squares in the world. Violante. governor of Siena for 14 years, hoped the race would channel the ferocious passions of the Sienese away from political plots. Two centuries later, Violante's ghost still presides over the bizarre annual rite. Each city district enters its own horse. Each year the Palio claims more victims as few riders last out the race and ancient rivalry between districts remains as bitter as ever. Music WILLIAM DAVIES Film cameraman SEPP RIFF Film editor ALAN CUMNER-PRICE Written and directed by MICHAEL WEIGALL
	14.00	A Christmas Carol
			A cartoon version of CHARLES DICKENS 'S Story of Ebenezer Scrooge, in the style of the original illustrations by ' Phiz.' Narrated by Sir Michael Redgrave with the voices of Alastair Sim as Scrooge and Michael Hordern as Marley's Ghost Producer and director RICHARD WILLIAMS
	14.30	What's My Line?
			A special Christmas game Chairman David Jacobs Panel: Isobel Barnett Kenneth Williams William Franklyn Nanette Newman and a guest celebrity Devised by MARK GOODSON, BILL TODMAN Producer ERNEST MAXIN
	15.00	The Queen
			A Christmas Day programme in which The Queen speaks to the Commonwealth. Producer RICHARD CAWSTON
	15.15	Far from the Madding Crowd (1967)
			A film starring Julie Christie, Terence Stamp Peter Finch, Alan Bates Bathsheba, a beautiful, wilful country girl, refuses the hand of honest farmer neighbour Gabriel Oak and after inheriting her uncle's farm, makes a disastrous marriage. Screenplay by FREDERIC RAPHAEL from the novel by THOMAS HARDY Director JOHN SCHLESINGER Holiday Films: pages 17-18
	17.55	The Railrodder
			starring Buster Keaton BUSTER KEATON takes to the rails again, nearly 40 years after his masterpiece, The General. This time it's for a coast-to-coast trip across Canada on a railway trolley. Written and directed by GERALD POTTERTON Producer JULIAN BIGGS
	18.20	Les Marottes de Paris
			Andre Tahon's Company of the Champs-Elysees Theatre - one of the world's leading puppet theatres - has delighted audiences for a generation - including two Royal Command Performances. A special English performance, filmed in France. Joseph Cooper as question-master invites you to match your musical wits against Joyce Grenfell, Richard Baker Robin Ray Guest Eileen Joyce A Christmas edition of television's musical quiz Director DENIS MORIARTY Producer WALTER TODDS
	18.50	Face the Music
	19.30	News on 2
			Weather
	19.35	Swan Lake
			starring Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev Music by TCHAIKOVSKY Choreography by RUDOLF NUREYEV after PETIPA and IVANOV Scenery and costumes by NICHOLAS GEORGIADIS At a royal palace in the 16th century Prince Siegfried is celebrating his coming-of-age, and the Queen Mother tells him the time has come to choose a bride. This performance with Fonteyn and Nureyev of one of the most popular ballets was filmed at the Vienna Opera House in 1964 when this unique partnership was at the height of its success. Nureyev has also made a name for himself as a choreographer and this was one of the first full-length ballets he worked on. and members of the VIENNA STATE OPERA BALLET VIENNA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA directed by JOHN LANCHBERY Director TRUCK BRANSS A Unitel production
	21.15	Alice Through the Looking-Glass
			by LEWIS CARROLL dramatised by JAMES MACTAGGART with Original music by HERBERT CHAPPELL Costumes MARY WOODS Make-up TONI CHAPMAN Designer EILEEN DISS Producer ROSEMARY HILL Director JAMES MACTAGGART (Brenda Bruce is a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: 3.0 R4
	22.30	Quatermass and the Pit (1967)
			starring James Donald, Andrew Keir, Barbara Shelley, Julian Glover When Dr Matthew Roney and his assistant Barbara Judd are called in to investigate some unusual prehistoric remains unearthed by building work on a London Underground extension, there begins a strange story involving evil visitors from the Unknown. Original story and screenplay by NIGEL KNEALE Producer ANTHONY NELSON KEYS Director ROY WARD BAKER
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<< Christmas Day 1973 >>