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.
| | LWT | Thames | BBC One | BBC Two | | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LWT | ||||
| 00.50 | Meditation for Christmas Night | |||
| 01.00 | Closedown | |||
| Thames | ||||
| 08.45 | The Christmas Story | |||
| 09.00 | The Wotsit from Whizz-Bang | |||
| Enter the Wotsit | ||||
| 09.10 | Pipkins | |||
| The Balloon Tree | ||||
| 09.25 | Christmas Clapperboard | |||
| 10.00 | A Merry Morning | |||
| 10.45 | Christmas Morning Service | |||
| from St George's Chapel, Windsor | ||||
| 12.00 |  Living Free (1972) | |||
| 13.30 | Crossroads | |||
| (3069/4510) | ||||
| 13.55 | Billy Smart's Christmas Circus | |||
| 15.00 | The Queen | |||
| 15.10 | Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) | |||
| (First showing on British television) | ||||
| 17.00 | 3-2-1 Christmas Special | |||
| Hosted by Ted Rogers. | ||||
| 18.00 | ITN News | |||
| 18.15 | Coronation Street | |||
| 18.45 | Diamonds are Forever (1971) | |||
| The James Bond Film | ||||
| (First showing on British television) | ||||
| 21.00 | The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show | |||
| Eric and Ernie's first Christmas show for ITV | ||||
| Special Guests ~ Leonard Rossiter, Frank Finlay, Eamonn Andrews, Nicholas Parsons and Frank Coda. | ||||
| 22.15 | This is Your Life Special | |||
| 23.00 | ITN News | |||
| 23.10 | There's a Girl in my Soup (1970) | |||
| Comedy starring Peter Sellers. | ||||
| BBC One | ||||
| 00.55 - 01.00 | Weatherman/Regional News | |||
| 08.55 | Christmas Carols from Cambridge | |||
| sung by The Choir of King's College directed by PHILIP LEDGER with Lessons from the Authorised Version of the Bible read by Sir John Gielgud With the Queen's Speech and the roast turkey, the broadcast Festival of Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge, has become an integral part of the Greater British Christmas (THE TIMES, 24 December 1977) | ||||
| 09.50 | The Flumps | |||
| Where's Grandfather? Narration GAY SOPER Producer DAVID YATES | ||||
| 10.05 | Christmas Day Worship | |||
| from Knutsford Methodist Church, Cheshire A festival service for all the family to celebrate the birthday of Jesus. The service is led by the minister, THE REV DEREK DAVIDSON O come all ye faithful Away in a manger Family of man In the bleak mid-winter If Christ were born in our town Where is he? Hark! The herald angels sing Soloist GILLIAN COOPER Organist NEIL THOMPSON Lighting GEORGE NORTON Sound JOHN DRAKE Television presentation by STEPHEN WHITTLE BBC Manchester | ||||
| 11.03 | Weather | |||
| Ian McCaskill | ||||
| 11.05 | The Spinners at Christmas | |||
| The Spinners are joined by their audience in festive mood for a seasonal special of music and comedy. A Dickensian street within York Museum provides a Christmas-card setting for TONY, MICK, CLIFF and HUGHIE. Sound ALAN FOX Lighting JOHN CROWTHER Producer BARRY BEVINS BBC Manchester | ||||
| 11.35 | Clambake (1967) | |||
| A special presentation for Christmas of the feature film starring Elvis Presley The son of an oil magnate determines to succeed on his own, switches identities with a Miami beach water-ski instructor and enters the exciting world of power-boat racing. Screenplay by Arthur BROWNE JR Produced by JULES LEVY, ARTHUR GARDNER and ARNOLD LAVEN Directed by Arthur H. NADEL (First showing on British television) Films: pages 16-17 Elvis, a TV special: Thursday 4 January, 7.40 pm | ||||
| 13.10 | Holiday on Ice | |||
| Introduced by Brian Matthew Highlights from the greatest ice spectacular in Europe, featuring a glamorous chorus of international skaters and an impressive line-up of star soloists. Staged and directed by STEPHANIE ANDROS Televised by arrangement with SKEE GOODHART for International Holiday on Ice Co. Recorded in the Hallenstadion, Zurich Lighting HARRY THOMAS Producer DON SAYER | ||||
| 14.00 | Top of the Pops 78 | |||
| Episode 770 | ||||
| Noel Edmonds introduces a special Christmas Day edition, featuring some of the No 1 records of the year TOP OF THE POPS ORCHESTRA Musical director JOHNNY PEARSON LEGS & CO Choreography FLICK COLBY Sound ANTHONY PHILPOT Producer DAVID G. HILLIER Executive producer ROBIN NASH | ||||
| 15.00 | The Queen | |||
| A Christmas Day programme in which The Queen speaks to the Commonwealth. Producer RICHARD CAWSTON | ||||
| 15.10 | Larry Grayson's Generation Game | |||
| A special edition for Christmas Day-with lots of surprise guests and seasonal games for the contestants and the family to play at home starring Larry Grayson with Isla St Clair Orchestra conducted by RONNIE HAZLEHURST Programme associate TONY HAWES Designer TONY BURROUGH Director MARCUS PLANTIN Producer ALAN BOYD | ||||
| 16.10 | The Sound of Music (1964) | |||
| starring Julie Andrews Christopher Plummer with Eleanor Parker Richard Haydn Peggy Wood Already a legend in the movie world, one of the most popular films ever made is shown on British television for the first time. Salzburg, 1938. Maria, a young convent girl whose tomboyish behaviour makes the Mother Superior doubt her vocation as a nun, is sent to be temporary governess to seven motherless children. In spite of a daunting start, Maria soon wins the confidence of the children, her irrepressible sense of fun undermining their father's stem discipline - as well as his plans for a second marriage. Screenplay by ERNEST LEHMAN Based on the stage musical by RICHARD RODGERS and OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II Produced and directed by ROBERT WISE (First showing on British television) Films: pages 16-17 | ||||
| 19.10 | Evening News | |||
| with Peter Woods Weather | ||||
| 19.15 | Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em | |||
| starring Michael Crawford written by RAYMOND ALLEN from stories by MICHAEL CRAWFORD featuring Michele Dotrice with Frederick Jaeger, Dick Bentley Film cameraman REG POPE Film editor ALAN CUMNER-PRICE Studio lighting JIMMY PURDIE Designer ANDREW HOWE DAVIES Producedby SYDNEY LOTTERBY | ||||
| 20.00 | The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show | |||
| starring Mike Yarwood and special guest stars, the world's most popular singing group Abba with Janet Brown Mike Yarwood is joined by the famous stars of his repertory company. Enoch Powell. Michael Foot and Sir Harold joke with Bruce Forsyth ; Maggie Thatcher meets Parky, and Reggie Bosanquet and Anna Ford look back at the news highlights of 1978. Written by ERIC DAVIDSON, NEIL SHAND Musical director ALAN BRADEN Designer GARY PRITCHARD Produced by JAMES MOIR | ||||
| 20.45 | True Grit? a Further Adventure | |||
| A film specially made for television starring Warren Oates tells RADIO TIMES: There was a lot of serious concern that anyone would try to take on John Wayne's role in True Grit. Some people saw it as almost sacrilegious. I know that I can never fill John Wayne's boots but it was fun trying. Lisa Pelikan as Mattie Ross Whisky-drinking, one-eyed Rooster J. Cogburn rides again. This time into a depressed mining town, where bandits continually steal the gold shipments. Written and produced by SANDOR STERN Directed by RICHARD T. HEFFRON | ||||
| 22.20 | News | |||
| with Peter Woods ; Weatherman | ||||
| 22.30 | Parkinson at the Pantomime | |||
| Michael Parkinson, with his special guest Arthur Askey, explores the curious crazy world of this unique seasonal entertainment, with demonstration from some of its greatest performers including Kings of Slapstick: Charlie Cairoli and Company There's nothing like a Dame: Les Dawson Following in father's footsteps: Lauri Lupino Lane With a farmyard surprise: Little and Large The Prince of Principal Boys: Pat Kirkwood Presenting a watery diversion: Stan Stennett also featuring ROY BARRACLOUGH GEORGE TRUZZI and THE HARRY STONEHAM SHOW BAND Director IAN HAMILTON Producer JOHN FISHER | ||||
| 23.35 | Christmas Ghost Story | |||
| The Ice House by JOHN BOWEN Does the Ice House hold a secret or is it, as they say, just ice? Sound DICK MANTON. Editor TONY WOOLLARD Photography NIGEL WALTERS Designer ROGER MURRAY-LEACH Producer ROSEMARY HILL Director DEREK LISTER | ||||
| BBC Two | ||||
| 00.45 | Closedown | |||
| Peter Wilson talks about The Nativity by PIERO DELLA FRAN -CESCA, reproduced by kind permission of the Trustees, the National Gallery, London. | ||||
| 11.05 | Play School | |||
| Story: The Fox and the Tomten written by ASTRID LINDGREN illustrated by HARALD WIBERG Presenters Sarah Long, Don Spencer | ||||
| 11.30 | Closedown | |||
| 14.30 | Sounds of Christmas | |||
| from The Royal Albert Hall, London, in the presence of HRH The Princess Anne (President of the Save the Children Fund) The Goldsmiths Choral Union musical director Brian Wright Carols for Choir and Audience led by a choir which came into existence nearly 50 years ago at Goldsmiths College in London With ANTONY SAUNDERS and ROGER VIGNOLES (pianos) CHRISTOPHER BOWERS BROADBENT (organ) ROBERT HOWES (percussion) MUSICIANS OF LONDON Introduced by Richard Baker Lighting ALAN ROBERTS. Sound vie GODRICH Producer KEN GRIFFIN | ||||
| 15.20 | The Snow Queen | |||
| A fairytale for television by IAN KEILL and PETER GLIDEWELL Based on the story by HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN Illustrations by ERROL LE CAIN Music by CARL DAVIS The Devil makes a mirror - and it shatters. This is the story of what happens to little Kay when one of the pieces finds its way through his eye and into his heart. The powers of evil are unleashed ... the Summer Garden Witch, the Robbers in the Wood - but above all, the mysterious elemental figure of the Snow Queen. Only Gerda, Kay's friend, has the power to overcome them all. and the voices of ARTHUR MULLARD as the Rose JOHN WELLS as the Crow VIVIAN STANSHALL as the Reindeer PENELOPE LEE as the Doves and SHEILA STEAFEL as the Snow Queen Director of animation BETH MCFALL Graphic designer BERNARD LODGE Director ANDREW GOSLING Producer IAN KEILL | ||||
| 16.20 | Dersu Uzala (1975) | |||
| Christmas Matinee | ||||
| Directed by AKIRA KUROSAWA The feature film starring Maksim Munzuk as Dersu Uzala Yuri Solomin as Capt Arsenyev In 1902, a Russian army unit commanded by Captain Arsenyev is conducting a topographical survey of the huge forest of the Ussuri taiga on Russia's Pacific seaboard. Taiga means infinity and to the little gang huddled in a clearing, the surrounding jungle does indeed seem endless. When a strange old man emerges from the forest, they are at first inclined to ridicule him-but their amusement soon turns to respect. Dersu Uzala is a woodsman with an uncanny instinct for survival and after he has saved the life of Captain Arsenyev, a bond of affection grows between the two men. Based on the novels by VLADIMIR ARSENYIEV (A Russian film with English sub-titles) (First showing on British television) Films: pages 16-17 | ||||
| 18.35 | Magooon2 | |||
| Perils of Magoo | ||||
| 18.40 | Baker on Board | |||
| Thirty-five years ago Able Seaman Richard Baker arrived at Rosyth in Scotland to join the fleet mine-sweeper HMS Brave. Despite the discomforts, dangers and the appalling conditions on convoy runs to Russia, Baker formed a love for the sea and ships that's lasted down the years. When he came out of the Navy to a career in acting, music and BBC Television News, he decided to keep up his associations with the service through the Volunteer Reserve. Earlier this year the Navy invited him to sail with the very latest thing they have to offer-a Task Force exercising in the Pacific off Central America. This film is a record of that journey. It's very much Richard Bake?:s story, but it also says something about the Navy's changing role and the new strategy that's come to dominate Admiralty thinking. Film cameraman NICK LERA Film editor NOMAN LOWES Producer GORDON CARR | ||||
| 19.15 | The Queen | |||
| A Christmas Day programme in which The Queen speaks to the Commonwealth Producer RICHARD CAWSTON | ||||
| 19.35 | Anne Hughes | |||
| Her Boke, in wiche I Write what I Doe, When I Have thee Tyme In the 18th century a young farmer's wife wrote a diary. She wrote about her cooking, her quarrels, her butter making, and the love story of her maid, Sarah. This film re-creates 18 months in her life on a remote Herefordshire farm. starring with Barry Jackson, Joanne Pearce Juliet Harmer and Ann Way Film cameraman JIM SAUNDERS Costume designer IANADLEY Make-up artist DAPHNE BARKER Designer CHRIS ROBILLIARD Producer ALASTAIR REID Director MICHAEL CROUCHER BBC Bristol | ||||
| 20.35 | News on 2 | |||
| Weather | ||||
| 20.45 | The Count of Luxembourg | |||
| Music by FRANZ LEH ÃR Libretto by A. M. WILLNER, R. BODANSKY Set in the romantic atmosphere of Paris before 1914, this lavish and colourful production features some of Franz Lehar's best-loved music, including the famous waltz. An impoverished aristocrat, Count Rene of Luxembourg, agrees (for the sum of 100,000 francs) to marry an unknown lady-whose identity is concealed from him at the wedding ceremony - and then to divorce her after six months, in order to raise her social status to that of the elderly Russian Prince who wishes to marry her. Count Rene subsequently meets the lady in question - Angele, who is a beautiful singer at the Paris Opéra - and they fall desperately in love, not knowing that they are already married ... Orchestra conducted by Walter Goldschmidt Sung in German with English sub-titles Executive producer FRITZ BUTTENSTEDT Directed by WOLFGANG GLOCK A BETA Film Production | ||||
| 22.20 | The King's Singers | |||
| Sing Christmas with The Richard Hickox Orchestra leader SIMON STANDAGE conductor Richard Hickox Traditional carols and original music for Christmas played and sung by two complementary groups of outstanding musicians. Part of a concert given in High Wycombe Parish Church in support of the RAF Benevolent Fund. Lighting BERT ROBINSOM Sound JEFF BAKER Producer KEN GRIFFIN | ||||
| 22.50 | Fred and Ginger in Swing Time | |||
| continues the season of classic musical comedies starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers Dancer Lucky Garnett has one weakness - gambling. And when he gets involved in a dice game and is late for his wedding to Margaret, the family are understandably annoyed. To make amends he must make his fortune in New York. From a capital of just 25 cents. Screenplay by HOWARD KINDSAY and ALLAN SCOTT from a story by ERWIN GELSEY Music by JEROME KERN Produced by PANDRO S. BERMAN Directed by GEORGE STEVENS . Films: pages 16-17 | ||||
| Back to the top | ||||
| FAQ | Contact | Services | Terms | Privacy | Credits |
[Page generated in 0.1232 seconds under 1.56% server load]
© 2012-2025 TVRDb.com. All rights reserved.