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 1979 >>


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

	THAMES
	00.30	Closedown
	08.45	Beautiful Morning
	09.00	The Christmas Story
	09.15	A Merry Morning
	10.00	Christmas Morning Service
	11.00	Lassie: A New Beginning (1978)
	12.45	Walt Disney Classics
	13.00	Christmas Oh Boy!
	13.30	Crossroads
			(3235/4510)
	14.00	Star Games
			The Grand Final - Comedy v. TV Presenters
	15.00	The Queen
	15.15	Goldfinger (1964)
	17.15	3-2-1
	18.15	George and Mildred
			The Twenty-Six Year Itch
	18.45	The Three Musketeers (1973)
	20.45	Christmas wth Eric and Ernie
			With Eric Morecambe, Ernie Wise, David Frost, Glenda Jackson, Des O'Connor
	21.45	This Is Your Life Special
	22.35	ITN News
	22.45	Cleo's Christmas
	23.45	A Mystery at Love House (TVM 1976)

	BBC ONE
	09.00	Star Over Bethlehem
			A programme of Christmas music. Eight nations, brought together by that man-made star, the communications satellite, joined in a global celebration.
	10.00	Morning Service
			A celebration of Christmas by the children and young people from Christ Church, Llanedeyrn, Cardiff. ' Our words and music tell of our joy because Jesus was born in Bethlehem and to show our love, at the end of the International Year of the Child, for children all over the world.' Introduced by NOREEN BRAY and THE REV GRAHAM DAVIES Sound FRANK PRENDERGAST Lighting LAURIE OWEN Designer GERALD MURPHY Television presentation by HUW BRUN WILLIAMS BBC Cymru/Wales
	10.58	Weather JACK SCOTT
	11.00	Bagpuss
			by PETER FIRMIN and OLIVER POSTGATE with music by SANDRA KERR and JOHN FAULKNER Bagpuss lives with his friends in the window of Emily's shop ...
	11.15	The Spinners at Christmas
			The Spinners are joined by their audience in festive mood for a seasonal special of music and comedy, which this year is from Thoresby Hall, Nottinghamshire. Sound ALAN FOX Lighting JOHN CROWTHER Producer BARRY BEVINS. BBC Manchester
	11.45	Black Beauty
			The feature film starring Mark Lester, Walter Slezak Black Beauty, a new-born foal on the Evans' farm, becomes the prized possession of the Evans' young son Joe. But when Sam Green, the local squire, calls in his loan on the farm, Beauty is transferred with the rest of the stock and the boy and his horse are parted. Black Beauty will experience many adventures before the two are reunited. Screenplay by WOLF MANKOWITZ Based on the novel by ANNA SEWELL Produced by PETER L. ANDREWS and MALCOLM B. HEYWORTH Director JAMES HILL. Films: pages 16-17
	13.30	John Curry
			with Katherine Foulkes and Lorna Brown Since John Curry became European, World and Olympic champion in 1976, he has turned his talents towards creative skating. ' Music has always played an important part in my life. I listened for hours as a child and in my mind's eye, I would see dancing, skating, movement and images. Music is my reason for skating. I feel I must express it.' Recorded at Queens Ice Skating Club, London Lighting HUBERT CARTWRIGHT Designer TIM GLEESON Producer DON SAYER
	14.00	Top of the Pops 79
			including Blondie, Boney M Dr Hook, Lena Martell Gary Numan, Police, Cliff Richard, B. A. Robertson, Roxy Music, Kid Jensen and Peter Powell introduce a special with some of the No 1 and 2 records of 1979. LEGS & CO TOP OF THE POPS ORCHESTRA Musical director JOHNNY PEARSON Choreography FLICK COLBY Lighting ERIC WALLIS Designer HUMPHREY JAEGER Executive producer ROBIN NASH Producer PHIL BISHOP
	15.00	The Queen
			A Christmas Day programme in which The Queen speaks to the Commonwealth. Produced by RICHARD CAWSTON
	15.20	Larry Grayson's Generation Game
			A special edition for Christmas Day - with 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 BOB COVE Director K. PAUL JACKSON Producer ALAN BOYD
	16.20	The Gnome-Mobile
			The Walt Disney film starring Walter Brennan Matthew Garber, Karen Dotrice Millionaire D. J. Mulrooney is all set to enjoy a holiday with his grandchildren Elizabeth and Rodney and one day they head for the giant Redwoods for a picnic. Wandering alone in the woods Elizabeth meets Jasper, a handsome young gnome, and his 900-year-old grandfather, Knobby. And this is where their holiday adventures really begin. Screenplay by ELLIS KADISON, based on the novel The Gnomobile by UPTON SINCLAIR Directed by ROBERT STEVENSON (First showing on British television) Films: pages 16-17
	17.45	Evening News
			with Peter Woods Weather
	17.50	Blankety Blank
			Terry Wogan hosts a special Christmas edition of the comedy quiz game, in which contestants attempt to match their 'blanks' with: Lennie Bennett, Lorraine Chase, Wendy Craig, Sandra Dickinson, Shirley Anne Field, Kenny Everett, Liza Goddard, David Hamilton, David Jason, Roy Kinnear, Patrick Moore and Beryl Reid Presented by arrangement with Goodson-Todman Inc and Talbot Television Ltd Music RONNIE HAZLEHURST Programme associate TONY HAWES Designer BOB COVE Director K. PAUL JACKSON Producer ALAN BOYD
	18.30	All Creatures Great and Small
			from the books by JAMES HERRIOT A series in 14 parts with Carol Drinkwater 1: Plenty to Grouse About adapted by TERENCE DUDLEY Parasites ... Red tape ... A tubercular cow ... And Siegfried takes an instant dislike to Mr Murray who ill-treats a dog, as a vet's life at Skeldale Surgery continues. An outbreak of louping-ill on the grouse moors is traced - or is it, when Mr Murray's help in clearing the land cannot be counted upon? Music by JOHNNY PEARSON Film cameraman KEN MORGAN Script editor TED RHODES Designer ROB HINDS Producer BILL SELLARS Directed by CHRISTOPHER BARRY BBC Birmingham
	19.20	The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show
			starring Mike Yarwood and his special guest star from America Johnny Mathis with Janet Brown Written by ERIC DAVIDSON, NEIL SHAND Musical director ALAN BRADEN Makeup CECtLE HAY-ARTIIUR Designer PHIL ROBERSON Directed by STANLEY APPEL Produced by JAMES MOIR
	20.00	To the Manor Born
			by PETER SPENCE starring and with ' Christmas comes but once a year'. Perhaps on the Grantleigh Estate that's just as well! Script associate CHRISTOPHER BOND MUSiC RONNIE HAZLEHURST Designer IAN RAWNSLEY Producer GARETH GWENLAN
	20.30	The Sting (1973)
			The feature film starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford Superstars Newman and Redford are successfully teamed up once again in this exuberant Oscar-winning story of gangsters and deception set in Chicago during the 30s. To the accompaniment of Scott Joplin's ragtime music, the pair set out to avenge the murder of a fellow con artist by making racketeer Doyle Lonne gan the victim of the most elaborate and outrageous confidence trick of all time! Screenplay by DAVID s. WARD Produced by TONY BILL, MICHAEL and JULIA PHILLIPS Directed by GEORGE ROY HILL (First showing on British television) Films: pages 16-17
	22.35	News
			with Peter Woods ; Weatherman
	22.45	Parkinson at Christmas
			Join Michael Parkinson and his seasonal guests for a special show which reflects some of the many aspects of Christmas past and present. Music HARRY STONEHAM Programme associate CHRIS GREENWOOD Assistant producer SITA WILLIAMS Director BRUCE MILLIARD Producer JOHN FISHER

	BBC TWO
	11.00	Play School
			Story: The Little Drummer Boy by EZRA JACK KEATS. Words and music by KATHERINE DAVIS HENRY ONORATI and HARRY SIMEONE Guest Nola Rae Presenters Sarah Long, Stuart McGugan
	11.25	Closedown
	15.00	A Hard Day's Night (1964)
			The Beatles at Christmas
			Continuing our festive season of films celebrating the most famous pop group of them all. starring The Beatles with Wilfrid Brambell Norman Rossington Victor Spinetti The Beatles' first film was a way-out trip from Liverpool to London with John, Paul, George and Ringo providing the fun. A dozen Lennon and McCartney hits like ' She loves you ', ' All my loving', ' Can't buy me love', 'I wanna be your man', are sandwiched between the jokes - including a few at the expense of television. Screenplay by ALUN OWEN Directed by RICHARD LESTER Produced by WALTER SHENSON Films: pages 16-17
	16.25	Christmas Day Concert from Amsterdam
			Every year on Dutch television the world-famous Concertgebouw Orchestra gives a live Christmas Day concert. This year, under their conductor Bernard Haitink they perform Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique This programme, made available through Eurovision by Nos (Dutch television), was recorded earlier today
	17.30	A Christmas Carol
			by CHARLES DICKENS Dramatised by ELAINE MORGAN starring Christmas Eve and the world rejoices -not so Ebenezer Scrooge, who regards Christmas as an unwelcome interruption to the serious business of making money. Producer JONATHAN POWELL Directed by MOIRA ARMSTRONG
	18.30	Baboushka
			A Musical Fable for Christmas by DONALD SWANN (music) and ARTHUR SCHOLEY (libretto) The legend of Baboushka is found in many places and in varying forms. It tells of a lady who gives hospitality to the Three Kings as they pass through her village on the way to Bethlehem. Being an energetic housewife, she is too busy at the time to join them on their journey but says she will follow on later. When she finally does arrive in Bethlehem it is too late: the Baby has gone. The legend says she is still searching ... starring Eira Heath as Baboushka The Three Kings and members of the FINCHLEY CHILDREN'S MUSIC GROUP chorus-master JOHN ANDREWES Grown-ups THE AMBROSIAN SINGERS With PETER BAMBER, ALAN BYERS HILLIE HUTCHINS, JEAN TEMPERLEY NIGEL WAUGH and PAT WHITMORE Associate conductor JOHN MCARTHY and with Orchestrator and musical directeur ALEXANDER FARIS Sound ALAN EDMUNDS Lighting PETER CATLETT Make-up MAUREEN WINSLADE Costume JOAN ELLACOTT Designer KEN SHARP Producer KENNETH CORDEN
	19.20	News on 2
			Weather
	19.30	The Front Garden
			A celebration of the English at their favourite pastime. Written and narrated by CANDIDA LYCETT GREEN It's the grand English gardens, like those of Capability Brown, that always get noticed. But, on a different scale, our front gardens can be just as varied and just as remarkable. And so are the people who make these small showpieces, in front of council houses and thatched cottages, bungalows and follies; people who put so much love and enthusiasm, and inventiveness into them. Perhaps it's a way of showing everyone what we can do, even of revealing what sort of people we are. The results are some astonishing gardens-a front garden with 13 cathedrals; a hedge like a life-sized steam-engine; old-fashioned rambling cottage gardens; formal brilliant flower-patterned gardens; gardens inhabited by gnomes; gardens made with shells; even a garden without a single plant. Film cameraman PHILIP BONHAM-CARTEn Film editor EDWARD ROBERTS Producer EDWARD MIRZOEFF
	20.30	The Queen
			A Christmas Day programme in which The Queen speaks to the Commonwealth Producer RICHARD CAWSTON
	20.50	Sutherland andPavarotti in Recital
			Earlier this year the great Australian soprano Joan Sutherland and the Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti gave their first-ever joint recital in Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York. It was a triumph for both ... there is not a pair of singers alive who could have matched this combination of style and prodigal out-pouring of voice. (NEW YORK TIMES) In tonight's recording of that event these two great stars sing two duets from Verdi's La Traviata and ' Sulla tomba' from Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. LUCIANO PAVAROTTI sings the arias ' Amor ti vieta' from Giordano's Fedora; ' 0 Paradiso' from Meyerbeer's L'Africaine; Cielo e mar' from Ponchielli's La Gioconda and ' Pourquoi me reveiller?' from Werther by Massenet. JOAN SUTHERLAND sings from Verdi's Ernani Ernani .,, involami'; 'I dreamt I dwelt in marble halls' by Balfe, and two arias from the final act of Bellini's La Sonnambula. Orchestra conducted by Richard Bonynge Introduced by HUMPHREY BURTON Directed by KIRK BROWNING Produced by JOHN GOBERMAN A production of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Inc
	22.05	Face the Music
			The musical quiz in which Joseph Cooper as questionmaster invites you to match your musical wits against Joyce Grenfell David Attenborough, Robin Ray Special guest Sir Robert Mayer Sound LANCE ANDREWS Lighting PETER WINN Designer PAMELA LAMBOOT Director HELEN MORTON Producer WALTER TODDS
	22.45	Cabaret
			The feature film starring Liza Minnelli Who tells RADIO TIMES ' Who could ever forget Sally Bowles? I have always felt very fortunate to have been given the rare and delicious opportunity to portray someone so totally unique, so strong and well-rounded as a character. I always knew I was doing something special with Cabaret. ' Joel Gray Michael York Who tells RADIO TIMES * I knew Christopher Isherwood and had met him beforehand, so I was very conscious of the fact that I was portraying him and very proud to be doing it. I remember Cabaret as being one of those really happy times when everyone got on. ' Bob Fosse's brilliant musical adaptation of Christopher Isherwood's Goodbye to Berlin opens a new season of well-known literary works set to music. A bitter-sweet and ambivalent love affair, between cabaret singer Sally Bowles and the naive young Englishman she takes under her wing. develops in the decadent Berlin cafe society of the 30s, while violence in the streets escalates so smoothly, the inhabitants hardly notice - unless they happen to be Jews. Screenplay by JAY ALLEN Produced by CY FEUER Choreographed and directed by BOB FOSSE Films: pages 16-17 (First showing on British television)
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<< Christmas Day 1979 >>