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 1980 >>


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

	THAMES
	00.35	It's Christmas
			In England
	00.45	Closedown
	09.00	A Merry Morning
	09.45	Christmas Eucharist
	10.45 - 11.10	A Christmas Star
	11.20 - 11.50	A Christmas Runaround
	11.40	Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World (1973)
	13.15	Crossroads
			(3398/4510)
	13.45	Billy Smart's Christmas Circus
	15.00	The Queen
	15.10	George and Mildred (1980)
	16.55	ITN News
	17.05	Pantomime
	20.30	The Morecambe and Wise Show
	21.30	This is Your Life
	22.00	Janet and Company
	22.30	ITN News
	22.40	A Touch of Class (1972)

	BBC ONE
	08.55	Watch
			The Nativity Presenters JAMES EARL ADAIR and LOUISE HALL-TAYLOR Producer TOM STANIER
	09.25	Mr Benn
			A See-Saw programme
	09.40	Pink Panther Show
			A Pink Christmas
	10.00	Morning Worship
			Worship for Christmas morning is Family Mass from the Cathedral Church of St Peter and Paul, Clifton, celebrated by the Bishop of Clifton, THE RT REV MERVYN ALEXANDER. Families from all over Bristol will gather in this modern cathedral to make their Christmas communion, sing their favourite carols and share in the joy of this day. Introduced by CANON PETER FIRTH O come, an ye faithful (Adeste fideles); Hodie Christus natus est (Poulenc); Gloria (Philip Duffy ); Gospel acclamation and eucharistic liturgy (Christopher Walker ); Away in a manger (Cradle Song); A spotless rose (Howells); It came upon the midnight clear (Noel); Agnus Dei (Tamblyn); Wexford Carol (arr John Rutter ); O little town of Bethlehem (Forest Green); Unto us is born a son (Puer nobis) Director of music CHRISTOPHER WALKER Organist DIANA HUGHES Sound BRIAN STRUGNELL Lighting JOHN BORLEY Director CHRISTOPHER MANN Producer PETER FIRTH. BBC Bristol
	11.00	Weather
	11.05	The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962)
			The feature film starring Laurence Harvey, Claire Bloom, Karl Boehm Once upon a time in Bavaria, there lived two brothers, Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm. They were supposed to be at work on a very boring biography, but they spent their time writing fairy stories, Screenplay by DAVID P. HARMON. CHARLES BEAUMONT, WILLIAM ROBERTS, based on Die Britder Grimm by DR HERMANN GERSTNER Produced by GEORGE PAL Directed by HENRY LEVIN. Films: page 116
	13.10	Carols from Warwick Castle
			Douglas Fairbanks Jr introduces music for Christmas from this fine medieval setting. With Vince Hill, Iris Williams THE CHOIR OF ST MARY'S CHURCH, WARWICK. Organist and choirmaster ANDREW FLETCHER Designer IAN FISHER Director ROY NORTON. Producer ROY RONNIE
	14.00	Top of the Pops 80
			including Abba, Blondie, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, The Police and The Nolans. Peter Powell and Jimmy Savile, OBE, introduce a special edition featuring some of the top records of 1980. TOP OF THE POPS ORCHESTRA LEGS & CO Musical director JOHNNY PEARSON Choreography FLICK COLBY Sound ANTHONY PHILPOT Lighting JOHN FARR Designer ANDY DIMOND Executive producer MICHAEL HURLL Producer BRIAN WHITEHOUSE
	15.00	The Queen
			A Christmas Day programme in which The Queen speaks to the Commonwealth Produced by RICHARD CAWSTON (Also on BBC2 at 10.10 pm) Sub-titles on Ccefax page 170
	15.10	20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
			Walt Disney's famous film from Jules Verne's novel, starring Kirk Douglas, James Mason with Paul Lukas and Peter Lorre. James Mason tells Radio Times: "This was one of Disney's first live action films. He was a grand creative man, having enormous fun with all his models. The great squid scene was done twice because he claimed he could see the wires supporting the tentacles." A terrifying monster is attacking ships in the Pacific and when marine scientist Professor Arronax sets out to investigate, he finds he has embarked on an adventure beyond his wildest dreams. Captured with his assistant and harpooner Ned Land by the fanatical Captain Nemo, Arronax discovers a fantastic underwater world - complete with real monsters. (First showing on British television) Films: page 116
	17.15	The Paul Daniels Magic Christmas Show
			Join Paul Daniels as he conjures up a host of seasonal surprises and introduces his special guests with their remarkable skills. from Broadway: America's foremost magician Harry Blackstone from Paris: the dazzling puppets of Compagnie Philippe Genty from Hollywood: the'quick-change talents of Michael McGiveney from Japan: the ballerina on the golden bicycle Lilly Yokoi Music KEN JONES Programme associate ALl BONGO Videotape editor JOHN SILLITTO Sound KEITH GCNN Lighting ERIC WALLIS Designer GRAEME STORY Director JOHN HUGHES Produced by JOHN FISHER
	18.05	Evening News
			with Angela Rippon
	18.10	Larry Grayson's Generation Game
			Join Larry Grayson and Isla St Clair for this special Christmas edition with surprise guests and seasonal games for the contestants and the family to play at home. Orchestra conducted by RONNIE HAZLEHURST. Programme associate TONY HAWES. Designer JOHN ANDERSON. Director KEITH STEWART Producer MARCUS PLANTIN.
	19.15	Dallas
			starring Trouble at Ewing 23 Theme music on record (RESL 87), from record shops
	20.05	The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show
			Mike Yarwood and his special guest Engelbert Humperdinck Written by ERIC DAVIDSON ANDY HAMILTON, DAVID RENWICK Musical director ALAN BRADEN Make-up SYLVIA THORNTON Designer VIC MEREDITH Directed by STANLEY APPEL Produced by JAMES MOIR
	20.45	Airport 1975 (1974)
			The powerful sequel to Airport, inspired by Arthur Hailey's best-selling novel, starring the heart-pounding drama of a gallery of passengers sealed helplessly within a giant Boeing 747 after a mid-air collision. The senior pilot severely injured and the rest of the flight crew killed, it is left to the chief stewardess to try to keep the plane in the air. Screenplay by DON INGALLS Produced by WILLIAM FRYE Directed by JACK SMIGHT. Films: page 116 (First showing on British television)
	22.30	Main News
			with Angela Rippon Holiday Weather JIM BACON
	22.40	Parkinson at Christmas
			Join Michael Parkinson for a special programme featuring conversation and entertainment from his star guests. Music HARRY STONEHAM Programme associate CHRIS GREENWOOD Assistant producers GRAHAM LINDSAY GILL STRIBLING-WRIGHT Director BRUCE MILLIARD Producer JOHN FISHER
	23.40	Fawlty Towers
			Christmas Comedy ClassicGourmet Night
			by JOHN CLEESE and CONNIE BOOTH starring John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs and Connie Booth When Basil hires a new chef he tries to turn 'Fawlty Towers' into a gourmet's paradise. Music by DENNIS WILSON Designer PETER KINDRED Producer JOHN HOWARD DAVIES (repeat).

	BBC TWO
	11.00	Play School
			Story: The Shepherds on the Hill Photography by BARRY BOXALL Presenters Carol Chell Carol Leader Fred Harris Book, Play School: Ready to Play, El.50 from bookshops. Play On (record REC 332 cassette zcm 332); Bang on a Drum, songs irom Play School and Play Away (record REC 242 or cassette MRMC 004), from record shops
	11.25	Closedown
	15.10	A Year in the Life of an Exmoor Man
			Tom Rook TOM ROOK lives at Porlock on the edge of Exmoor. He has never lived anywhere else, and never wanted to. Over the years he has become an important member of the community that lives and works on the moor. The film follows Tom's year, from sheep-shearing to lambing, from puppy-walking to the hounds in full cry, from Porlock Show to the point-to-point - men and beasts move against the backdrop of the moor... Indeed, so deeply is Tom woven into that pattern of life, that the film emerges as a portrait of Exmoor itself, its wide slopes of bracken and heather, its secret coombes, and its people. Narrator TOM SALMON Film editor CHARLES ALDRIDGE Producer MICHAEL CROUCHER
	16.10	Blue Skies (1946)
			Fred Astaire
			A feature film also starring Bing Crosby and Joan Caulfield A series of holiday afternoon films starring Fred Astaire starts with this musical comedy about a very pretty girl and the two men who love her. Told against a background of 32 memorable Irving Berlin songs, including ' A pretty girl is like a melody', 'White Christmas', 'How deep is the ocean', 'Heatwave' and, of course, ' Blue skies'. The film also features the classic ' Puttin' on the Ritz' routine. Lyrics and music by IRVING BERLIN Screenplay by ARTHUR SHEEKMAN Adaptation by ALLAN SCOTT Produced by SOL C. SIEGEL Directed by STUART HEISLER Films; page 116
	17.50	Little Swallow
			A spoilt baby swallow spurns the food his mother brings him, but finally learns his lesson. Produced by SHANGHAI ANIMATION FILM STUDIO Directed by CHANG SUNG-LIN PU CHIAHSIANG, HAN PIN
	18.05	The Band Wagon (1953)
			Fred Astaire
			A feature film also starring Cyd Charisse and Jack Buchanan Tony Hunter, once a Hollywood musical star, feels that with a little help from his friends he could make a comeback on Broadway.... Vincente Minnelli's hallmarks - a witty script, memorable music and imaginative choreography - are firmly stamped on this famous musical with more than a dozen hit songs by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz. The songs include ' Dancing in the dark', 'You, the night and the music', and, specially written for the film, ' That's entertainment'. Britain's own song-and-dance man, Jack Buchanan, almost steals the show from the master himself. Story and screenplay by BETTY COMDEN and ADOLPH GREEN Lyrics and music by HOWARD DIETZ and ARTHUR SCHWARTZ Produced by ARTHUR FREED Directed by VINCENTE MINNELLI Films: page 116
	19.55	News Summary
			followed by Weather
	20.05	Tosca (1976)
			A superb film version of PUCCINI'S three-act opera, filmed on location in Rome in the church, the palace and the fortress where the story takes place. Set in 1800, a period of political unrest, the opera concerns the rivalry between the painter Cavaradossi and Baron Scarpia, the ruthless Chief of Secret Police, for the love of Tosca, a beautiful opera singer. with the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Ambrosian Singers conducted by Bruno Bartoletti sung in Italian with English sub-titles Directed by GIANFRANCO DE BOSIO The Tales of Hoffmann, live from Covent Garden, Fri 2 Jan 7.0 pm, with R3 stereo
	22.10	The Queen
			A Christmas Day programme in which The Queen speaks to the Commonwealth Produced by RICHARD CAWSTON Sub-lilies on Ceefax pane 270
	22.20	One Hundred Great Paintings
			This week's theme: Outdoor Life Seurat (1859-1891) La Grande Jatte, at the Art Institute, Chicago This picture is of the island of La Grande Jatte in the Seine on a sunny Sunday afternoon. It was a favourite haunt of bathers, anglers, soldiers on leave and cocottes. Seurat went there every morning for six months, doing all his sketches from nature and then working in his studio afternoons and evenings. It took him two years to complete the picture. Written and presented by Milton Brown Director bill MORTON (Tomorrow: Eakins' Max Schmitt in a Single Scull
	22.30	The Front Page (1974)
			Walter Matthau
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<< Christmas Day 1980 >>