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 1981 >>


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

	THAMES
	09.00	Worzel's Christmas Special
			A Cup O' Tea An' A Slice O' Cake
			(Repeat)
	10.00	Christmas Family Worship
	11.00	The Dazzle
	11.30	We Six Kings
	12.00	The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963)
	13.45	A Wedding in the Family
	15.00	The Queen
	15.15	Dr. No (1962)
			The James Bond Film

	LWT
	17.15	This is Your Life
	17.45	News at 5.45
	17.50	The Muppet Movie (1979)
			The Muppets Star in their 1st ever Movie being shown on British Television For the 1st time!
	19.40	Game for a Laugh
	20.30	It'll be Alright on the Night 3
	21.30	ITN News
	21.35	Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976)
	23.40	Rising Damp
			by Eric Chappell. Starring Leonard Rossiter, Richard Beckinsale, Don Warrington It's party time-and everyone has made arrangements for celebrating. Landlord Rigsby fancies his chances of joining in the evening's Christmas spirits. (Repeat) Yorkshire Television Production

	BBC ONE
	00.50	Weather and Close
	08.40	Star Over Bethlehem
			A musical celebration for Christmas. Seven nations come together in a global concert united by the man-made star of today - the communications satellite.
	09.40	The Flumps
			A See-Saw programme
	09.55	Rolf at Christmas
			starring Rolf Harris with special guests Keith Harris and Darts and featuring the children of OVERLEIGH MIDDLE SCHOOL, CHESTER. Rolf and 200 young guests bring you a selection of Christmas songs from the historic city of Chester. Musical director BARRY BOOTH Script TONY HAWES Director BRIAN PENDERS Producer JAMES MOIR
	10.30	Christmas Morning Service
			from St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle in the presence of HM The Queen HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal Family. Conducted by THE REV Q. H. WILSON Preacher THE RT REV MICHAEL MANN, Dean of Windsor Choir directed by CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON. Organist JOHN PORTER Described by TOM FLEMING CHOIR: Up! good Christen folk; Processional Hymn: Hark! the herald angels sing; Hymn: Angels, from the realms of glory; Psalm 19 Lesson: Isaiah 35, read by CANON G. B. BENTLEY Te Deum (Stanford in c) Lesson: John 3, w 16-21, read by CANON D. J. BURGESS choir: When Christ was born of Mary free; Creed and Collects for Christmas Day; Sermon; Hymn: O come, all ye faithful; Prayers and Blessing; National Anthem; Organ Voluntary: Finale from Symphony No 1 by Vierne Sound CHRIS HOLCOMBE Lighting ALAN ROBERTS TV presentation RAYMOND SHORT 11.47 Weather JACK SCOTT
	11.50	The Donald Duck Story
			The inside story of the meteoric career of the world's most bumptious bird showing how that devious darned duck got his start in life. Part 1 A WALT DISNEY production (Part 2 tomorrow at 12.10 pm)
	12.30	Tom Thumb (1958)
			The feature film starring Russ Tamblyn, Alan Young, Terry-Thomas, Peter Sellers George Pal's famous film adaptation of the Grimm Brothers' fairy-tale for children of all ages features some lively dancing from Russ Tamblyn, a highly whistle-able theme song, some very convincing trick photography and two hilariously incompetent villains. Screenplay by LADISLAS FODOR Produced and directed by GEORGE PAL Films: p 105
	14.00	Top of the Pops
			TOTP's Christmas Party The Radio 1 DJs present their favourite hits of 1981, hosted by Peter Powell and Dave Lee Travis Dance director FLICK COLBY Sound DAVE THOMPSON Lighting RON BRISTOW Designer PHIL LINDLEY Directors MICHAEL HURLL, GORDON ELSBURY Executive producer MICHAEL HURLL
	15.00	The Queen
			speaks to the Commonwealth Produced by RICHARD CAWSTON *Subtitles on Ceefax page 170
	15.10	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 CHRIS HULL Director KEITH STEWART Producer MARCUS PLANTIN
	16.10	In Search of the Castaways (1962)
			Walt Disney's classic adventure film starring Hayley Mills, Maurice Chevalier, George Sanders and Wilfrid Hyde White Thrills abound as earthquake, hurricane, fire and flood beset the voyagers in search of Captain Grant. Hayley Mills is perfect as the dauntless daughter in this colourful version of Jules Verne's tale for children of all ages. HAYLEY MILLS tells RADIO TIMES: ' There were more special effects in that film than any other I have done for Disney. I'm looking forward to seeing it again.' Screenplay by Lowell S. Hawley based on Captain Grant's Children by JULES VERNE Produced by WALT DISNEY Director ROBERT STEVENSON. Films: p 105 (First showing on British television)
	17.45	Jim'll Fix It
			with Jimmy Savile, OBE Dear Jim, Please may I ... Have a new set of angel's wings? Go to Disneyland? Spend my 105th birthday by the sea? s Work for Father Christmas? In this special Christmas Day programme Jimmy makes these and other dreams come true. Sound RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN. Lighting GERRY MILLERSON. Designer ANDY DIMOND Director PETER CAMPBELL Producer ROGER ORDISH
	18.25	Evening News
			with Moira Stuart ; Weather Reporter
	18.35	Paul Daniels' Magical Christmas
			Join Paul Daniels as he conjures up a host of seasonal surprises and introduces his special guests: from Hamburg Tux and his flying kitchen; from Paris Les Samurai, exciting exponents of the martial arts; and the brilliant illusionist Pierre Brahma. Musical director KEN JONES Programme associate ALI BONGO Sound JOHN DELANY Lighting ERIC WALLIS Designer BOB COVE Director bill WILSON Producer JAMES MOIR (Paul Daniels will be recording a new quiz show early in 1982. If you like word games and crosswords and would like to be a contestant please write giving personal details and enclosing a photograph of yourself to: Odd One Out, BBC Television Centre, London W12 8QT)
	19.15	Last of the Summer Wine
			by ROY CLARKE Whoops A special Christmas episode starring Bill Owen Peter Sallis, Brian Wilde with John Rutland, Arnold Peters Foggy and Clegg somewhat cautiously agree with Compo that Christmas isn't what it used to be. In an effort to recapture the spirit of their youth they look up two long-lost boisterous school mates: champion lamp-post climber and duck impressionist ' Chuffer ' Enright, and long-distance hand walker Splutter' Lipinscale ... Music Ronnie Hazlehurst Film Cameraman: Fred Hamilton Film Editor: Glenn Hyde Studio Llighting: John Green Designers: Valerie Warrander, Stephan Paczai Produced by Alan J. W. Bell
	19.45	The Two Ronnies
			starring Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker and their guests Sheena Easton, Chas & Dave featuring Bond of Slaves with JENNY LOGAN, LIZ WHITING DEREK FINCHAM, LING TAI ARNOLD LEE Also appearing ROWENA COOPER THE IRVING DAVIES DANCERS Script associate IAN DAVIDSON Written by BRYAN BLACKBURN, DAVID NOBBS and PETER VINCENT, PETER ROBINSON, DAVID RENWICK, GERALD WILEY Musical director RONNIE HAZLEHURST Choreography IRVING DAVIES Sound MICHAEL MCCARTHY Lighting KEN MACGRECOR Designer GRAEME STORY Executive producer MICHAEL HURLL Producer PAUL JACKSON
	20.35	Dallas
			starring Waterloo at South Fork The problems for the Ewing family continue to grow as J.R. is confronted by both Miss Ellie and Bobby - who demand explanations. Written by LINDA ELSTAD Directed by IRVING J. MOORE
	21.25	Loophole (1981)
			The new British feature film starring Albert Finney Martin Sheen with Susannah York, Colin Blakely Jonathan Pryce, Robert Morley The vault of one of the world's largest and safest holding banks is reputed to be completely ' burglar-proof '. However, there is one loophole ... An expert team of professional criminals, cramped in the putrid labyrinth of sewers beneath the streets of London, ingeniously prepare to exploit the loophole and pull off one of the most ambitious and daring heists. Screenplay by JONATHAN HALES Produced by DAVID KORDA. JULIAN HOLI.OWAY Directed by JOHN QUESTED. Films: p 105 (First showing on British television)
	23.05	Main News
			with Moira Stuart Holiday Weather JACK SCOTT
	23.15	Parkinson on Comedy
			Michael Parkinson introduces a selection of the funniest moments from his programme in recent years, featuring among others: Dave Allen, Rowan Atkinson Cannon and Ball Michael Bentine, Billy Connolly Ken Dodd, Bob Hope Frankie Howerd, Tom Lehrer Arthur Marshall, Spike Milligan Sir Harry Secombe, Jimmy Tarbuck Tommy Trinder, Kenneth Williams Music HARRY STONEHAM Programme associate amis GREENWOOD Director BRUCE MILLIARD. Producers GRAHAM LINDSAY, GILL STRIBLING.WRIGHT Executive producer JOHN FISHER

	BBC TWO
	00.05	Liszt's Christmas Tree Suite
			played by Rhondda Gillespie (piano) Many of the 12 short movements are based on traditional Christmas songs and the work was intended for family music making. Producer KENNETH CORDEN Director HELEN MORTON
	00.50	Closedown
	11.00	Play School
			Story: The Christmas Story (traditional). Presenters Carol Leader, Ben Thomas
	11.25	Closedown
	14.00	Harold Lloyd
			The Freshman In his uniquely riotous way Harold plays an intrepid college boy intent on becoming Most Popular Man on Campus. Directed by FRED NEWMEYER, SAM TAYLOR TV version produced by BOB HOAG . Films: page 105
	15.10	A Charlie Brown Christmas
			Charlie Brown is depressed by the modern spirit of Christmas - even Snoopy has gone commercial! ' What you need is involvement' advises Lucy for five cents. So Charlie Brown is asked to direct the Christmas play ...
	15.35	Uproar in Heaven
			This cartoon film from China relates the misadventures and misfortunes of mischievous Monkey before he sets out on his epic journey to India to help bring back the tablets of the Buddha and how he incurred the wrath of the celestial Jade Emperor and was flung out of Heaven for stealing the peaches of immortality. Produced by SHANGHAI ANIMATION FILM STUDIO Directed by WAN LAI -MING. Films: p 105
	17.25	Joseph and Child
			Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel. But who actually delivered the new-born King? Arthur Dooley's sculpture Joseph and Child, commissioned by the Church of St Joseph the Worker in Kirkby, shows Joseph holding up the child he has helped to deliver. This film tells how Dooley developed his ideas into a remarkable sculpture. Producer ERIC DAVIDSON
	17.40	Sounds of Christmas
			Richard Stilgoe introduces a concert of carols and Christmas music from the Royal Albert Hall, London. featuring The London Choral Society conductor NICHOLAS CLEOBURY with The King's Singers The English Brass Ensemble The Haberdashers' Aske's School Boys' Choir director ALAN TAYLOR Tristan Fry (percussion) Margaret Phillips (organ) Fiona Hibbert (harp) Lighting CLIVE POTTER. Sound JEFF BAKER Producer KEN GRIFFIN
	18.35	The Queen
			speaks to the Commonwealth; with subtitles for the hard-of-hearing
	18.45	One Hundred Great Paintings
			Tonight's Christmas choice is: Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) Virgin and Child with St Anne at the Louvre, Paris. Giorgio Vasari, the first biographer of Leonardo, wrote, ' The heavens often rain down the richest gifts on human beings naturally, but sometimes with lavish abundance bestow upon a single individual beauty, grace and ability, so that whatever he does, every action is so divine that he outdistances all other men.' Written and narrated by EDWIN MULLINS Executive producers BILL MORTON and KENNETH CORDEN. Director ROBIN LOUGN (Tomorrow a new theme: Music)
	18.55	Dersu Uzala
			Directed by AKIRA KUROSAWA The feature film starring In 1902 a Russian army unit, commanded by Captain Arsenyev, is conducting a survey of the huge forest on Russia's Pacific seaboard. When a strange old man emerges from the forest they are at first inclined to ridicule him, but Dersu Uzala's uncanny instinct for survival soon earns their respect. Screenplay by AKIRA KUROSAWA and YURI NAGIBIN based on the novels by VLADIMIR ARSENYEV. Films: page 105 (A Russian film with English subtitles)
	21.15	News on 2
			with Moira Stuart; Weather
	21.25	Margot Fonteyn introduces the London Festival Ballet
			in two ballets that go back to the Edwardian world of Elgar and the high spirits of Vienna with the music of Johann Strauss. The Sanguine Fan Carlton House Terrace, a summer evening 1905 Music by EDWARD ELGAR Choreography RONALD HYND Costumes PETER DOCHERTY With VALERIE AITKEN, LINDA DAR-RELL, CAROLINE HUMPSTON, KATHLEEN MUNSON, CHRISTOPHER MERCER, MICHAEL PINK, JEAN LOUIS CABANE, JOHN WHILLANS Television director RODNEY GREENBERG Graduation Ball An end-of-term party at a girls' school, Vienna 1840 Music by JOHANN STRAUSS Arranged by ANTAL DORATI Choreography DAVID LICHINE with artists of the LONDON FESTIVAL BALLET, director JOHN FIELD ORCHESTRA OF THE LONDON FESTIVAL BALLET, conductor TERENCE KERN TV sound ADRIAN STOCKS. ANTHONY PHILPOT TV lighting BILL MILLAR TV designer KEN SHARP Producer PATRICIA FOY Book, The Magic of Dance, £11.75, from booksellers
	22.30	Country Holiday
			A sing-along of Country Music songs from the circus ring of The Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth led by Little Ginny Lome Gibson, The Mintings Pete Sayers, Tammy Cline and George Hamilton IV The 35 songs in 45 minutes include medleys of juke-box favourites and Hank Williams songs. Musical director BILL CLARKE Sound JEFF BAKER. Lighting JOHN ELFES Director RICK GARDNER Producer DOUGLAS HESPE
	23.15	Jack Lemmon in The War Between Men and Women
			with Barbara Harris Peter Wilson, a brilliant writer and cartoonist, avoids and allegedly detests women. But a chance meeting - due to his massive shortsightedness - sends him into the arms of an attractive assistant at an eye specialist.... Humour and romantic complications are the order of the day in this cynical, occasionally abrasive comedy, based on the writings of James Thurber. A character brilliantly portrayed by Jack Lemmon in his inimitable bitter-comic style. Screenplay by MELVILLE SHAVELSON and DANNY ARNOLD Produced by DANNY ARNOLD Director MELVILLE SHAVELSON. Films: plO5 (First showing on British television)
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<< Christmas Day 1981 >>