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 1983 >>


\| LWT \| Channel 4 \| BBC One \| BBC Two \|

	LWT
	00.40	Closedown
	07.00	Rub-a-Dub-Tub's Christmas Day Special
			with Bonnie Langford, Michele Dotrice, Edward Woodward and Alan Dart.
	08.00	Christmas with TV-am
			Thought for Christmas from Cardinal Hume, and Chris Tarrant at the Queen Mary Hospital for Children, in Carshalton, Surrey.
	09.00	Roland's Winter Wonderland
	09.25	The Night the Animals Talked
	09.50	The Fraggles are Coming
			Trailer for new puppet series
	09.55	Messengers to Earth
			Musical fantasy set in a celestial "ops" room where angels are preparing for Christ's birth. (Repeat)
	10.20	Christmas Morning Worship
			from St Moula's Church, Belfast. The sermon is given by the Rector, the Rev Edgar Hamilton.
	11.20	The Magic Planet
			Ice skating spectacular about an astronaut who lands on the planet Aleph and falls in love with its queen.
	12.15	The Capture of Grizzly Adams (1982)
	14.00	The Royal Year
	15.00	The Queen
			The Queen's message to the Commonwealth
	15.15	Superman (1978)
	17.40	Bullseye Christmas Special
	18.25	ITN News
	18.35	A Royal Concert of Carols
			The Prince and Princess of Wales listen to carols sung by a hospital choir. Songs and piano playing from Marti Webb and Peter Donohue.
	19.15	Bruce Forsyth's Play Your Cards Right
	19.45	Jimmy Tarbuck's Christmas All Stars
			ITV's Christmas Night entertainment highlight - a non-stop music and laughter show with a line-up including Bruce Forsyth, Mike Yarwood, Cannon and Ball, Michael Barrymore and Shakin' Stevens. Plus a 'Game for a Laugh' special and, from the US by satellite, Andy Williams, Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers (The Harts), The Temptations and The Four Tops.
	21.10	Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)
	23.00	ITN News
	23.10	The King's Christmas
			Festive renderings from The King's Singers. The setting - Harewood House in Yorkshire.
	23.40	The Untouchables
			Tunnel of Horrors

	Channel 4
	10.30	Christmas Oratorio
			Bach's six cantatas is preformed in the Cloister Church of Wauldhausen in Austria, on original period instruments.
	13.15	The Gang's All Here (1943)
	15.10	Skywhales
			Short animated film, featuring a species of primitive hunters (green, snouty creatures called Perleians) who inhabit a mass of vegetation suspended in the sky. In pedal-driven sky boats, they hunt sky-whales. We learn of the close relationship that exists between hunter and hunted.
	15.25	Fragile Earth
			Alyeska
	16.25	Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (1953)
	18.00	The Queen
			The Queen's message to the Commonwealth
	18.15	Twice Knightly
			The Barron Knights
	19.15	News Headlines and Weather
	19.17	Father's Day
			Christmas Special
			Domestic comedy starring John Alderton as Dad. The children (Katie Alderton, Zac Nicholson and Dominque Barnes) decide that, this Christmas, they ought to go without festive trappings such as cards, trees, presents and turkey. And in a rush of charitable feelings, they invite a very deserving guest to the house on the big day.
	19.50	Struggle
			One Person One Vote
	20.25	The King of Comedy (1982)
	22.25	Tadada: Peter Brook's Paris Cabaret
	23.10 - 00.10	Peace on Earth
			Words, music and paintings - all related to the birth of Christ. Choirs from all over the world assemble in the Manger Square in Jerusalem to celebrate Christmas. Narrated by Dame Flora Robson, with readings by Sir Laurence Olivier.

	BBC One
	00.45	Weather and Close
	08.35	The Christmas Raccoons
			A musical cartoon narrated by RICH LITILE with the voices of RITA COOLIDGE and RUPERT HOLMES Can the horrible and greedy Cyril Sneer be responsible for making the raccoons homeless at Christmas time? Created and produced by KEVIN GILLIS Animation and direction by PAUL schibu A GILLIS WISEMAN production
	09.00	Carols from Newby Hall
			Ian Carmichael introduces Christmas music from Newby Hall at Ripon. with Grace Kennedy, Robert White Cambridge University Chamber Choir Director of Music RICHARD MARLOW Organist TIMOTHY LOLE Harpist IMOGEN BARFORD The children of SKELTON-ON-URE PRIMARY SCHOOL Director tony WOLFE Producer ROY RONNIE. BBC Pebble MM
	09.50	Away in a Manger
			Children's stories, songs, pictures and thoughts about the Nativity. 'Mary was doing the washing-up when the angel came and told her she was going to have a baby.' 'The three kings brought presents of gold, frankenstein and myrhh.' 'Today he would be born in a garage and they'd put him in newspapers.' with the children of SUNNYSIDE PRIMARY SCHOOL, ALLOA; YSGOL GYNRADD, LLANRUG; ST SAVIOUR 'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, LIVERPOOL; WOOLTON JUNIOR MIXED* SCHOOL, UVERPOOL; DURAND JUNIOR MIXED SCHOOL, LONDON Photography PAT OSHEA Sound recordist MORTONBARDACRE Film editor TARIQ UNWAR Producer ROBYN WALLIS
	10.20	Christmas Morning Family Service
			from The Mint Methodist Church. Exeter A look at the stories which surround the birth of Jesus - stories which have become an essential part of our Christmas heritage and celebration. with THE REV AMOS CRESSWELL, President of the Methodist Conference Assisted by THE REV DR JOHN SAMPSON (Minister of the Mint) and members of the congregation and Sunday School Director of Music BRYAN BLACKMAR Bible Readings: Luke2.vv1-7,8-20;Matthewlnl-11 Hymns: Away in a manger (Cradle Song); O little townofBethlehem(ForestGreen);Hark!The herald angels sing (Berlin); Good Christian men, rejoice! (In Dulci Jubilo); O come, all ye faithful (Adeste Fideles) Sound DAVID BEAVAN Lighting GEOFF STAFFORD TV presentation RAYMOND SHORT
	11.17	Weather
			Michael Fish
	11.20	The Little Convict
			A colourful animation adventure starring Rolf Harris Rolf Harris, as Jake the Peg, with the Extra Leg, presents the story of the convicts who settled and built the new country of Australia. ScreenplaybyJohnpalmer Produced and directed by YORAM GROSS Christmas Films: page 15
	12.35	Ziggy's Gift
			An award-winning animated Christmas story about the magic of giving. Ziggy-a little guy in a big world, overweight and underwhelmed-takes a job as a street-comer Santa. But as luck (and his is usually bad) would have it, he unsuspectingly goes to work for a con-man.... Even so Ziggy finds the true spirit of Christmas in a greedy, commercialised world. Music and lyrics by HARRY NILSSON Created by TOMWILSON Produced by LENA TABORI Directed by RICHARD WILLIAMS
	13.00	Bugs Bunny
			in Abominable Snow Rabbit
	13.05	The Glitterball (1977)
			A film for all the family starring Ben Buckton, Keith Jayne When a spaceship crashlands on earth, its 'pilot'-a small silver ball-is befriended by Max and Pete. They find that the alien being has a vast appetite and can signal to its fellows in space. A lively film from the Children's Film Foundation. Screenplay by HOWARD THOMPSON from a story by HOWARD THOMPSON and MARLEY COTKUSs Produced by MARK FORSTATER Directed by HARLEY COCKLISS Christmas Films: p15 (First showing on British television)
	14.00	Top of the Pops 1983
			Part 1
			The Radio 1 DJs present the singers and bands who have made this year's top-selling records. Michael Jackson, Shakin' Stevens Men at Work, Bonnie Tyler Duran Duran, Bucks Fizz Lionel Richie, David Bowie Production MICHAEL HURLL
	15.00	The Queen
			speaks to the Commonwealth Producer Richard CAWSTON (Also on BBC2 at 9.50 pm with sign language) *Subtitke on Ceefax page 170
	15.15	Blankety Blank
			Terry Wogan hosts a special Christmas edition of the comedy quiz game Sabina Franklyn, Roy Kinnear Ruth Madoc, Patrick Moore Beryl Reid, Freddie Starr Presented by arrangement with GOODSON TOOMAN IN and TALBOT TV LIMITED Questions written by MIKE RADFORD. NEVILLE DURHNHILI. TERRY LOWElL MUSIC RONNIE HAZLEHURST. Sound MIKE FELTON Lighting PETER WESSON. Designer DINAH WALKER Director DAVID TAYLOR. Producer MARCUS PLANTIN â—FEATURE: page 4 *Subtitles on Ceefax page 170
	15.50	Treasure Island (1950)
			The film starring Robert Newton Bobby Driscoll, Basil Sydney A host of characters from Robert Louis Stevenson's greatest sea tale of them all spring to life in Walt Disney's colourful live action entertainment. When the sinister Blind Pew visits the Admiral Benbow Inn to serve the 'black spot' on ex-Captain Billy Bones, Jim Hawkins finds he has possession of the secret map of Captain Flint's buried treasure. His friends, Squire Trelawney and Dr Livesey, charter a ship, but unknown to them Flint's old crew, led by peg-leg Long John, has signed up for the voyage.... Screenplay by LAWRENCE EDWARD WATKIN Produced by PERCE PEARCE Directed by BYRON HARKIN Christmas Films: p 15 (First showing on British television)
	17.25	News
			with Jan Leeming ; Weatherman
	17.35	Jim'll Fix It
			with Jimmy Savile OBE including: An 11-year-old Hi-de-Hi! Yellowcoat Two pupils of a school for the blind riding at the Horse of the Year Show An 8-year-old Father Christmas How to crack Christmas walnuts. FEATURE: page 4
	18.15	Songs of Praise Special
			from Peterborough Cathedral Almost 2,000 years ago in a small village in the Middle East a baby was bom. Only a few shepherds and strangers from afar suspected that they were witnessing the most important event in the history of the world. Today over a thousand million Christians all over the world join in celebration of Christ's nativity. Tonight in the Norman splendour of Peterborough Cathedral, Geoffrey Wheeler joins schools, choirs and congregations in their musical celebration of the Christmas story. Hymns: Once in royal David's city; O come all ye faithful; No room at the inn; I saw three ships come sailing in; Sing lullaby!; Angels from the realma of glory; The Virgin Mary ; Away in a manger, Shepnera'spipecarol;AsIoutrodethisenderesnight; Silent night; Good King Wenceslas; Balulalow; It came upon the midnight clear; The first nowell Conductor CHRISTOPHERGOWER Organist simon LOWFORD Film director ANN BARNETT Producer DAVIDKREMER Series producer NMMUKRAY *Subtsiles on Ceefax page 170
	19.15	The Two Ronnies
			starring Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett and their special guest Elton John featuring The Adventures of Archie a cautionary tale of time and space Also appearing ALEC BREGONZI, STUART FELL, CAROL HAWKINS, ANN MICHELLE, RON PEMBER, GERRIE RAYMOND, MICHAEL REDFERN, JOHN RUTLAND, KEN WILSON and the FRED TOMLINSON SINGERS Script associate IAN DAVIDSON Written by IAN DAVID. SON DAVID NEWMAN. DAVID RENWICK. PETER VINCENT Musical director RONNIE HAZLEHURST Sound MICHAEL. McCARTHY. Lighting ERIC WARLLIS Designer ANDREWROWE-DAVIES Executive producer MICHAEL. HURLI. Produced and directed by MARCUS PLANTIN
	20.05	All Creatures Great and Small
			Based on The Lord God Made Them All by JAMES HERRIOT Written by BRIAN FINCH starring Christopher Timothy as James Herriot Robert Hardy as Siegfried Farnon Peter Davison as Tristan Farnon Carol Drinkwater as Helen England, 1947. Demobbed from the army, James Herriot returns to his beloved Yorkshire, to his wife and young son and the day-to-day dramas of a country veterinary practice. Music by JOHNNY PEARSON Photographed by BOB SLEICH Designer DUGALD FINDLAY Producer BILI. Director TERENCE DUDLEY FEATURE page 108 *Subtitles on Ceefax page 170
	21.35	Only Fools and Horses
			by JOHN SULLIVAN starring David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst with Lennard Pearce Thicker Than Water Christmas is a time for family and friends. You can choose your friends-but not your family! Designer BRYAN ELLIS Produced and directed by RAY BUTT 0 FEATURE: page 4 *Subtitles on Ceefax page 170
	22.05	News
			with Jan Leeming ; Weatherman
	22.15	Better Late Than Never (1983)
			The feature film starring David Niven, Art Carney, Maggie Smith In this British premiere of David Niven's last film, he plays Nicky-suave, charming, workshy and a total rascal. Art Carney plays Charles-sober, hard-working and broke. Many years before, Nicky and Charles were rivals for the love of Jennifer and either might be the grandfather of her grand-daughter Bridget-a precocious 10-year-old who just happens to have inherited 23 million dollars.... Written by BRYAN FORBES Produced by DAVID NIVEN JR and JACK HALEY JR Directed by BRYAN FORBES (First shpwing on British television) Christmas Films: page 16 *Subtitle on Ceefax page 170
	23.45	The Spinners at York
			The festive season would not be complete without a session with Tony, Hugh, Mick and Cliff. Join them in the Dickensian street at York's Castle Museum for an evening of not-so-familiar seasonal songs with John McCormick on bass. Lighting JOHN CROWTHER Designer PAUL MONTAGUE Producer BARRY bevins. BBC Manchester

	BBC Two
	09.00	Ceefax in Vision
	14.00	Nobody Minded the Rain...
			Impressions of Coronation Day Where were you on 2 June 1953? Perhaps you were one of the 20 million who watched the day's events on television; perhaps you were one of the hundreds of thousands who braved the cold and rain to cheer the Queen through the streets of London. Possibly you were one of the 7,000 people present in Westminster Abbey for the Service, the most glittering ceremony that our tradition provides. This programme tells the story of Coronation Day and the preparations for it through the reminiscences of people who were there, including Lord Ramsey-then Bishop of Durham, Lord Eccles - then Minister of Works, Lady Rayne-one of the Queen's Maids of Honour, together with many citizens who, for one reason or another, have good cause to remember the day, like the crewmen of the Lowestoft lifeboat who were among the few that missed the Coronation celebrations. Narrated by VERNON JOYNER Research HELEN HOLMES Film editor RON RADDON Written and produced by MARTIN I. BEIJ. (Repeal)
	15.00	The Book Game
			The second of four conversational games about books and writers in which Anthony Burgess, Germaine Greer, Susan Hill and Adam Mars-Jones try to identify recited extracts, and then give vent to their literary likes and dislikes. Readings by Freddie Jones (Third programme tomorrow at 4.30)
	15.30	The Great Palace: The Story of Parliament
			The People of the Palace
	16.20	Henry's Cat
			by BOB GODFREY and STAN HAYWARD Christmas Dinner Narration BOB GODFREY Music by PETER SHADE Production BOB GODFREY FILMS LTD
	16.25	Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
			The feature film starring Judy Garland with Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor, Leon Ames Meet Me in St Louis is perhaps Vincente Minnelli's best-loved musical, featuring Judy Garland in numbers like 'The boy next door' and 'Have yourself a merry little Christmas' and, of course, the classic 'Trolley song'. It traces the life and loves of a middle-class St Louis family through the four seasons, investigating the trials and tribulations of growing-up. Screenplay by IRVING BRECHER and FRED F FINKLEHOPPE Based on the book by SALLY BENSON Produced by ARTHUR FREED Director VINCENTE MINNELLI Christmas Films: page 15
	18.15	The Natural World
			Winter Days Narrated by Robert Powell A season of death and decay, or months of magic? When the sun departs and winter days arrive, how does our wildlife cope with the cold? There are many strategies for survival. Some prepare carefully, making food stores, laying up fat, going underground, hibernating. Others adapt, migrate, develop anti-freeze, flee. Some just shiver to survive, but all behave in ways that ensure that life triumphs over death. Award-winning cameraman Hugh Miles explores the still, silent, but stormy beauty of this most challenging season of the year. It is a season to survive. Commentary written by BRIAN JACKMAN Music by FRANCIS SHAW Film editor TOM POORE Produced and photographed by HUGHMILES Series editor PETER JONES. BBC Bristol
	19.05	News on Two
			with Jan Leeming; Weather
	19.15	Cinderella
			(La Cenerentola) by GIOACHINO ROSSINI Opera in two acts Libretto by JACOPO FERRETTI Critical edition by ALBERTO ZEDDA Rossini's delightful comic opera based on the classic pantomime story provides a special musical treat for opera lovers at Christmas. This is the third of three operas recorded for BBC2 at this summer's Glyndeboume Festival. Glyndebourne Chorus chorus director JANE GLOVER London Philharmonic Orchestra leader DAVID NOLAN Harpsichord continuo Jean Mallandaine Conducted by Donato Renzetti Director JOHN cox Designer ALLEN CHARLES KLEIN Lighting designer Robert BRYAN English subtitles by CILLIANWIDDICOMBE Sound by JEFF BAKER Lighting by JOHN ELFES Television presentation by JOHN VERNON (Produced by BBCtu by arrangement with Glyndebourne) (Glyndeoourne production sponsored by NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK)
	21.50	The Queen
			The Christmas Day programme in which Her Majesty speaks to the Commonwealth (with open subtitles and sign language interpretation for the deaf and hard-of-hearing). Producer Richard CAWSTON
	22.05	The Bob Monkhouse Show
			Bob Monkhouse presents the last of the present series in which he introduces the best of comic talent from around the world. This week his special guests are Norman Wisdom and from the USSR via Los Angeles 'The Russian Comic', Yakov Smirnoff with music from Bertice Reading and The Harry Stoneham Band Production associate NEIL SIIAND Script associates DENNIS BERSON. SPIKE MULLINS Sound HUGH BARKER Lighting WARWICK FELDING Designer PAUL TRERISE Director GEOFF MILES Produced by JOHN FISHER
	23.00	Duck Soup (1933)
			The Marx Brothers
			The postage-stamp republic of Freedonia, threatened by a revolution, appoints Rufus (Groucho) T. Firefly as its dictator. With Chico and Harpo as double agents working for the rival state of Sylvania, Freedonia is about to get a traumatic taste of Marxist rule! Screenplay, lyrics and music by BERT KALMER and IIARRY RUBY Additionaldialogueby ARTHUR SHEEKMAN and NAT PERRIN Directedbyleohccarey Christmas Films: page 15
Back to the top

<< Christmas Day 1983 >>