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 1985 >>


\| THAMES \| CHANNEL 4 \| BBC ONE \| BBC TWO \|

	THAMES
	00.30	Closedown
	06.25	TV-am: Good Morning Britain
			Anne Diamond Nick Owen
			Cartoon Time 6.15 to 7.15. An hour of cartoon fun. News Headlines: Gordon Honeycombe 7.00, 8.00, 9.00. Weather with Wincey Willis 6.58, 7.58, 8.58. TV- am's Christmas Party 7.15. Join the regular team with the stars and their families, including Rolf Harris, Faith Brown, Rustle Lee, Roy Castle, Rory Bremner and Russ Conway — all celebrating in the studio. Also appearing are the Salvation Army Band, St George's Cathedral Choir and the Inspirational Choir. Wincey Willis and Henry Kelly make it a day to remember at a national children's home, They create the real Christmas spirit with the help of Adam Ant, Paul King, Michael Barrymore and Five Star. Plus there's a surprise visit turn Santa. And, back in the studio, a special Christmas greeting from Paul McCartney and Cliff Richard.
	09.25	Fraggle Rock
			The Bells of Fraggle Rock
			Underground, the Fraggles are preparing for the annual Festival of the Bells. Fulton Mackay is the Captain. (r)
	09.50	Dangermouse
			Journey to the Earth's... Cor!
			With the masterly mouse and his assistant Penfold. Written by Brian Trueman, with the voices of David Jason, Terry Scott, Edward Kelsey and Brian Trueman.
	10.00	The Christmas Morning Service
			from Kenton Methodist Church
			The congregation of Kenton Methodist Church, Middlesex, is host to their neighbours, St John's United Reformed Church, in a combined family worship celebrating the joys of Christmas. The service is conducted by the Rev Paul Eddyshaw and the Rev Derek Gill. The organist is Eric Williams.
	11.00	Disney at Christmas
			It wouldn't be Christmas without Disney. As a curtain- raiser to the Disney feature film The Black Hole at 11.15, enjoy a double bill of cartoon classics: Santa's Workshop and The Ugly Duckling.
	11.15	The Black Hole (1979)
	13.00	Jim Davidson's Top Pop Videos of '85
			Jim Davidson looks back at the year's videos of bestselling pop records — from Band-Aid to Bowie and Jagger.
	14.00	The Royal Year
			Anthony Carthew presents the highlights of what has been an action-packed and globe-trotting year for the Royal Family — and reports on the magical moments of the year's royal tours and visits. The Queen started the year in the warm sun of Portugal, and ended it with a colourful tour of the Caribbean. The Prince and Princess of Wales worked their way through the stunning beauty of the towns and cities of Italy, the heat of the Australian outback and the glitter of a star-studded welcome in the United States. And the Queen Mother — 85 this year — received a rapturous welcome in Canada. It's been a year in which, in their different ways, members of the Royal Family have won the hearts of people around the world. Picture editor Fred Hickey.
	15.00	Moonraker (1979)
			The James Bond Film
	17.30	ITN News
	17.40	Name That Tune
			Christmas could come here for one lucky contestant who could take home £1250, a special prize and a new car. Lionel Blair hosts the music quiz, and singer Maggie Moone entertains. Alan Braden and his Orchestra provide the music. Contestants are Carol Morland from Walton-on- Thames, Surrey, and Philip Barclay from Washington, Tyne and Wear. Maggie Moone pays tribute to the legendary songwriting team of Rodgers and Hammerstein as she sings It Might As Well Be Spring. Music associate Ray Monk, music director/consultant Alan Braden.
	18.10	Coronation Street
	18.45	Fresh Fields Christmas Special
			A Dickens of a Christmas
			Comedy with middle-aged couple Hester and William Fields whose offspring have grown up and left home leaving their mum and dad to find new purpose in life. William and Hester are suddenly faced with the prospect of spending their first Christmas without the children around. So Hester sends out an invitation — Oh Come All Ye Neighbours! Music by Harry Stoneham.
	19.30	Minder on the Orient Express
	21.30	Des O'Connor Tonight
			Join in the festivities as Des brings you a special Christmas party edition of his highly successful show. Among those invited along to entertain are the sensational Joan Collins, the very funny Dudley Moore, and America's top comedian, Alan King, ensuring a Merry Christmas for all the family. Script associates are Eric Davidson, Roy Tuvey.
	22.40	ITN News
	22.50	Gregory's Girl (1981)

	CHANNEL 4
	11.00	Mister Skeeter (1985)
	12.30	Wil 6
			In Welsh and English with English subtitles
			Set in the 1920's this gentle film follows the adventures of young William Jones trying to come to terms with an English education system which contrasts with the simple life and ideals of the community in which he lives
	13.20	Happy Anniversary (1962)
	13.55	A Closer Encounter
	14.35	At the Circus (1939)
	16.15	Nothing But Pleasure (1939)
	16.35	The Queen
			speaks to the Commonwealth
	16.45	The Thief of Bagdad (1924)
			Silent Classics
	19.40	Channel 4 News
	19.45	The Mind of David Berglas
	20.45	Fonteyn and Nureyev: The Perfect Partnership
	22.40	Mel Brooks Hails Sid Caesar
	23.40 - 00.25	Weber's Missa Sancta

	BBC ONE
	00.50	Weather
	08.00	Pages from Ceefax
	08.35	Play School
			It's Christmas Day! Presenter Wayne Jackman Guests Carol Chell, lain Lauchlan, Jonathan Cohen Story: The Nativity
	08.55	Muppet Babies
			Ever wondered what Animal was like as a nipper; or if Miss Piggy looked glamorous in nappies; or whether Kermit was born a leader? Now is the chance to find out in Raiders of the Lost Muppet Hide 'n' seek is fun, until Animal disappears and the trail leads the Muppet babies into the Basement of Doom. Created for television by JIM HENSON
	09.20	Knock! Knock!
			celebrates Christmas Around the Christmas Tree with Bryan Murray and Shireen Shah and THE CHILDREN OF GREAT MOOR JUNIOR SCHOOL, Stockport. Written by ARTHUR SCHOLEY Script editor NOEL VINCENT Director CELLA THOMSON Producer JUDY MERRY BBC Manchester
	09.35	This is the Day
			A celebration, in worship and prayer, of the birth of the Saviour. The speaker is The Rt Rev Jim Thompson, Bishop of Stepney, and the service is introduced by Linda Mary Evans from a viewer's home in Birmingham. Director SIMON HAMMOND Producer ELIZABETH GORT
	10.05	The Gnome-Mobile
			starring Walter Brennan Matthew Garber Karen Dotrice Millionaire Mulrooney takes his grandchildren Elizabeth and Rodney tor a picnic in the Redwood Forest. While wandering in the woods, Elizabeth meets Jasper, a young gnome and his grandfather, Knobby, but soon discovers the gnomes have a serious problem. Screenplay by ELLIS KADISON Based on the novel by UPTON SINCLAIR Directed by ROBERT STEVENSON A WALT DISNEY production 0 FILMS: page 27 11.28 Weather News
	11.30	Roland's Yuletide Binge
			The BBC are thrilled to present one of the most sensitive performing artistes, Roland Rat Superstar in a sparkling celebration of his historic move to the BBC. With Errol, the hamster Glenis, the guinea-pig Kevin, the gerbil and Little Reggie Plus their special guests Russell Grant Frankie Howerd Jan Leeming, Ian McCaskill Beryl Reid, Valerie Singleton With JEANNETTE CHARLES JAMES SAXON, THE CHILDREN FROM THE BARBARA SPEAKE STAGE SCHOOL Lighting DICKIE HIGHAM Designer VICTOR MEREDITH Director TONY NEWMAN Producer STANLEY APPEL Executive producer MICHAEL HURLL
	11.55	The Noel Edmonds Live Live Christmas Breakfast Show
			From the top of London's British Telecom Tower, Noel Edmonds presents a live outside broadcast uniting families and friends throughout the world. British relief workers in Africa are linked with their families in Britain by the first live television satellite broadcast from the Sudan. Mike Smith goes out and about with the BBCtv helicopter camera. The Krankies play host to the highest Christmas party on a jumbo jet flying over Britain. Noel is joined by a host of comedy guests for a morning of fun and family reunions. Join in by calling [number removed]during the programme with your dedications and Christmas messages. Production MICHAEL HURLL
	14.00	Top of the Pops Christmas Party
			Episode 1140
			Gary Davies, Jonathan King, Janice Long, Dixie Peach, John Peel and Steve Wright present the most popular hits of 1985. With Alison Moyet, Paul Young, Feargal Sharkey King, Dead or Alive, Billy Ocean, Colonel Abrams and Baltimora Featuring the No 1 records of the year on video. Sound BOB FOLEY Lighting DEREK SLEE Designer KATHY ATTY Produced and directed by MICHAEL HURLL
	15.00	The Queen
			HM The Queen speaks to the Commonwealth. Producer RICHARD CAWSTON (Also on BBC2 at 7.20pm) * CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	15.10	Children's Royal Variety Performance
			in the presence of HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, in aid of the NSPCC. A gala, including Floella Benjamin Christopher Biggins Julie Brown, Roy Castle Fiona Chadwick, The Cheeky Bits, Keith Chegwin, Bernie Clifton, John Craven, Jimmy Cricket, Suzanne Dando Peter Duncan, Wayne Eagling Janet Ellis, The Endresz Family, Jan Francis, Rusty Goffe, The Great Soprendo The Halfwits, Keith Harris and Orville, Rolf Harris Martin Harvey, Rod Hull and Emu, John Inman, Antony Johns, Casey Lee Jolleys The Krankies, Bonnie Langford, Annabelle Lanyon Masquerade, Barbara Newman, Paul Nicholas Grant Olding, Su Pollard, Mike Read, Roland Rat, Angela Rippon, Gian Sammarco Jimmy SavileOBE, Leo Sayer Carol Lee Scott, Wayne Sleep Freddie Stevens, Sue Stevens CHILDREN OF THE ROYAL BALLET SCHOOL, WHITE LODGE THE CORONA CHILDREN, PEGGY O'FARRELL STAGE SCHOOL THE DOUGIE SQUIRES DANCERS Introduced by Mike Smith Musical director RONNIE HAZLEHURST Costume designer NICHOLAS ROCKER Sound BARRIE HAWES Lighting BILL MILLAR, STAN SNAPE Designer MARTIN COLLINS Associate producer and choreographer DOUGIE SQUIRES Production YVONNE LITTLEWOOD
	16.55	All Creatures Great and Small
			Based on The Lord God Made Them All by JAMES HERRIOT Written by JOHNNY BYRNE starring James, Helen and their children share Skeldale House with the practice. Tristan, now working for the ministry, has picked up the threads of an old romance and Siegfried looks forward to the accelerating pace of progress. Music composed by JOHNNY PEARSON Photographed by NORMAN SHEPHERD Designer DUGALD FINDLAY Produced by BILL SELLARS Directed by PETER MOFFATT 0 FEATURE: page 146 * CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	18.25	News
			with Moira Stuart Weather News
	18.30	Hi-de-Hi!
			by JIMMY PERRY and DAVID CROFT Clive Dempster, DFC Maplin's Holiday Camp, 1960 The Great Cat Robbery The entertainment staffs troubles have only just begun . when they discover there's an [ emerald necklace hidden ' somewhere on the camp. Designer ANDREE WELSTEAD HORNBY Produced and directed by DAVID CROIT * CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	19.30	Only Fools and Horses....
			by JOHN SULLIVAN In this special edition for Christmas, the Trotter family embark on a money-making adventure which takes them To Hull and Back starring David Jason Nicholas Lyndhurst and Buster Merryfield Film cameraman CHRIS SEAGER Sound recordist DENNIS PANCHEN Film editor JOHN JARVIS Designer BERNARD LLOYD-JONES Produced and directed by RAY BUTT * CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	21.00	The Two Ronnies
			starring Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett The two Ronnies are back with a crackerful of jokes in the gift-wrapped first show of a new series. Plus all the news that's fit to laugh at, and Little Big Shot - a searing tale set in Chicago in the 1920s when men were men and Ronald Reagan was just an CAP. With their special guest Phil Collins Also appearing: Janet Mahoney Elizabeth Anson John Blythe Howard Lew Lewis Paul McDowell Gerrie Raymond Script associate IAN DAVIDSON Written by BRYAN BLACKBURN ROBERT A. GRAY. COLIN PEARSON DAVID RENWICK. LAURIE ROWLEY GERALD WILEY Choreographer JEFF THACKER Musical director RONNIE HAZLEHURST Sound MICHAEL MCCARTHY Lighting WARWICK FIELDING Designer JAMES GRANT Producer MICHAEL HURLL Director MARCUS MORTIMER Record: The Very Best of Me and the Very Best of Him, REC/ZCM 514; Video: The Best of the Two Ronnies, BBCV/BBCB 7017, available from retailers.
	21.50	News
			Moira Stuart presents the day's news with BBC teams at home and abroad Weather News BILL GILES
	22.00	Wogan
			Terry deserts his little home on Shepherd's Bush Green to fly out to Denver for Christmas at the Carrington mansion. He says, 'At the outset, let me point out that this is no reflection on my wife's cooking, although I feel I did get short-changed with the brown meat last Christmas. However, when the invitation came from Denver to join the Carringtons over their groaning festive board, I felt that, for your sakes, I couldn't refuse. 'It means, of course, that my little children will not have their regular Christmas treat of seeing Daddy slump senseless into the pudding, nor burst into tears at not getting the wishbone. But they will understand. The viewers come first. Anyway, what red-blooded male could pass up the chance of tasting Krystle's mince pies?' Researcher IRENE LEVIN Producer JON PLOWMAN Series producer FRANCES WHITAKER (Wogan can be seen again on Friday at 7.0pm)
	22.40	Absence of Malice (1981)
			starring Paul Newman Sally Field A prominent Miami union leader has disappeared without trace. Frustrated by the lack of clues, ruthless government inspector Elliot Rosen puts the pressure on Michael Gallagher, a wholesale liquor merchant whose father was a gangster. Turning the screws tighter, Rosen leaks that Gallagher is a prime suspect to Megan Carter, an ambitious reporter on the Miami Standard. With the law, the press, and the mob against him, Gallagher is forced to take extreme measures ... Screenplay by KURT LUEDTKE Produced and directed by SYDNEY POLLACK (First showing on British television) 0 FILMS: page 27

	BBC TWO
	00.05	Weatherview
	09.00	Pages from Ceefax
	11.30	Supercharged
			The Grand Prix Car (1924-39) Using unique film and priceless restored cars 'road-tested' by racing driver John Watson, Horizon re-creates the pre-war 'Golden Age' of the Grand Prix car. Narrator Paul Vaughan Written and produced by BRIAN JOHNSON (R)
	12.20	The Man in the Santa Claus Suit
			starring Fred Astaire In this charming fantasy about the spirit of Christmas, Fred Astaire plays the title role - and seven other parts. Three men each rent a Santa Claus suit and find their lives drastically altered by a mysterious figure who appears in their lives. Screenplay by GEORGE KIRGO Based on a story by LEONARD GERSHE Produced by LEE MILLER Directed by COREY ALLEN 9 FILMS: page 27
	13.55	Christmas Day Concert
			Live from the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam Mahler Symphony No 7 with the Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Bernard Haitink The Christmas Day concert in Amsterdam is a major event in the music calendar. It is a particularly special occasion this year because Bernard Haitink is celebrating his 25th anniversary as Artistic Director of the Concertgebouw Orchestra. Mahler's Seventh Symphony is one of the composer's most exuberant and richly orchestrated works, ending with an invigorating finale. Presented by NOS TELEVISION Director HANS HULSCHER A simultaneous broadcast with Radio 3. Viewers with stereo Radio 3 may wish to turn off TV sound and position their speakers on either side of the screen, but a few feet away. Stereo headphones provide a suitable alternative.
	15.30	Three in the Wild
			The first in a trilogy of dramas depicting the lives of three of Britain's wild creatures. Shak, the Red Fox by JOSEPHINE POOLE and JOHN KING Shak is one of several cubs born to an ageing and partially-blind vixen on the Somerset wetlands. He is the strongest of the litter and survives against heavy odds to venture alone and untrained into a world full of dangers and surprises. Enchanting film (DAILY STAR) Remarkable things happened whilst filming (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH) Photography SIMON KING Produced by JOHN KING BBC South West (R)
	16.30	Citizen Kane (1941)
			Welles Directs
			opens a season of films by Orson Welles who died in October: Today starring Orson Welles Joseph Cotten Some 45 years after Welles's feature debut, at the age of 25, Citizen Kane is still regarded as a masterpiece and a landmark in cinema history. As director, Welles broke, and re-created, innumerable rules. As an actor, he gave a mesmerising performance as the newspaper magnate who became rich and powerful, only to find his career threatened by scandal. 'Here is a man who could have been President, who was as loved and hated and as talked about as any man in our time, but when he comes to die, he's got something on his mind called Rosebud. Now what does that mean?' Screenplay by ORSON WELLES and HERMAN J. MANKIEWICZ Produced and directed by ORSON WELLES (Welles Directs A Touch of Evil tomorrow at 4.30 pm) FILMS: page 27
	18.25	A Prize Performance
			Written by GYLES BRANDRETH starring Dr Evadne Hinge Dame Hilda Bracket created by PATRICK FYFFE and GEORGE LOGAN When Dame Hilda Bracket is invited as guest speaker to The Cheltenham Ladies' College Speech Day, Dr Hinge assumes it is because she is a distinguished 'old girl'. However, on closer inspection, the history of Hilda's schooldays seems to elude the inquisitive doctor. with MYRTLE DEVENISH LESLIE FRY, DENNIS JENNINGS Designer PAUL MONTAGUE Lighting RON MEAGER Produced and directed by MKE STEPHENS BBC Manchester
	19.20	The Queen
			HM The Queen speaks to the Commonwealth. With open subtitles and sign-language interpretation for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
	19.30	Kiri Te Kanawa at Christmas
			Dame Kiri Te Kanawa presents a special programme of seasonal music both classical and contemporary from the Barbican Hall in London. with the Philharmonia Orchestra leader CHRISTOPHER WARREN-GREEN conducted by Carl Davis and the Tallis Chamber Choir chorus-master PHILIP SIMMS Event producer MICHAEL STORRS Videotape editor DENNIS COLLETT Engineering manager BARRY LUCKHURST Sound GRAHAM HAINES Lighting SAM BRANTER Television presentation YVONNE LITTLEWOOD (In association with the Trustee Savings Bank group) 0 FEATURE: page 13
	20.20	Edge of the Wind
			by DON WEBB starring in order of appearance 'In the winter if I build a fire and the wind blows off the sea you could imagine you were back in the hills again.' Music KENYON EMRYS ROBERTS Script editor DAVID SNODIN Designer BRYAN ELLIS Producer BRENDA REID Director KENNETH IVES
	21.25	Film Buff of the Year
			All- Winners Show Robin Ray brings together the winners of the previous series in a special holiday edition to find the Champion of Champions. Apart from general questions testing their knowledge, each contestant will be more closely tested on a specific chosen area. Dennis Howells (1982) answers questions on Hollywood musicals of the 1940s; Peter Richards (1983) on Claude Chabrol; John Dawson (1984) on Ken Russell; and Howard Spencer, the current champion, on Claude Rains. Film editor and researcher MALCOLM HUNGWORTH Director PAUL LOOSLEY Producer JOHN BUTTERY BBC Manchester
	22.00	Diva
			starring Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez Frederic Andrei American diva Cynthia Hawkins has never cut a disc, so the cassette secretly recorded by a young fan, -Jules, is priceless. So is the cassette a dying girl drops into Jules's saddle-bag. Ruthless killers compete for possession of the tapes and Jules finds himself the innocent quarry in Jean-Jacques Beineix's witty and stylish film debut. Written by JEAN-JACQUES BEINEIX and JEAN VAN HAMME Music composed and directed by VLADIMIR COSMA, with excerpts from La Wally by CATALANI Directed by JEAN-JACQUES BEINEIX (A French film with English subtitles) (First showing on British television) 0 FILMS: page 27
	23.55	Choirs at Midnight
			An international festival of boys' choirs held in honour of St Cecilia. Recorded in the Musikvereinsaal, Vienna with the Vienna Boys' Choir Les Petits Chanteurs de Paris The Tolz Boys' Choir from Bavaria, and the Winchester Cathedral Choir conductor MARTIN NEARY and JANE LISTER (harp) Music by Mozart, Schubert Johann Strauss (son), Debussy and Kodaly, with excerpts from Britten's Ceremony of Carols. TV presentation by Austrian TV
Back to the top

<< Christmas Day 1985 >>