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 1986 >>


\| Thames \| Channel 4 \| BBC One \| BBC Two \|

	Thames
	00.30	The Big Sleep (1978)
	02.15	Closedown
	06.15	TV-am
			TV-am begins with a Cartoon 6.35 Flipper 6.55 Cartoon
	07.00	Good Morning Britain
			Presented by Anne Diamond and Mike Morris who are joined by other regulars and a host of guests including Anita Harris, Faith Brown and Gerard Kenny.
	09.25	Disney at Christmas
			Father Noah's Ark followed by Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day
	10.00	The Christmas Morning Service
	11.00	He-Man and She-Ra
			Christmas Special
	11.40	Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
			Disney at Christmas
	14.00	Ark Royal - The Rock Show
			Gibraltar celebrates Christmas with music on the beach, in the piazza and on board HMS Ark Royal.
	15.00	The Queen
			The traditional Christmas message to the Commonwealth from the Queen.
	15.10	Dumbo (1941)
			Disney at Christmas
			1st Showing on British TV
	16.20	Strike it Lucky
			Michael Barrymore
	16.55	ITN News
	17.00	Cinderella
			The Shoe Must Go On
	18.30	Never Say Never Again (1983)
			The James Bond Premiere
	21.00	A Duty Free Christmas
	22.00	ITN News at Ten
	22.10	Dead Man's Folly (1986)
			Movie Premiere: Agatha Christie's Dead Man's Folly

	Channel 4
	00.45 - 02.00	Mad Love (1935)
			Starring Peter Lorre in his Hollywood debut as a mad surgeon who lusts after a beautiful actress married to a concert pianist. The pianist's hands are crushed in an accident and the surgeon grafts on those of an executed murderer. Directed by Karl Freund.
	10.00	The Gingerbread Man
			A musical play for children, written by David Wood.
	11.45	The Nightingale (1981)
			Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale about a dying Chinese emperor's wish to hear the song of a nightingale.
	12.25	A Lakeland Overture
			A Christmas concert recorded at Penrith. Howard Goodall's Land of the Lakes Symphonic Suite performed at St Andrew's Church, Penrith, by the Northern Sinfonia Orchestra, conducted by Richard Hickox. Presented by Melvyn Bragg.
	13.25	Hellzapoppin' (1941)
			starring Olsen and Johnson. A Hollywood comedy classic about two stage hands whose good intentions to help a young playwright leads to his production becoming a shambles. Directed by H.C. Potter.
	15.00	Gloriana
			The English National Opera's production of Benjamin Britten's opera, recorded at the London Coliseum. With Sarah Walker as Elizabeth I and Anthony Rolfe Johnson as Essex. Mark Elder conducts the English National Opera Orchestra and Chorus.
	17.40	The Queen
			speaks to the Commonwealth.
	17.50	The Snowman (TVM 1982)
			Raymond Briggs' story of the snowman who takes a little boy to the North Pole.
	18.20	Hallaig
			The poetry and landscape of Sorley MacLean. Scotland's leading Gaelic writer presents a selection of his work. English subtitles for the Gaelic sequences.
	19.20	Channel 4 News
	19.20	Vladamir Horowitz - The Last Romantic
			A portrait of the celebrated pianist centred around a recital given by him in his New York studio. Filmed over a 14-day period by David and Albert Maysies, the documentary contains many revealing scenes between Horowitz and his wife, Wanda Toscanini, daughter of Arturo.
	21.00	The Importance of Being Earnest
			Oscar Wilde's 'trivial comedy for serious people' starring Wendy Hiller, Gabrielle Drake, Gary Bond, and Jeremy Clyde. Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg.
	23.10	Eric Clapton and Friends
			The guitarist in concert at the National Exhibition Centre.
			Eric Clapton at Birmingham's NEC.

	BBC One
	00.35	Weather and Close
	08.00	Play School
			Presenters Stuart Bradley Elizabeth Watts Story: The Nativity (traditional)
	08.20	The Muppet Babies
			The Great Cookie Robbery Gonzo wrestles with his conscience when he eats a whole box of biscuits that he was meant to share.
	08.45	Roland Rat -The Series
			Christmas Special Yes ratfans, it's time to put on your party hat and boogie on down to the Ratcave where Kevin the gerbil, Errol the hamster, Fergie the ferret and all the gang celebrate in style. 4 Will Roland succeed in rewriting the original Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol? Special guests include Brian Blessed, Chris Tarrant Mike Read, Aled Jones and a host of others, not forgetting Darcey (JAMES SAXON ) and Maureen McConkey (ANNA KAREN ). Conceived by DAVID CLARIDGE Written by DAVID CLARIDGE . COLIN BOSTOCK SMITH and BRIAN MARSHALL Sound KEITH GUNN Lighting PETER CATLETT. ALAN HORNE Designer DONAL WOODS Produced and directed by MARCUS MORTIMER
	09.10	Papa Panov's Special Day
			Alan Rothwell tells the story of shoemaker Papa Panov. Director CELIA THOMSON Producer MARTIN HUGHES BBC Manchester (R)
	09.25	This Is the Day
			Unto Us a Child is Born - linking together the viewing community Linda Mary Evans joins patients and staff on Ward 76 at Bristol Maternity Hospital. Director SIMON HAMMOND Series producer HELEN ALEXANDER
	09.55	Weather
			JOHN KETTLEY
	10.00	The Pure Hell of St Trinian's
			starring Cecil Parker George Cole Joyce Grenfell Their latest trick is their best ever - the girls of St Trinian's have burned down their school and are on trial at the Old Bailey. With the girls under lock and key, the authorities can relax - but for how long? Screenplay by FRANK LAUNDER VAL VALENTINE and SIDNEY GILLIAT Produced by SIDNEY GILLIAT and FRANK LAUNDER Directed by FRANK LAUNDER FILMS: page 27
	11.30	Christmas Morning with Noel
			From the top of the British Telecom tower high above London. Noel Edmonds presents a live outside broadcast uniting families and friends throughout the United Kingdom at locations in Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich and Plymouth. And also linking families in Australia, via satellite, with their loved ones in the UK. So call Noel on [number removed] during the programme with your dedications and Christmas messages. The helicopter Eye in the Sky, together with the Hollymobile cameras, is out and about dropping in on viewers' celebrations and bringing a few surprises. Mike Smith searches for Santa in Lapland. Noel is joined by a host of star guests both in Australia and the UK. So join him for a morning of family reunions, Christmas jollity and festive fun. Produced and directed by MICHAEL HURLL
	13.25	Every Second Counts
			starring Paul Daniels Play along at home and compete with the contestants.
	14.00	Top of the Pops Christmas Party
			In this special Christmas Day edition Simon Bates Gary Davies, Janice Long and Peter Powell present the most popular hits of 1986. Also appearing The Pet Shop Boys Billy Ocean Doctor and the Medics Chris de Burgh and Boris Gardiner And featuring the year's No 1's on video. Sound GRAHAM WILKINSON Lighting RON BRISTOW Designer JOHN BRISTOW Production MICHAEL HURLL
	15.00	The Queen
			HM The Queen speaks to the Commonwealth (Also on BBC2 at 5.5pm) * CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	15.10	Annie (1982)
			starring Albert Finney Carol Burnett and Aileen Quinn as Annie Little orphan Annie is a survivor at 10 years old; she needs to be, when all there is to look forward to is 'Maybe' and 'Tomorrow'. But luck comes Annie's way and she is adopted - albeit temporarily - into the safe-keeping of millionaire Daddy Warbucks. Gradually the two become inseparable and as Daddy finds a heart so Annie finds love and happiness. well as 'I think I'm gonna like it here', 'Little girls' and 'Let's go to the movies'. Screenplay by CAROL SOBIESKI Produced by RAY STARK Directed by JOHN HUSTON (First showing on British television) 0 FILMS: page 27 * CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	17.15	News
			with Jan Leeming Weather JOHN KETTLEY
	17.25	Russ Abbot Christmas Show
			starring Russ Abbot Special guest star Les Dennis featuring Bella Emberg Maggie Moone. Tom Bright Suzy Aitchison Gordon Kennedy Crack open another bottle of ginger wine and put out even more nuts for some unexpected guests that Russ is bringing to your screens. Popular favourites Wilf and Nellie, Barratt Holmes and Vince Prince pop in. A couple of turkeys are on their last legs, Richard El has an appointment at a dating agency, and C. U. Jimmy makes an early start to Hogmanay. Script associates BARRY CRYER and NEIL SHAND Musical director ALYN AINSWORTH Choreographer TUDOR DAVIES Written by BARRY CRYER NEIL SHAND. DICK VOSBURGH PAUL MINETT and BRIAN LEVESON RICHARD KATES. PETE MACDONALD Sound LAURIE TAYLOR Lighting DICKIE HIGHAM Videotape editor MYKOLA PAWLUK Designer NIGEL CURZON Produced and directed by JOHN BISHOP
	18.00	Just Good Friends
			by JOHN SULLIVAN starring Paul Nicholas and Jan Francis Designer DAVID HITCHCOCK Director SUE BYSH Producer RAY BUTT 0 FEATURE: page 8 * CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	18.35	EastEnders
			Parti by TONY HOLLAND 'Nothing can go wrong, Den. I want this to be the best Christmas we've ever had at the Vic ...' (Part 2 at 10.0pm) 0 FEATURE: page 19 * CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	19.05	Only Fools and Horses
			written by JOHN SULLIVAN starring David Jason Nicholas Lyndhurst and Buster Merryfield In this special edition for Christmas, Del's plan is upset by the upper set. Film cameraman KEITH BURTON Sound recordist MICHAEL SPENCER Film editor JOHN DUNSTAN Designer MARK SEVANT Produced and directed by RAY BUTT W FEATURE: page 9 * CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	20.20	Miss Marple
			The Murder at the Vicarage
			by AGATHA CHRISTIE Dramatised by T. R. BOWEN starring Joan Hickson with Paul Eddington, Cheryl Campbell, Robert Lang, Polly Adams 'I was just thinking of how many people might want the Colonel out of the way. I'm not saying that any of them would murder, but.... yes, I make it five. Possibly six.' Make-up designer SYLVIA THORNTON Costume designer JUANTTA WATERSON Designer RAYMOND LONDON Photography JOHN WALKER Produced by GEORGE GALLACCIO Directed by JULIAN AMYES (A new series of Miss Marple mysteries begins in the New Year) FEATURE: page 147 CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	22.00	EastEnders
			Part 2 by TONY HOLLAND 'They should bring back hanging for people like Den Watts. ...' Today's cast: Director JULIA SMITH EastEnders line: Bristol [number removed] Cambridge [number removed]Carlisle [number removed] Liverpool [number removed]London [number removed] Manchester [number removed]Middlesbrough [number removed]Newcastle upon Tyne [number removed] Preston [number removed] Southampton [number removed] * CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	22.30	News
			with Jan Leeming Weather
	22.40	Educating Rita
			starring Michael Caine Julie Walters Rita White is 26 years old, married and a hairdresser. Her husband's main preoccupations are drinking in smoky pubs and trying to get Rita pregnant. She, however, has other ideas. One afternoon she turns up at Frank Bryant's Open University class demanding to be 'educated'. And all Frank wants is a quiet life and a bottle of scotch.... Willy Russell's award-winning comedy features tailor-made performances from Julie Walters and Michael Caine and outstanding support from a host of British character actors. Screenplay by WILLY RUSSELL Produced and directed by LEWIS GILBERT (First showing on British television) 0 FILMS: page 27 * CEEFAX SUBTITLES

	BBC Two
	01.35	Weatherview
	01.40	Closedown
	09.00	Pages from Ceefax
	12.20	The Minnelli Musical:The Pirate
			starring Judy Garland Gene Kelly With its 19th-century Caribbean island setting, sumptuous costumes and Cole Porter songs, including 'Be a clown' and 'Love of my life', The Pirate has long been acclaimed as one of Minnelli's most original works and as a great Hollywood musical. Screenplay by ALBERT HACKETT and FRANCES GOODRICH Based on a play by s. N. BEHRMAN Songs by COLE PORTER Produced by ARTHUR FREED Directed by VINCENTE MINNELLI (The Band Wagon, tomorrow 4.0pm) 0 FILMS: page 27
	14.00	The Christmas DayConcert
			Live from Amsterdam This year's traditional concert from the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam consists of Symphony No 5 by Gustav Mahler with Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra conductor Bernard Haitink For viewers who prefer something really different on Christmas Day what could be more suitable than a Mahler symphony? This one contains the beautiful slow movement made famous for a wider public as the theme music for the Visconti film Death in Venice. Introduced by Tony Scotland Produced by Dutch television (NOS) 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 afewfeet away. Stereo headphones provide a suitable alternative.
	15.20	Hoppity Goes to Town
			The classic animated feature film Just 45 inches from Broadway, in a weedy patch of earth surrounded by the cement-and-steel world created by the menace they fear most - the human race - lives a community of little people called insects. The construction of a huge skyscraper threatens the bug community and Hoppity the grasshopper goes out into the world to seek a Shangri-La. Produced by MAX FLEISCHER Directed by DAVE FLEISCHER (Gulliver's Travels tomorrow at 12.45) 0 FILMS: page 27
	16.35	Comic Roots
			This film is being shown again as a tribute to Billy Dainty who died last month aged 59. 'Dear Mum, I'm crying as I write this letter, so please excuse the tearstains ...' wrote 12-year-old Billy after he got his first taste of show business. He grew up to become the back legs of a dancing donkey. In tonight's programme he meets up again with his front legs, and gives an unlikely rendition of Hamlet. Film editor RAY HOUGH Producer JANE OUVER (R)
	17.05	The Queen
			HM The Queen speaks to the Commonwealth. With open subtitles and sign-language interpretation for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. (Shoum on BBCI at 3.0pm)
	17.15	The Fortune Cookie (1966)
			Billy Wilder Directs
			starring Jack Lemmon Walter Matthau When TV cameraman Harry Hinkle is injured while filming a football match his wily brother-in-law sees a golden opportunity to sue for a million dollars in damages. Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon were teamed for the first time in Wilder's disenchanted look at shyster lawyers in particular - and dishonesty in general. Released in Britain as Meet Whiplash Willie the film brought Matthau his first big-screen success and an Oscar for his performance as the greedy Willie. Screenplay by BILLY WILDER and I. A. L. DIAMOND Produced by BILLY WILDER (Fedora at 11.10pm) 0 FILMS: page 27
	19.20	Aaron Copland:A Self Portrait
			A celebration of America's greatest living composer, made as a tribute on his 85th birthday. Aaron Copland talks about his life from his New York home, covering his boyhood in Brooklyn, the exciting years of Paris in the 20s, and his return home to become a leading American composer. Colleagues and friends add their own views, and there are rare film extracts including Agnes de Mille in the ballet Rodeo and Martha Graham dancing Appalachian Spring. There are musical contributions from Leonard Bernstein and Michael Tilson Thomas at the piano; and the composer conducting the American Symphony Orchestra in excerpts from his opera The Tender Land. Written by VIVIAN PERLIS Produced by RUTH LEON Directed by ALLAN MILLER
	20.20	Edith and Marcel
			starring Evelyne Bouix Marcel Cerdan Jr Jean-Claude Brialy Edith Piaf and world middleweight boxing champion Marcel Cerdan were the idols of France in the 1940s, and their passionate, destructive obsession with each other was an open secret. Claude Lelouch's musical film version of two parallel love stories is highlighted by songs recorded by Edith Piaf and Charles Aznavour, who re-creates his role in Piafs life. Boxer Marcel Cerdan Jr plays his own father. Produced, written and directed by CLAUDE LELOUCH (A French film with English subtitles. First showing on British Television.) 0 FILMS: page 27
	22.55	Classic Ghost Stories
			by M. R. JAMES Five chilling tales for dark winter nights, told by Robert Powell Tonight: The Mezzotint Designer AUSTIN RUDDY Producer ANGELA BEECHDJG Director DAVID BELL
	23.10	Fedora (1978)
			Billy Wilder Directs
			starring William Holden Marthe Keller Hildegard Knef Jose Ferrer Stephen Collins Michael York Henry Fonda The fabulous, enigmatic film star Fedora has committed suicide. At her lavish lying-in-state in Paris, Hollywood producer Barry Detweiler recalls how, two weeks before, he had travelled to Corfu in a desperate bid to lure the beautiful actress out of retirement. Although Fedora wants to reach out for the limelight again, she is held back by the sinister entourage with whom she lives in a fortified villa. Screenplay by BILLY WILDER and 1. A. L. DIAMOND Produced by BILLY WILDER (Some Like it Hot, tomorrow 10.5pm) 0 FILMS: page 27 * CEEFAX SUBTITLES
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<< Christmas Day 1986 >>