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 1987 >>

This year the ITV regions had started transmitting 24 hours a day. Never again would we need to sit in front of a test card waiting for programmes to begin! The BBC and Channel 4 would eventually follow suit in 1994 allowing everyone access to multiple channels at any time of the day or night.


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

	THAMES
	00.30	Vertigo (1958)
	02.50	ITN News Headlines
			followed by The All-Time Christmas Top Ten
			Countdown of the 10 best-selling Christmas songs of all time, including Bing Crosby's White Christmas and Pat Boone's Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Introduced by Casey Kasem with special festive messages from Ringo Starr, Lionel Richie and the Pointer Sisters.
	04.00	Lindisfarne Rock 'n' Roll Christmas Party
			The longest running Christmas party in the history of popular music comes from the City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne, where the celebrated band, Lindisfarne, round off their annual Christmas tour, playing many Lindisfarne originals including Lady Eleanor, Fog on the Tyne, Warm Feeling and Clear White Light as well as a whole package of rock 'n' roll favourites.
	05.00	A Good Tree
			Three young children discover that an eccentric neighbour they have always considered a frightening 'old Scrooge' does have a heart after all.
	05.30	CNN Headline News
	06.00	TV-am
			Wake up to a happy Christmas with TV-am as it unwraps its package of festive fun. Timmy Mallet introduces Mask and Flipper and Alvin Stardust hosts a Christmas Day edition of Fables, Parables and Miracles. Plus cartoon fun with Caspar's Christmas and that distinctly royal corgi, Rex QC. 7.55 Religious Message 8.0 Join TV-am presenters Anne Diamond, Kay Burley, Richard Keys, Mike Morris, Jimmy Greaves, Timmy Mallett and Trish Williamson for a Christmas morning party. Celebrities dropping in include Boy George, Lynne Perrie, Rick Wakeman, Rustie Lee and Rolf Harris with carols from the Manchester Boys Choir. Plus the children from the third year of St. Mary's Primary School, Eltham, perform the final part of their Nativity play.
	09.25	Disney at Christmas
			Pluto's Christmas Tree A seasonal cartoon classic. Pluto tries to tell Mickey that Chip 'n' Dale are living in the tree he has felled and brought home for Christmas but Mickey doesn't understand. Pluto's efforts to catch the chipmunks end in chaos.
	09.40	Fat Tulip's Fat Christmas
			Tony Robinson It was Christmas Eve. Fat Tulip dipped his hand into a bowl of stuffing and made himself a stuffing sandwich. This was going to be the best Christmas ever... Meanwhile, sitting on top of the compost heap was Mary Toad. She was an enormous brown toad with big brown warts all over her face and a party hat on her head. 'Ello my little darlings - welcome to Toad's Christmas Party.' The story is written by Deborah Gates and Tony Robinson. Central Production
	10.00	Christmas Family Worship
			The Christmas morning service comes from the Baptist Church, Union Street, in the centre of the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey. The congregation is drawn from the Baptist, United Reform and Methodist churches in the Borough and as is fitting on this special day, the children will be highlighting the Christmas story. The ministers of the United Reform and Methodist churches, the Rev Roy Lowes and the Rev Tom Summersby will be in attendance and the service is conducted by Rev Harry Young, President of the London Baptist Association. Thames Television Production
	11.00	Disney at Christmas: Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
			A cartoon version of the classic Charles Dickens ghost story for Christmas. All the parts are taken by favourite Walt Disney characters, with Mickey and Minnie Mouse as the Cratchits, Goofy as Jacob Marley's ghost, Jiminy Cricket as the Ghost of Christmas Past and Donald Duck as Scrooge's nephew.
	11.30	Disney at Christmas: Dumbo (1941)
			The celebrated feature-length cartoon about the little elephant, Dumbo, who has big ears. One day, during a parade, a young boy pokes fun at poor Dumbo's ears with the result that the baby elephant's mother snatches up the boy and spanks him. This leads to Dumbo's mother being chained and imprisoned, leaving him to fend for himself. He is soon befriended by Timothy Mouse. If only he was famous, then maybe his mother would be released. So Timothy and Dumbo plan a sensational circus-ring trick.
	12.40	The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
			The James Bond Film
			Roger Moore A shipping magnate named Stromberg dreams of destroying the world and creating a new civilisation beneath the sea. Agent James Bond finds himself working alongside an attractive Russian agent named Anya Amasova who has been similarly detailed by her government to foil Stromberg. Oracle subtitles page 888
	15.00	The Queen
			The Queen speaks to the Commonwealth.
	15.10	Disney at Christmas: Alice in Wonderland (1951)
			Cartoon version of Lewis Carroll's famous tale. Oracle subtitles page 888
	16.30	ITN News
	16.35	Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
			Disney at Christmas
			Angela Lansbury, David Tomlinson It is 1940 and three London kids are evacuated to a small seaside town, beginning a whole series of incredible adventures. Oracle subtitles page 888

	LWT
	18.45	Christmas Blind Date
	19.30	Coronation Street
			Hilda Ogden waves goodbye to Coronation Street - but she feels her friends and neighbours have let her down. Little does she know! Oracle subtitles page 888
	20.00	It'll Be Alright on Christmas Night
			Denis Norden Denis Norden's sparkling new collection of the funniest out-takes unearthed this year. This special Christmas extravaganza features the latest in foul-ups, bleeps and blunders from many of the stars of your favourite television programmes, among whom are Cliff Richard, Anne Diamond, Jimmy Tarbuck, Cilla Black, Paul Nicholas and many more. LWT Production
	21.00	Inspector Morse
			John Thaw, Kevin Whateley The Wolvercote Tongue by Julian Mitchell From the story by Colin Dexter Inspector Morse, the unorthodox Oxford detective, is back, faced with a mystery which has more clues the one of his crossword puzzles - and more red herrings too! A wealthy American tourist is found dead in her hotel, apparently from a heart attack. Morse is suspicious, especially when he learns about the strange disappearance of 'The Wolvercote Tongue'. Oracle subtitles page 888 A Zenith Production for Central
	23.00	ITN News
			Trevor McDonald
	23.15	Rejoice - Carols for Christmas
			A Christmas celebration of Carols and Readings from Ripon Cathedral Dame Janet Baker, Robert Hardy, Brian Kay, The Huddersfield Choral Society, John Foster's Black Dyke Mills Band, Ripon Cathedral Choir Brian Kay conducts and introduces this programme from the Cathedral of St Peter and St Wilfred in Ripon. The world renowned Huddersfield Choral Society combines with the equally famous John Foster's Black Dyke Mills Band in a programme of carols and seasonal music. The choristers of Ripon Cathedral are also featured along with a guest appearance by soloist Dame Janet Baker. The readings are by actor James Hardy. Yorkshire Television Production

	CHANNEL 4
	01.20	The Decameron
			Adult animation.
	01.35	The Cabinet of Jan Svankmajer
			A homage to the world of the Czech animator.
	01.50 - 02.40	Tadada: Peter Brook's Paris Cabaret
	08.00	Teletext Pages
			Followed by the EPT-1 test card.
	09.30	The Christmas Messenger
			A Canadian film combining animation, film sequences and Christmas carols. With the voices of David Essex, Clive Revill, David Hemmings and Leo McKern. Reader's Digest/Potterton Productions (Repeat)
	10.00	The Story of Abba
			Starting in the Sixties with their individual careers, Agnetha, Frida, Bjorn and Benny made their name by winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo. A string of more than 20 hits followed. The group tell their own story. (Repeat)
	10.50	Christmas Crackers
			Animation for children, including the delightful French film The Little Snow Girl.
	11.00	Christmas Oratorio
			by Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach's Christmas Oratorio, a sequence of six magnificent cantatas, is performed in the baroque setting of the Cloister Church of Church of Waldhausen in Austria by Peter Shreier (Tenor), Robert Holl (Bass) and soloists of the Tolzer Boys Choir. It is conducted by Niko Harnoncourt, who has set new standards in the authentic realisation of Bach's music. (Repeat) Unitel Production
	13.45	Christmas Sermon: A Wink of Heaven
			A depiction of Archbishop Thomas Becket's Christmas sermon in 1170, four days before he was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral.
			On Christmas Day 1770 Archbishop Thomas Becket stood in Canterbury Cathedral and preached on the text 'Peace on Earth, goodwill to all men.' four days later he was murdered. T.S. Eliot, in a interlude to his play Murder in the Cathedral, vividly depicted Becket's last sermon which is performed today by Alan Dobie. In one of few remaining parts of the Cathedral of Becket's day, Bishop John V Taylor reflects on the choices faced by Becket. TVS Production
	14.10	The Mysteries - The Nativity
			Adapted by Tony Harrison from the Medieval English Mystery Plays Another chance to see The Nativity, the first play in The Mysteries cycle. Bill Bryden's acclaimed National Theatre production was recorded at the Cottesloe Theatre. Music by The Home Service. (Repeat) Oracle subtitles page 888 Limehouse Productions
	16.30	Countdown
			Richard Whiteley, Gyles Bradreth, Carol Thatcher The 14th series of the famous words and numbers game has, reached the climax in today's extended final. The two finalists battle to win a complete set of leather-bound dictionaries worth £2000, plus a chance to feature in Countdown's Hall of Fame. Carol Thatcher teams up with Giles Brandreth in Dictionary Corner in what should be a tense and thrilling final.
	17.15	The Queen
			Her Majesty the Queen gives her traditional address to the nation and the Commonwealth. Subtitled for the deaf and hard of hearing.
	17.25	The Snowman (TVM 1982)
			An animated version, produced to appeal to audiences of all ages, of Raymond Briggs' well-known children's story. It is Christmas Eve and the snow is falling. A time for magic. A little boy races outside to build a snowman. Later, when everyone is asleep, the snowman comes alive and after a spin on the motorbike, he and the boy fly off to the North Pole to meet a Very Important Person. Snowman Enterprises Production
	18.00	The Amadeus Quartet
			Norbert Brainin, Peter Schidlof, Siegmund Nissel, Martin Lovett Derek Bailey's film of the Amadeus quartet made in 1973 for LWT's Aquarius series to celebrate their 25th anniversary, is being shown as a tribute to the Quartet, which was disbanded following the death of Peter Schidlof earlier this year. From unpromising beginnings, including flight from the Nazis and chance encounters in internment camps, three musical Austrians formed a friendship. They teamed up with a Londoner to make their debut at the Wigmore Hall in 1948, and went on to become of the most illustrious quartets in musical history. Filmed at the Vienna Festival, this documentary includes a special recital at the beautiful Schonburg Palace of Mozart's String Quartet in G. Previously shown on ITV An LWT Production
	18.50	Five Days One Summer (1982)
			1932: Middle-aged doctor Douglas Meredith and his young companion Kate, arrive at an isolated Swiss village for a climbing holiday. Their young guide, Johann, who is attracted to Kate, takes the couple on an expedition. Trying to recover an axe from a crevasse, Johann finds a buried body.
	20.50	Everybody Say Yeah!
			Recorded at the First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood and hosted by singer-songwriter Paul Simon, this special is a joyous celebration of American gospel music, featuring such top performers as Luther Vandross and Jennifer Holliday, country group the Oak Ridge Boys and gospel artists Andrae Crouch, the Edwin Hawkins Singer and the Mighty Clouds of Joy. HBO Productions
	22.00	The Golden Girls
			Dorothy's Prized Pupil Dorothy feels responsible when she hears that Luis, a talented young writer she tutors, may be deported. Oracle subtitles page 888
	22.30	The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross
			(The Least Embarrassing Of!)
			Steve Nieve and the Playboys Jonathan Ross's Christmas cracker. J R and his many many showbiz chums enjoy a jolly yuletide knees-up. Last of the series. Callender Company in association with Channel X
	23.20	Dire Straits Live in '85 at Wembley Arena
			A special Christmas treat as the band deliver 90 minutes of live 24-carat gold on their 300-date record-breaking world tour. All the old classics are here: Sultans of Swing, Tunnel of Love, Private Investigations, plus selections from the Brothers in Arms album. The gig reaches fever pitch with Solid Rock and Hank Marvin adds a touch of Shadows magic to Going Home. (Repeat) Tyne Tees Television Production

	BBC ONE
	00.35	Weather
	07.00	Children's BBC
			Christmas morning with Andy Crane, Simon Potter and Simon Parkin starting with - Ziggy's Gift Ziggy - a little guy in a big world, overweight and underwhelmed - takes a job as a street-corner Santa. Music and lyrics by HARRY NILSSON Created by TOM WILSON Produced by LENA TABORl Animation by ERIC GOLDBERG Directed by RICHARD WILLIAMS (R)
	07.30	Play School
			Presenters Elizabeth Watts Floella Benjamin, Fred Harris
	07.50	Panto-Time!
			Aladdin by BRIAN CANT Musical director RICHARD BROWN Percussion TONY MCVEY Woodwind MARTIN FRITH Executive producer CY NTHLA FELGATE Producer SHARON MILLER (R)
	08.10	Umbrella
			Bryan Murray and Maria Warner light Hanukah and Christmas candles and tell tales of freedom fighters and of the children who led a peaceful protest over an orange shortage. Director CELIA THOMSON Producer JUDY MERRY
	08.30	Songs of Praise
			For Christmas Day from the chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge. Pauline Webb lights the last of the candles on the Advent wreath which has travelled to Zimbabwe, Scotland and Canada. The Christians of Cambridge, Harare, Edinburgh and Vancouver are linked together to share their favourite Christmas carols; and the Christmas gospel is read by President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia. O come, all ye faithful; See amid the winter's snow; Joseph holds the baby (Shona); In the bleak mid-winter; Go tell it on the mountain; The shepherd's cradle song; Rejoice (Bemba); It came upon the midnight clear Assistant producer STEVE BENSON Producer HELEN ALEXANDER Editor STEPHEN WHITTLE * CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	09.00	Christmas Morning with Noel
			From the Telecom Tower in London, Noel Edmonds hosts an outside broadcast which is also being transmitted live throughout Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Gibraltar. Noel will be uniting families and friends throughout the UK via BBC regional cameras, and satellites will beam in pictures of their loved ones abroad. Roving camera crews will be dropping in on viewers' celebrations, Gorden Kaye will be hosting a giant Christmas party at Gerry Cottle's Circus in Battersea Park, and Noel will be joined by a host of star guests both in the UK and abroad, plus exclusive performances by the world's top pop groups. Produced and directed by MICHAEL HURLL
	10.30	Christmas Readings
			with Laurence Olivier Producer RALPH ROLLS
	10.35	Christmas Morning Service
			from St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle HM The Queen with HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother with members of the Royal Family attend morning prayer in the historic setting of St George's Chapel. Tom Fleming describes the scene as the Military Knights of Windsor and the Dean and Chapter are joined by the people of Windsor to celebrate Christmas Day. The sermon is preached by the Dean, The Rt Rev Michael Mann Choir of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle Organist and Master of the Choristers CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON Assistant organist' ROGER JUDD Sound CHRIS HOLCOMBE Lighting STAN SNAPE ' Television presentation TIM MARSHALL
	11.45	Christmas Morning with Noel
			Join Noel for a morning of family reunions, Christmas jollity and festive fun. Telephone lines will be open for the on-screen dedication service. So call Noel on [number removed], during the programme with your dedications and Christmas messages.
	12.30	Porridge
			starring Ronnie Barker in No Way Out by DICK CLEMENT and IAN LA FRENAIS featuring Brian Wilde Fulton Mackay with Richard Beckinsale and Peter Vaughan Graham Crowden Designer TIM GLEESON Produced by SYDNEY LOTTERBY (R) * CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	13.10	Julie Andrews.... The Sound of Christmas
			In this, her first Christmas special, Julie shares a few of her favourite things in the beautiful town of Salzburg, Austria. Joining her on this festive occasion are the much-loved singers John Denver and Placido Domingo who, with the help of the ever-popular King's Singers, render such classics as In the Bleak Mid-winter, Edelweiss and a very original Twelve Days of Christmas. Written by DWIGHT HEMION Produced by NICK VANOFF Directed by BUZ KOHAN
	14.05	Top of the Pops Christmas Party
			In this special Christmas Day edition Mike Smith and Gary Davies present the most popular hits of 1987 and the year's No Is on video, plus this week's Top 40 chart and the No 1 best selling record this Christmas. Sound MARTIN DEANE Lighting ERIC WALLIS Designer BARRY READ Produced and directed by MICHAEL HURLL
	15.00	The Queen
			HM The Queen speaks to the Commonwealth (Also on BBC2 at 11.25pm) * CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	15.10	EastEnders
			by JANE HOLLOWOOD 'Hello Mum, back again like a bad penny.' Director MATTHEW ROBINSON *CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	15.40	Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
			Steven Spielberg's fantasy adventure starring Harrison Ford Kate Capshaw with Ke Huy Quan Amrish Puri Roshan Seth The hero is back! Intrepid archaeologist Indiana Jones, on the trail of fortune and glory in Old Shanghai, is ricocheted into a dangerous new adventure in India. With his faithful companion Short Round and nightclub singer Willie Scott, Indie enters the mysterious palace of Pankot in search of the magical Sankara stone. Indiana Jones .HARRISON FORD Screenplay by WILLARD HUYCK and GLORIA KATZ Produced by GEORGE LUCAS and FRANK MARSHALL Directed by STEVEN SPIELBERG (First showing on British television) FILMS: page 25 * CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	17.35	News
			with Moira Stuart Weather IAN MCCASKILL
	17.45	Russ Abbot Christmas Show
			Starring Russ Abbot special guest star Les Dennis featuring Bella Emberg, Maggie Moone, Tom Bright, Suzy Aitchison, Paul Shearer. Join C.U. Jimmy (pictured below) as he watches a supersize superhero pick up a penguin; Rockimus the gladiator take on the lions; and the latest video - it's not Barcelona but macaroni! It's a festive feast. See you Jimmy! Script associate BARRY CRYER Musical director ALYN AINSWORTH Choreographer DOMINI WINTER Written by BARRY CRYER DICK VOSBURGH, PAUL MINETT AND BRIAN LEVESON. RUSSEL LANE BOBBY CRUSH Sound HUGH BARKER Lighting DICKIE HIGHAM Videotape editor MYKOLA PAWLUK Designer GARY WILLIAMSON Produced and directed by JOHN BISHOP * CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	18.25	Only Fools and Horses....
			by JOHN SULLIVAN starring David Jason Nicholas Lyndhurst Buster Merryfield 'Next year we'll be millionaires ...' and what better time to start than at the wedding of an old flame? Del, Rodney and Uncle Albert are among the guests: everyone joins in a spirit of goodwill. Then Del hears about his mother's buried treasure.... Designer PAUL TRERISE Produced and directed by RAY butt * CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	19.25	Christmas Night with the Two Ronnies
			starring Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett Memo to producer: Thanks for yours of 10 November. If the Two Ronnies can actually get Charlton Heston to be in their film Pinocchio II: Killer Doll I will eat my hat. If the show also includes guest stars Lynda Baron Maria Charles Sandra Dickinson Frank Finlay Alfred Marks Denis Quilley and Elton John I will resign and go to Channel 4 Yours, M. Grade. Written by: COLIN BOSTOCK SMITH. BRYAN BLACKBURN. SPIKE MULLINS COLIN PEARSON. LAURIE ROWLEY DAVID RENWICK. GERALD WILEY Script associate IAN DAVIDSON Musical director RONNIE HAZLEHURST Choreographer JEFF THACKER Sound DAVE THOMPSON Lighting GRAHAM RIMMINGTON Designer JAMES GRANT Executive producer MICHAEL HURLL Produced and directed by MARCUS MORTIMER CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	20.15	Miss Marple
			4.50 from Paddington
			by AGATHA CHRISTIE dramatised by T. R. BOWEN starring Joan Hickson and Maurice Denham, Jill Meager, David Waller, Joanna David 'I can see how irritating it must be for you Inspector, but we shall probably both be involved in this business.... when one of us is clever enough to find the body.' Music composed by KEN HOWARD Make-up designer SYLVIA THORNTON Costume designer JUDY PEPPERDINE Designer RAY CUSICK Film editor BERNARD ASHBY Photography JOHN WALKER Produced by GEORGE GALLACCIO Directed by MARTYN FRIEND FEATURE: page 144 CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	22.05	In Sickness and in Health
			by JOHNNY SPEIGHT starring Warren Mitchell Christmas is a time to be with family, but not for Alf. He is destined to spend Christmas in hospital, having his hip replaced. Designer MICHAEL TREVOR Directed by RICHARD BODEN Produced by ROGER RACE
	22.35	News
			with Moira Stuart Weather
	22.45	Terms of Endearment
			starring Shirley MacLaine Debra Winger and Jack Nicholson A special Christmas presentation of one of the outstanding cinema successes of the 80s. Winner of five Academy Awards, including best picture, this colourful combination of laughter and tears also won Oscars for Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson as the most unlikely of lovers. Aurora Greenway is an attractive widow whose main problems in life are fending off an alarming number of suitors and keeping her headstrong daughter Emma in check. But over the years their attitude to life, love, and each other will change - or maybe it won't. Aurora Greenway SHIRLEY MACLAINE Emma Horton ..DEBRA WINGER Garrett Breedlove JACK NICHOLSON Vernon Dahlart DANNY DEVITO Flap Horton JEFF DANIELS Sam Burns. ........JOHN LITHGOW Patsy Clark LISA HART CARROLL Rosie Dunlop .....BETTY R. KING Teddy .........HUCKLEBERRY FOX Tommy Horton TROY BISHOP Screenplay by JAMES L. BROOKS Produced and directed by JAMES L. BROOKS .. (First showing on British television) 0 FILMS: page 25 *CEEFAX SUBTITLES

	BBC TWO
	00.20	There's Always Tomorrow (1956)
			Barbara Stanwyck
			concludes this Christmas film season featuring the great Hollywood actress Tonight also starring Fred MacMurray Joan Bennett Norma Miller is a successful fashion designer and divorcee. Her unexpected reappearance after many years to look up her old sweetheart, Clifford Groves, poses a threat to his happy marriage - particularly as Cliff increasingly feels that he is being taken for granted by his family. Screenplay by BERNARD C. SCHOENFELD Produced by ROSS HUNTER Directed by DOUGLAS SIRK ('The Thorn Birds' will be shown again in January) 0 FILMS: page 25
	01.40	Weather and Close
	09.10	The Cheaters
			starring Joseph Schildkraut Billie Burke Eugene Pallette Mr Pidgeon faces financial ruin. Salvation beckons when a rich uncle dies ... Screenplay by FRANCES HYLAND from an original story by FRANCES HYLAND and ALBERT RAY Produced and directed by JOSEPH KANE 0 FILMS: page 25
	10.35	White Christmas
			starring Bing Crosby Danny Kaye Rosemary Clooney Vera-Ellen Old army buddies Phil Davis and Bob Wallace are rehearsing their new show when they meet the glamorous Haynes sisters. With more than professional interest Phil and Bob follow them to their next engagement at the Columbia Inn in Vermont.... Screenplay by NORMAN KRASNA NORMAN PANAMA and MELVIN FRANK Produced by ROBERT EMMETT DOLAN Directed by MICHAEL CURTIZ ('High Society' on New Year's Eve at 12.10am) 0 FILMS: page 25
	12.30	Golf 87 - A Momentous Year
			A look back with Peter Alliss at some of the glorious moments of the golfing season. Producer ALASTAIR SCOTT Executive producer JOHN SHREWSBURY
	13.45	The Natural World
			Icebird Narrated by Tony Soper When spring comes to the Antarctic millions of penguins leap from the sea and walk as many as 80 kilometres over the ice to their traditional nesting-sites. Photographed by ROBERT BROWN Produced for TV New Zealand by NEILHARRAWAY BBCtv presentation by GEORGE INGER Series editor ANDREW NEAL BBC Bristol (R)
	14.35	Jacqueline du Pre Masterclass
			Dvorak Cello Concerto in D minor with Lilly Canel and Joanna Borrett Accompanist Clifford Benson Directed by KEITH CHEETHAM (R) (Tomorrow at 3.45pm Cesar Franck Sonata in A)
	15.10	La traviata
			starring Teresa Stratas Placido Domingo Verdi's romantic tragedy about the love of a young nobleman for a courtesan gave Italian director Franco Zeffirelli the opportunity to unite the two loves of his life - opera and film. Conducted by JAMES LEVINE with the METROPOLITAN OPERA ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS Produced by TARAK BEN AMMAR Written, designed and directed by FRANCO ZEFFIRELLI (An Italian film with English subtitles) 0 FILMS: page 25
	16.55	White Nights of Dance
			Leningrad in June - where it stays light all night. Two of the world's great dance companies meet for a festival of ballet - the first-ever combined appearance of a Soviet and a western company - filmed in the parks, squares and palaces of this beautiful Russian city. With Altinai Assilmouratova Galina Mezentseva Olga Tchentchikova Evgeni Neff Farouk Rouzimatov Konstantin Zaklinski and Artists of the Kirov Ballet Lynn Charles, Grazia Galante Jorge Donn, Michel Gascard Philippe Lizon and Artists of the Ballet of the Twentieth Century with the guest appearance of Eric Vu An of the Paris Opera Ballet Director YURI SEROV Producers ALAP VIDEO/GOSTELERADIO
	18.10	Amsterdam Christmas Concert
			given earlier this afternoon in the Concertgebouw Mahler Symphony No 9 in D conducted by Bernard Haitink, with the Concertgebouw Orchestra led by JOAP VAN ZWEDEN Introduced by Douglas Reitn Bernard Haitink, in his last season as principal conductor of the Concertgebouw, has chosen the culmination of Mahler's symphonic work as his personal farewell. The Ninth Symphony was actually Mahler's tenth. His superstition about the many composers who died on completing their ninth symphonies caused him to label the Song of the Earth, in reality a vocal symphony, a song cycle and thus escape the jinx. But the Ninth Mahler's last completed work, remains one of the great testaments of pain and reconciliation in the face of death. Directed for NOS by HANS HULSCHER â€” A simultaneous broadcast with Radio 3. Viewers with stereo Radio 3 may wish to turn off television sound and position theirspeakersoneithersideofthe screen, but a few feet away. Stereo headphones provide a suitable alternative.
	19.40	Mother Teresa
			It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing. MOTHER TERESA In 1950 a 40-year-old nun founded the Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity to help the sick and dying in the slums of Calcutta. Today Mother Teresa is the heart of an organisation with houses in 70 countries. Her zeal carries her through an exhausting schedule, regardless of personal comfort or safety. Her activities in war-torn Beirut led one startled officer to exclaim 'the last thing we wanted was a saint', but Mother Teresa succeeded where diplomats failed. Narrated by Richard Attenborough Produced and directed by JEANETTE AND ANN PETRIE A PETRIE PRODUCTIONS INC production
	20.35	Garbo
			A Biographical Portrait This feature-length study of the great Swedish actress blends film clips, stills and interviews with her contemporaries plus recent footage of Garbo documents and other memorabilia. A vivid re-creation of her childhood in turn-of-the-century Stockholm shows her impoverished childhood and her early dream of becoming an actress. The film follows her early career in Sweden, Germany and her rise to fame in Hollywood and ends with her retirement in 1941. Clips include Mata Hari, Camille and Queen Christina. Narrated by Bibi Anderson Written by AKE WlHLNEY, SVEN BREMAN Produced by AINA BEHRING Directed by DAN SALL
	22.35	The Story of a Recluse
			by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON and ALASDAIR GRAY starring Stewart Granger Peter Capaldi Cristina Higueras An entertaining tale of a gambler, a young man, a pretty girl and the games they all play. Designer ALEX GOURLAY Script editor TREVOR RAY Produced by TOM KINNINMONT Directed by ALASTAIR REID BBC Scotland 0 FEATURE: page 145 *CEEFAX SUBTITLES
	23.25	The Queen
			The Christmas day programme in which HM The Queen speaks to the Commonwealth. With open subtitles and sign-language interpretation for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
	23.35	Julian Lloyd Webber
			plays the Cello Concerto in E minor, Op 85 by Elgar with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra led by BARRY GRIFFITHS conducted by Yehudi Menuhin Introduced by Robert Walker from Brinkwells in West Sussex where, in 1919, Sir Edward Elgar wrote this most popular of cello concertos. The performance was recorded at the Harrogate Centre as part ofthel987Harrogate International Festival. The programme also includes Elgar's Romance for cello and orchestra, Op 62. Television presentation KEN GRIFFIN (In association with KODAK) Record: Yehudi Menuhin REGL!ZCF 409, a portrait in sound narrated by Edward Greenfield.
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