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 1994 >>


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

	LWT
	00.20	Peter, Paul and Mary Christmas Concert
			The famous trio, accompanied by the New York Choral Society and Orchestra performs some seasonal songs, plus a selection of their golden hits including "Puff the Magic Dragon" and "Blowin' in the Wind".
	01.20	McCloud
			Night of the Shark
	02.05	The Day of the Dolphin (1973)
			Starring George C Scott.
	03.10	Secret Places (1984)
	04.00	That's Carry On (1977)
			Starring Kenneth Williams and Barbara Windsor.
	05.00	Harry Connick Jnr - A Profile
	05.25	Coach
	05.45	Cartoon Time
	05.55	ITN Morning News
	06.00	GMTV
			begins with The Sunday Review 6.30 News and sport 7.00 The Sunday Programme 8.00 Disney Club
	09.25	The New Scooby Doo Movies
			The Dynamic Scooby Doo Affair
	10.15	Link
			A look at the enduring image of disability created by Charles Dickens in the form of Tiny Tim.
	10.30	Christmas Matters
			presented by Sue Cook
	12.30	ITN News
			and Weather.
	12.40	Mole's Christmas
			Richard Briers, Peter Davison and Imelda Staunton give voice to this seasonal cartoon.
	13.10	The Christmas Star (1986)
			starring Edward Asner. An escaped prisoner has a change of heart when his Santa Claus disguise fools two children.
	15.00	HM The Queen
	15.10	Disney's Mary Poppins (1964)
			Julie Andrews stars as the enigmatic nanny who transforms the lives of her two unhappy charges. With Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson and Glynis Johns.
	17.45	Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales
	17.55	News
			and weather.
	18.05	Disney's Sleeping Beauty (1959)
			Animated version of the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale.
	19.30	Coronation Street
			Curly has a surprise for Raquel.
	20.00	Christmas Blind Date
			Seasonal version of the popular show, with some surprise contestants looking for romance.
	21.00	Christmas Heartbeat
			A Winter's Tale
			Nostalgic drama set in the Yorkshire countryside during the 1960s. Kate recruits Greengrass to be Father Christmas at a charity concert for a small boy with TB.
	22.00	Robin Williams in the Wild with Dolphins
	23.00	Late News
			and weather.
	23.15	Kiri's Coventry Carols
			Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, with the BBC Philharmonic and guests, sings a collection of carols interspersed with a short history of the Christmas carol through the ages.

	Channel 4
	00.35	Frankenstein (1931)
			Classic horror based on the novel by Mary Shelley. Starring Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, Boris Karloff. Mad scientist Dr Frankenstein dreams of creating a living being from human corpses. All he needs to complete his creation is a suitable brain. But, inadvertently, he ends up giving the creature a criminal's brain.
	01.50	One Night Stand
			American comedian Brian Haley reflects on life, love and the "Whole Damn Thing" at the Old Vic, Chicago. [Rpt]
	02.20	The Word
			The hip entertainment show hosted by Terry Christian, Dani Behr and Jasmine Dottiwala.
	03.15	The Devil-Ship Pirates (1964)
			Historical drama starring Christopher Lee. Following Sir Francis Drake's defeat of the Spanish Armada, a pirate sets out for the Cornish coast aboard a crippled galleon.
	04.50	Terrytoons
			Children's programmes
	05.05	White Camel
			Children's programmes
			Animated tale of the boy king Melchior's search for a white camel. [Rpt]
	06.00	Paddington
			Children's programmes
			[Rpt]
	06.05	Sebastian Star Bear: First Mission (1991)
			Children's programmes
			Animated adventure about a super bear who comes up against a cruel showman.
	07.35	For Better for Worse
			Children's programmes
			Elizabeth has an accident. (R)
	08.00	Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
			Children's programmes
			Animation.
	08.30	Biker Mice from Mars
			Children's programmes
			More problems for the intergalactic cheese-lovers.
	08.55	Claymation Christmas Celebration
			Children's programmes
			Dinosaurs Herb and Rex introduce a feast of claymation. [Rpt]
	09.25	The Big Breakfast Christmas Special
			Guests include supermodel Claudia Schiffer, EYC, Bad Boys Inc and Sean Maguire in this special edition for Christmas morning. Presented by Gaby Roslin, Paula Yates, Mark Little and Paul Ross.
	10.25	Saved by the Bell
			Concluding last Sunday's episode. Zack and his mum take in homeless Laura and her dad. [Rpt]
	10.55	Take That in Concert
			Teen idols Take That recorded live at Wembley Arena on 1 December at a concert in aid of the National Aids Trust and Crusaid, which includes their hits Babe and Relight My Fire.
	11.50	Knick Knack
			Computer animation.
	11.55	A Gospel Christmas
			Black Christmas
			A concert of gospel music at the City Temple, Holborn, London, venue for Britain's first gospel concert given in 1878. Featuring the Clark Sisters from America, with Nu Colours, the London Gospel Community Choir and soloists Brian Powell and Dawn Thomas. Songs include Amazing Grace, Oh Happy Day and Optimistic.
	12.55	Hans Christian Andersen (1952)
			The first of today's two films in the season starring Danny Kaye. A fictionalised biography of the popular children's author.
	15.00	The Alternative Christmas Message
			Black Christmas
			The Rev Jesse Jackson from Washington with the keynote address of Channel 4's Black Christmas season.
	15.15	Turandot
			Spectacular adaptation of Puccini's final masterpiece. With Eva Marton, Michael Sylvester, Kevin Langan and Lucia Mazzaria, the Chorus and Orchestra of the San Francisco Opera under Donald Runnicles.
	17.20	Channel 4 News
	17.30	Zig and Zag Christmas Special
			Stars of The Big Breakfast and now a chart-storming duo, the playful Planet Zog puppets, Zig and Zag, cause mayhem as they set themselves up as self-styled comedy police, ready to book anyone who isn't funny. Among the celebrity line-up are Richard Wilson, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Helen Mirren and Eamonn Holmes. Repeated on New Year's Eve
	18.00	Don't Forget Your Toothbrush
			Chris Evans with another edition of the off-the-wall game show. Shown yesterday at 9.00pm
	19.00	The Snowman (TVM 1982)
			Animation based on Raymond Briggs' modern classic which tells the story of a young boy who makes a snowman on Christmas Eve. During the night his creation comes to life and whisks the boy off to the North Pole for a meeting with a very important person. [Rpt]
	19.35	There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)
			Starring Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, Marilyn Monroe and Donal O'Connor. Classic musical following the fortunes of a show business family.
	21.40	The Queen
			Her Majesty's message to the Commonwealth. With signing and subtitles.
	21.50	Harry Connick Jr
			The man often spoken of as the Frank Sinatra of the 90s woos the audience at New York's prestigious Paramount Theater. With music that looks back to the age of swing and bebop, this stylish young crooner from New Orleans won a Grammy for his soundtrack for the 1989 film When Harry Met Sally. [Rpt]
	22.50	The Woman in Black
			A spine-chilling ghost story based on the popular novel by Susan Hill. 1925: young up-and-coming solicitor Arthur Kidd is sent to the small market town of Crythin Gifford on his first important assignment and anticipates a short stay away from his loving family. But after he dramatically saves a young gypsy girl from death, he fuels the wrath of a mysterious black-clad lady and his life turns into a horrific nightmare. First shown on ITV

	BBC One
	01.00	The Quiller Memorandum
			Spy drama with screenplay Harold Pinter, starring George Segal, Alec Guinness When two British agents are killed by neo-Nazis in 1960s Berlin, the department's top agent is sent to investigate. Director Michael Anderson (1966) FILM REVIEWS pages 47-70
	02.40	Weather and Close
	06.45	Santa and the Tooth Fairies
			With Zoe Ball and Chris Jarvis. Stereo Hans Peterson's letterto Father Christmas arrivestoolate Rpt 7917187 7.10 Wishing Last of the live action and animation series. Stereo 9583800 7.20 Playdays The Tent Stop Rpt 9855458 7.40 Santa's First Christmas Animation. Rpt Stereo 8080545 8.05 The Bears Who Saved Christmas Animation 5493941 8.30 Noddy Animation 4020645 9.05 Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town Animation, narrated and sung by FredAstaire.
	09.58	Weather
	10.00	Songs of Praise
			Pam Rhodes celebrates Christmas Day morning live from All Hallows Church in the City of London in the company of Lynda Bellingham, Fiona Castle, Robert Duncan and Marti Webb. A thousand singers add to the festive fun with carols from Blackpool, while Don Maclean hosts a house party and Marti Caine goes to Lapland to join children in a hunt for Santa Claus. Carols include 0 Come All Ye Fathful, See Amid the Winter Snow, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Producer Ian Thomas
	11.00	Jetsons: the Movie
			Cinema version of the science-fiction TV cartoon series. George Jetson finally gets promotion from MrSpacely, but it means movingthe entire family to a remote "Spacely Sprockets" asteroid mining operation where something odd isgoingon. With the voices of: George O'Hanlon, Mel Blanc, Penny Singleton, Tiffany, Patric Zimmerman Directors William Hanna and Joseph Barbera (1990) * FILM REVIEWS pages 47-70
	12.20	Tom and Jerry
			Animated cat and mouse fun.......
	12.30	News and Weather Followed by EastEnders
			Omnibus edition. Stereo
	14.00	Top of the Pops
			Episode 1610
			The boys from Take That present 1994's biggest selling songs and reveal exclusively the Christmas Day number one. Live in the studio are D:Ream, Doop, Stiltskin, Wet Wet Wet, Mariah Carey, Let Loose, Whigfield and not forgetting Take That. Stereo
	15.00	The Queen
			Her Majesty the Queen's Christmas message to the Commonwealth. Repeated at 9.35pm on BBC2, 9.40pm on Channel 4
	15.10	Noel's Christmas Presents
			In the season of goodwill, Noel Edmonds journeys around Britain and the world to take gifts and surprises to deserving people. See today's choices. Producer Guy Freeman ; Executive producer MichaelLeggo Stereo Subtitled ..........
	16.10	Animal Hospital Christmas
			Rolf Harris, Lynda Bryansand Steve Knight pay a Christmas visit to the RSPCA Harmsworth Hospital. The patients should be an unpredictable variety of pets, and owners, and will include some of the animalsfeatured in the summer series who are returningfor checkups....
	16.45	News; Weather
	16.55	The Wrong Trousers
			Oscar-winning animated comedy by Nick Park. The home-life of Wallace, the amiable inventor, and Gromit, his long-suffering dog, is threatened when a villainous lodger rents out the spare room and involves unsuspecting Wallace n a spectacular crime. Featuringthe voice of Peter Sallis as Wallace. (1993) Stereo Subtitled ............... * FILM REVIEWS pages 47-70
	17.25	Keeping Up Appearances
			Hyacinth is plagued by problems in this special extended episode. While busy planning a new kitchen she is told that there is someone else in father's bed. Then she learns that Richard has gone down with a fungal infection. Written by Roy Clarke ; Director/Producer Harold Snoad Stereo Subtitled ........
	18.15	EastEnders
			The season of goodwill comes to the Square. In among the festivities, Gita has a surprise for Sanjay; Ethel has some advice for Nellie; and Grant has a present for Sharon. See today's choices. Episode written by Tony Jordan ; Producer Nicholas Hicks-Beach ; Director Jo Johnson For cast see Thursday 22 December
	18.45	Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
			Action adventure starring Kevin Costner Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio Alan Rickman When he is released from prison in the Holy Land, Robin of Locksley and his friend Azeem return to England, where they discover Robin's father murdered and King Richard exiled. When they meet a band of thieves in the woods, they join forces to try to oust the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham. Featuring the hit song (Everything I Do) I Do for You by Bryan Adams. Director Kevin Reynolds (1991) + FILM REVIEWS pages 47-70
	21.00	One Foot in the Grave: The Man Who Blew Away
			The new series begins with this Christmas special. The Meldrews set out for a routine visit to a garden centre little imagining the good luck that fate has in store for them. But their fortune is short-lived: a phone call is about to turn their world upside down. See today's choices.
	21.40	Victoria Wood: Live in Your Own Home
			The comedian presents her own show, with stand-up comedy, monologues and sketches in her own inimitable style. See today's choices. Director/Producer Geoff Posner
	22.30	News
			With Jill Dando. Subtitled Weather Peter Cockroft
	22.40	Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show
			Vintage comedy from with Britain's much-loved double act, Eric and Emie. With special guests Shirley Bassey, Glenda Jackson and Andre Previn, and guest appearances by Frank Bough, Robert Dougall, Dick Emery, Cliff Michelmore, Patrick Moore, Michael Parkinson and Eddie Waring. See today's choices. Producer John Ammonds Rpt
	23.25	Christmas Spirit
			A sideways look at Christmas Day.
	23.30	Trading Places
			Comedy starring Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd Jamie Lee Curtis Millionaire brothers Mortimer and Randolph Duke decide to create an experiment in human nature. They frame their nephew Louis, a pompous stockbroker in their own firm, fortheft and drug pushing. As Louis's privileged life crumbles around him, they install the down-and-out conman Billy Ray Valentine in his place. Director John Landis (1983) # FILM REVIEWS pages 47-70

	BBC Two
	00.55	Lost Hearts
			An adaptation of a classic ghost story forChristmas by MR James. An innocent little boy becomes involved in supernatural events. With Joseph O'Conor, Susan Richards, Simon Gipps-Kent and James Mellor. Producer Rosemary Hill; Director Lawrence Gordon-Clark
	01.35	Uncut
			Highlights from recordings made by Video Nation contributors. Christmas. Yuletide opinions from a nun facing her 100th Christmas and bugler playingforthe Light Infantry's Christmas dinner, Stereo .........
	02.10	Closedown
	07.55	That's Entertainment!
			A celebration of the golden age of MGM movie musicals. Narrators include Fred Astaire. Bing Crosby, Gene Kelly, Peter Lawford, Liza Minnelli, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Mickey Rooney, Frank Sinatra, James Stewart and Elizabeth Taylor. Plus performances by Judy Garland, Esther Williams, Eleanor Powell and Clark Gable. Director Jack Haiey Jr 1974) B/Wandcolour Subtitled .................. * FILM REVIEWS pages 47-70
	10.00	Doctor Dolittle
			Family musical starring Rex Harrison Doctor Dolittle has abandoned his human practice to treat only animals, learning 500 animal dialects from a parrot and becomingthe proud possessor of a pushmi-pullyu! But his greatest ambition is to find the elusive great pink sea snail. Songs include Talk to the Animals and I've Never Seen Anything Like It. Director Richard Fleischer ( 1 967) Subtitled.. * FILM REVIEWS pages 47-70
	12.20	Lara
			When the young West Indian cricketer Brian Lara scored 375 runs against England last April, he was hailed as the greatest ever batting talent. Within two months the first-class batting record had also been broken with an incredible runs. Ian Woolridge assesses this sportingphenomenon. Subtitled .
	13.10	D-Day Remembered
			Fifty years ago 156,000 Allied soldiers, sailors and airmen crossed the Channel to free Nazi-occupied Europe. This summer, witnessed by HM the Queen, more than 15,000 made that same journey and veterans of that pilgrimage recall those two days in June. Introduced by John Tusa.
	14.10	Going Underground
			The Great Escapers. On 24 March 1944, 76 RAF PoWs escaped from Stalag Luft 3 through a tunnel called Harry. Within a fortnight 50 had been executed by the Gestapo. Set on the now overgrown site of the former prison camp, this is the real story of the breakout told, in the 50th anniversary year, by the tunnellers themselves. Rpt Stereo Subtitled.
	15.00	Tricks on Two
			Magicians Fay Presto, Tim Saiet, Mike O'Brien and Anna Kazan present a series of breathtaking illusions with guests Toyah Wilcox, Kriss Akabusi and Angela Rippon.
	15.10	Hard Times
			This new version of Charles Dickens's novel has been adapted and directed by Oscar-nominated author Peter Barnes. Set against the backdrop of Victorian industrialisation, the tragic lives of Tom and Louisa Gradgrind unfold within a loveless world, in which social and economic values are placed above human concerns. Producer Richard Langridge First shown on Daytime on 2 Stereo
	16.55	Today's the Day Christmas Special
			It's EastEnders v Emmerdale in this special edition as teams led by Wendy Richard and Malandra Burrows answer questions about Christmas Day in years gone by. Hosted by Martyn Lewis. Producer Henry Eagles; Series producer MarkRowland Stereo .....................
	17.25	The Carpenters at the BBC
			With the cult of the Carpenters continuingto rival that of those other 70s stars Abba, here is another chance to see the Carpenters' debut BBC concert, recorded on their first British tour in September 1971. Hits include Close to You, Superstar and We've Only Just Begun, together with the odd Beatles tune and a Bacharach/David medley. Karen's drumming and Richard's keyboards are supported by their five-piece touring band and an orchestra under Johnny Pearson. Producer Stanley Dorfman .................
	18.00	Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
			A compilation of highlights to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the anarchic comedy show which during the late 60s and early 70s won two Emmy awards and became a cult classic. Hosted by Dan Rowan and Dick Martin it launched the careers of Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin and also featured Ruth Buzzi, Joanne Worley, Teresa Graves, Arte Johnson and British actress Judy Came. There are guest appearances by Sammy Davis Jr, Johnny Carson, Cher, Peter Sellers, Tony Curtis and Richard Nixon.
	19.00	Aida
			Elijah Moshinsky's new production of Verdi's popular masterpiece in four acts was premiered earlierthis year at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, starring the American soprano Cheryl Studer. Set in ancient Egypt, Aida tells the dramatic story of the captive princess who loves enemy general Radames, and of her rival Amneris, the Egyptian king's daughter, who seeks to possess him. The tragedy unfolds against designer Michael Yeargan's dramatic settings. With the Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, conducted by Sir Edward Downes. Verdi - A Ufe in Two Parts begins on Holiday Tuesday at 5.00pm; Producer Stephany Marks; Director Brian Large
	21.35	The Queen
			This afternoon's message, with signing for deaf people. Stereo
	21.45	Siren Spirits
			A series of tales of magic and mystery begins with a double bill. Bideshi. The true story of a strange and haunting premonition. Written by Tanika Gupta; Producer Penny Gold Director Frances-Anne Solomon Stereo And Memsahib Rita. A streetwise East End girl is followed to herfather's sari shop by the local BNP boys. Then, out of the shadows, two very glamorous and mysterious women step forward to try to save her. Next programme Thursday 29 December at 7.00pm Written by Kumari Salgado; Producer Penny Gold Director Pratibha Parmar
	22.25	The Butcher's Wife
			Bittersweet comedy romance starring Demi Moore Jeff Daniels When a Greenwich Village butcher returns from a North Carolina fishing trip, he brings with him the most unexpected catch of all - a clairvoyant wife named Marina. She soon begins to have an uncanny influence on everyone in the neighbourhood. DirectorTerry Hughes (1991) FILM REVIEWS pages 47-70
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<< Christmas Day 1994 >>