Christmas TV Highlights
By Alan Tyers
A particularly good year for festive season TV sees lavish period dramas, plenty of celebrities making fools of themselves on talent shows, and some biting comedy if all this Christmas pudding is a bit too sickly for your taste. Check out the following…
The Santa Files With John Sergeant (Christmas Eve, 5.55pm, ITV1)
Exploring the history of the bearded guy with all the pressies.
Exploring the history of the bearded guy with all the pressies.
Carols From King’s (Christmas Eve, 6.45pm, BBC2)
The definitive carol service, from Cambridge.
The definitive carol service, from Cambridge.
My Family (Christmas Eve, 8.30pm, BBC1)
Excellent hour-long special, with guest appearances from Ainsley Harriott and Rolf Harris. Together at last!
Excellent hour-long special, with guest appearances from Ainsley Harriott and Rolf Harris. Together at last!
Paul O’Grady’s Christmas (Christmas Eve, 9pm, ITV1)
Cilla and Bette; as well as David Haye. What a peculiar mixture.
Cilla and Bette; as well as David Haye. What a peculiar mixture.
Peep Show Night (Christmas Eve, 9pm, Channel4)
A ‘behind the scenes’ doc precedes a splendidly cringe-worthy new episode as Mark invites his family around for Christmas dinner; followed by three of the best episodes from previous series.
A ‘behind the scenes’ doc precedes a splendidly cringe-worthy new episode as Mark invites his family around for Christmas dinner; followed by three of the best episodes from previous series.
Greatest Christmas TV Moments (Christmas Eve, 9pm, Channel5)
Three hours of Eric, Ernie, Angela Rippon, Del Boy, ‘EastEnders’, ‘The Royle Family’ and other unforgettable Xmas TV highlights. Also: The 100 Greatest Christmas Moments (Christmas, Eve, 8.10pm, More4) presented by the famously warm and festive… Jimmy Carr.
Three hours of Eric, Ernie, Angela Rippon, Del Boy, ‘EastEnders’, ‘The Royle Family’ and other unforgettable Xmas TV highlights. Also: The 100 Greatest Christmas Moments (Christmas, Eve, 8.10pm, More4) presented by the famously warm and festive… Jimmy Carr.
Whistle And I’ll Come To You (Christmas Eve, 9pm, BBC2)
John Hurt stars in a ghostly chiller set in a seaside town.
John Hurt stars in a ghostly chiller set in a seaside town.
Doctor Who (Christmas Day, 6pm, BBC1
Michael Gambon is the Scrooge figure in a reworking of ‘A Christmas Carol’. Honeymooning Rory and Amy are trapped on a spaceship set on a collision course and the only way for The Doctor to rescue them is to make the old tightwad see the error of his ways.
Michael Gambon is the Scrooge figure in a reworking of ‘A Christmas Carol’. Honeymooning Rory and Amy are trapped on a spaceship set on a collision course and the only way for The Doctor to rescue them is to make the old tightwad see the error of his ways.
The Royle Family (Christmas Day, 9pm, BBC1)
Jim is incapacitated due to an accident and must sit at home all day. No change there, then – but how will the Royles deal with Anthony’s new-found wealth?
Jim is incapacitated due to an accident and must sit at home all day. No change there, then – but how will the Royles deal with Anthony’s new-found wealth?
Come Fly With Me (Christmas Day, 10pm, BBC1)
David Walliams and Matt Lucas return to our screens with a spoof documentary set in an airport staffed by oddballs. There are some brilliantly grotesque characters; this is like a darker, more grown-up ‘Little Britain’.
David Walliams and Matt Lucas return to our screens with a spoof documentary set in an airport staffed by oddballs. There are some brilliantly grotesque characters; this is like a darker, more grown-up ‘Little Britain’.
Agatha Christie’s Poirot (Christmas Day, 9pm, ITV1)
David Suchet in probably the best-loved Poirot: ‘Murder On The Orient Express’, with a raft of famous faces including David Morrissey, Eileen Atkins and Barbara Hershey. Toby Jones plays the obnoxious American businessman who won’t be needing the return portion of his ticket.
David Suchet in probably the best-loved Poirot: ‘Murder On The Orient Express’, with a raft of famous faces including David Morrissey, Eileen Atkins and Barbara Hershey. Toby Jones plays the obnoxious American businessman who won’t be needing the return portion of his ticket.
The One Ronnie (Christmas Day, 5.10pm, BBC1)
Showbiz pals from Enfield to Brydon to Corden pay tribute to the diminutive comedy fave at 80. Also: All About Ronnie Corbett (Tuesday 23rd, 9pm, BBC2) is a night devoted to the wee man.
Showbiz pals from Enfield to Brydon to Corden pay tribute to the diminutive comedy fave at 80. Also: All About Ronnie Corbett (Tuesday 23rd, 9pm, BBC2) is a night devoted to the wee man.
Strictly Come Dancing (Christmas Day, 7pm, BBC1)
Fern Britton, June Brown, Ronni Ancona, John Barrowman and Vince Cable (hasn’t he got other things to be worrying about?) compete in a one-off special.
Fern Britton, June Brown, Ronni Ancona, John Barrowman and Vince Cable (hasn’t he got other things to be worrying about?) compete in a one-off special.
Harry Hill’s Best Of Christmas TV Burp (Boxing Day, 8.30pm, ITV1)
Highlights from the great man’s previous festive outings.
Highlights from the great man’s previous festive outings.
Top Gear: Middle East Special (Boxing Day, 8pm, BBC2)
Just what that troubled region needs: a visit from wind-up merchant supreme, Jeremy Clarkson. The team follow the path of the Three Wise Men, and they are on the trail of some myrrh.
Just what that troubled region needs: a visit from wind-up merchant supreme, Jeremy Clarkson. The team follow the path of the Three Wise Men, and they are on the trail of some myrrh.
Upstairs Downstairs (Boxing Day, 9pm, BBC1)
Keeley Hawes and Ed Stoppard play the aristocratic occupants of 165 Eaton Place, and Jean Marsh returns as the lady’s maid from the 1970’s original. Three-part drama of typically impressive quality that will delight nostalgia fans.
Keeley Hawes and Ed Stoppard play the aristocratic occupants of 165 Eaton Place, and Jean Marsh returns as the lady’s maid from the 1970’s original. Three-part drama of typically impressive quality that will delight nostalgia fans.
Benidorm (Boxing Day, 9pm, ITV1)
Su Pollard guest stars in a Christmas disaster episode.
Su Pollard guest stars in a Christmas disaster episode.
When Harvey Met Bob (Boxing Day, 9.15pm, BBC2)
Two brilliant portrayals, from Domhnall Gleeson as Bob Geldof and Ian Hart as Harvey Goldsmith, in this biopic of the fascinating, tempestuous relationship between crusader and concert promoter that begat 1985’s Live Aid.
Two brilliant portrayals, from Domhnall Gleeson as Bob Geldof and Ian Hart as Harvey Goldsmith, in this biopic of the fascinating, tempestuous relationship between crusader and concert promoter that begat 1985’s Live Aid.
Elsewhere This Christmas...
Little Crackers (Sunday 19th, 9pm, Sky One)
Playful short films from Victoria Wood, Chris O’Dowd, Dawn French and others.
Playful short films from Victoria Wood, Chris O’Dowd, Dawn French and others.
The Nativity (Monday 20th, 7pm, BBC1)
Four-part Tony Jordan adaptation, starring Tatiana Maslany as Mary and Andrew Buchan as Joseph.
Four-part Tony Jordan adaptation, starring Tatiana Maslany as Mary and Andrew Buchan as Joseph.
Come Dine With Me: Celebrity Christmas Special (Wednesday 22nd, 9pm, Channel4)
Festive fun/fighting with Goldie, Tony Christie and Janet Ellis.
Festive fun/fighting with Goldie, Tony Christie and Janet Ellis.
Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple (Monday 27th, 9pm, ITV1)
Julia McKenzie in a classic Christie country house. Guests include Matthew Horne, Ruth Jones and Edward Fox.
Julia McKenzie in a classic Christie country house. Guests include Matthew Horne, Ruth Jones and Edward Fox.
Just William (Tuesday 28th, 12.30pm, BBC1)
‘Outnumbered’s Ben plays the ultimate naughty boy. Martin Jarvis, who made the role his own, narrates.
‘Outnumbered’s Ben plays the ultimate naughty boy. Martin Jarvis, who made the role his own, narrates.
Giles And Sue Live The Good Life (Tuesday 28th, 10pm, BBC2)
Coren, Perkins, eggnog.
Coren, Perkins, eggnog.
Toast (Thursday 30th, 9pm, BBC1)
Dramatisation of the childhood of cookery writer Nigel Slater (honestly), with Helena Bonham Carter as the boy’s nasty stepmum.
Dramatisation of the childhood of cookery writer Nigel Slater (honestly), with Helena Bonham Carter as the boy’s nasty stepmum.
Channel4’s Comedy Gala (New Year’s Eve, 9pm, Channel4)
Stand-up and sketches, in aid of Great Ormond Street, from Alan Carr, Bill Bailey and Ricky Gervais.
Stand-up and sketches, in aid of Great Ormond Street, from Alan Carr, Bill Bailey and Ricky Gervais.
Jools’ Annual Hootenanny (New Year’s Eve, 11pm, BBC2)
With Kylie, Roger Daltrey and Ruby Turner.
With Kylie, Roger Daltrey and Ruby Turner.
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