12 Christmas TV crackers!
A brand new boy for Mrs Brown, some Fair City shocks, Queen Victoria’s sizzling love story and polar bears to melt your heart . . . a preview of TV’s festive treats
LASHINGS of hot food and tasty nibbles while the cold weather does its worst outside — what better time is there to be tucked up indoors watching TV than Christmas?
And this festive season has a host of extra-special treats, including favourite books brought vividly to life, a trip to see everyone’s favourite mammy, menacing crimes committed in a darkly nostalgic setting, and a vision of Prince Albert’s love for Christmas tradition, which has remained the standard ever since.
Not to mention the most captivating polar bear cubs you’ll ever see. And as if that wasn’t enough, Doctor Who will transform into a woman.
Whether you want drama to ignite your imagination, or family fun to warm your heart, it’s here. Draw the curtains and dim the lights, you won’t want to miss a minute.
COMEDY CAPERS
Mrs Brown’s Boys, RTE One
WHY YOU MUST TUNE IN: No Christmas is complete without Agnes Brown and her brood.
WHAT’S THE STORY? Due to the huge demand on Brendan O’Carroll’s time these days, there’s no chance of another series in the offing so we have to make do with these Christmas specials.
And it will be the first one without Rory Cowan who left the show earlier this year. His replacement will be unveiled amidst much excitement with a canny storyline unfolding in this episode called Mammy’s Mummy. Rory will be getting plastic surgery and when the bandages come off, the new star of the show will be revealed.
Meanwhile Cathy has an internet date and her mammy is worried about what the man will be like in real life. Buster Brady delivers a Christmas tree to cheer Agnes up, so what could possibly go wrong?
NOT AT ALL FAIR
Fair City, RTE One WHY YOU MUST TUNE IN: Christmas in Carrigstown is a must-see every year. The big day just wouldn’t be the same.
WHAT’S THE STORY? As ever, the soaps are brimming with happiness and heartbreak over the festive season. Dr Oakley’s creepy cult will be taking its toll on the residents, with Emmet O’Brien getting in too deep. Debbie and Tommy are on the rocks but will the stresses and strains of Christmas finally put paid to a relationship that has survived more than a few dramas in the past?
The good news is that Bob and Renee are finally getting their lives back on track — is that wedding bells we hear? Or will something scupper Bob’s plans for future happiness?
Carol has been convinced that Aoife has her sights set on Robbie. But in the spirit of the season, she decides to get over her jealousy and get on with things. After all, Robbie’s the love of her life, right?
Meanwhile Kerri-Ann is desperately trying to keep her own sordid secret away from Decco. And things are not going at all well for Damien either. The Oakley effect is being felt far and wide. There’s scandal aplenty and, as Will Ferrell rightly pointed out, in Fair City nothing is fair!
CUDDLESOME CUBS
Snow Bears, BBC1 WHY YOU MUST TUNE IN: The best Arctic footage you’ve ever seen. WHAT’S THE STORY? From the moment two polar bear cubs pop their heads out of the snow and emerge from their den for the first time, you will be captivated by this astonishing documentary.
Children especially will be enchanted by the little brother and sister, who join their mother on an arduous trek from Svalbard Island off Norway, across the melting ice floes, to the Arctic icescape in search of food.
The sight of the cubs diving headfirst into snowdrifts, emulating Mum as she breaches the sea ice to grab a seal supper, is adorable . . . and so are the baby bears’ guilty expressions when their enthusiasm accidentally ruins a hunt.
There are moments of extraordinary drama, as the female tries to keep her offspring safe from a marauding
male who could turn and kill them.
To escape his attentions, she leads the cubs up an almost sheer cliff of ice, then kicks down snow boulders to deter their pursuer.
To capture such staggering scenes, the team set up remote cameras in dozens of places.
Sometimes, the bears found and mauled them — which produced amazing shots of the mighty animals’ jaws and claws in close-up. You’ll believe that a polar bear is about to pop out of your screen.
SISTERS OF MERCY
Little Women, BBC1 WHY YOU MUST TUNE IN: It’s a sumptuous classic.
WHAT’S THE STORY? Christmas means all-star costume drama, with romance, feuds and dresses big enough to conceal an elephant.
Over recent years, we’ve also come to expect outstanding TV from Call The Midwife creator Heidi Thomas, whose powerful female characters and heartwrenching stories have us gasping and sobbing like a nation of flustered maiden aunts.
Her adaptation of Little Women delivers both. It’s a classic tale of four 19th-century sisters as they grow up during the era of the American Civil War.
The four girls are played by relative unknowns: there’s bold Jo (Maya Hawke), oldest sister Meg (Willa Fitzgerald), shy Beth (Annes Elwy), and Amy (Kathryn Newton), the spoiled baby sister.
The three-part serial has the added attractions of Angela Lansbury and Emily Watson.
HOT DELIVERY
Call The Midwife, BBC1 WHY YOU MUST TUNE IN: It will make you laugh and cry.
WHAT’S THE STORY? Fans should not despair at Heidi Thomas penning Little Women — she’s also written another special, set during the Big Freeze of 1962-63, and the nuns and nurses of Nonnatus House are knee-deep in snow.
But to be sure of enjoying a white Christmas, midwife Trixie (Helen George, pictured below with Charlotte Ritchie as Barbara) is joining her dentist boyfriend in the Alps. She’s looking forward to the drinking and dancing of the apresski . . . which means, says Helen, that ‘my accessories will be coming under a lot of scrutiny!’
A fresh series begins in the New Year with Barbara married to vicar Tom, and Patsy reunited with Delia.
Three new seasons of this show have already been commissioned.
BROTHERLY LOVE
At Your Service, RTE One
WHY YOU MUST TUNE IN: The Brennan brothers at their very best.
WHAT’S THE STORY? This special edition of At Your Service - To The Rescue sees Francis and John taking on their biggest Christmas Challenge to date.
The village of Bruff near Limerick is soon going to be the proud home of Ireland’s first purpose-built community for people living with dementia. Based along the lines of a successful Dutch dementia village, it’s the brainchild of CareBright, a not-for-profit care organisation. They’re aiming to create a retro, yet futureproof, safe environment that will allow people living with dementia to lead as normal a life as possible.
Francis and John are called out to fit out and furnish the village which not only requires interiors know-how, but also a heap more fundraising.
A KILLER RECIPE
Delicious, Sky1 WHY YOU MUST TUNE IN: It’s dead addictive.
WHAT’S THE STORY? Last year’s most successful Sky1 drama had Dawn French and Emilia Fox fighting over a man, Leo (Iain Glen). The twist was that he was dead and narrating the story from his grave. Dawn, who is combative cook Gina, calls Delicious ‘that rare thing where everything from every department comes together well. I can’t wait to be back in Gina’s apron, up to my elbows in flour and up to my neck in trouble.’
RADIANT RODENT
The Highway Rat, BBC1 WHY YOU MUST TUNE IN: Everyone loves rats, don’t they? WHAT’S THE STORY? Former Doctor Who David Tennant is the voice of a masked rodent on horseback in this animation based on the children’s book by Gruffalo authors Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Their rhyming stories are becoming a staple of the festive season.
Rob Brydon narrates and Tennant has a great time, shouting: ‘Give me your pastries and puddings, Give me your chocolate and cake, For I am a Rat of the Highway, And whatever I want I take.’
TIME FOR A WOMAN
Doctor Who, BBC1
WHY YOU MUST TUNE IN: It’s the most sensational episode yet.
WHAT’S THE STORY? Peter Capaldi bows out as the Time Lord and is replaced by a Time Lady, Jodie Whittaker. Pearl Mackie is back as Bill Potts and David Bradley portrays the first Doctor (originally played by William Hartnell).
This instalment, called Twice Upon A Time, is chief producer Steven Moffat’s last episode before he hands over to Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall, and he’s getting a fanfare send-off.
There’s a rumour that Jenna Coleman, as Clara Oswald, might make an appearance, too.
ALPINE FEAST
Jamie’s Italian Christmas, C4 WHY YOU MUST TUNE IN: It’s the perfect Buon Natale.
WHAT’S THE STORY? If the idea of Italy doesn’t automatically conjure Christmas scenes to your imagination, then think again.
Jamie Oliver visits Piedmont in the snow-capped Italian Alps to cook a festive dinner with all the trimmings, in a log cabin, with best pal Gennaro Contaldo.
It’s not just turkey — there’s also mouthwatering porchetta, cracker ravioli and a chocolate orange tiramisu.
Other C4 treats include The Great Festive Bake Off, seeing the return of popular past competitors including macaroon specialist Beca, lion-bread sculptor Paul and laid-back Selasi. Child Genius v Celebrities is a special of the fiendish quiz for junior Einsteins with comic actor Rob Delaney and his brave team taking on some brilliant young geniuses.
And Alan Carr boldly takes over duties from the late Bruce Forsyth in a reinvented version of top game show The Price Is Right.