BEST OF THE REST
RAYMOND BRIGGS: SNOWMEN, BOGEYMEN AND MILKMEN BBC2, 9pm
IT’S such a recognisable image and familiar story, and watching the film (whilst doing a terrible singalong to Walking In The Air) is a Christmas tradition in millions of households.
But Raymond Briggs (pictured) actually created The Snowman 40 years ago, with nothing more than a pot of coloured pencils and some paper. The wordless book of illustrations, which inspired the 1982 film, soon became an iconic part of children’s literature, and launched illustrator/cartoonist/author Raymond into the big leagues.
He went on to create other legendary works including Father Christmas, Fungus the Bogeyman and more recently Ethel & Ernest, the story of his milkman dad and housewife mum’s 41-year marriage.
Now, an incredible 60 years after his first professional gig, this entertaining and moving documentary delves into the life and career of Raymond Briggs CBE, with personal interviews, beautiful animations and contributions from those who’ve been inspired by him.
THE LAST LEG OF THE YEAR Channel 4, 9pm
THERE will be a host of famous faces joining the Last Leg trio of Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe in the studio, to help the funnymen give 2018 the boot and usher in the New Year.
There should be laughs galore from the likes of Johnny Vegas, Nish Kumar, Katherine Ryan, Richard Ayoade, Jessica Knappett, Lost Voice Guy and the Horne Section, while Adam and co. will no doubt provide plenty of satirical swipes at the horrorshow of a year that 2018 has been.
There’ll also be live music, Josh’s internet highlights, and sketches about the biggest events of the year.
For an element of danger, the team travelled to Innsbruck in Austria where Alex tries to become the first disabled man to tackle the most dangerous of all Winter Olympic sports – the luge.
Rather him than us…