CHRISTMAS TV/FILMS

Pick of the best festive television and movies

WORZEL GUMMIDGE: SAUCY NANCY Christmas Eve, BBC1, 5.55pm

There is no production that cannot be improved greatly by the addition of Shirley Henderson into the mix. The Scots actor and star of Harry Potter (she was Moaning Myrtle), Stan & Ollie, and Trainspotting joins the cast of Worzel Gummidge in the role of Saucy Nancy, a ship’s figurehead come to life in this festive special. Writer and actor Mackenzie Crook took a punt last year when he rebooted the character made beloved by Jon Pertwee, but the result was a hit bigger than Detectorists.

A BABY REINDEER’S FIRST CHRISTMAS

Christmas Eve, Channel 4, 6.40pm

Poor old Rudolph and his mates. They work so hard at this time of the year, but it’s a rare day when they get a slice of the wildlife documentary cake. This film, set in the Cairngorms, aims to redress the balance. Among the reindeer followed by the cameras is an orphaned calf. We also watch as some young deer learn how to pull a Christmas sleigh for the first time. While other wildlife documentaries are available (Meerkat: A Dynasties Special, December 28, BBC1, 7.30pm; Penguins: Meet the Family, December 29, BBC1. 6.30pm), this looks by far the cutest.

STRICTLY COME DANCING Christmas Day, BBC1, 4.45pm

I don’t know what would have happened had this year’s Strictly fallen victim to the virus. Questions in parliament maybe, or a good-natured protest conga through the streets. Anyway, they managed it and thank Spandex for it. For this festive special, Auntie asked viewers to nominate their favourite performances. Polished, sizzling, or just plain hilarious, the top 25 are rolled out here. If John Sergeant isn’t strutting his stuff I shall be disappointed.

MATTHEW BOURNE’S THE RED SHOES Christmas Day, BBC2, 6pm

Martin Scorsese once described

Christmas Day, BBC2, 9.10pm, and Boxing Day, BBC2, 9.05pm

Hopefully Santa is on his way with a

copy of Jasper Rees’ Let’s Do It. Though an authorised biography of Victoria Wood, the reviews reveal a spikier Queen Vic than the image so far, one less likely to beat you on the bottom with a Woman’s

Weekly than dole out icy stares to those who displeased her on set. The secret list here is her pick of career highs, set out over two parts, with admirers turning out in force to pay tribute. Whatever is on the list you are guaranteed many laughs. Here’s to Wood, and to right madams everywhere.

BLACK NARCISSUS

BBC1, December 27, 9pm, continues December 28/29

Glasgow’s Deborah Kerr shone in the role of Sister Clodagh in the 1947 double Oscar-winning drama, and now it’s the turn of Gemma Arterton to impress in the tale of a group of nuns establishing a convent in the Himalayas. None of the locals has a good word to say about the place, which used to be known as “The House of Women” and was once home to a tragedy. But proud Sister Clodagh insists the nuns stick it out, come what may. Cue lots of banging doors and fevered brows as tensions take hold. Slow, but Arterton is her usual force of nature self as the sister with a past of her own.

RICHARD OSMAN’S HOUSE OF GAMES NIGHT

December 28, BBC1, 7pm

This fun for all the family quiz continues the Pointless quizmaster’s run of success. Being put through their paces over half an hour here are actor Sarah Hadland, Taskmaster creator Alex Horne, Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood and newsreader Charlene White. The questions are not too difficult, meaning all ages can take part, and Osman is a genial host. The winning contestant can take his or her pick from a Christmas suitcase or a fondue set. It’s that kind of quiz.

TWO DOORS DOWN December 28, BBC2, 9pm

This Christmas special of Simon Carlyle and Gregor Sharp’s sublime suburban Scottish sitcom finds the gang having a mini break in the Highlands. Should the tier system be in operation and Cathy and company are found to be travelling outwith their council area, I fully expect the police to boot down the door faster than long suffering Beth can put the kettle on (again). Two Doors Down began life as a festive hit so it is always a joy to welcome them back again at this time of the year. But if you could hurry up with the new series boys …

SEE PAGE 12 FOR FEATURE

STEPHEN FRY’S 21ST CENTURY FIRSTS December 30, STV, 8.30pm

Despite having a slight air of Jacob Rees-Mogg about him (sorry Stephen), Fry has always been an early adopter of the latest technology. That makes him the perfect host of this look back and forwards of the age. It’s not just about technological advances – there is a lot of social history too, with Fry charting the arrival of same-sex marriage and the smoking ban among other changes. How far we have come, and have yet to go.

UNCLE VANYA December 30, BBC4, 10pm

Like other theatre productions, concerts and sporting events this year, Conor McPherson’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s 1898 masterpiece fell victim to the dreaded virus. But if the audiences couldn’t come to the Harold Pinter Theatre, went the thinking, the cast and crew would televise the production. Here it is, complete with a cast that includes Toby Jones, Richard Armitage, Rosalind Eleazar, Aimee Lou Wood, Anna Calder-Marshall, and Roger Allam. The stage version played to five-star reviews.

BRITAIN’S BESTSELLING TOYS

Channel 4, Hogmanay, 7pm

By this point in proceedings you might be buried under a mountain of toys, and the last thing you fancy is a programme about more of them. But this is a show for us oldies, a stroll down memory aisle to remember the hit toys of yesteryear, all those things you lobbied for from Easter onwards. Adding to the excitement was the risk your chosen toy would have run out, and some substitute would be unwisely attempted. Children today, the internet spread before them, will never know such thrills. It’s not all good news, though: Keith Lemon is the host.

IT’S BEEN A PLEASURE

Hogmanay, STV, 9.30pm

Sore one, this. On the face of it, this is a joyous, 75-minute celebration of

Billy Connolly’s career, complete with clips aplenty, celebrity tributes, and an interview with the Big Yin and his wife, Pamela Stephenson, at their home in Florida. But the more you see of his sheer talent at work the more you curse the Parkinson’s that has curtailed his career, even if he is 78. A lot of laughter here, but more than a few tears too as comedians set out what Billy has meant to them and the trade they ply. It’s not a bad day’s work to have brought so much laughter into so many people’s lives.

ONLY AN EXCUSE Hogmanay, BBC1, 10.25pm

This time next year we won’t be able to have the annual rammy between those who think OAE stopped being funny years ago, and those who want it to stick around for old times’ sake. Why? Because after this outing the fitba and news-related sketch show is hanging up its boots. Oddly enough, I thought last year’s was a real improvement, with new young blood on the writing team bringing back some verve. But it is not to be. So after 27 years, here is the last chance to marvel at the wonder that is Jonathan Watson. He will still be around in 2021, but doing other projects as they say. Farewell OAE, when you were good you were great.

THE SERPENT

New Year’s Day, BBC1, 9pm

“Inspired by real events” drama set in the 1970s on the Hippie Trail. Charles Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim, A Prophet) is a gems dealer living in Bangkok with his French-Canadian girlfriend (Jenna Coleman). The couple are friendly types, given to opening their home to strangers they meet, but what is in it for the glamorous pair? A Dutch diplomat, alerted to two missing youngsters, is determined to find out. If you like dramas with a blizzard of locations, a tangle of timelines, and accents in abundance, this is for you.

FRANKIE BOYLE’S 2020 NEW WORLD ORDER

New Year’s Day, BBC2, 10pm

After the year we’ve had, just how mad are you at 2020? No matter how much you rage I can guarantee the level of anger will be nothing compared to Boyle’s. Not often mistaken for a sunbeam, the Scots comedian can go well over the score, but something tells me Frankie boy is just the comedian to get the most out of a look back at the year just gone.

CHRISTMAS UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE: THE FINAL New Year’s Day, BBC2, 8.30pm

There have been four Scots teams in this year’s competition, and at the time of writing only one remains, so no idea if we shall have a Scottie dog in the fight that is the grand finale. Doesn’t matter – just sit back and enjoy the fun to be had watching clever people get stuff wrong. You may be tempted to have a go yourself. Don’t. Save yourself for Celebrity Mastermind.