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We take a sneaky peek at the television treats coming up for us this Christmas…
Dramatic Effect
Nothing says Christmas more than a star-laden festive drama. In Agatha Christie’s TheABCMurders John Malkovich steps into the shoes of Hercule Poirot, albeit minus the traditional black waxed moustache. David Walliams plays Prime Minister in The Queen and I, based on Sue Townsend’s best-selling imagining of the Royal Family living a decidedly un-royal life. He is also a headmaster in the dramatisation of his own children’s book, The Midnight Gang. Of course, life will be eventful in Coronation St – we are looking at you, Amy Barlow! – and is that the sound of wedding bells in Emmerdale?
Laughter Lines
‘Tis the season to be jolly! With sarky MockTheWeek humour, Jason Manford’s WhatWouldYourKidDo?, Sarah Millican onstage Live at the Apollo and James Corden & Co causing usual chaos in LeagueOfTheirOwn over Christmas, we’ll have plenty of reason to chuckle over the sherry and mince pies. It’s also party time for Mammy and family who return for a special Mrs Brown’sBoys, while Lee Mack and his long-suffering wife Lucy return for a Christmas NotGoingOut.
Seasonal Specials
Call The Midwife is a highlight of the viewing schedule and is especially welcome as it heralds the start of series eight. New faces at Nonnatus House include Miriam Margolyes as Sister Mildred, who arrives with four special gifts. Jodie Whittaker stars in Doctor Who, on the anniversary of last year’s big reveal of the new-look 13th doctor. The Jonathan Ross Show Christmas Special adds the star factor, while themed editions of The Chase, Pointless and Tipping Point will warm up the brain cells just in time for you to work out those turkey timings!
Christmas Classics
Even the biggest sprout lover will sympathise with the poor, obliging Vicar of Dibley, trying to wade through four Christmas dinners, but hopefully no one will ever emulate the RoyleFamily in trying to defrost the turkey in the bath! Over 20 million of us tuned in to watch the OnlyFoolsandHorses 2001 Christmas edition IfTheyCouldSeeUsNow, which saw the loss of Trotter’s riches and the sad demise of Uncle Albert.
Old and New
Christmas Day always affords us one last Foxtrot fix with the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, one of several recurring favourites along with the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year, the TopofthePops annual review and the more traditional Carols from King’s College. Brand new for 2018 and following on from popular Christmas animations such as TheSnowman will be the new production Zog, a story about an accident-prone dragon. Zog is narrated by Sir Lenny Henry and characters are voiced by a stellar cast including Tracey Ullman, Hugh Skinner and Kit “Jon Snow” Harrington.
Movie Magic
It’s aWonderful Life, White Christmas, Some Like itHot,TheWizardofOz… all films that are as much of the annual Christmas schedule as a Bond movie, a Wallace and Gromit escapade and a Disney epic. The Sky Channel is promising recent blockbusters such as TheGreatestShowman and Avengers: InfinityWar this December but actually, you’ll be able to obtain your festive film fix at any time of the day until the beginning of January with the recently launched True Christmas movie channel, which offers up a non-stop parade of classic and modern festive fare.
All Rise
Where else could you possibly be at 3pm on the 25th, than in front of the television to watch The Queen’s Christmas message to the Commonwealth? Her Majesty has broadcast every year of her reign except 1969, firstly on radio and then on television, making this year her 66th message. We suspect that there may be a reference to a wedding – or two – this year and to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s recent tour Down Under.