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HRISTMAS is the most wonderful time of the year – on the box anyway. And there is plenty to keep you entertained. Here are some of the best bits on offer across the festive period: THE queen of baking is hosting a Christmas bash with celebrity guests dropping in. “The perfect Christmas is all about planning,” says Mary. And to help her prepare a festive feast will be Poldark’s Eleanor Tomlinson (Demelza); newsreader Huw ‘I never cook’ Edwards, athlete Dina Asher-Smith and comic Joe Lycett. MANY of us will remember sobbing to the original version of this film in 1978 – and this year the BBC have made a 21st century update, split into two feature-length episodes.
The lead rabbit brothers Hazel and Fiver are voiced by James McAvoy and Nicholas Hoult, with the cast also including Sir Ben Kingsley, John Boyega, Mackenzie Crook, Olivia Colman, Peter Capadli, Rosamund Pike and Gemma Chan.
THE QUEEN AND I
AN adaptation of the book by Adrian Mole writer Sue Townsend, starring David Walliams, Samantha Bond, Amanda Abbingdon and Johnny Vegas.
The Queen (Bond) and family end up in the run-down cul-de-sac Hellebore Close. It’s all because Jack Barker (Walliams) has seized a shock election victory and decided to ditch the Royals for a republic. Princess Margaret has to choose between heating and gin. Whatever next?
BBC 1, Christmas Day, 7.45pm
SISTER Julienne’s got problem – everyone wants her to become the new Mother Superior but Jenny Agutter’s head nun would rather stay with the gang at Nonnatus House. Miriam Margolyes guest stars as Sister Mildred, arriving with four Chinese orphans. Also on the doorstep is a returning Trixie – hurrah! THE Marmite comedy is back with another two festive specials. In the first one, Agnes struggles when she is given a wi-fi assistant. In the second, Agnes and Cathy discover that living with friends isn’t the picnic they’d imagined when Sharon and Winnie move in, while Agnes has to write a eulogy for a neighbour she disliked. THIS is a film that narrates Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean’s early years and what drove them to become Olympic figure skating glory, exploring Jayne and Chris’s iconic partnership from both a personal and artistic perspective.
Game of Thrones actor Will Tudor (Humans, Shadowhunters, Mr Selfridge) will take the role of Christopher Dean, and Poppy Lee Friar (Ackley Bridge, Eve, In the Club) will play Jayne Torvill. RUSSELL Brand sent a cake to be appraised by Prue Leith and co-star Paul Hollywood for the celebrity Great British Bake Off special. Jeremy Paxman and US actor John Lithgow will also appear. FANS of the comedy duo are in for a treat – two “lost” episodes of Morecambe and Wise have been unearthed. The 30-minute instalments, part of the first series after the comedy duo returned to the BBC, were originally shown in black and white. But thanks to the wonders of technology, they will be transformed into colour. Look out for a guest appearance from the late Michael Aspel. MOVE over David Suchet, here’s John Malkovich having his first go at playing everyone’s favourite Belgian, Hercule Poirot.
In the classic Agatha Christie tale from 1936, a killer is travelling all over Britain by train, always leaving the ABC railway guide at the scene of each crime as a calling card. It’s tough for Poirot, but at least he has Rupert Grint playing Inspector Crome. Tell him to get his wand out – that should help FOR those who don’t like musicals, this may be the version for you as there is not a song in sight.
This interpretation of the 19th century classic by
Victor Hugo sees Dominic West as Jean Valjean and David Oyelowo as Javert. Lily Collins plays Fantine and Olivia Colman as both Monsieur and Madame Thenardier. AS the New Year bells ring out, a terrifying evil is stirring from across the centuries of Earth’s history. As the Doctor, Ryan, Graham and Yaz return home, will they be able to overcome the threat to the planet?