A personal view of pets going on safari in his native habitat, Oxford zoologist and film-maker, John Paling, took into his home a puppy and two kittens - and found that our most common pets are indeed wild animals in thin disguise. They treat our homes as their jungles, and find a fitting role for us in their social lives. But they also bring us more benefits than we had ever previously imagined - including at times the gift of life.
BBC Bristol
Bugs Bunny in Jack Wabbit and the Beanstalk A WARNER BROS cartoon
Dragoncastle
An epic fairytale set in a mythical Kingdom where the fickleness of the townsfolk is only outdone by that of the royal family....
This delightful award-winning film was directed by 13-year-old PAUL MASON and 11-year-old BECKY MASON.
Presenters Elizabeth Millbank Brian Jameson
Story: The Cobweb Christmas Tree by SHIRLEY CLIMO
Illustrated by JOE LA8KER
Director ROY MILANI
A See-Saw programme
(Repeat)
A two-part adventure starring Doug McClure as Archie Michael Sharrett as David
1: When David, a young runaway, stows aboard a light aircraft he has no idea of the dangerous times ahead ... with Marj Dusay as Mae Ted Stidder as Barnaby
A WALT DISNEY production
John Noakes and Shep review the adventures and travels of the Go with Noakes series.
Down to Land's End.
A summer stroll along the coastal paths at Devon and Cornwall.
Producer DAVID BROWN BBC Manchester
A musical cartoon narrated by Rich Little with the voices of John Schneider and Dottie West
Once upon a time there was a star who was very, very lonely and who dreamed of becoming a shooting star. The horrible Cyril Sneer captures the lost star-the last component in his plot to capture the Earth. Can Schaeffer and the Raccoons thwart his fiendish plans in time?
Animation by PAUL SCHIBLI
Written, produced and directed by KEVIN GILLIS A GILLIS WISEMAN production
A WARNER bros cartoon
by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey
Starring Richard Briers, Felicity Kendal and Penelope Keith
with Paul Eddington
Tom and Barbara, Margo and Jerry plan their respective Christmases, but neither goes according to plan.
(Repeat)
The feature film starring
William Holden , Aiec Guinness Jack Hawkins
David Lean 's classic is not only one of the most spectacular films about World War II, it is also one of the most memorable portraits of men under stress. Alec Guinness plays Colonel Nicholson, a British officer who refuses to succumb to his Japanese captor, Colonel Saito.
Screenplay by PIERRE BOULLE based on his own novel Produced by SAM SPIEGEL Directed by DAVID LEAN
Christmas Films: page 15
starring Keith Harris with Orville and Cuddles and special guest stars Shakin' Stevens and Stu Francis
Keith and his friends request the pleasure of your company at a very special Christmas party. There'll be fun, laughs, music and lots of surprise guests popping in! Script by WALLY MALSTON
Musical director NIGEL mess Sound KEITH GUNN
Lighting PETER WESSON
Designer BARBARA GOSNOLD
Produced and directed by PAUL CLANI 0 FEATURE: page 4
with Richard Whitmore Weatherman
DAVID ICKE introduces a round-up and the classified football results
In the sawdust ring beneath the Big Top, nearly 50 supreme circus artists match their many talents and skills as they perform in competition for the coveted gold medals. Categories:
Super Troupe-Foot Juggling
Hand Balancing-Flying Trapeze Contenders
The Rodogels (Mexico)
National Circus of Pyong-Yang (DPR Korea)
Consuela Reyes (Spain)
Eliane Paranton (France) Omar Rabati (Morocco) Los Tanis (Spain)
The Flying Redpaths (USA)
The Kim Yusik Flyers (DPR Korea) Ringmaster Norman Barrett
Staged in the Robert Brothers' Big Top at Syon Park, Brentford
Musical director NEIL RICHARDSON Lighting JOHN MASON Designer GERRY scorr
Director PAUL STEWART LANO Producer CHARLES THOMPSON
Paul Daniels presents a special Christmas package of comedy, magic and fun, in which he features his magic kettle, which pours any drink called for by the audience, reveals the biggest Christmas pudding ever seen, and introduces his international guests with their remarkable skills.
From the USA: one of the world's fastest illusion acts, The Pendragons From Hungary: the stylish acrobatics of the Five Star Endresz Family
From France: Professor Al Carthy with his mechanical man with DEBBIE MCGEE , AMANDA NEWMAN NICKY ELLEN and ROSEMARY LANE
Musical director KEN JONES
Production associate ALI BONGO Technical consultant GIL LEANEY Sound LAURIE TAYLOR
Lighting DICKIE HIGHAM Designer JOHN STOUT Director JOHN BISHOP
Produced by JOHN FISHER 0 FEATURE: page 4
Written by RAY CAMERON
BARRY CRYER , KENNY EVERETT
Ev's back! And his front together for the first time, again and just in time to miss Christmas. As usual there will be a host of stars joining Kenny as he is put on trial by the BBC for failing to eat his greens in the canteen and other crimes too numerous to mention ... but you know what we mean don't you Inspector? See it tonight (if wet in the scouts hut).
Sound GRAHAM WILKINSON
Lighting BERT POSTLETHWAITS Designer CARRY PRESMAN
Produced and directed by BILL WILSON 0 FEATURE: page 4
The feature film starring Sylvester Stallone with Talia Shire, Burt Young, Burgess Meredith
Rocky Balboa is a second-rate Philadelphia street fighter trying to earn a living by pressuring the customers of a local loan shark to make their payments. Depressed and in a near penniless state. Rocky suddenly finds himself in the right place at the right time. Shortly before the World Heavyweight Championship fight, the leading contender is injured. The Champ decides to give a local boy a shot at the title and picks the unknown Rocky because he likes his nickname. The stage is set for the most famous fight in movie history - Apollo Creed versus The Italian Stallion.
(First showing on British television) Christmas Films: page 15
Subtitles on Ceefax: page 170
Fifty minutes of classic comedy sketches are introduced by Lenny Henry and friends.
Additional material written by KIM FULLER Film cameraman COLIN MUNN Film sound CLIVE DERBYSHIRE
Produced by GEOFF MILES and MARCUS MORTIMER
with Richard Whitmore Weatherman
Kiri Te Kanawa introduces some of her favourite people from the world of music in a programme ranging from Mozart to McCartney with Thomas Allen (baritone)
Wayne Sleep and Alessandra Ferri in a new 'Beatles' ballet Marisa Robles (harp)
Richard Van Allan (baritone) and the 14-year-old Greek pianist Dimitris Sgouros
Opera excerpts include arias from Mozart's The Magic Flute and Don Giovanni , Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur and Rossini's The Barber of Seville. BBC Symphony Orchestra leader BELA DEKANY conducted by Robin Stapleton
Associate director HAZEL WRIGHT Lighting SAM BARCLAY Sound RAY ANGBL
Designer BARBARA GOSNOLD
Produced and directed by KENNETH CORDEN
(Kiri Te Kanawa stars in Die Fledermaus live from Covent Garden on BBC2 on New Year's Eve)
Dramatised by John Bowen from the story by M. R. James with Michael Bryant
A 19th-century historian and his protege find a clue to Abbot Thomas's treasure in an old stained-glass window. But the Abbot has set a guardian over his hoard.
Original music by Geoffrey Burgon Producer Rosemary Hill
Director Lawrence Cordon Clark