in A Pig's Eye
with Jeremy Paxman and Sally Jones
Bob Wilson looks forward to the Christmas sport and Francis Wilson gives holiday weather predictions.
Weather followed by Neighbours
with Simon Parkin
followed by Laurel and Hardy: Flea's a Crowd
(R)
Will the Grub Grotto finally crack under the weight of fruit and veg? Will the weather hold out for the special guest? Will life on the high seas change the gang or ruin their sweatshirts? Watch and find out!
(R)
with Simon Parkin
It is Christmas time in the land of the elephants. Babar wants to persuade Father Christmas to visit his kingdom, and sets off to find him. However, Rataxes the rhinoceros is determined to reach Father Christmas and thwart Babar's plans.
(R)
Presenter Elizabeth Watts with children from St Paul's RC First School, Thames Ditton
Story: The Nativity
Christmas readings with Laurence Olivier
Weather followed by When the North Wind
Blows starring Henry Brandon Herbert Nelson
Dan Haggerty
Set in the snow-covered wilderness of Alaska, this adventure tale tells the story of a trapper's compelling friendship with two tiger cubs. He adopts the cubs and battles against the harsh wilderness elements so that they can live in peace when their mother, a rare
Siberian tigress, is tragically shot by hunters.
Written and directed by STEWART RAFFILL
0 FILMS: page 25
with Michael Buerk
Weather MICHAEL FISH
Shane is in trouble with the police and seeks Clive's help.
Hosted by Henry Kelly
The last day of this week's semi-finals is the last chance for one of the seven remaining contestants to win a place in the finals in March. The winner of the finals will be joining the world's best athletes at the Olympic Games next year.
A 24 Carrot Delight
Yosemite Sam Scrooge, Porky Pig Cratchit and Tweety Pie Tiny Tim, star in Bugs Bunny's own interpretation of A Christmas Carol. While Scrooge sees the light, hope flickers for Wile E. Coyote when he learns roadrunners hate snow ... Executive producer HAL GEER (R)
It's Christmas Eve and all the playroom toys come to life. For Rugby, Apple, Belmont and Mew, the big question is: Who'll be this year's toy, the one the children will love forever?
A HENSON ASSOCIATES production
A Fly in the Pink; The Ant from Uncle; Pinkfinger (R)
Andy Crane - starting with:
Panto-Time!: Mother Goose
by Brian Cant
(R)
(R)
(R)
(Final part on New Year's Eve 4.15pm)
A cartoon based on Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz
There are fairy lights on Snoopy's kennel and the children have decided to put on a play but Charlie Brown still wants to know what Christmas is really about.
(R)
with Mark Curry, Caron Keating, Yvette Fielding
Merry Christmas! Join the team as they celebrate Christmas Hollywood-style, dancing in the footsteps of the stars. There'll be carols round the tree, too, and the very latest news of the Rags Appeal.
Today:
Salt Water Tabby
The Up-standing Sitter Rhapsody Rabbit
with Moira Stuart
The latest pictures, stories and events of the day from Britain and around the world.
Weather BILL GILES
Dear Jim,
Please can you fix it for me to ...
Climb a beanstalk? Build an igloo?
Give Father Christmas his dinner?
Those are just three of the dreams Jimmy Savile fixes in this special Christmas edition. Lighting CHRIS TOWNSEND Sound BOB FOLEY
Designer JOHN BRISTOW Director TONY NEWMAN Producer ROGER ORDISH
For this seasonal special Emlyn Hughes and Bill Beaumont are joined by stars from the world of entertainment. Comedian Bernard Manning makes one of his rare television appearances alongside Emlyn, with 'Christmas greetings' from Peter Howitt -
Joey Boswell from Bread; while the record-breaking Roy Castle joins Bill and controversial cricket writer Frances Edmonds.
David Coleman questions their knowledge of the faces, facts and feats, reviving memories of the greatest - and the funniest - moments in sport.
Producer MIKE ADLEY BBC North West
* CEEFAX SUBTITLES
A Christmas special of sketches and music featuring favourite characters such as Deakus and Josh Yarlog , and a trip down memory lane to 1970-ish.
Starring Lenny Henry Special guests
Robbie Coltrane and Terence Trent D'Arby Written by KIM FULLER
GEOFF ATKINSON. LENNY HENRY
Music SIMON BRINT. JOE DWORNIAK Choreographer NICKY HINKLEY Make-up designer JAN SEWELL
Costume designer SHARON LEWIS Designer ANDREW HOWE-DAVIES Associate producer KIM FULLER Produced and directed by GEOFFPOSNER
* CEEFAX SUBTITLES
starring Tom Selleck Bess Armstrong [stanbul:
Patrick O'Malley , First World War air ace and grizzled drunk, is j) approached by socialite
Eve Tozer to find her father, an eccentric inventor who has been missing for years. O'Malley's problem is that her father was last seen in the bandit-filled wilds of Afghanistan and reported dead, and hopeless causes don't fit in with Patrick's easy life. But Eve is insistent - and beautiful - and, besides, she stands to inherit a fortune ...
An action film featuring the star of television's
Magnum.
Screenplay by SANDRA WEINTRAUB ROLAND and S. LEE POGOSTIN
Produced by FRED WEINTRAUB Directed by BRIAN G. HUTTON
(First showing on British television)
0 FILMS: page 25
*CEEFAX SUBTITLES
with Moira Stuart Weather
and his special guests Howard Keel with Sky
Michala Petri and St Philip 's Choir
As all the family gather at this special time of year,
Val invites you to share this last hour or so of Christmas Eve, when he and . his guests bring you some music, fun and nostalgia. Musical director
RONNIE HAZLEHURST
Musical associate ROGER RICHARDS Written by VAL DOONICAN and CHRIS MILLER
Costume designer LINDA WOODFIELD Sound MIKE FELTON LightingBILL MILLAR DesignJOHN ASBRIDGE Production YVONNE UTTLEWOOD
To mark the historic coming of the Light of the World, the programme joins Merseyside worshippers in Moreton Methodist Church on the Wirral for their candlelit communion service.
Preacher The Rev Dr John Newton , Chairman of the Liverpool District of the Methodist Church Minister
The Rev Wesley Rooney
Hark! The herald angels sing; Silent night; While shepherds watched;
Living Lord; 0 come. all ye faithful; Anthem: Boy of Bethlehem (Boswell) Readings: Micah 5. vv 2-4; Titus 2. VV 11-15; Luke vv 1-20
Musical director HELEN SHEPPARD Organist DAVID HOULDER
Accompanist ARTHUR LEWIS
TV presentation NOEL VINCENT
A simultaneous broadcast with Radio 4. Viewers with stereo Radio 4 may wish to turn off TV sound and position their speakers on either side of the screen, but a few feet away. Stereo headphones provide a suitable alternative.
