Army comedy.
(Black and white) (Repeat)

Continuing the Busby Berkeley season with a musical featuring the work of the legendary choreographer. A struggling producer and three out-of-work dancers team up to put on a new show.
(1933) Black and white
Season continues tomorrow at 6.35am with Dames
See Films: pages 43-76

Classic drama starring Alec Guinness, Robert Newton

When orphan Oliver Twist runs away from the workhouse, he little realises the dangers he will face in London.
(1948, U) (Black and white)
See Films: pages 43-76

Musical starring Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore

Fortune-hunting flapper Millie Dillmount gets mixed up with an eligible bachelor, an aspiring actress, white slavers and a not-so-eligible salesman in this musical spoof of life in the twenties.
(1967) (Subtitled)
See Films: pages 43-76

Placido Domingo and Sarah Brightman star in a concert of traditional festive music featuring the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Gumdpoldskirchner Spatzen Choir conducted by Steven Mercurio. Described by Paul Gambaccini.
The city of Vienna plays host to another seasonal concert on New Year's Day at 11.15am

Mark Wigglesworth travels to snowy St Petersburg to uncover the origins of Shostakovich's massive Leningrad Symphony.
(Stereo)

Luc Bondy's production of Richard Strauss's masterpiece. Starring Catherine Malfitano, Bryn Terfel
James Naughtie introduces one of the highlights of the Royal Opera's season before the house closed for rebuilding.
(The Royal Ballet follows tonight at 7.45pm)

Western, showing in the season of films starring James Stewart

A stranger with a gun and a herd of cattle rides into the gold-mining town of Skagway, where he challenges the man who owns the law and holds it in contempt.
(1955) (Subtitled)
(The James Stewart season continues with The Golden Hour at 8.45am on Monday 29 December)
See Films: pages 43-76 ***

Concluding the series of readings by Simon Callow.

Now almost forgotten, this story was as popular as A Christmas Carol in Dickens's day. He penned this witty and compassionate tale just three days after his mother's burial in 1863 and the central character is believed by many to be a tribute to her.

Followed by Winter on Two
Highlights for BBC2's winter season schedule.

The Royal Ballet perform two ballets of vastly differing styles - George Balanchine's Symphony in C and William Forsythe's Steptext. Recorded in July during the company's last performances before the closure of the Royal Opera House, these ballets show the Royal Ballet at its glittering best, and feature many of its finest principal dancers, including Darcey Bussell, Deborah Bull, Stuart Cassidy, Miyako Yoshida, Bruce Sansom, Christopher Saunders, Leanne Benjamin, William Trevitt, Michael Nunn and Peter Abegglen.

Audience, staff and dancers also look back over 50 years of performances and forward to the new theatre's reopening.
(Stereo)

With the debate on fox hunting gaining particular topicality, this documentary, in the Under the Sun series,looks at how the controversial issue, which conjures up quintessential images of traditional rural England for some and an outdated and barbaric practice for others, is under threat.
As the political battle over banning hunting rages, this programme shows graphic pictures of the digging out and shooting of foxes, and the disposal of retired hounds. But for hunt servant Simon Hall, it all reflects the unforgiving laws of nature they see around them.

Seasonal episode from 1974 of the classic comedy about a rag-and-bone man and his terminally frustrated son.

In their own inimitable style, Harold and Albert make plans to spend Christmas abroad.
(Repeat) (Stereo)

Another visit to the the celebrity-populated avenues of Surbiton.
(The series continues on Sunday at 11.25pm) (Stereo)

Drama starring Albert Finney, Greta Scacchi, Matthew Modine

The touching tale of an austere classics schoolmaster, about to retire due to poor health, who is forced to re-examine the successes and failures of his life, both as a teacher and a husband. Based on the play by Terence Rattigan.
(Showing in widescreen format)
(1994, 15)
See Films: pages 43-76

Continuing the season of fifties science-fiction films.

Caught in the shockwaves from a bomb test, Lieutenant Colonel Glenn Manning begins to grow at the rate often feet per day. Realising that his heart will explode unless they halt the growth, doctors look for a cure.
(1957, PG) (Black and white)
(The season continues tomorrow with The Incredible Shrinking Man at 12 midnight)
See Films: pages 43-76 *

Followed by Weatherview