Christmas TV

The Christmas break is always the perfect excuse to relax with classic films, although, if your year has seen you working from home since March, there may well have been plenty of opportunities to have a vintage film on, in the background of course, throughout 2020.

Thankfully there are a fair few greats being shown this Christmas & New Year, along with some new TV productions to look forward to.

From classic British comedies by the Carry On Team and Ealing Studios to cult films, there’s hopefully something for everyone in amongst the Christmas programming.

In normal times, the Art & Hue Christmas TV guide would list airings closer to Christmas but it may be some of you are using up your holiday leave ahead of the festive period so the listings start from the 12th.

Here are some films & TV shows well worth catching, recording, or relaxing with over the coming festive days:

Date	Time	Channel	Film
12th DEC 2020	14:00 pm	BBC Two	Half a Sixpence Period romantic comedy musical with location shooting on Eastbourne seafront and Tunbridge Well’s Pantiles.
12th DEC 2020	22:30 pm	BBC Four	The Shadows at 60 Another chance to see the excellent documentary marking The Shadows’ influence on British music.
12th DEC 2020	23:30 pm	BBC Four	Sir Cliff at the BBC Clips of Cliff Richard’s performances across the years.
13th DEC 2020
13th DEC 2020	11:00 am	Talking Pictures	Brothers in Law with Terry-Thomas, Richard Attenborough, Ian Carmichael, & Irene Handl
13th DEC 2020	12:55 pm	Talking Pictures	The Duke Wore Jeans with Tommy Steele.
14th DEC 2020
14th DEC 2020	18:35 pm	Talking Pictures	Jigsaw with archetypal policeman Jack Warner and great location shots of Brighton.
14th DEC 2020	21:00 pm	TCM	Get Carter with Michael Caine, Ian Hendry,Britt Ekland, & the iconic Trinity Square car park.
14th DEC 2020	22:00 pm	Talking Pictures	Lady Godiva Rides Again with Diana Dors, Stanley Holloway, Sid James, Dennis Price, Alastair Sim, & Joan Collins.
15th DEC 2020
15th DEC 2020	18:25 pm	Talking Pictures	The Smallest Show on Earth with Peter Sellers & Margaret Rutherford
15th DEC 2020	22:15 pm	Talking Pictures	Machine Gun McCain with Britt Ekland, scenes of Las Vegas, and a cracking Ennio Morricone score.
16th DEC 2020
16th DEC 2020	10:30 am	Talking Pictures	Double Bunk with Liz Fraser, Janette Scott, Sid James, & Ian Carmichael.
16th DEC 2020	14:30 pm	Talking Pictures	Clockwise with John Cleese.
17th DEC 2020
17th DEC 2020	00:25 am	Talking Pictures	Orders are Orders with Peter Sellers, Tony Hancock, & Sid James.
17th DEC 2020	13:05 pm	Film4	Carry On Spying with the Carry On gang plus Bernard Cribbins and Barbara Windsor‘s first Carry On appearance.
17th DEC 2020	13:45 pm	BBC Two	Talking Pictures: David Niven Clips of the actor’s chat show appearances over the years.
17th DEC 2020	14:30 pm	Talking Pictures	The Happiest Days of your Life St. Trinian’s precursor with Alastair Sim, Joyce Grenfell, & Margaret Rutherford.
17th DEC 2020	22:00 pm	Talking Pictures	Up the Junction with Dennis Waterman & Liz Fraser.
17th DEC 2020	22:00 pm & 23:00pm	BBC Four	Dusty A double-bill of Dusty with “Dusty Springfield at the BBC” at 10pm followed by an episode of her own show “Dusty” at 11pm.
18th DEC 2020
18th DEC 2020	12:20 pm	Talking Pictures	The Saint: The Fiction-Makers with Roger Moore as Simon Templar.
19th DEC 2020
19th DEC 2020	13:05 pm	BBC Two	Around the World in 80 Days with David Niven
19th DEC 2020	16.20 pm	Channel 5	Scrooge: A Christmas Carol with Alastair Sim
19th DEC 2020	From 18.10pm	BBC Two	Michael Caine Night A full evening of Michael Caine starting with 18.10pm “The Eagle has Landed”, “The Many Faces of Michael Caine” at 20.20pm, the long-awaited terrestrial debut of “My Generation” at 21.20pm, then ‘Educating Rita” at 22.40pm.
19th DEC 2020	23.30 pm	Talking Pictures	Smashing Time with great shots filmed on Carnaby Street in front of John Stephen’s shop called Trecamp, (which partly inspired Austin Powers, even down to casting Michael York), it includes Valerie Leon‘s first film credit, Irene Handl, & Ian Carmichael.
20th DEC 2020
20th DEC 2020	11.00 am	Talking Pictures	Wonderful Life Cliff Richard musical.
20th DEC 2020	11.00 am	Radio 4	Desert Island Discs Sir Cliff returns to the desert island for this new recording.
20th DEC 2020	11:00 am	Film4	Carry On Spying with the Carry On gang plus Bernard Cribbins and Barbara Windsor‘s first Carry On appearance.
20th DEC 2020	13:15 pm	Talking Pictures	Kind Hearts & Coronets Classic Ealing comedy with Joan Greenwood & Dennis Price.
20th DEC 2020	16:40 pm	Film4	Carry On Regardless Comedy with the Carry On gang & Liz Fraser.
20th DEC 2020	21:00 pm	Channel 5	Victoria Wood: In her own words A new documentary about the incredible comedy writer & actress.
20th DEC 2020	23:20 pm	TCM	Get Carter with Michael Caine & Britt Ekland.
21st DEC 2020
21st DEC 2020	10.50 am	BBC Two	Viva Las Vegas Fun Elvis Presley musical in Las Vegas.
21st DEC 2020	10.50 am	ITV3	On the Buses The first film outing for the classic sitcom characters.
22nd DEC 2020
22nd DEC 2020	01.40 am	Talking Pictures	No Sex Please, We’re British Farce with Ronnie Corbett, Valerie Leon, and Beryl Reid.
22nd DEC 2020	10.50 am	ITV3	Holiday on the Buses The third film outing sees the On the Buses gang visit Pontins in Prestatyn.
22nd DEC 2020	21.00 pm	BBC Four	Mother Love: Part 1 A welcome (and overdue) airing of the powerful 1989 drama starring Diana Rigg & David McCallum.
22nd DEC 2020	22.45 pm	BBC Four	Face to Face with Dame Diana Rigg Dame Diana Rigg interview from 1997, when she was in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” at The Aldwych Theatre.
23rd DEC 2020
23rd DEC 2020	01.35 am	Talking Pictures	Up the Chastity Belt Frankie Howerd comedy
23rd DEC 2020	10.30 am	Talking Pictures	Miss Robin Hood with Margaret Rutherford
23rd DEC 2020	10.50 am	ITV3	Mutiny on the Buses The second film outing for the bus crew, with On the Buses visiting a safari park.
23rd DEC 2020	11.30 am	Channel 5	Scrooge: A Christmas Carol with Alastair Sim
23rd DEC 2020	21.00 pm	BBC Four	Mother Love: Part 2 The concluding part of the classic drama with David McCallum for which Diana Rigg won a BAFTA.
23rd DEC 2020	22.45 pm	BBC Four	Mark Lawson talks to Dame Diana Rigg Dame Diana Rigg interview.
23rd DEC 2020	22.00 pm	Talking Pictures	Who Dares Wins with Lewis Collins
24th DEC 2020
24th DEC 2020	19.45 pm	BBC Four	Viva Las Vegas Fun Elvis Presley musical in Las Vegas.
24th DEC 2020	20.00 pm	Talking Pictures	Ooh… You Are Awful with Dick Emery
24th DEC 2020	21.05 pm	BBC Four	Elvis: the rebirth of the King Elvis Presley documentary
25th DEC 2020
25th DEC 2020	15.00 pm	BBC One	The Queen’s Speech The Annual Christmas tradition of The Queen‘s Christmas message
25th DEC 2020	15.05 pm	Talking Pictures	Scrooge: A Christmas Carol with Alastair Sim
25th DEC 2020	16.40 pm	ITV4	The Pink Panther Classic comedy with Peter Sellers, David Niven, Claudia Cardinale, & Capucine.
25th DEC 2020	19.45 pm	Sky Arts	Elvis Night on Sky Arts Elvis Presley Evening from 19:45pm
25th DEC 2020	20.20 pm	BBC Two	Victoria Wood’s All Day Breakfast A welcome repeat of the 1992 Christmas Special.
25th DEC 2020	21.20 pm	BBC Two	Victoria Wood: The Secret List Part One of a new show featuring Victoria Wood’s preferred sketches.
26th DEC 2020
26th DEC 2020	02.05 am	ITV3	Holiday on the Buses The third film outing sees the On the Buses gang visit Pontins in Prestatyn.
26th DEC 2020	03.50 am	ITV3	On the Buses The first film outing for the classic sitcom characters.
26th DEC 2020	10.50 am	ITV3	Carry On Cruising Time for a flo-dear cocktail.
26th DEC 2020	11.15 am	Talking Pictures	The Likely Lads Film version of the classic sitcom.
26th DEC 2020	16.00 pm	ITV3	Carry On Jack Classic nautical comedy
26th DEC 2020	19.30 pm	ITV3	Carry On Screaming Frying tonight!
26th DEC 2020	21.05 pm	BBC Two	Victoria Wood: The Secret List Part Two of Victoria Wood‘s preferred sketches.
26th DEC 2020	21.30 pm	ITV3	Carry On Cleo Infamy, infamy!
26th DEC 2020	22.05 pm	BBC Two	Victoria Wood Live Classic stand-up performance by Victoria Wood from 1997.
26th DEC 2020	23.20 pm	ITV3	On the Buses The first film outing for the classic sitcom characters.
27th DEC 2020
27th DEC 2020	01.00 am	ITV3	Holiday on the Buses The third film outing sees the On the Buses gang visit Pontins in Prestatyn.
27th DEC 2020	02.45 am	ITV3	Mutiny on the Buses The second film outing for the bus crew, with On the Buses visiting a safari park.
27th DEC 2020	11:00 am	Film4	Carry On Regardless Comedy with the Carry On gang & Liz Fraser.
27th DEC 2020	21.00 pm	BBC One	Black Narcissus Part one of the anticipated TV adaptation starring Dame Diana Rigg.
27th DEC 2020	22.00 pm	Talking Pictures	Ten Little Indians Agatha Christie adaptation with Shirley Eaton, Stanley Holloway, Dennis Price, and the voice of Christopher Lee.
28th DEC 2020
28th DEC 2020	09.55 am	BBC Two	Evil Under The Sun Dames Maggie Smith & Diana Rigg spar in this Agatha Christie adaptation
28th DEC 2020	13.20 pm	BBC Two	Sean Connery: Talking Pictures Clips of Sean Connery interviews across the years
28th DEC 2020	14.10 pm	BBC Two	Murder on the Orient Express Classic Agatha Christie adaptation with an all-star cast including Sean Connery, Lauren Bacall, & Rachel Roberts.
28th DEC 2020	16.15 pm	BBC Two	Death on the Nile An all-star cast, including David Niven, Maggie Smith, and Bette Davis, star in this Agatha Christie adaptation
28th DEC 2020	21.00 pm	BBC One	Black Narcissus Part two of the anticipated TV adaptation starring Diana Rigg.
28th DEC 2020	21.00 pm	BBC Four	Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! Michael Sheen stars as the comedy legend.
28th DEC 2020	22.20 pm	BBC Four	Comic Roots: Kenneth Williams From the archives, Kenneth walks us through where he grew up.
28th DEC 2020	23.50 pm	Talking Pictures	Ten Little Indians Agatha Christie adaptation with Shirley Eaton, Stanley Holloway, Dennis Price, and the voice of Christopher Lee.
29th DEC 2020
29th DEC 2020	02.25 pm	BBC Four	Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! Michael Sheen stars as the comedy legend.
29th DEC 2020	11:00 am	Film4	Carry On Sergeant The first film which launched the successful comedy film series.
29th DEC 2020	13.30 pm	TCM	Murder on the Gallop with Margaret Rutherford
29th DEC 2020	21.00 pm	BBC One	Black Narcissus The concluding part of the TV adaptation starring Diana Rigg.
30th DEC 2020
30th DEC 2020	11:00 am	Film4	Carry On Teacher School comedy with the Carry On gang.
30th DEC 2020	14.30 pm	Talking Pictures	The Green Man Classic comedy with Terry-Thomas & Alastair Sim.
31st DEC 2020
31st DEC 2020	10.30 am	Talking Pictures	Jumping for Joy Racing comedy with Frankie Howerd, Danny Green, & Stanley Holloway.
31st DEC 2020	11:00 am	Film4	Carry On Cabby Classic taxi comedy.
31st DEC 2020	17.40 pm	ITV4	The Pink Panther Classic comedy with Peter Sellers, David Niven, Claudia Cardinale, & Capucine.
31st DEC 2020	18.50 pm	Talking Pictures	Dead of Night Influential & respected horror anthology with Basil Radford & Naunton Wayne.
1st JAN 2021
1st JAN 2021	11:00 am	Film4	Carry On Nurse The first hospital Carry On film. Daffodils at the ready.
1st JAN 2021	12.45 pm	BBC Two	Talking Pictures DAMES Clips of iconic Dames in interviews, including Maggie Smith & Diana Rigg.
1st JAN 2021	19.00 pm	Sky Arts	Comedy Legends: Sid James Documentary about the iconic actor and comedy legend.
1st JAN 2021	22.00 pm	Talking Pictures	Ten Little Indians Agatha Christie adaptation with Shirley Eaton, Stanley Holloway, Dennis Price, and the voice of Christopher Lee.
1st JAN 2021	23.25 pm	Talking Pictures	Play it Cool with Billy Fury & Helen Shapiro
2nd JAN 2021
2nd JAN 2021	11:00 am	Talking Pictures	They Came From Beyond Space 60s British sci-fi.
2nd JAN 2021	20:30 pm	BBC Two	Amazing Grace The terrestrial premiere of the concert documentary starring the Queen of Soul.

As well as the films & TV shows listed above, ITV3 & ITV4 continue to air episodes of “George & Mildred” and “Man About the House” starring Yootha Joyce, “The Saint” with Roger Moore, “The Protectors” with Robert Vaughn, The Professionals, The Sweeney, and Minder throughout the festive period.