Well hello and welcome to Part Two so pour yourself a glass of mulled wine, grab a mince pie or two and lets celebrate or discover in despair what TV gems or TV dross is here for Christ Eve.
As always lets start with BBC1 and once again the kids are alright up until lunchtime of course unless you’re having to drag them round whilst you brace yourselves for the final pieces of Christmas Shopping. Ive been dragged around doing the Christmas shop and if you’ve been unlucky to be suffering with a cold as I did once, Tesco I can assure that everything doesnt help as you drag yourself round in tow with your apparent beloved who is not in a happy mood.
Anyway before I digress, lets get back to what we are here for, Christmas Eve tv. It’s a bit of Nigella for lunch followed by Songs of Praise: Carols for Christmas Eve, with that Welsh lad Aled Jones in Sheffield City Hall, apparently. I hope they all get a nice little mince pie or something. I guess they could have found somewhere called St David’s just to try and keep in the theme. Is it me or has Songs of Praise just got earlier and earlier each year. Is this the impending axe being wielded that sees it being shifted from BBC1 to BBC2
We get Frozen Planet II, a selection of highlights from the second series. You got to enjoy some great nature and the joyous commentary from the legend that is Sir David Attenborough, it will be a sad day when that man leaves this mortal coil. Christmas Eve has something though, I can’t quite put my finger on it…oh hang on.
Yes that’s it of course, the Sunday afternoon movie, and BBC 1 serve up one of my ultimate least favourite films, alright no need to say that, I can here you. Im just not a big musicals fan. The movie of course is that Oscar winning movie, The Sound of Music and of course it wouldn’t be a festive\Bank Holiday tv listing without the the 1965 movie. Yes that film is coming up to 50 years, I imagine they are getting ready for all the celebrations for tv no doubt.
The usual news placings see the channel revert to a more familiar Sunday evening viewing. Countryfile with a Christmas special plus Antiques Roadshow at Christmas. For Antiques Roadshow read Fiona revisits some memorable stories just to fill the TV space. The Repair Shop gets a special and rightly so. The team on this show are absolutely brilliant and one of the best. In this special, up for restoration is a mechanical Christmas cake invention, which apparently dates back to the 1940s. That will be worth a watch no doubt.
It’s time to wind down for the evening with Beyond Paradise, it’s a one off Christmas episode. Can’t say Ive seen it although it does apparently have Kris Marshall, yes the one who everyone wanted to see as Dr Who apparently, we certainly escaped that horror. In this case maybe he just likes Paradise..The read up looks like it could be more suited to a comedy or a children’s show.
Talking of comedy, it’s the Not Going Out Christmas Special which is also episode 100. I thought this might have come to an end having run its course. It was good at one point especially with Tim Vine in the show, but surely time to put this one to bed.
Talking of bed, you can’t go to bed just yet, not if you’re watching BBC1 and a footy fan. After the news, there’s a shortened edition of Match of The Day 2 followed by the obligatory Midnight Mass which is live from Portsmouth.
Flicking to BBC2. It’s cooking from 9.20, the kids arent getting much from BBC 2 unless they want to watch a repeat of last weeks Countryfile at 7.35. Instead its a double helping of James Martin and then another slice of Nigella. Remember folks Nigella isn’t just for Christmas although I rarely see her any other time..it would help though if I watched a bit more television as she might well be on through out the year.
Now here we go, it’s time to start feeling a little more Christmassy. At one o’clock, it’s Bing time, no no, put that bottle and glass away, you can have some later, Im talking about the legendary Bing Crosby in the film White Christmas. It’s not Christmas without a bit of Bing. It’s still a film theme as we delve into a look at the best loved festive films (which will already be on in full to enjoy, so skip this)
Making a second appearance on the Christmas Eve listings is The Sound of Music, this time though the Kanneh-Masons pay tribute to the film in a classical way. Talking of classics, it’s the Carols from King’s. The annual celebration of the Christmas Story.
The brilliant Lucy Worsley brings her series called Killing Sherlock: Lucy Worsley on the Case of Conan Doyle, where she takes a look at why the creator brought back the world famous detective. It’s more Sherlock next with a Ghost Story for Christmas, as Mark Gatiss brings the story Lot No 249 to life with the Game of Thrones and Spooks: The Greater Good actor, Kit Harrington. There has to be a ghost story at Christmas and surely they should have more. Naturally BBC 2 like bring in Christmas Day with that absolute festive belter Nine to…, hang on Dolly Parton’s Nine to Five? at 10.30? surely they could have swapped it around. Dolly Parton at least deserves to be on earlier, even just to spring into Christmas Day with a ghost story
ITV, not you as well!. James Martin this time featuring on more than once channel in the morning. You get to watch an episode of his French adventure and his Saturday morning at Christmas. (Christmas Eve is a Sunday guys!)
Wholesome family entertainment again as the animated The Secret Life of Pets is followed by the animated film The Grinch, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch. It’s a quick break for the news before those cheeky Geordies Ant and Dec present a Saturday Night Takeaway with a comedy who dunnit. Something different and it wouldnt have been Christmas without an appearance for the tv pairing.
It’s sequel time and we all know what sequel is necessary at Christmas? Absolutely Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Chaos and caper featuring Culkin, Sterne and Pesci once more. It’s got to be done and it’s absolutely family fun time. It’s Royal Carols next before Roman Kemp hosts a one off Britain Get Singing. This competition springing a light on the subject of mental health, which is something that is close to many of us and difficult for many and sometimes made more difficult for some at this time of year.
ITV brings more Christmas Carols as we enter Christmas Day. This time it’s Jane McDonald in Manchester. She does like to sing a song or two and Christmas she gets to enjoy it with a few others no doubt.
Channel 4 of course open the door to Christmas like it’s not seen it in a long time. An early run out for The Snowman and Snow Dog along with the brilliant Father Christmas narrated by the late great Mel Smith. Fear not though. If you missed it early, Channel 4 show it again nicely squeezed inbetween that all time classic, A Christmas Carol featuring George C Scott. I quite like the Patrick Stewart one, but not sure that’s on anywhere. Really though the best interpretation has to be Muppets Christmas Carol. Absolutely fantastic that.
Channel 4 obliges with the remake of Miracle on 34th Street featuring Richard Attenborough. It’s a great film to watch and one that certainly shouldn’t be missed. It’s 30 years old next year but still as enjoyable.
Mog’s Christmas and The Great Christmas Bake end the festive themed viewing as we get a Gogglebox 2023 Best off to take us to the big day.
Channel 5 closes the Christmas Eve listings flick through and they’ve pulled off a blinder. You’ve got Christmas and some top notch comedy joy. Christmas kicks off the day with the 1951 version of Scrooge with Alistair Sim together with The Man Who Invented Christmas, a film with Dan Stevens and Christopher Plummer. It sets Charles Dickens creating a new book as he struggles with debt.
For those with a bit of a love for romantic comedy, no not Love Actually, it’s The Holiday. The film that features Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black and their attempt to find love as the swap houses acrossed the Atlantic. It’s one film Ive never seen in full, just thought I’d share that.
Ah now for the fun stuff. Sit back and relax, or sit back wrap the presents or watch whilst preparing for the big day. It might what you need to lift the stress. We’ve got some absolute comedy to enjoy. A documentary on The Vicar of Dibley, Bradley Walsh’s second episode where he discusses his comedy heroes and tonights is all about stand up.
Then of course, it wouldnt be Christmas without the iconic comedy that is Only Fools and Horses: Greatest Christmas Moments. This is a one off documentary that takes a look at memorable moments from its festive episodes plus Sir David Jason gives an interview, lovely jubbly. This is finished off with Only Fools and Horses :Secrets and Scandals. A look at behind the scenes of the classic comedy.
Well that’s it for the Christmas Eve preview, tomorrow look out for the Christmas Day thoughts and for some, I bring bad news for some.
themusingsofmattdoy.wordpress.com 