Box-Eyed: 12 Treats of Christmas
12. Steve Coogan: The Inside Story
(BBC2, 27 December - 9pm)
He's become one of our brightest comedy exports in recent times, so Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer present this special look at comedy-actor Steve Coogan's career. Featuring clips from Coogan's favourite characters -- Alan Partridge, Paul and Pauline Calf, Tommy Saxondale and Tony Ferrino. Julia Davis also appears in some new sketches filmed just for this special. Followed by the Alan Partridge's 1995 festive special Knowing Me, Knowing Yule.
11. The Turn Of The Screw
(BBC1, 30 December - 9pm)
The classic ghost story by Henry James is transferred to the 1920s in this 90-minute special about a young governess who arrives to care for two orphaned children in a country house, only to sense the presence of evil. Stars Michelle Dochery, Sue Johnston, Dan Stevens, Nicola Walker & Eva Sayer.
10. Hamlet
(BBC2, Boxing Day - 5.05pm)
A big reason why fans had to make do with special episodes of Doctor Who this year, David Tennant's much-publicized return to the stage saw him play Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company. The play has been specially filmed for television, so now everyone interested to see Tennant in "serious mode" will get that opportunity. Also stars Patrick Stewart as Claudius.
9. An Englishman In New York
(ITV1, 28 December - 9pm)
John Hurt returns to play Quentin Crisp, in a sequel to classic drama The Naked Civil
Servant from 1975. This drama tells the story of Crisp in later life, as he moves from Britain to New York, to become something of an icon for the straight and gay American community.
8. The Royle Family: The Golden Egg Cup
(BBC1/BBC HD, Christmas Day – 9pm)
The slovenly family are back for another special, which revolves around Jim and Barbara debating what to do with a cash gift from their kids – holiday abroad or buy a HD digibox?
7. The Gruffalo
(BBC1/BBC HD, Christmas Day - 5.30pm)
Last year the BBC gave us another Wallace & Gromit adventure, but this year the kid's animation must-see is an adaptation of Julia Donaldson's popular book The Gruffalo. The story concerns a shrewd mouse's journey through a forest, evading many dangerous animals with his tale of a frightening "gruffalo". Voices by James Corden and Robbie Coltrane.
6. Victoria Wood's Midlife Crisis
(BBC1/BBC HD, Christmas Eve - 9pm)
The popular comedian and writer returns for a festive sketch show special, featuring spoof of Lark Rise To Candleford and The Apprentice. Woods is joined by Celia Imrie and Julie Walters, as expected, but there are also guest appearances from Anton Du Beke, Reece Shearsmith, Delia Smith and Torvill and Dean.
5. Catherine Tate: Nan's Christmas Carol
(BBC1/BBC HD, Christmas Day – 10.30pm)
It wouldn't be Christmas without a British comedy character being involved in an obvious but good-natured parody of Charles' Dickens' classic. I doubt anything will beat Blackadder's Christmas Carol, but Tate's foulmouthed grandmother should make for an entertaining Scrooge substitute. Appearances by the likes of David Tennant, Roger Lloyd-Pack and Ben Miller only add to the fun.
4. Ant & Dec's Christmas Show
(ITV1, Boxing Day - 7.30pm)
The popular double-act aim to keep the nation entertaining post-Christmas Day with a comedy and entertainment special, featuring performances from Robbie Williams (who may also take part in recreating some Morecambe & Wise sketches), Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan play party games, and there's plenty of interaction with the live audience.
3. Top Gear: Bolivia
(BBC2/BBC HD, 27 December - 7.45pm)
Another Christmas specials find Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May off on another foreign adventure, this time to Bolivia. Once there they have to drive from the middle of the Amazonian rainforest to the coast of Chile, using rusty old 4x4's costing around £2,000.
2. The Day Of The Triffids
(BBC1/BBC HD, 28 & 29 December - 9pm)
A modern update of John Wyndham's classic post-apocalyptic novel written in 1951, whereby nearly everyone on the planet are blinded after watching a global meteor shower (now a cosmic storm), leaving the world's population struggling to defend themselves from walking, cannibal plants called Triffids. Stars Dougray Scott as Bill Masen, a man who avoided going blind because he was hospitalized in bandages at the time. Co-stars include Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave, Eddie Izzard and Joely Richardson.
1. Doctor Who: "The End Of Time"
(BBC1/BBC HD, Christmas Day - 6pm & New Year's Day - 6.40pm)
Once again, Doctor Who is by far the season's most eagerly-awaited TV treat. And this two-part special is going to be particularly exciting because it not only heralds the return of John Simm as The Doctor's arch-nemesis, The Master, but it's also the last adventure for the tenth incarnation of the intrepid Time Lord, as David Tennant steps down to be replaced by Matt Smith next year. Can Russell T. Davies keep everything razor-sharp and exciting for the Doc's swansong, or will it fall prey to being overstuffed and rambling?
.....
If you enjoyed Box-Eyed, why not head over to Dan's Media Digest for more entertainment-related news, reviews and musings?
(BBC2, Boxing Day - 5.05pm)
A big reason why fans had to make do with special episodes of Doctor Who this year, David Tennant's much-publicized return to the stage saw him play Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company. The play has been specially filmed for television, so now everyone interested to see Tennant in "serious mode" will get that opportunity. Also stars Patrick Stewart as Claudius.
9. An Englishman In New York
(ITV1, 28 December - 9pm)
John Hurt returns to play Quentin Crisp, in a sequel to classic drama The Naked Civil
Servant from 1975. This drama tells the story of Crisp in later life, as he moves from Britain to New York, to become something of an icon for the straight and gay American community.
8. The Royle Family: The Golden Egg Cup
(BBC1/BBC HD, Christmas Day – 9pm)
The slovenly family are back for another special, which revolves around Jim and Barbara debating what to do with a cash gift from their kids – holiday abroad or buy a HD digibox?
7. The Gruffalo
(BBC1/BBC HD, Christmas Day - 5.30pm)
Last year the BBC gave us another Wallace & Gromit adventure, but this year the kid's animation must-see is an adaptation of Julia Donaldson's popular book The Gruffalo. The story concerns a shrewd mouse's journey through a forest, evading many dangerous animals with his tale of a frightening "gruffalo". Voices by James Corden and Robbie Coltrane.
6. Victoria Wood's Midlife Crisis
(BBC1/BBC HD, Christmas Eve - 9pm)
The popular comedian and writer returns for a festive sketch show special, featuring spoof of Lark Rise To Candleford and The Apprentice. Woods is joined by Celia Imrie and Julie Walters, as expected, but there are also guest appearances from Anton Du Beke, Reece Shearsmith, Delia Smith and Torvill and Dean.
5. Catherine Tate: Nan's Christmas Carol
(BBC1/BBC HD, Christmas Day – 10.30pm)
It wouldn't be Christmas without a British comedy character being involved in an obvious but good-natured parody of Charles' Dickens' classic. I doubt anything will beat Blackadder's Christmas Carol, but Tate's foulmouthed grandmother should make for an entertaining Scrooge substitute. Appearances by the likes of David Tennant, Roger Lloyd-Pack and Ben Miller only add to the fun.
4. Ant & Dec's Christmas Show
(ITV1, Boxing Day - 7.30pm)
The popular double-act aim to keep the nation entertaining post-Christmas Day with a comedy and entertainment special, featuring performances from Robbie Williams (who may also take part in recreating some Morecambe & Wise sketches), Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan play party games, and there's plenty of interaction with the live audience.
3. Top Gear: Bolivia
(BBC2/BBC HD, 27 December - 7.45pm)
Another Christmas specials find Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May off on another foreign adventure, this time to Bolivia. Once there they have to drive from the middle of the Amazonian rainforest to the coast of Chile, using rusty old 4x4's costing around £2,000.
2. The Day Of The Triffids
(BBC1/BBC HD, 28 & 29 December - 9pm)
A modern update of John Wyndham's classic post-apocalyptic novel written in 1951, whereby nearly everyone on the planet are blinded after watching a global meteor shower (now a cosmic storm), leaving the world's population struggling to defend themselves from walking, cannibal plants called Triffids. Stars Dougray Scott as Bill Masen, a man who avoided going blind because he was hospitalized in bandages at the time. Co-stars include Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave, Eddie Izzard and Joely Richardson.
1. Doctor Who: "The End Of Time"
(BBC1/BBC HD, Christmas Day - 6pm & New Year's Day - 6.40pm)
Once again, Doctor Who is by far the season's most eagerly-awaited TV treat. And this two-part special is going to be particularly exciting because it not only heralds the return of John Simm as The Doctor's arch-nemesis, The Master, but it's also the last adventure for the tenth incarnation of the intrepid Time Lord, as David Tennant steps down to be replaced by Matt Smith next year. Can Russell T. Davies keep everything razor-sharp and exciting for the Doc's swansong, or will it fall prey to being overstuffed and rambling?
.....
If you enjoyed Box-Eyed, why not head over to Dan's Media Digest for more entertainment-related news, reviews and musings?
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