moonstorm
24-11-2008, 14:22
The BBC is promising viewers "the very best in entertainment for all the family" this Christmas with a collection of seasonal specials from favourite programmes.
Christmas specials for Gavin And Stacey, The Royle Family, Strictly Come Dancing, Shooting Stars, My Family, Rab C Nesbitt, Peter Serafinowicz and Lead Balloon all feature in a Christmas schedule, which also includes Top Of The Pops one-offs on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, and a Top Gear special from Vietnam.
Blackadder also returns for a one-off documentary – Blackadder Rides Again.
Music and performance feature on BBC Two and BBC Four with sumptuous fairytale opera Hansel And Gretel; the New Year's Day Concert, live from Vienna; composer Howard Goodall exploring The Truth About Carols and actor Simon Russell Beale telling the story of one of the most popular pieces of sacred music ever written in Sacred Music: The Story Of Allegri's Misere.
Drama includes The 39 Steps starring Rupert Penry Jones; a special edition of Doctor Who; the ghost story Crooked House; as well as an explosive Christmas cracker for the Mitchells in EastEnders.
Wallace And Gromit return to the small screen with a special new adventure for BBC One, A Matter Of Loaf and Death.
Lark Rise To Candleford is also back with a seasonal tale and Alan Davies reprises his role as Jonathan Creek with new mystery to solve.
There are a number of new films, including the television premieres of Finding Nemo, Shark Tale, Wallace And Gromit In The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, Superman Returns, The Chronicles Of Narnia – The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, Pirates Of The Caribbean – Dead Man's Chest, Madagascar and Starter For Ten.
Launching the season today, Jana Bennett, Director of BBC Vision, said: "We've really pulled out all the stops this year to ensure a truly wonderful holiday schedule featuring the very best of British talent in a great line-up of exciting seasonal specials, from The Royle Family and Gavin And Stacey to Shooting Stars and Strictly Come Dancing.
"With exciting drama including The 39 Steps and Wallace and Gromit's A Matter Of Loaf And Death as well as stunning performance from Hansel And Gretel to Sacred Music there really is something for everyone.
"The whole family will be able to sit back, relax and let the BBC entertain them.
"And, of course, viewers can always catch up on BBC iPlayer if they miss out – while many programmes will be shown on BBC HD."
Christmas specials for Gavin And Stacey, The Royle Family, Strictly Come Dancing, Shooting Stars, My Family, Rab C Nesbitt, Peter Serafinowicz and Lead Balloon all feature in a Christmas schedule, which also includes Top Of The Pops one-offs on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, and a Top Gear special from Vietnam.
Blackadder also returns for a one-off documentary – Blackadder Rides Again.
Music and performance feature on BBC Two and BBC Four with sumptuous fairytale opera Hansel And Gretel; the New Year's Day Concert, live from Vienna; composer Howard Goodall exploring The Truth About Carols and actor Simon Russell Beale telling the story of one of the most popular pieces of sacred music ever written in Sacred Music: The Story Of Allegri's Misere.
Drama includes The 39 Steps starring Rupert Penry Jones; a special edition of Doctor Who; the ghost story Crooked House; as well as an explosive Christmas cracker for the Mitchells in EastEnders.
Wallace And Gromit return to the small screen with a special new adventure for BBC One, A Matter Of Loaf and Death.
Lark Rise To Candleford is also back with a seasonal tale and Alan Davies reprises his role as Jonathan Creek with new mystery to solve.
There are a number of new films, including the television premieres of Finding Nemo, Shark Tale, Wallace And Gromit In The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, Superman Returns, The Chronicles Of Narnia – The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, Pirates Of The Caribbean – Dead Man's Chest, Madagascar and Starter For Ten.
Launching the season today, Jana Bennett, Director of BBC Vision, said: "We've really pulled out all the stops this year to ensure a truly wonderful holiday schedule featuring the very best of British talent in a great line-up of exciting seasonal specials, from The Royle Family and Gavin And Stacey to Shooting Stars and Strictly Come Dancing.
"With exciting drama including The 39 Steps and Wallace and Gromit's A Matter Of Loaf And Death as well as stunning performance from Hansel And Gretel to Sacred Music there really is something for everyone.
"The whole family will be able to sit back, relax and let the BBC entertain them.
"And, of course, viewers can always catch up on BBC iPlayer if they miss out – while many programmes will be shown on BBC HD."