Telly Talk: Xmas bonus
Got your highlighter pen ready? Or – if you’re more of a new school kind of viewer – your finger on the Tivo ‘record’ button? As well as the oodles of regular Christmas films that will be on the TV and under the tree wrapped in brightly coloured paper, there are loads of one-off special programmes fighting for your attention. Some are repeats, some are the latest version of classics, and others are brand new. Just like the presents under the tree.
“Grandma may always bagsy The Queen’s Speech to slip into through her turkey fug…”
Returning favourites doesn’t necessarily mean repeats. Grandma may always baggsy The Queen’s Speech to slip into through her turkey fug, but equally this Christmas’s Doctor Who special promises much in the wake of the year’s 50th birthday celebrations of the programme, and IMDb (internet movie database online) is currently listing Peter Capaldi and Matt Smith as appearing in that episode, so who knows what could happen!
More returning goodies include the much lauded next ‘series’ of Sherlock. So to recap, at the end of the last lot Sherlock was seen in a heap on the ground apparently killed by the fall from a rooftop – much as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s own detective was presumed dead having fallen into a waterfall whilst tussling with Moriarty, only to turn up again due to popular demand. We didn’t see the body of the 19th century Holmes, so quite how he’s going to get away with a contemporary resuscitation will be very interesting.
Plus, of course, a very magical Downton Abbey at Christmas. Who wouldn’t want to put their stocking up in front of one of those fireplaces? With a chance to have an actual feast come up from those kitchens, and even gladder glad rags upstairs, it truly will be a most opulent and lavish affair. Actually, best not mention affairs in this house…
Something that’s been away so long it’s almost a spin-off of itself in its new guise is the much anticipated Still Open All Hours. In case you hadn’t heard, Granville is back running Arkwrights general store, with Nurse Gladys Emmanuel at that window evoking all kinds of feelings in his young-at-heart-but-slightly-older-now heart. Granville himself now has a young chap to help him, and here’s hoping he has just as much trouble grappling with that vicious till as his boss had.
Brand new telly offers help with the turkey dinner. Yes, really. All seem like too much? Never fear, advice is on hand from Let’s Do Christmas, with Gino and Mel offering a culinary food countdown to the day itself.
Of course the Snowman And Snowdog is back, as ever, along with countless other favourites. As much a part of Christmas as Grandad’s snores, a gathering in front of the telly with a tin of Quality Street and the leftover mince pies warms the cockles and quiets the family. The washing up can wait. Ironically, the TARDIS never will.
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