±«Óãtv weeks 52/53
20 December 2008-2 January 2009
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A slice of Christmas action from the ±«Óãtv
Picture highlights:
Wallace And Gromit – A Matter Of Loaf And Death ±«Óãtv ONE
Wallace And Gromit get a slice of the action in their latest adventure which sees their bakery, Top Bun, doing a roaring trade – not least because a deadly killer is on the loose Programme copy
Doctor Who – The Next Doctor ±«Óãtv ONE
David Tennant, David Morrissey and Dervla Kirwan star in Russell T Davies's Christmas episode of Doctor Who, as two doctors combine forces in a bid to defeat Miss Hartigan and the Cybermen (Doctor Who At The Proms, a musical odyssey through time and space, hosted by Freema Agyeman, can also be seen over the festive period) Programme copy
The 39 Steps ±«Óãtv ONE
Rupert Penry-Jones stars as Richard Hannay in Lizzie Mickery's adaptation of John Buchan's classic novel, set in the run-up to the outbreak of the First World War Programme copy
Dustbin Baby ±«Óãtv ONE
Juliet Stevenson, David Haig and Dakota Blue Richards star in this powerful family drama based on Jacqueline Wilson's novel about a teenager who sets out to discover where she came from Programme copy
His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales talks to Fiona Bruce about his role in a £45m rescue plan to save Dumfries House, near Cumnock in East Ayrshire Programme copy
Around The World In 20 Years ±«Óãtv ONE
Michael Palin returns to Dubai and Bombay, two of the most memorable destinations from his Around The World In 80 Days trip of 20 years ago, in search of the dhow, captain and crew who helped him on his way Programme copy
Blackadder Rides Again ±«Óãtv ONE
±«Óãtv One has a cunning plan in store this Christmas as Rowan Atkinson and other cast members, including Miranda Richardson, Tim McInnerny and Tony Robinson, remember the phenomenal success of Blackadder, marking the 25th anniversary of the comedy Programme copy
Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special ±«Óãtv ONE
Gavin, Stacey, Smithy and Nessa have a Christmas to remember – and not necessarily in a good way – in a special festive edition of the award-winning comedy (±«Óãtv Three goes behind the scenes at the making of the Christmas episode in Gavin & Stacey – The 12 Days Of Christmas, featuring interviews with all the cast including Mathew Horne, Joanna Page, Ruth Jones and James Corden) Programme copy
Jonathan Creek – The Grinning Man ±«Óãtv ONE
The master of illusion meets his match as Alan Davies and Sheridan Smith star in a one-off special of the award-winning comedy drama Programme copy
Lark Rise To Candleford – Christmas Special ±«Óãtv ONE
Julia Sawalha, Olivia Hallinan, Dawn French, Brendan Coyle and Mark Heap star in a captivating seasonal tale as the heart-warming adaptation of Flora Thomson's charming memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood returns for a new series Programme copy
The Royle Family – The New Sofa ±«Óãtv ONE
Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnston, Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash star as Jim, Barbara, Denise and Dave, who return to contemplate a Royle Christmas ... and a new sofa Programme copy
Top Of The Pops ±«Óãtv ONE
Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates present Top Of The Pops as it returns – for two episodes only – to count down to the Christmas No. 1 and review the year in pop Programme copy
Hansel And Gretel From The Royal Opera House ±«Óãtv TWO
Sir Colin Davis conducts Humperdinck's sumptuous fairy-tale opera, recorded recently at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden Programme copy
New Year's Day Concert 2009 – Live From Vienna ±«Óãtv TWO and ±«Óãtv FOUR
The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performs its annual celebratory concert of waltzes, polkas and marches, conducted for the first time by Argentinean-Israeli pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim Programme copy (±«Óãtv TWO) Programme copy (±«Óãtv FOUR)
Rab C Nesbitt Christmas Special ±«Óãtv TWO
Govan sage Rab C Nesbitt is a changed man in this festive edition of the Scottish comedy starring Gregor Fisher Programme copy
Shooting Stars ±«Óãtv TWO
Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer and Matt Lucas are back for one night only in the cult panel show which first aired 15 years ago (a Shooting Stars Documentary takes a celebratory look back at the series and interviews some of the stars who put themselves in Vic and Bob's firing line, including team captains Will Self and Ulrika Jonsson) Programme copy
Star Of Bethlehem – Behind The Myth ±«Óãtv TWO
Drawing on evidence from as far afield as Rome, Prague, Babylon, Persia and even China, ±«Óãtv Two sheds new light on the story of the Star of Bethlehem and uses state-of-the-art computer imaging techniques to reassess the date of Jesus's birth and investigate the identity of the Wise Men Programme copy
Sacred Music – The Story Of Allegri's Miserere ±«Óãtv FOUR
Simon Russell Beale tells the story behind Allegri's Miserere, one of the most popular pieces of sacred music ever written, in a programme featuring a full performance by award-winning choir The Sixteen, conducted by Harry Christophers (viewers also have another chance to see Beale's landmark Sacred Music series exploring the flowering of Western church music, broadcast earlier this year) Programme copy
3rd & Bird – A Very Squooky Christmas CBEEBIES
Younger viewers are in for a Christmas treat as the residents of 3rd and Bird Street help reunite a little mouse with his parents, singing seasonal songs along the way Programme copy
The Pinky & Perky Show – It's Christmaaaas! C±«Óãtv
The porcine pair are up to their usual tricks in this Christmas special as they realise they might be the little pigs who Santa forgot Programme copy
Advisory note: ±«Óãtv programme week numbers
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Please note that this year the ±«Óãtv has 53 programme weeks – our Week 53 will be Saturday 27 December to Friday 2 January. For some broadcasters this will be Week 1.
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Therefore ±«Óãtv Week numbers throughout 2009 will differ from those of other broadcasters.
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We are making changes to the ±«Óãtv Picture Publicity and ±«Óãtv Press Office websites so that we refer to "±«Óãtv Week Numbers" and, wherever possible, actual dates.
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We will also reflect this in email correspondence and telephone conversations with you.
±«Óãtv Television and Radio Programme Information Christmas pull-up publication dates are now available up to and including Week 4:
The ±«Óãtv Programme Information
team would like to wish its readers a very merry Christmas
and happy New Year.
Wallace And Gromit – A Matter Of Loaf And Death
