BBC CHRISTMAS TV 1969
1969 saw the first ever Double Christmas Issue of the Radio Times
and the first Christmas with Colour programmes on BBC1
and the first Christmas with Colour programmes on BBC1
Saturday 20th December 1969
BBC1 12.00 Weatherman 12.05pm Casey Jones 12.25pm Zokko! 12.45pm Grandstand 4.55pm* Results Service 5.15pm Star Trek 6.05pm The News, Weatherman 6.15pm Simon Dee 6.45pm High Adventure : Film : The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) Première 8.25pm Dixon of Dock Green 9.10pm The Morecambe and Wise Show 10.00pm The News , Weather 10.10pm Match of the Day 11.10pm Braden's Week 11.50pm Weatherman Sunday 21st December 1969 BBC1 9.00am Nai Zindagi-Naya Jeevan 9.30am Closedown 11.00am Seeing and Believing 11.45am Closedown 1.25pm Farming 1.50pm Interval 2.00pm The Education Programme 2.29pm News Headlines 2.30pm Day Time 2.55pm Film Matinee : The World in his Arms (1952) 4.40pm Here's Lucy 5.05pm The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau 5.55pm Ken Dodd and The Diddymen 6.05pm The News , Weatherman 6.15pm Malcolm Muggeridge asks The Question Why 6.55pm Songs of Praise 7.25pm Paul Temple 8.15pm The Sunday Musical : Film : White Christmas (1954) Première 10.10pm The News and Weather 10.20pm Omnibus: Tommy Steele and Things 11.10pm Monty Python's Flying Circus 11.40pm Weatherman Closedown Monday 22nd December 1969 BBC1 1.05pm Addola Dduw 1.25pm Interval 1.30pm Watch with Mother : Chigley 1.45pm The News, Weatherman 1.53pm Closedown 4.40pm Jackanory 4.55pm Blue Peter 5.20pm The Battle of St George Without 5.50pm National News and Weather 6.00pm London This Week 6.20pm Ask the Family 6.45pm Z Cars 7.10pm The Andy Williams Show 8.00pm Panorama 8.50pm The Main News and Weather 9.10pm Take Three Girls 10.00pm Kenneth McKellar 10.30pm 24 Hours 11.05pm Made in Britain 11.20pm Weatherman Closedown Tuesday 23rd December 1969 BBC1 1.00pm Bob yn Dri 1.25pm Interval 1.30pm Watch with Mother : Mary, Mungo & Midge 1.45pm The News, Weatherman 1.53pm Closedown 3.40pm Malcolm Muggeridge asks The Question Why 4.20pm Play School 4.40pm Jackanory 4.55pm Animal Magic 5.20pm Wacky Races 5.44pm Hector's House 5.50pm National News and Weather 6.00pm London - Nationwide 7.15pm The Black and White Minstrel Christmas Show 8.00pm Terry Scott on 'Xmas' 8.50pm The Main News and Weather 9.10pm The Day They Sold Alaska 10.00pm Bombardier Secombe Back among the Boys 10.30pm Christmas Carousel 11.05pm He and She 11.30pm Viewpoint Exiles' Christmas 11.50pm Weatherman Closedown Christmas Eve Wednesday 24th December 1969 BBC1 10.35am Nai Zindagi- Naya Jeevan New Citizens with Christmas Cheer for the Old The Asian community in Glasgow presents a programme of special entertainment to the residents of an old people's home (b&w) 11.05am Here's Lucy Lucille Ball as Lucy Carter, Desi Arnaz Jr and Lucie as her children Craig and Kim Gale Gordon as Harrison Carter Lucy and Tennessee Ernie Ford ... dig that crazy farm! (Repeat) 11.30am The Golden Age of Comedy Highlights of laughter from the studios of Mack Sennett and Hal Roach featuring the most famous comedians of the 1920's : Laurel & Hardy, Harry Langdon, Will Rogers, Ben Turpin, Charlie Chase, Andy Clyde, Billy Bevan, Charlie Murray (b&w) (Repeat) 12.45pm Jackanory with John Stride "The Minstrel and the Mountain" a tale of peace by Jane Yolen with pictures by Anne Rockwell "There were once two foolish kings who lived on opposite sides of a mountain. And as the years passed King Dran became jealous of King Corrin for he had never seen the sun rise. And Corrin was envious of Dran, for he had never seen the sun set ...' (b&w) 1.00pm The Great Sleigh Robbery A cartoon film of the picture book by Michael Foreman Animated by Janik Hastrup A dastardly plot threatens to sabotage Father Christmas (Repeat) 1.10pm Boniface's Holiday A cartoon film from Russia The star performer of the circus, Boniface the African lion, decides to take a holiday in his own country and finds that the holiday is not quite what he expected 1.30pm Watch with Mother : The Herbs 1.45pm The News, Weatherman Bert Foord 1.50pm A "Sky at Night" Special : 1969 - Year of Space "I believe 1969 may turn out the most famous year in all history" So says Patrick Moore who, this afternoon, surveys the space highlights and astronomical achievements of 1969. He shows unique film of a Russian manned space-flight, and interviews leading American space scientists. 2.20pm Film : Star of India (1954) An exciting adventure film starring Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace, Herbert Lom 3.45pm 4472- Flying Scotsman An epitaph for the age of steam Another chance to see this unique film of the Flying Scotsman's dramatic non-stop run from London to Edinburgh on 1 May, 1968 It was 40 years from the day of its first non-stop run that this famous old engine, now privately owned by Alan Pegler, took some 300 railway enthusiasts on a never-to-be-repeated journey (Repeat) 4.25pm Play School (shown at 11.00am on BBC2) 4.50pm The Private Life of the Robin A Christmas forerunner of the new series Private Lives to be shown next spring. The robin is Britain's most popular bird; it strikes up friendships with humans and nests in the unlikeliest places. At Christmas the redbreast on our greetings cards is a messenger of peace and goodwill, but in reality it can be a belligerent defender of its back-garden territory 5.15pm Something Cool A musical blend of ice-skating artistry, featuring The Men's Figure Skating Champion of the World Tim Wood with other members of the USA World Championship team Julie Holmes, Jo Jo Starbuck and Kenneth Shelley also Patricia Dodd, Ladies' Figure Skating Champion of Great Britain, Haig Oundjian Men's Figure Skating Champion of Great Britain and introducing Sandra Stierli and Kenneth Foster The Junior Ice Dance Champions of Great Britain Commentator Alan Weeks, Skating programme arranged by Harry Lauder and staged at the Queens Ice Skating Club, London, in association with the NASA 5.50pm National News and Weather 6.00pm Regional News, Local Weather 6.15pm Carols from King's A Service of Lessons and Carols from the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge 7.00pm The Doctors Written by Dick Sharples starring John Barrie, Richard Leech, Justine Lord with Irene Hamilton. Guest star Wilfred Pickles. Louise Hayman was disappointed over Maurice Rapson's unsuccessful bid to join the Practice. She is therefore not in a festive mood 7.25pm The Gang Show with a cast of 120 members of the Scout and Guide Movement the highlights of the 1969 production 8.15pm Cilla starring Cilla Black Special guest Cliff Richard. Guest star Dusty Springfield with Kenny Everett 's "Review of Pop" 1969 9.05pm The Main News with John Edmunds and the BBC's correspondents and reporters around the world and Weather 9.25pm The Merry Widow with Mary Costa, Jeremy Brett An operetta by Franz Lehar Also starring Joyce Blackham, Ryland Davies Original book by Victor Leon and Leo Stein English version by Christopher Hassall One of the best loved of all operettas, The Merry Widow is set in Paris during the Naughty Nineties. The Ambrosian Opera Chorus, The Pro Arte Orchestra, leader Max Salpeter Conductor, David Lloyd-Jones Grisettes: Jill Martin, Maureen Keetch, Soo Bee Lee, Ann Hood, Canna Kendall, Delatour Hall Dancers: Maureen Sims, Maureen Bright, Maureen Willsher, Janis Mackintosh, Gay Parker, Louanne Richards, Denys Palmer, Paddy McIntyre, Jerry Manley, Leigh Foster, Barrie Wilkinson, Bill Drysdale Associate conductor Gordon Mackie 11.10pm The Spinners at the Phil Tony Davis, Mick Groves, Cliff Hall, and Hugh Jones - accompanied by their audience of 2,000 -invite you to join them in a special Christmas celebration and to sing or just listen to carols and seasonal songs both old and new. The Spinners are a Liverpool folk group who have been operating for over 10 years. They did a series on BBC1 this summer from the Octagon Theatre in Bolton. Famous for audience participation, they will encourage the spectators to join them in their traditional and lesser-known carols. Tonight's programme is part of a concert recorded in the unique atmosphere of the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 11.45pm Christmas Midnight Mass from the Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol Christmas Day Thursday 25th December 1969 BBC1 9.00am On Christmas Day in the Morning The children of: The Christopher Wren School Hammersmith County School St Clement Danes Grammar School Burlington Girls' Grammar School Ellerslie Primary School present an entertainment for Christmas morning 9.30am A Spoonful of Sugar from Stoke Mandeville Hospital with Michael Aspel and Sheila Tracy The patients in this world-famous hospital near Aylesbury meet and talk to famous personalities of their own choice including Father Christmas-1970 style - who drops in to add to the surprises, as does one of Britain's most popular singers 10.00am The News and Weather 10.05am Tom and Jerry playing cat and mouse in a selection from the world-famous award-winning cartoon films : Cat Fishin' 10.15am The Doctors starring John Barrie, Justine Lord, Paul Massie, Wilfred Pickles 10.35am Christmas Morning Service from St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle in the presence of HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal Family 11.45am Rolf Harris invites you to Meet the Kids who are in hospital this Christmas A programme for children to charm adults with Rolf Harris singing, painting, and talking to the patients Also a visit to the house of Coojeebear and a visit from Pooh, Tigger, and Heffalump (from Walt Disney's ' Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day ') with the Bert Hayes Group An outside broadcast direct from Queen Mary's Hospital for Children, Carshalton, Surrey 12.30pm Royal Family A special Christmas showing of the historic documentary film by Richard Cawston This unique picture of a year in the life of the Queen and her family has been acclaimed throughout the world and is already established as a television milestone. For the first time ever, the Royal Family agreed to let a television film team follow them with cameras and microphones not only while carrying out their duties, but in their off-duty moments as well. Richard Cawston's film has captured for the nation today, and for future generations, the events, duties and relaxations that helped to make up the 17th year of the Queen's reign. The film presents scene after scene which have never before been witnessed by the public. The inner workings of Buckingham Palace, on board the Royal Yacht and the Royal Train, behind the scenes at daily events and special occasions, holidays at Balmoral and Sandringham, Christmas at Windsor - all these were recorded in picture and sound as they happened. The Queen is 63rd in a line of Sovereigns stretching back over 1,000 years to the grandfather of Alfred the Great. In all that time there has never been so full and open a revelation of the life the members of the Royal Family lead, and the work they do 2.15pm Top of the Pops '69 Part 1 A round-up of the year's top sellers, featuring discs by The Beatles, Blue Mink, Creedence Clearwater Revival Fleetwood Mac, Marmalade, Thunderclap Newman, Clodagh Rogers, The Rolling Stones, Scaffold, Peter Sarstedt, Zager and Evans. Introductions by Pete Murray and Jimmy Savile 3.00pm Billy Smart's Circus Spectacular New magnificence in the old tradition of the 'Greatest Show on Earth' Guest star Roy Hudd in his element with miming and clowning and speechless introductions to spectacular acts from all over the world from India, The Royal Bengal Tigers Of Charles Illeneb from the USA, King of Cloud Swings The Great Cardona from Italy, The aristocrats of clowning The Fabulous Francescos from England, The world's greatest elephant presentation Billy Smart Jr With 'Jungalero' from Austria, A Circus Superman catching cannonballs The Magnificent Markus from Spain, Flamenco on the double wire The Tonitos Brothers from the Wild West, Whirlwind Red Indian Riders, The 12 Alberts from South Africa, Unique, breathtaking, double Flying Trapeze, The Seven Flying Oscas Finale Mrs Billy Smart and her Magic World of Circus Ringmaster : Major Dick Barton 4.10pm Disney Time Julie Andrews introduces scenes and characters from some of her favourite Walt Disney films - including Mickey Mouse and Pluto, Alice, Winnie the Pooh and Mary Poppins. Films include: Fantasia Jungle Book Swiss Family Robinson Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day King of the Grizzlies 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 101 Dalmatians Pluto's Christmas Tree Mary Poppins Alice in Wonderland 5.00pm Cinderella BBC Television's Christmas pantomime stars Jimmy Tarbuck as Buttons Beryl Reid as Ugly Sister Marlene Anita Harris as Cinderella Jack Tripp as Ugly Sister Florence With Ursula Howells as the Fairy Godmother Ian Paterson as Prince Charming Allen Christie as Dandini Graham Squire as the Baron and a magical appearance of Basil Brush 6.30pm The Main News with Robert Dougall and Weather 6.40pm Save the Children A Christmas appeal by Barbara Mullen on the occasion of the Fund's Jubilee. The Save the Children Fund has projects in 28 countries at a cost of £6,000 per day. Barbara Mullen visited one of these projects, and talks tonight about some of the children helped by SCF 6.45pm Christmas Night with the Stars introduced by Val Doonican A gala programme featuring stars of BBC Light Entertainment in 1969 The stars include: Moira Anderson Cilla Black Roy Castle Wendy Craig Rolf Harris Mary Hopkin Lulu Kenneth McKellar Kenneth Williams The Young Generation Choreography : Douglas Squire and Dad's Army, Dick Emery, Marty, Kenneth McKellar and Moira Anderson, Not in Front of the Children, Monty Python's Flying Circus, The Cliff Adams Singers 8.15pm The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show A laughter-packed holiday special starring Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, with guests Susan Hampshire, Frankie Vaughan, Nina, The Pattersons, Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen 9.15pm Film : McLintock (1963) starring John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Yvonne de Carlo with Patrick Wayne, Stefanie Powers, Jack Kruschen, Chill Wills A Western with a difference and comedy among the action 11.15pm Tony Bennett and the Count Basie Orchestra A musical spectacular with these two great artists Tony Bennett sings: Just in time; If I ruled the world Old devil moon Yesterday I heard the rain What the world needs now I left my heart in San Francisco There will never be another you Play it again Sam; Sing you sinners For once in my life; The trolley song People The Count Basie Orchestra play: It's Oh so nice; Good time blues Whirlybird 12.05am And Was Made Black At the end of the day which celebrates God's coming among men, we look at a modern "incarnation." Grace Halsell dropped out of prosperous White America, turned herself black, and went to live in Harlem and Mississippi Boxing Day Friday 26th December 1969 BBC1 9.30am Watch with Mother : Pogle's Wood (b&w) 9.45am The News, Weatherman George Luce 9.50am Tom and Jerry in the Academy Award Winner for the Best Cartoon of 1952 : Johann Mouse (Repeat) 10.00am The Conquest of Everest The dramatic story of the first successful climb of the world's highest mountain. Everest has claimed many victims and caused many disappointments. Even the camera can only hint at the magnificent achievement of the 1953 expedition led by Col John (now Lord) Hunt 11.15am Television Brain of Britain second semi-final Chairman : Harvey Hall (b&w) 11.35am The Virginian The Horse Fighter Tales from the last frontier of the great American West A film series starring James Drury A wild black stallion and an old-time horse- breaker involve Randy Boone in a bad case of hero worship 12.50pm Boxing Day Grandstand (12.50, 1.25, 1.50, 2.20 Racing from Kempton Park 1.10, 1.40, 2.10 Motor Racing from the Lydden Circuit, Kent 1.20 Football Preview, 2.40 Rugby League) 3.05pm Film : Singin' in the Rain (1952) One of Hollywood's greatest musicals starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds with Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell and Cyd Charisse A satirical, tuneful, and affectionate story of Hollywood in the Twenties 4.45pm Pinocchio A musical fairy tale, with Peter Noone (Herman of the Hermits) as the famous puppet, and Burl Ives as the woodcarver The wondrous story of the wood-worker whose affection for the puppet he has so skilfully carved changes the toy into a real boy. But that is only the beginning. 6.00pm National News and Weather 6.10pm Today's Sport Introduced by Frank Bough All the classified football, racing, and rugby results News.... comment.... action from today's top sporting events 6.20pm Top of the Pops 69 Part 2 A round-up of the year's top sellers, featuring discs by Amen Corner, The Beatles, Lou Christie, The Dave Clark Five, Desmond Dekker, Marvin Gaye Bobbie Gentry , Robin Gibb, Rolf Harris, Herman's Hermits, Mary Hopkin, Tommy Roe Introductions by Alan Freeman and Tony Blackburn 7.00pm Film : Doctor At Large (1957) starring Dirk Bogarde, Muriel Pavlow, Donald Sinden James Robertson Justice Dr Simon Sparrow leaves St Swithin's to savour the joys of private practice, after he has lost the coveted post of house surgeon to a conceited rival. 8.35pm Pickwick A musical based on The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens starring Harry Secombe, Roy Castle, Hattie Jacques, Aubrey Woods, and Bill Fraser 10.05pm The Main News with Richard Baker and the BBC's correspondents and reporters around the world and Weather 1 0.15pm If It Moves - It's Rude! The Story of the Windmill Theatre In 1932 the Lord Chamberlain permitted showman Vivian Van Damm to stage nude tableaux at the tiny Windmill Theatre in Soho-provided the nudes remained completely motionless. Kenneth More recalls the story, the magic of the Windmill-notorious and innocent, glamorous and down-to-earth, the comics' graveyard and stepping-stone for fame - in short, a legend. with recollections from Jimmy Edwards , Arthur English, Bruce Forsyth , Pearl Hackney , Stanley Holloway, Alfred Marks, Des O'Connor, Harry Secombe Sheila Van Damm, a host of former Windmill Girls, soubrettes, dancers, and many others 'Will patrons kindly vacate their seats after the performance. The use of artificial visual aids is strictly forbidden! ' 11.05pm Bardot Special in which Brigitte Bardot invites you to join her in a variety of moods and settings with her guests, Manilas de Plata, Sacha Distel Saturday 27th December 1969 BBC1 10.30am Casey Jones 10.50am Film : Long John Silver (1954) 12.25pm Zokko! 5.15pm Star Trek 6.05pm The News , Weatherman 6.15pm Dixon of Dock Green 7.00pm Just Pet 7.50pm The Morecambe and Wise Show 8.40pm High Adventure : Film : The Enemy Below (1957) 10.15pm The News and Weather 10.30pm Match of the Day 11.30pm Quiz of the Year 12.00 Weatherman Closedown Sunday 28th December 1969 BBC1 9.00am Nai Zindagi - Naya Jeevan 9.30am Closedown 10.30am Morning Service 11.30am Closedown 1.25pm Farming 1.50pm Interval 2.00pm News Summary 2.05pm Joe 2.35pm Film Matinee : All that Heaven Allows (1955) 4.00pm John Wayne and his Films 4.50pm Here's Lucy 5.15pm The Undersea Worldof Jacques Cousteau 5.55pm Clangers 6.05pm The News, Weatherman 6.15pm Malcolm Muggeridge asks The Question Why 6.50pm Songs of Praise 7.25pm Paul Temple 8.15pm The Sunday Musical Film : Carousel (1956) 10.20pm The News and Weather 10.30pm Omnibus : The Unashamed Accompanist 11.25pm Monty Python's Flying Circus 11.55pm Weatherman Closedown Monday 29th December 1969 BBC1 12.50pm Dechrau Canu, Dechrau Canmol 1.25pm Interval 1.30pm Watch with Mother : Chigley 1.45pm The News, Weatherman 1.53pm Interval 1.55pm Out of School Look and Read 2.15pm Merry-go-round 2.40pm Closedown 4.40pm Jackanory 4.55pm Blue Peter 5.20pm The Battle of St George Without 5.44pm Hector's House 5.50pm National News and Weather 6.00pm London This Week 6.20pm Ask the Family 6.45pm Z Cars 7.10pm Tom and Jerry 7.20pm Brian Rix Presents Odd Man In 8.50pm The Main News and Weather 9.10pm Take Three Girls 10.00pm From Here to the 70s 12.00 Weatherman Closedown Tuesday 30th December 1969 BBC1 12.45pm Disc a Dawn 1.25pm Interval 1.30pm Watch with Mother : Mary, Mungo, and Midge 1.45pm The News, Weatherman 1.53pm Interval 1.55pm Out of School Science All Around 2.15pm Making Music 2.40pm Closedown 3.45pm Malcolm Muggeridge asks The Question Why 4.20pm Play School 4.40pm Jackanory 4.55pm Animal Magic 5.20pm Wacky Races and Space Kidettes 5.44pm Hector's House 5.50pm National News and Weather 6.00pm London - Nationwide 6.45pm Z Cars 7.05pm Tomorrow's World from Scotland 7.30pm Harry Worth 8.00pm The Good Old Days 8.50pm The Main News and Weather 9.10pm Tuesday's Documentary : 1913 10.00pm Hitchcock at the NFT 11.00pm He and She 11.25pm Weatherman 11.27pm Postscript Closedown New Year's Eve Wednesday 31st December 1969 BBC1 12.25pm Nai Zindagi-Naya Jeevan 12.50pm Interval 1.00pm Bob yn Dri 1.25pm Interval 1.30pm Watch with Mother : The Herbs 1.45pm The News, Weatherman 1.53pm Interval 1.55pm Out of School Making a Musical 2.15pm Going to Work : Something to Wear 2.40pm Closedown 4.20pm Play School 4.40pm Jackanory 4.55pm Tales of Tsar Sultan : Part 1 5.15pm Tom Tom Special: I want to be... a film director 5.50pm National News and Weather 6.00pm London - Nationwide 6.45pm The Doctors 7.10pm Bob Hope 8.00pm The Rolf Harris Show 8.45pm The Main News and Weather 9.05pm Film : The Reluctant Debutante (1958) 10.35pm Pop Go the 60s ! 11.50pm The Turning of the Year 12.00 Big Ben 12.01am Ring in the New New Year's Day Thursday 1st January 1970 BBC1 11.00am Daktari 11.45am Winners at the Wheel 12.35pm The Philpott File: A Pride of Officers 1.25pm Tom and Jerry 1.30pm Watch with Mother : The Woodentops 1.45pm The News, Weatherman 1.55pm Laurel and Hardy : Hog Wild 2.15pm Film : The Scarlet Spear (1954) 3.30pm Ski-Jumping from Garmisch 4.20pm Play School 4.40pm Jackanory 4.55pm Blue Peter 5.20pm Journey to the Centre of the Earth 5.44pm Hector's House 5.50pm National News and Weather 6.00pm London - Nationwide 6.45pm The Doctors 7.05pm Top of the Pops 7.30pm Comedy Playhouse : The Jugg Brothers 8.00pm Softly, Softly - Task Force 8.50pm The Main News and Weather 9.10pm Sinatra 10.00pm 24 Hours 10.30pm Film : A Night at the Opera (1935) 12.00 Weatherman Closedown Friday 2nd January 1970 BBC1 1.00pm Ryan a Ronnie 1.25pm Interval 1.30pm Watch with Mother : Pogles' Wood 1.45pm The News, Weatherman 1.53pm Interval 1.55pm Out of School British Social History 2.15pm New Horizons 2.40pm Closedown 4.20pm Play School 4.40pm Jackanory 4.55pm Crackerjack 5.40pm Junior Points of View 5.50pm National News and Weather 6.00pm Entertaining with Kerr 6.25pm Television Brain of Britain : The Final 6.45pm The Virginian 8.25pm Golden Silents 8.50pm The Main News and Weather 9.10pm The Survivors 10.00pm Come Dancing 10.30pm 24 Hours 11.05pm Late Night Horror : The Triumph of Death 11.30pm Weatherman Closedown |
Saturday 20th December 1969
BBC2 3.00pm Saturday Cinema Film : Road to Bali (1952) 4.30pm Closedown 7.00pm The News and Sport and Weather 7.15pm Gardeners' World 7.30pm Rugby Special 8.20pm Chronicle :The Treasures from the Sacred Well 9.10pm The Ice Show 9.55pm Review 10.40pm The Jazz Age Lonely Road 11.30pm News Summary 11.35pm Midnight Movie : Operation Petticoat (1959) Sunday 21st December 1969 BBC2 7.00pm News Review 7.25pm The World About Us 8.15pm Bach's Christmas Oratorio 9.50pm Film Night 10.20pm Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In 11.10pm A Year in the Life for The Making of Mrs Markham 11.55pm News Summary Monday 22nd December 1969 BBC2 11.00am Play School 11.20am Closedown 7.30pm Newsroom 8.00pm The High Chaparral 8.50pm Television Doctor Adolescence 9.10pm Broaden Your Mind 9.40pm Horizon : Bread 10.25pm News Summary and Weather 10.30pm Line-Up: Monday Tuesday 23rd December 1969 BBC2 11.00am Play School 11.20am Closedown 7.30pm Newsroom 8.00pm The First Night of 'Pygmalion' 9.10pm Hollywood in the Sixties Film : The Spiral Road (1962) 11.25pm News Summary and Weather 11.30pm Line Up: Tuesday Christmas Eve Wednesday 24th December 1969 BBC2 11.00am Play School Pets Day Today's story is Wolf, Wolf adapted and illustrated by Tony Hart Presenters Johnny Ball, Carol Chell 11.20am Closedown 4.45pm Christmas on 2 A look at some of the programmes over the Christmas holiday 4.50pm The Three Princes Timothy Dalton as Ahmed, Isla Blair as Princess Yasmin 5.50pm My World...and Welcome to It An invitation to step into the humorous and imaginative world of James Thurber A series starring William Windom as John Monroe Joan Hotchkis as his wife Ellen Lisa Gerritsen as his daughter Lydia 'Rally Round the Flag' Certainly there is much to be said for giving your small daughter a conventional Christmas present. Like a new doll. But at the time a United States flag seemed the ideal gift. It's just that nobody appreciates patriotic fathers any more. 6.15pm Silbury Saga For three seasons, the archaeologists, watched by BBC cameras, camped at the foot of Silbury Hill in Wiltshire. Now, as traces of their presence fast disappear, Ludovic Kennedy looks back on the third and most publicised attempt to answer the multitude of questions posed by the biggest prehistoric man-made mound in Europe 7.00pm Show of the Week Mantovani and his Concert Orchestra leader David McCallum and featuring Lena Martell Mike Redway, The Mike Sammes Singers and Derek Hardwick The Dancers: Nina Chalmers, Celia Hetherington, Lesley North, and Rosemary Page 7.50pm Newsroom Reporting the world tonight : John Timpson and Peter Woods and the reporters and correspondents of BBC News Weather 8.15pm Johnny Cash Big, battered and rough-looking Johnny Cash sings of trains, prisons, and hard times. For years he scraped a living with his guitar and his songs. Now he's at the top, not only of the Country and Western scene, but just at the top. In demand for the best television programmes, the most prestigious concerts, on the cover of Life magazine-a household name. Coolly and shrewdly he husbands his success. Calmly. almost cynically, he's determined never to forget the grit and poverty of his background and the years of tough waiting. On Christmas Eve, Man Alive hands over to a remarkable film made by a husband and wife team in America about Johnny Cash. The film followed him not only on a singing tour, but on a return to his early beginnings and his first background : the main inspiration of his haunting songs 9.25pm Film : Genevieve (1953) starring John Gregson , Dinah Sheridan. Kenneth More, Kay Kendall A sparkling British comedy about the rivalry between two competitors in the annual London to Brighton veteran car run 10.50pm Christmas Carols introduced by Michael Flanders, Wandsworth School Choir 11.15pm News Summary 11.20pm Film : Laura (1944) The famous film thriller starring Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, Vincent Price, Judith Anderson Rightly regarded as a Hollywood classic, Laura is a startlingly original mystery: the story of a murdered girl and the people she knew - but with a surprising twist Christmas Day Thursday 25th December 1969 BBC2 10.15am Play School Christmas Day Today's story is The Little Drummer Boy illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats Presenters Johnny Ball, Carol Chell 10.35am Christmas Morning Service (as BBC1) 11.45am Kyoto A masterly new film by Kon Ichikawa director of Alone on the Pacific and Tokyo Olympiad on the magnificent former capital city of Japan. The film is a remarkable interpretation of the indestructible elements of Japanese culture of which Kyoto is the spirit. Ichikawa records on film, for the first time in its entirety, the Imperial villa of Katsura, the famous moss gardens and the monastic life of the Buddhist monk. Narrated by Sir Michael Redgrave 12.30pm Royal Family (as BBC1) 2.15pm Chronicle : The Fate of the Armada Introduced by Magnus Magnusson At midnight on 26 October 1588 the galleass Girona, a warship of the Spanish Armada, foundered on the cruel rocks of the Irish coast with the loss of 1,300 lives. Aboard were the combined commanders and crews of five ships, their gold, jewels, ornaments, and treasured possessions salvaged from the defeated Armada. Four hundred years later Robert Stenuit, a Belgian diver, author, and archaeologist, located the wreck of the Girona. With Magnus Magnusson, he tells the story of two years' dangerous and painstaking work to reveal this first discovery of the legendary treasure of the Armada, and presents the latest finds to appear from this year's dive. (Repeat) 3.00pm The Royal Ballet The Sleeping Beauty From the Royal Opera House Covent Garden This new production was first televised in January of this year. 'I cannot imagine a more sumptuous or more exciting presentation of ballet .... ' (Peter Black: Daily Mail) (Repeat) 5.25pm News Summary 5.30pm Call My Bluff Christmas Edition A duel of words and wit between Cliff Michelmore, Kenneth More, Lance Percival and Jean Metcalfe, Eleanor Summerfield, Hilary Pritchard Referee : Robert Robinson 6.00pm The Price of Fame or Fame at Any Price featuring the combined and various talents of Georgie Fame and Alan Price with special guests Billy Preston, Doris Troy, The Ladybirds, Pan's People 6.45pm The Paladins of Palermo The Sicilian Teatro dei Pupi is probably the most exciting, and certainly the most bloodthirsty, of all the world's puppet theatres. Dragons, cannibals, angels, devils, the knights of Charlemagne, courtly love and revenge are all presented with a blaze of colour and a really astonishing amount of noise. In this film performance the dialogue is subtitled, but the plot may be summarised as death-or-glory and needs no explanation for anyone who has ever slain dragons in his sleep 7.10pm Children Talking That Christmas Feeling Gerald Harrison talks to boys and girls in North London schools about the world's biggest festival 7.20pm Jesus The story of His life through the eyes of the young generation featuring The Young Generation 8.05pm The News and Weather 8.15pm Birds-Eye View Beside the Seaside by Sir John Betjeman A swooping seagull takes its flight From Weymouth to the Isle of Wight From Cornish cliff tops wild and bare To crowds at Weston-super-Mare The seaside seen as history Bournemouth, Butlin's and Torquay Whatever paddles, surfs or sails Braves the waves or rides the gales A scrapbook made at Christmastime Of summer joys in film and rhyme 9.05pm This Colourful Year of Sport At home in his 200-year-old Sussex windmill Henry Longhurst looks back in colour on the highspots and low-spots of sport in 1969 1 0.25pm Barbra Streisand entertains and causes A Happening in Central Park An echo of a late summer's evening in New York when that one-woman phenomenon which is Streisand held an audience of some 128,000 people spellbound for almost an hour 11.15pm News Headlines 11.16pm Film : The Day They Robbed the Bank of England (1960) starring Aldo Ray, Peter O'Toole, Elizabeth Sellars A group of Irish patriots and a professional American criminal make a daring attempt to achieve the impossible Boxing Day Friday 26th December 1969 BBC2 11.00am Play School Science Day Today's story is Puss In Boots adapted and illustrated by Barry Wilkinson Presenters Johnny Ball, Carol Chell 11.20am Closedown 12.50pm The Red Balloon Albert Lamorisse's delightful award-winning fantasy about a little boy who makes friends with a red balloon The majestic views of Paris, the impeccable trick photography, and the charm of Lamorisse's son, Pascal, make this a worthy successor to the director's famous Wild Stallion 1.25pm Film : Bell, Book and Candle (1958) starring James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovacs The film version of John Van Druten's play with a strong and appealing cast headed by James Stewart as a publisher and Kim Novak as a young lady with 'strange powers' who, with her Aunt Queenie (Elsa Lanchester ), belongs to a family of witches 3.05pm News Summary 3.10pm Gardeners' World from Blenheim Palace with Percy Thrower and guest Arthur Negus Very few homes are without a modest, if sometimes motley collection of flower vases, bowls, and pots which, collectively, are called, less familiarly perhaps jardiniere, Arthur Negus shows some superb examples from the past and Percy Thrower suggests what flowers and plants they might have contained 3.40pm Aïda Verdi's opera conducted by Edward Downes (Repeat) 6.10pm The Distracted Preacher starring Stephanie Beacham and Christopher Gable The widow is young and difficult to resist. She helps the new Wesleyan minister to cure his streaming cold and he is troubled in his conscience because of her and mystified by her apparent involvement in the sinful ways of Nether Moynton 7.00pm BBC2's Company of Comedy Introduced by John Cleese A choice of comedy scenes from BBC2 shows during 1969 including "Marty" with Marty Feldman, John Junkin, Roland MacLeod, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Mary Miller Produced by Dennis Main Wilson "Where Was Spring?" with Eleanor Bron, John Fortune "Cage Me a Leacock" with Bernard Braden "Q5" with Spike Milligan, John Bluthal "Barry Humphries' Scandals" with Barry Humphries, Irene Richmond "The World of Beachcomber" with Spike Milligan "Broaden Your Mind" with Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, Roland MacLeod, Nicholas McArdle, Yutte Stensgaard 7.25pm The Coward Revue A Musical Tribute to Noel Coward from Georgia Brown, Ian Carmichael Ray Davis, Nicky Henson, Cheryl Kennedy and from special guests Ronnie Barker, Dora Bryan, Ronnie Corbett, Clive Dunn, Danny La Rue, John Le Mesurier, Arthur Lowe, Kenneth More, Vanessa Redgrave 8.30pm News 8.35pm Cold Comfort Farm 1/3: Folk starring Alastair Sim, Fay Compton, Sarah Badel, Flora Poste, fascinated by the little she knows of the Stark-adders of Cold Comfort Farm, considers visiting them 9.20pm Jazz Scene at the Ronnie Scott Club A special preview of a new series to be seen in the New Year featuring many of the top jazz artists who recently visited Britain for Jazz Expo 69 10.15pm Film : An Affair to Remember (1957) starring Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr A young couple, both intending to marry millionaires, fall in love on a luxury liner but agree to separate for six months before getting married 12.05am News Summary Saturday 27th December 1969 BBC2 3.00pm Saturday Cinema Film : Romeo and Juliet (1954) 5.15pm Closedown 7.00pm The News and Sport and Weather 7.15pm Rugby Special 7.50pm The Jazz Age Winner Takes All 8.40pm In Search of Paradise 9.30pm The Ice Show 10.15pm Review 11.00pm Colour Me Pop 11.30pm News Summary 11.35pm Midnight Movie : A Time to Love and a Time to Die (1958) Sunday 28th December 1969 BBC2 7.00pm News Review and Weather 7.25pm Ten Years of What? 9.50pm Thirty-Minute Theatre 10.20pm Rowan and Martin'sLaugh-In 11.10pm News Summary 11.15pm Film Night Special: Caesar's the Name of the Game Monday 29th December 1969 BBC2 11.00am Play School 11.20am Closedown 7.30pm Newsroom 8.00pm The High Chaparral 8.50pm Television Doctor : How Doctors Work 9.10pm Broaden Your Mind 9.40pm Horizon : For the Safety of Mankind 10.25pm News Summary and Weather 10.30pm Line-Up : Monday Tuesday 30th December 1969 BBC2 11.00am Play School 11.20am Closedown 7.30pm Newsroom 8.00pm The Goshawk 8.50pm While We're On the Subject 9.10pm Hollywood in the Sixties Film : Francis of Assisi (1961) 10.50pm News Summary and Weather 10.55pm Line Up: Tuesday New Year's Eve Wednesday 31st December 1969 BBC2 11.00am Play School 11.20am Closedown 7.30pm Newsroom 8.00pm Man Alive 8.45pm The Fabulous Elvis 9.35pm My World ... and Welcome To It 10.00pm Europa 10.35pm News Summary and Weather 10.40pm David Copperfield New Year's Day Thursday 1st January 1970 BBC2 11.00am Play School 11.20am Closedown 4.55pm Film : The Mudlark (1950) 6.30pm New Year's Day Concert from Vienna 7.30pm Newsroom 8.00pm Call My Bluff 8.30pm The Money Programme 9.10pm The Six Wives Of Henry VIII: Catherine of Aragon 10.40pm Edmundo Ros at The Talk of the Town 11.20pm News Summary and Weather 11.25pm Line-Up Interview Friday 2nd January 1970 BBC2 11.00am Play School 11.20am Closedown 7.30pm Newsroom 8.00pm Wheelbase 8.25pm Cold Comfort Farm 9.10pm Italian Cinema Film : La Strada (1954) 1 0.50pm News Summary and Weather 10.55pm Line-Up: Friday |