1982  From TV Times : A snowman comes alive on Christmas Eve and treats the little boy who built him to an incredible adventure. That's the story behind an animated film called The Snowman  which has it's first public showing on Channel Four on Christmas Sunday.

The 25 minute film was based on a picture book by Raymond Briggs and was made by London-based animators TVC, the company responsible for the Beatles cartoon Yellow Submarine. It took 100 people some 10 months to finish.

The Snowman was due to be released in British cinemas as support film to Steven Spielberg's current blockbuster E.T. , until the American director decided the two stories were too alike for comfort.


In The Snowman, there is no dialogue and just one song, which accompanies the highlight of the film, a flying sequence in which the little boy and the snowman travel to the North Pole to visit Santa Claus.

Producer John Coates explains : "Spielberg saw the film shortly before it was completed. He liked it very much but felt the story bore too many similarities to E.T."


Now Coates hopes The Snowman will compete for an Academy Award in the Best Animated Film category following a cinema release next year. Victory would be a fitting end to TVC's Silver Anniversary, for Coates was a founder partner of the company back in 1957.


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The Snowman was first shown on Channel 4 in 1982 and 1983 , then shown every year from 1985 to date.


1982   Christmas Sunday (26th December)  6.15pm
1983   Thursday 29th December                    7.30pm
1984   Not Shown 
1985   Christmas Eve                                      6.30pm
1986   Christmas Day                                      5.50pm
1987   Christmas Day                                      5.25pm
1988   Christmas Day                                      5.30pm
1989   Christmas Day                                      5.30pm
1990   Christmas Day                                      6.00pm
1991   Christmas Day                                       5.25pm
1992   Christmas Day                                      6.20pm
1993   Christmas Day                                      4.25pm
1994   Christmas Day                                      7.00pm
1995   Christmas Day                                      6.30pm
1996   Christmas Day                                    12.55pm     
1997   Christmas Eve                                       5.15pm
1998  Christmas Eve                                        4.30pm
1999  Boxing Day                                             4.10pm
2000  Christmas Eve                                        3.55pm 
2001  Christmas Eve                                         4.45pm
2002  Christmas Eve                                        3.10pm
2003  Christmas Eve                                        2.20pm
2004  Christmas Day                                        2.30pm
2005  Christmas Day                                        2.30pm
2006  Christmas Day                                        2.30pm
2007  Christmas Eve                                         1.50pm
2008  Christmas Eve                                         3.00pm
2009  Christmas Eve                                         1.35pm
2010  Christmas Eve                                         1.20pm
2011  Christmas Day                                         2.30pm  
2012  Sunday 23rd December                          6.25pm  
2013  Sunday 22nd December                          6.25pm
2013  Christmas Day                                         1.40pm
2014  Tuesday 23rd December                         7.30pm
2014  Christmas Day                                        12.45pm
2015  Christmas Eve                                         7.40am & 4.55pm
2015  Christmas Day                                        12.40pm
2016  Saturday 18th December                        4.10pm
2016 Christmas Eve                                           4.45pm
2016  Christmas Day                                        11.50pm

In 2012 Channel 4 started showing a sequel to The Snowman entitled 
The Snowman and the Snowdog.                         

The Snowman and the Snowdog

2012 Christmas Eve                             8.00pm
2012 Christmas Day  (Repeat)             1.55pm
2013 Christmas Eve                              7.30pm
2013 Christmas Day                             2.10pm
2014 Christmas Eve                             7.55pm
2014 Christmas Day                             1.20pm
2015 Christmas Eve                              5.25pm
2015 Christmas Day                             1.15pm
2016 Christmas Eve                              5.15pm
2016 Christmas Day                              4.55pm 

CHANNEL 4 HAVE NOW STARTED SHOWING THESE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE BUILD UP TO CHRISTMAS AND THEN AGAIN ON CHRISTMAS EVE, FOR THIS REASON i WILL NO LONGER BE UPDATING THIS PAGE