Radio Times

Radio Times's TV editor Alison Graham has picked out 12 crackers to whet your appetite for the festive season - and it's no surprise who's topping the list. We'll continue to update the page with more details as the schedules fill up.

Doctor Who (BBC1) David Tennant's swansong as the tenth Doctor. Plot details are under lock and key, but we do know that John Simm returns as the Master and Catherine Tate reprises her role as companion Donna. Tennant also guests on QI and stars in the TV adaptation of his successful stage role as Hamlet, with Patrick Stewart.

Cranford (BBC1) An unalloyed joy - two feature-length Christmas episodes, written by Heidi Thomas and starring Imelda Staunton, Deborah Findlay, Julia McKenzie and Judi Dench as Mrs Gaskell's redoubtable Victorian ladies. Life has moved on since the end of the 2007 series, as the small Cheshire town of Cranford faces the arrival of the dreaded railway.

The Gruffalo (BBC1) Here's a nice one for kids and grown-ups - an animated adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's bestseller about a mouse's epic journey through a forest, featuring the voices of Robbie Coltrane, Helena Bonham Carter, Rob Brydon, Tom Wilkinson, John Hurt and James Corden.

Outnumbered (BBC1) One of the best mainstream sitcoms in many a long year, thanks to acutely sharp observational writing by Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton and three remarkable child actors, returns with a Christmas special. It's Boxing Day in the Brockman house and the family has been visited by both Santa and a burglar.

The Turn of the Screw (BBC1) It should be the law: there must be a ghost story on television at Christmas. Last year's was Mark Gatiss's brilliant Crooked House; this year it's the Henry James classic about a naive young governess, her two sinister young charges and a haunted house. Michelle Dockery and Sue Johnston star.

The Fattest Man in Britain (ITV1) The gifted Caroline Aherne makes one of her too-rare forays into television with a comedy drama, co-written by Jeff Pope, centred on Georgie Godwin (Timothy Spall in a fat suit), a man so obese he can't leave his chair. Watch out, too, for another Royle Family, written by and starring Aherne.

An Englishman in New York (ITV1) Long, long, long-awaited follow-up to 1975's ground-breaking drama The Naked Civil Servant, with John Hurt returning as waspish, self-proclaimed "stately homo of England", Quentin Crisp, this time being fêted in Manhattan. Sex and the City's Cynthia Nixon co-stars.

The Catherine Tate Show (BBC1) Tate has become a Christmas staple, with her box of comedy grotesques. The show features a spoof version of Dickens's A Christmas Carol, starring potty-mouthed Nan Taylor as Scrooge, visited by the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future who show her the error of her ways.

The Ant and Dec Christmas Show (ITV1) The boys promise an "old-fashioned Christmas special" of the type that you thought, or even perhaps hoped, had died out in the 1970s, featuring sketches, performances and guests.

The Orson Welles Season (BBC4) One for the cineastes: BBC4 brings us a biography of the monumental (in every sense) director, starring Simon Callow, plus repeats of three classic Arena documentaries and a selection of Welles's films.

The Incredibles (BBC1) Witty, literate cartoon from the all-conquering Pixar studios centred on a family of superheroes. Craig T Nelson plays Bob Parr, formerly Mr Incredible, who fails to obey a law demanding that ex-superheroes live normal lives. Holly Hunter is his wife, the erstwhile Elastigirl.

Victoria Wood (BBC1) The comedian's first Christmas special for nine years features a spoof of Lark Rise to Candleford, the Brentford Mid-life Olympics and - Mrs Overall fans rejoice - a chance to catch up with the charlady's Acorn Antiques alter ego, actress Bo Beaumont, played by Julie Walters.

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What do you think of the Christmas schedule so far? Anything getting you particularly excited? Post a comment below and let us know.

To think that we are forced to pay a licence fee for what the BBC puts on. Yes they do usually try and spend a little bit more at Christmas to try and justify it, but this year looks worse than ever. Just like the year where is the drama? where is the comedy? that the Beeb used to be so famous for? UK Gold shows what they used to produce but sadly no longer and why should they bother any way, they are garunteed the licence fee so unlike the commercial channels don't need to do anything to keep their audiences. Yes they will produce the odd gem to enter for the awards ceremony but other than that it is whatever is cheap to produce.

I am very much looking forward to this years seasonal tv, i think i am looking forward to these treats more than the day itself!

Re: Post by "The usual crap".

Quote: "Firstly I'm amazed that none of the previous comments have failed to notice that Alison Graham and the Radio Times can't count!!!"

I think you might mean all, not none.

Quote: "How about something for the less brain dead of us out here, no that would invole the impossiable…beinging creative."

A case of pride coming after AND before a fall. Impossiable? Beinging? Certainly creative spelling.

Looking forward to watching the XMAs specials, especially Dr Who.

My God, what a load of whingers, and I wonder if some of the appalling spelling is done on purpose, I find it hard to believe people are THAT uneducated! I think there is much content here that holds promise, with the clear exception of the hugely over hyped and under talented Ant and Dec. If there was nothing else, I would be happy with David Tennant and Patrick Stewart in "Hamlet" - Wow! And of course, we do all have the option of switching the TV off and doing something else instead. Cheer up everyone, and have a wonderful Christmas, whatever you watch or don't watch!

oh no ant and dec think they are morecombe and wise great lol

usual load of rubbish, nothing worth watching

What a load of moaning minnies you are. Merry Christmas. :-)

What a wonderful season of delights. Shame I am not in the UK to watch them. As to those whinging there is nothing worth watching - come and watch Australian Television, believe your'll soon see why British Television is the best in the world. It should be treasured! Good on the BBC, keep up the good work.

What people fail to realise is that slagging off Christmas telly is a national pastime. Buya few Christmas Radio Times from the 70s & 80s and you;ll realise that nothinh has really changed. Back then people will have been having the same discussions!

Personally, I'm looking forward to all on the list - and with an open mind!

I'm glad to see Outnumbered is on at Christmas - I love this show. Ben and Karen are hilarious characters!

Thanks so much for the Orson Welles season - I always look forward to the Christmas classic cinema series, with great old movies & intelligent documentaries to introduce them. Happy Christmas everyone!

Another year of no world films on bbc2 like boys from brazil, choclate, nikkita(orignal french), from countries around the world use to love staying up in bed watching into the wee hours of the morning.

Least there's one thing I'm looking forward to the DR, I think I heard it was a two parter, if not, high back chair, fire on, slippers, smoking jacket, a nice quaffable drink or two many, turn up the sound and churchill to the neighbours. After that dvd boxsets.

I am grateful for anything that is not another soap or hospital episode. Variety of types of programs is important - then perhaps we can all find something to view and then TURN IT OFF for some of the time. With more and more cheap DVD's, Freeview, and View when you want options I cant see a problem.

"Ant&Dec Christmas" show.I think I will whitewash the outside privy.Mutch more entertaining.

FAO Paul - While there is no new Wallace and Gromit adventure this year, we know that A Close Shave will be showing on Monday 14 December (8:00pm, BBC3).

And for fans of Nick Park's work, we have an early Christmas present - a free iTunes Creature Comforts download - get yours now! (Closes Friday 11 December 2009.)

The Ant and Dec Christmas Show sounds AMAZING! That is what Christmas TV is all about - classic TV specials that warm your heart and make you feel all Christmassy! The Fat Man thing hsould be good - Timothy Spall is a legend and an amazing actor. Regarding the Catherine Tate show etc...uppet tripe. She's never been funny...this should be no better! Read today that reruns are being shown this year! At least make them Only Fools and Horses so we can have a laugh - that is a proper Christmas institution!

Any idea if 'Last of the Summer Wine' will be making an appearance?

Happy to see the back of Sky . Apart from the sports channels I found it lacking in quality and was watching the Beeb far more . BBC is worth every penny when you add in radio and on line services . Sky would have to up the quality of its programming for me to consider spending a penny on it again.

What a dismal list. Only Cranford and The Innocents arouse the faintest spark of interest. Can we have TV for grown-ups please?

Top of my list for christmas presents----LUMP HAMMER---to smash the TV with.

You think that's bad? For a definition of total crap you should see what the French channels churn out - at any time let alone Christmas. Thank heavens we can get BBC here.

Looks fine to me. Certainly a welcome return for Victoria Wood. What I can't believe is how many people on this blog can't spell! Are you lazy, or just thick? I suspect the latter, given your ludicrous opinions...

I for one am at least happy to see a lack of 'Reality' television at Christmas. Just sit back relax and enjoy!

this is utter rubbish. im fed up of terrestrial at the moment constant repeats and lots of adverts. no decent films nothing interesting.

For all those complaining, what would you like on instead? If you think the BBC's line-up is bad, just wait for ITV's. The license fee is cheap compared to SKY, and the amount of poor programming on there is incredible.

Doctor Who and The Christmas Carol Catherine Tate Show are the only things worth watching this Christmas!

To Pauljones - RT ignore the haters! LOVE christmas -can't wait for rt so I go through it with my family as I have every year since I was a child. Looking forward to all of your top 12 tips!

Unfortunately, the proliferation of satellite/cable TV channels over the past decade or so means that its very hard to get excited anymore about "special" Christmas TV programming. Back when there only 4 channels, Christmas TV was a rare annual treat, savoring every movie premiere and TV special, now its all been diluted by the multitude of shows / movies you can watch anytime of the year (not to mention all you can find online). Don't blame the programmers. Sometimes less is more.

When there was a fire, some years ago, at the studio of Wallace and Gromitt creators - why didn't this give the BBC the hint - if we want rubber faced puppetry we would watch episodes of Come Prancing with Bruce or anything with Anne Robinson!

Oh dear another boring line up ,us oldies at Cristmas have been around long enough to have seen all this trash over the years .all I can say is , repet repet repet repet repet ,a yawning OAP

It would be an ideal time to do an informative, impartial and factual programme about the European Union. People in UK have no idea of the advantages they get, and no, very little is decreed in Brussels, most directives originate from UK ministries. Non elected officials? Wrong. A huge audience could really learn here, and bring the country up to the standards we enjoy in other European countries.

FAO The usual crap - Thanks for pointing out our oversight in only previewing 11 of the promised 12 Christmas shows. Victoria Wood's Christmas special should also have been included. I've now added some information about it at the end of the blog.

All television should be closed down on Christmas Day. For years now, Christmas Day TV has been repeat after repeat. Why not just do away with it and let us just celebrate Christmas,

Emmigrate to NZ - TV at Christmas is even worse here!! Nothing remotely Christmassy.

I think Christmas doesn't special because had repeat from last year.

erm.....what does that mean?

and…where is BRITIAN

I think Christmas doesn't special because had repeat from last year.

Access man asked when the X'mas TV times is out. You can read it now, just get out last years copy, scribble out 2008 and put in 2009, Bob's your uncle

I think BBC should give us a Christmas refund on our licences, we don#t actually have X'mas TV anymore. putting the word 'christmas' in front of Dr Who, Eastenderers, Holby etc does not fool us into believing it's X'mas TV. Just the same old rubbish, over shown films and monotonous repeats

Firstly I'm amazed that none of the previous comments have failed to notice that Alison Graham and the Radio Times can't count!!! Their isn't even 12 programmes, (11 are listed in the Mag) Mainly this is because it's The usual over hyped rubbish.

How about something for the less brain dead of us out here, no that would invole the impossiable…beinging creative.

Alison Graham? I agree with a previous comment - questionable taste.

Looks like DVD sales will do well again, and why do we pay for this rubbish, oh yes RIPP OFF BRITIAN.

Some of this sounds really exciting and makes me feel all christmassy. :) I don't see why people are complaining already this is only a snippet.

@Dancville The television equivalent of a "gift set"?

what an awful line up. downloaded movies all round I think…

top of the pops, dr who, morecombe and dec, quentin crispy, crap dramas, classic kids - its 1974 !

The Christmas schedules are usually just the same old rubbish which has been served up all year, but wrapped with a lot of gloss and a big shiny bow.

Should let Flash Gordon classic or Tarzan films for Christmas!

I suppose there will be the usual World War Two film as well!!!!!

What no Great Escape, Zulu, The Sound of Music, RT haven't worn them out have they? Typical lazy scheduling, Feed the viewing public with the same old boring formulae. What are these overpaid BBC executives doing to earn their money. Anyone would think they were MP's for the blatant way they treat us. Have a programme on about how they can charge for the license fee,after feeding up this tired old fare.

Pleased there is to be a ghost story but what about remaking some more the classic M R James which BBC 4 did so well for about 2 years and then stopped ! bring back M R James !!

What a bunch of miserable gits you all are.

Christmas telly for me means only one thing - world's strongest man, you can't beat it!

Round up the usual subjects. Thank goodness for books and whisky.

I will be poring over the listings for BBC Two and BBC Four to find something worth watching/recording, mainstream things like the ones listed above don't really do it for me. Thank goodness for clasic sitcom/comedy DVD Boxsets!

I have given up trying to get to the bottom of the mystery that is the nation's alleged fixation with all things Doctor Who, especially when I can't find a single person I know to admit to liking it. So, brushing Doctor Who aside, it's good to see Caroline Aherne back on the screens. She isn't on nearly enough.

However, if this really is the best of what is on over Christmas, I had better start purchasing more console games to keep me going! Secretly, I'm hoping this list is just more of a reflection of Alison Graham's questionable taste in television.

Are Wallace and Gromit on

Cranford is like a skidmark on the underpants of society. (Dodgeball)

Dr who will be brilliant as always, anyone who says otherwise is just a miserable old scrooge. The BBC will wipe the floor with the other channels in the ratings. There is so many cracking things on, i can't wait.

FAO Access Man - The Christmas double issue, 19 December 2009-1 January 2010 (week 52/53) - goes on sale from Saturday 5 December (London and across the UK by 8 December).

For more information about Radio Times on-sale dates over the festive period, please see our magazine page.

When is the Christmas Radio Times out please?

Posted on 24 November 2009

at 6:27pm

by "tim smith"

What am I paying for the same old chap each year what a WASTE of my money What is this person on about??

Posted on 24 November 2009

at 6:27pm

by "tim smith"

What am I paying for the same old chap each year what a waist of my money

Typical rubish that is on every year :( I suspect even Dr Who will be the usual overblown tripe ( even david can not cover that up!). I guess it will be more of the bottled spirit this year ;).

I think it's going to a good book and some music over christmas......gawd theres nothing worth watching

Gruffalo for me, let's hope it's on Christmas Day when all the family are together. Can't wait.

Match of the day, Football focus, Match of the day 2, The Football league show, Champions league highlights, soccer saturday, soccer am. These shows outweigh An Englishman in Ney York and Cranford in entertainment by a mile. A "dreaded railway". I'm actually trembling in excitement. 1-0

too many dull dramas. no way near enough comedies. Cranford- i would rather watch Steve Davis talk about carpet samples. there should be xmas specials of mock the week, the impressions show, top gear, apprentice,etc. The only thing worth watching as always is Match of the Day. Stand up and take a bow.

All sounds VERY good, cant wait :-) yay :-)

can't wait - doctor who and hamlet!!! hello david tennant!!!! haha

I presume people aren't surprised. The Christmas schedules are usually just the same old rubbish which has been served up all year, but wrapped with a lot of gloss and a big shiny bow.

Yawn, time for the sherry so I can fall asleep and hopefully miss all the TV

can't wait to see the gruffalo... it is one of my little boy's favourites :D

not a lot

Dr Who - I will be glad to see the man & his fake common accent go. Hopefully the writer also with the over the top melodrama.

Humbug!

dr.who,cranford and turning of the screw,wonderful and if i am really good,hamlet

What am I paying for the same old chap each year what a waist of my money

Dr Who (I watched this in the 1960's!), Cranford and Outnumbered will be on my list....

Cranford again -O joy!

why is it I cant get excited over xmas schedules like when i was a child???? Bring back disney time!!

nothing worth watching

The Turn of the Screw (again), done well so many times before. How about some original ghost stories for a change.