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Best of Christmas 2009 on TV and radio |
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If you can only watch one TV show, listen to one radio programme or see one film on television each day this festive season, this is what you must tune in for.
Meanwhile, if you're a film buff, check out our Christmas movies section. And find out how you can get complete listings and take advantage of the range of services RadioTimes.com has to offer.
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NEW YEAR'S EVE
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Top of the Pops New Year's Eve 2009 - 6:30pm, BBC1
Reggie and Fearne host another TOTP revival, featuring Robbie Williams, Alexandra Burke and other chart-toppers.
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Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - 8:00pm, BBC1/BBC HD
Johnny Depp swaggers through a rip-roaring sequel that's got outstanding set pieces and an enduring sense of fun.
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Afternoon Play: Fireworks at the Villa Lucia - 2:15pm, BBC Radio 4
A feather-light piece of farce with a wife wanting time away, a husband wanting to work on his script - and a Hollywood producer/director couple staying next door.
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NEW YEAR'S DAY
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Doctor Who - 6:40pm, BBC1/BBC HD
The Ood's deadly prophecy comes to pass, as the Doctor and Wilf (Bernard Cribbins) battle the Master (John Simm).
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The Good Shepherd - 9:00pm, BBC2
Matt Damon stars in this portrayal of the birth of the CIA, directed by Robert De Niro and featuring Angelina Jolie.
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Spitting in Russian - 11:00am, BBC Radio 4
Spitting Image co-creator Roger Law revisits Moscow to find out whatever became of Russian plans for their own version of his show.
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SATURDAY 2 JANUARY 2010
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So You Think You Can Dance - 6:00pm, BBC1
Cat Deeley hosts the new dance competition series alongside Nigel Lythgoe and Arlene Phillips.
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The Assassination of Richard Nixon - 11:05pm, BBC1
Film based on a true attempt to kill President Nixon, starring Sean Penn.
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The Saturday Play: Private Lives - 2:30pm, BBC Radio 4
Helena Bonham Carter and Bill Nighy star in a new production of Noël Coward's famous comedy.
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SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2010
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Celebrity Big Brother - 9:00pm, Channel 4
Davina McCall hosts this launch night for the last-ever Celebrity Big Brother - at least, the last on Channel 4.
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The Simpsons Movie - 7:15pm, Channel 4, C4 HD
Springfield in danger - can Homer and Bart ride to the rescue? Well, no.
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Miles Jupp's Muscular Lines - 4:30pm, BBC Radio 4
Can a book of poetry for boys that inspired young men at the beginning of the century work its magic on a new generation?
****
PAST DAYS
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SATURDAY 19 DECEMBER
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Strictly Come Dancing: Final - 6:35pm and 8:40pm, BBC1/BBC HD
Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly host the final but will it be Ricky Whittle or Chris Hollins who wins?
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Love Actually - 9:00pm, ITV1/ITV HD
Christmas gets the full Richard Curtis romcom treatment with Martine McCutcheon, Hugh Grant and more star names.
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Here We Come - 10:30am, BBC Radio 4
The story of The Monkees - and who Davy Jones blames for their demise.
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SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER
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Cranford - 9:00pm, BBC1/BBC HD
A Christmas treat as peerless Judi Dench returns in two feature-length specials.
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Dirty Dancing - 9:00pm, Five
The late Patrick Swayze danced to stardom in this famous tale with Jennifer Grey.
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Classic Serial: Matilda - 3:00pm, BBC Radio 4
Roald Dahl's superlative tale of a genius child neglected by her parents.
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MONDAY 21 DECEMBER
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EastEnders - 8:00pm, BBC1
There'll be no room at the inn for Peggy if Archie gets his way.
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The Muppet Christmas Carol - 4:25pm, Five
Michael Caine does his best to remain bah, humbug in a Muppet version of the Dickensian classic.
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Woman's Hour Drama: Someone like You - 10:45am/7:45pm Monday–Friday, BBC Radio 4
Five of Roald Dahl's best Tales of the Unexpected prove to be scary and darkly funny in these new radio versions.
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TUESDAY 22 DECEMBER
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Oliver Postgate: a Life in Small Films - 8:00pm, BBC4
Charming documentary about the creator of Bagpuss, the Clangers and more.
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King Kong - 9:00pm, ITV2
Peter Jackson's breathtaking remake of and homage to the classic original.
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Afternoon Play: Three Knots - 2:15pm, BBC Radio 4
Two weary and lost hunters are drawn to a mysterious and flickering lamp in the distance…
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WEDNESDAY 23 DECEMBER
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Spooks - 9:00pm, BBC1
Harry Pearce means business as the world faces nuclear destruction.
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Terminator 2: Judgment Day - 9:00pm, ITV2
Director James Cameron cranks up the tension in the first and best sequel to the Schwarzenegger sci-fi.
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5 Live Sport - 2:15pm, BBC Radio 4
A sports review of the decade and a debate on the top ten sporting achievements of the Noughties.
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CHRISTMAS EVE
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Victoria Wood's Midlife Christmas - 9:00pm, BBC1/BBC HD
Spoofs aplenty including a delicious send-up of the twee bucolic soap Lark Rise to Candleford.
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Shakespeare in Love - 11:15pm, ITV1/ITV HD
Romantic, funny tale of the Bard (Joseph Fiennes) falling for his Romeo - noblewoman-in-disguise Gwyneth Paltrow.
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Robbie Williams's Line of Enquiry - 8:00pm, BBC Radio 2
The pop showman answers questions about his life and work, fatherhood, relationships, music and more.
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CHRISTMAS DAY
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Doctor Who - 6:00pm, BBC1/BBC HD
If you could only watch a single programme over Christmas, it should be next week's Doctor Who. But don't miss this first of David Tennant's two-part farewell.
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The Incredibles - 3:10pm, BBC1/BBC HD
A family of disgraced superheroes is banished to suburban anonymity but finds the lure of crimefighting hard to resist.
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A Magical Manilow Christmas - 1:00pm, BBC Radio 2
Hard rock from Barry Manilow - or perhaps more of a warmly festive treat from the singer/songwriter.
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BOXING DAY
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Hamlet - 5:05pm, BBC2
David Tennant is first class in a specially filmed performance of the Royal Shakespeare Company's production.
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Pirates of the Caribbean: at World's End - 7:30pm, BBC1, BBC HD
The final instalment in the popular franchise starring Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.
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Sting: On a Winter's Day - 3:00pm, BBC Radio 2
Sting talks to Paul Gambaccini about the Police, his solo career, and the impact of shows like The X Factor. He's not a fan.
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SUNDAY 27 DECEMBER
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Outnumbered - the Christmas Special - 10:30pm, BBC1
Santa and some burglars pay a festive call on the Brockman household in this warm yet never cloying sitcom.
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The Holiday - 9:00pm, ITV1, ITV HD
Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet swap houses and fall for Jude Law and Jack Black, respectively.
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Desert Island Discs - 11:15am, BBC Radio 4 FM
David Tennant reveals to Kirsty Young how as a youthful geek he told his parents he wanted to be Doctor Who.
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BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY
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An Englishman in New York - 9:00pm, ITV1/ITV HD
John Hurt still enthrals as the Naked Civil Servant Quentin Crisp, now happily ensconced in America.
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Pride & Prejudice - 4:20pm, ITV1/ITV HD
Keira Knightley's Elizabeth Bennet holds her own against sullen Mr Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen).
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The People's Classical Chart - 12 noon, BBC Radio 2
Bill Bailey counts down Britain's most publicly played or broadcast classical recordings of the past 75 years.
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TUESDAY 29 DECEMBER
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June Whitfield Night - from 8:00pm, BBC2
Night-long tribute to the octogenarian actress, star of comedies from Terry and June to Absolutely Fabulous.
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The Big Easy - 11:50pm, BBC1/12:50am, BBC1 Scotland, BBC1 Wales
Sultry thriller with Dennis Quaid as morally compromised cop and Ellen Barkin as the straight-arrow DA assigned to his investigation.
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Who on Who? - 5:00pm, BBC Radio 2
David Tennant interviews his old boss Russell T Davies, the man who brought Doctor Who back to life with such success, as they both depart the series.
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The Beatles: Here, There and Everywhere - 5:00pm, BBC Radio 2
Paul Gambaccini bravely attempts to sum up the musical legacy of The Beatles in just two hour-long programmes.
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WEDNESDAY 30 DECEMBER
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The Turn of the Screw - 9:00pm, BBC1/BBC HD
Super adaptation of Henry James's ghost story, with Michelle Dockery perfect as the governess who believes her young charges are possessed.
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Mary Poppins - 3:35pm, BBC1/BBC HD
Julie Andrews makes it a jolly holiday with Mary, while Dick Van Dyke provides exuberant support and a dodgy accent.
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