Radio Times magazine: Tom Hanks, David Walliams, Miranda Hart and a first-look at Gangsta Granny
Jenna Coleman, Helen Worth, Simon Reeve and Barry Cryer, plus Christmas previews of Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife, Sherlock and more all appear in this week's edition
It's nearly Christmas... and to celebrate in this week's Radio Times we've got a bumper preview of all the great programmes coming to television screens over the festive period.
First up, Gangsta Granny and an exclusive first look at David Walliams, Miranda Hart and their Christmas family comedy. Following the success of last year's Mr Stink, the Little Britain comedian has gathered together a stellar cast which also includes Joanna Lumley, Rob Brydon and Julia McKenzie. We caught up with David and his Call the Midwife co-star to hear all about their aspirations to be on Strictly Come Dancing and watching their own programmes with their families at Christmas.
But Gangsta Granny is just one of a plethora of Christmas programming heading your way. We've got the lowdown on BBC1's star-studded Death Comes to Pemberley, plus Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife and Mrs Brown's Boys' Christmas specials, Sherlock series three, Olivia Colman's Thirteenth Tale and Mark Gatiss' directorial debut. Phew!
And if you're not ready to get into the Christmas spirit just yet, we've got plenty more in store for you. Tom Hanks has been speaking about his new film Saving Mr Banks and spilling the beans about the struggles he had making Forrest Gump.
Ahead of Coronation Street's move to a new studio, we've had a cup of tea and a natter with some of its cast past and present. Helen Worth's been telling us all about Pat Phoenix's cooking skills, while Liz Dawn reveals that Bill Tarmey suffered (literally) for his art.
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Ian McShane tells us why he prefers Upstairs Downstairs to Downton, meanwhile Labour MP David Blunkett has been explaining why he finds Christmas too commercialised and over-hyped. Travel presenter Simon Reeve recounts his epic pilgrimage across Britain and Europe before we go behind-the-scenes on Channel 4's profile of luxury department store, Liberty of London.
Barry Cryer has recalled the days he wrote for Morecambe and Wise and the moment fellow scriptwriter Eddie Braben took his revenge when Eric claimed the scripts as his own work, plus our very own Strictly diarist Susanna Reid explains just why she and her fellow contestants share such a close bond. And if you're a lifelong fan of Mary Poppins, don't miss Victoria Coren Mitchell's look at the dark side of the classic children's tale.
It's all in this week's edition of Radio Times, available from Tuesday and priced £1.60
