Let's all chat about Christmas telly

[MorrisZapp]

I've seen a few previews but they're all returning series (Doctor Who, Sherlock) or Christmas specials (GBBO).

I'm desperate to find out what the original period drama offering will be. Last year I was obsessed with Dickensian, and would accept a repeat as they're not making any more.

I also loved Death Comes to Pemberley two years ago, and have rewatched it three times!

I think the schedules get announced at the end of November. Until then, what's your favourite Christmas television, and what do you hope to find in your TV stocking this year?

PS I know lots of people hate Death Comes to Pemberley, but I adored it. Joanna Scanlan refusing to take orders from the hanging judge is one of my favourite television drama moments of all time.

[MorrisZapp]

Grantchester on Christmas Eve looks delightful - snow, James Norton and a very dark plot according to RT.

[GlumsTheWord]

Bronte sisters and Agatha Christie sound good to me!

We are also very excited about the Yonderland Christmas special in this house.

[halcyondays]

When is Awful Auntie on? Have looked through Radio Times but can't see i, unless it's at New Year?

[MoonfaceAndSilky]

I get highlighters ready, tea, a mince pie and read cover to cover.

Ooh sounds bliss and I don't even like mince pies

[MorrisZapp]

I bring glad tidings! Current Radio Times (Peter Capaldi on the cover) contains a Christmas preview special!

Agatha Christies Witness for the Prosecution will star Kim Cattrall (looking lovely in mink) , Toby Jones and Andrea Riseborough.

Rowan Atkinson is back as Maigret, not my thing but I hear there are fans.

The Bronte sisters look.... pensive? Actually that's me being charitable. They look like your worst auntie that everybody dreads sitting next to for Christmas dinner. I'm open minded though.

Sherlock returns on New Years Day!

In addition to Bear Hunt, the BBC have a two part animation of Revolting Rhymes , starring the voices of Tamsin Greig, Dominic West and David Walliams. Quite a predictable cast list.

And if you can't wait for all that, Death Comes to Pemberley will be shown on Drama on 11th December. There are cast interviews in the current RT so I'm not a lonely fan.

[ShowOfHands]

Ohh Christmas Radio Times. Our sleepy market town doesn't get it until a Monday while the big town 17 miles away gets it on the Saturday before. I make a special round trip. I get highlighters ready, tea, a mince pie and read cover to cover.

Lost Christmas, Flint Street Nativity and oddly, cbeebies Christmas Carol are rewatched every year in this house.

[lucysnowe]

I LOVE Death Comes to Pemberly. Lovely AMM and a slightly grizzled Matthew Rhys as Mr Darcy :)

Love Xmas telly too. I also have found memories of highlighting stuff in the TV and Radio Times and begging for new videos (or checking the old ones and seeing what could be sacrificed).

These days I still record everything but it's still there, unwatched, six months later :( I do try and catch the costume dramas tho. Loved And Then There Were None, and the Bronte drama sounds cool.

[OverAndAbove]

Oh I love the story if Witness for the Prosecution - I'll look forward to that!

Another fan of Death Comes to Pemberley - enjoyed the book too. It's one of those ones that needs a lot of rewatching, which I'm happy to do...

Can't wait for my Christmas Radio Times

[Mrsmadevans]

Loved all the programme mention ESP Dickensian and then there were none just brilliant ,l would not mind a repeat either this year of both . I think the Beeb are going to be the winners this year with Sherlock and Dr Who and the Agatha Christie one. I love Christmas and can't wait to plan it!!

[MorrisZapp]

Ooh Bronte drama sounds intriguing. Also delighted there's an Agatha Christie although I've never heard of that one.

[HermonieGranger]

The drama is 'To walk invisible '. Its the story of the Brontes set in Haworth.

[TheWoollybacksWife]

I enjoyed Death Comes to Pemberley Morris. I think we may be in the minority though.

I had a wee look on the ukchristmastv website earlier. There is an Agatha Christie adaptation on the BBC - Witness for the Prosecution - so I'm happy.

We buy the Radio Times, scan it from cover to cover, and then bookmark everything on Sky+ as soon as we can so we don't miss anything. I also love the big quiz and the crossword in the Christmas RT. Considering we don't really use it as a TV guide after the first day it is manky and dog eared by the time it goes into the recycling.

[MorrisZapp]

No other Death Comes to Pemberley lovers? It had her out of Victoria in it, plus the guy Lady Mary ended up with.

Oh oh oh! What was the Agatha Christie with Prince Albert in it? He is scandalously attractive. Tom something. It was set in the fifties, he had a leather jacket. He saved his friend from drowning but it had a twist.

[MorrisZapp]

Downton blew it though didn't they, when what's his name drove into a ditch on Boxing Day.

There is a Call the Midwife, set in South Africa of all places. Not sure they have snow there :)

My DS just doesn't get my Radio Times fervour. He's like yeah what's on YouTube, sad innit.

OMG CHRISTMAS RADIO TIMES!!!

[user1471531855]

I love Xmas tv this year won't be the same without downtown! Last year I watched back in time for Christmas bbc2 it was great history programme about a family living through christmases from 1950-1990 some great memories of different traditions each years had highly recommend it if they repeat it! This year theres not a lot I'm looking forward too although I do like a BBC period drama

[SmileAndNod]

I enjoyed And Then There Were None last year. I would happily watch Aidan Turner in a towel that again.
DS is looking forward to Awful Auntie. I would just like the tv in run up to Christmas be really festive. It all seems over so quickly, and feels so flat.
And I would also like to see the Christmas Royle Family and Dinnerladies in tribute Caroline Aherne and Victoria Wood.

[Cococrumble]

Liquidrevolution - I love flintstreet nativity! We now have it on DVD and I cry my eyes out on every watch. May have to pop it on tomorrow

[AnthonyPandy]

I have Flint Street Nativity! How are you all watching Lost Christmas? It's on my list to get but is currently about £15 which is a bit steep.

[Kirriemuir]

I can't remember if they said there would be a Christmas "Victoria" or not. It's certainly not going to be the same without downton.

[liquidrevolution]

I get unbelievably excited about the Radio Times Christmas issue. Another one who highlights all the best stuff . I have been bouncing around giddy for days about it even though its a few weeks away. I remember having to get both the TV times and the radio times and plan (with colour coded highlighters) what to watch and what to record and to make sure we had enough blank videos to do the recording . Youngsters are missing out on all this!

I love Lost Christmas so pleased to see other thought it good too. I also loved a programme called 'The Flint Street Nativity' which is a load of actors pretending to be children doing a nativity at school. That doesnt get shown very often. I used to love it about 20 years ago when there were adaptations of classic childrens stories - The Snow Queen, Snow White and Cinderella (with Kathleen Turner as the evil Stepmother!) were particulalry good. They only seen to repeat Snow White though.

[HighDataUsage]

TuejeoQueen the BBC won't be making another series of Dickensian as it's too costly to make. I'm really gutted about that, I wish they'd get rid of a series like Strictly to make a period decent drama series. downs flame proof hat

[SymphonyofShadows]

Something spooky for me too. I loved Whistle And I'll Come To You and that thing a couple of years ago about the old man and his Indian nanny that featured the song Scarborough Fair. Not exactly Christmas but it was in the run up to it.

[TheWoollybacksWife]

There's Hitchcock films being shown at the moment. Iplayer has Suspicion and The Lady Vanishes on already and Dial M for Murder is on this weekend.

I'm hoping for a good murder mystery like an Agatha Christie adaptation and I'm really hoping some channel will show The Bishop's Wife - you can't beat a bit of Cary Grant and David Niven.

[ToujeoQueen]

I loved Dickensian too and hope the BBC do another dickens adaptation. I really liked bleak house too.

[smellylittleorange]

There is a Raymond Briggs animation/story based on his parents - looks rather lovely. I will also be repeating all of the Gavin and Stacey Christmas specials. Looking forward to Sherlock and Doctor Who and quite like Kirsties Christmas Special.