British Comedy Guide

Schedule Thursday 24th December 2009

Gold channel logo. Copyright: UKTV 6:15pm (repeat)
A Close Shave. Credit: BBC, Aardman Animations

A Close Shave

Wallace's whirlwind romance with the proprietor of the local wool shop puts his head in a spin; but not all is well for Gromit.

Radio 4 6:15pm
15 min
The News At Bedtime. Image shows from L to R: Jim Tweedledee (Peter Capaldi), John Tweedledum (Jack Dee). Copyright: BBC

The News At Bedtime

Episode 1

John Tweedledum and Jim Tweedledee report on the scandal of Jack and his genetically-modified beanstalk.

Radio 4 6:30pm
30 min
Andy Zaltzman's History Of The Third Millennium. Andy Zaltzman. Copyright: Avalon Television

Andy Zaltzman's History Of The Third Millennium

Episode 3

Andy looks at the things that make Britain truly British, by means of in-depth analysis, extensive research and time travel.

BBC Four 7:15pm (repeat)
A Child's Christmases In Wales

A Child's Christmases In Wales

A one-off period comedy, peeping into the lives of a south Wales family's Christmases across the 1980s. Written by Mark Watson.

BBC Two 7:30pm (repeat)
The Good Life. Image shows from L to R: Margo Leadbetter (Penelope Keith), Tom Good (Richard Briers), Jerry Leadbetter (Paul Eddington), Barbara Good (Felicity Kendal). Copyright: BBC

The Good Life

Christmas Special - Silly, But It's Fun....

When the Leadbetter Christmas is cancelled, Tom and Barbara save the day by inviting them over for a self-sufficient Christmas that cost only 15p.

ITV2 logo. Credit: ITV 7:40pm (repeat)
Creature Comforts. Copyright: Aardman Animations

Creature Comforts

The Beach: What do starfish think of noise pollution? Can an octopus eat ice creams in strong wind? And do sea anemones enjoy sharing their pool with strangers? Plus, Merry Christmas: Christmas is for all animals, not just for dogs. Find out why a guide dog pursues a caretaker, what reindeer think of Santa, and what mice think of mince pies.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC 8pm
60 min
My Family. Image shows from L to R: Michael Harper (Gabriel Thomson), Susan Harper (Zoë Wanamaker), Ben Harper (Robert Lindsay), Janey Harper (Daniela Denby-Ashe). Copyright: DLT Entertainment Ltd. / Rude Boy Productions

My Family

Series 9, Christmas Special - 2039: A Christmas Oddity

It is December 2039, and the Harpers are gathering together to celebrate Christmas. With a 'greed gift exchange', a rival cousin and a Nativity play battle, there may not be too much room for peace and goodwill.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC 9pm
60 min
Victoria Wood's Mid Life Christmas. Victoria Wood. Copyright: Phil McIntyre Entertainment

Victoria Wood's Mid Life Christmas

Victoria Wood returns with a 60-minute special for BBC One featuring sketches, personal injury commercials, unlikely sporting events and a dance number bringing together the killer combo of midriff bulge and Busby Berkeley.

U&Dave channel logo 9pm (repeat)
The Office. Image shows from L to R: Dawn Tinsley (Lucy Davis), Tim Canterbury (Martin Freeman). Copyright: BBC

The Office

Christmas Specials, Episode 1 - Part 1

We catch up with David Brent, as he still visits his old place of work regularly, despite successfully suing them for unfair dismissal.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC 10pm
30 min
QI. Image shows from L to R: Alan Davies, Stephen Fry. Copyright: TalkbackThames

QI

Series G, Christmas Special - Groovy

A Christmas special with Bill Bailey, Lee Mack and David Tennant.

U&Dave channel logo 10pm (repeat)
The Office. Image shows from L to R: Dawn Tinsley (Lucy Davis), Tim Canterbury (Martin Freeman). Copyright: BBC

The Office

Christmas Specials, Episode 2 - Part 2

Final special. David Brent secures the services of a dating agency and meets up for drinks with a rather disappointing selection of single women.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC 10:30pm
30 min
Live At The Apollo. Image shows from L to R: Ed Byrne, Gina Yashere, Adam Hills. Copyright: Open Mike Productions

Live At The Apollo

Series 5, Episode 5 - Ed Byrne, Adam Hills and Gina Yashere

Stand-up comedy from the Hammersmith Apollo. Irish gem Ed Byrne hosts in front of a 3,500-strong audience, with guest appearances from Adam Hills and London's own Gina Yashere.

Radio 2 logo 10:30pm (repeat)
Galton & Simpson's Half Hour. Copyright: Red Door

Galton & Simpson's Half Hour

Episode 2 - Impasse

A Rolls Royce and a banger meet in a very narrow country lane, somewhere in Cornwall, and both drivers refuse to back up. Between the AA, the RAC and the Cornish Constabulary a solution is finally found; temporarily. Stars Mitchell & Webb.

BBC Two 10:40pm (repeat)
The Grumpy Guide To.... Ronni Ancona. Copyright: Liberty Bell

The Grumpy Guide To...

Grumpy Guide To Christmas, Christmas Special - The Grumpy Guide To Christmas

Meet the new breed of grumpies: a bit younger but no less embittered, with festive humbug and tales of seasonal Tourette's, inappropriate present-buying and the eating of reindeer.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC 11pm
30 min
The Impressions Show With Culshaw & Stephenson. Copyright: BBC

The Impressions Show With Culshaw & Stephenson

Series 1, Special - The Best Of The Impressions Show

A compilation of the best of the series, showing nobody is safe while Culshaw and Stephenson are taking the mickey out of celebrity culture. Eamonn Holmes, Bruce Forsyth, Tess Daly and Vernon Kay get a ribbing, as do Ross Kemp, Amy Winehouse, Michael McIntyre and David Cameron. Autumnwatch, Cheryl Cole, Wayne Rooney and The Apprentice also come in for the typically ludicrous Culshaw and Stephenson treatment.

Radio 4 11pm (repeat)
Chain Reaction. Copyright: BBC

Chain Reaction

Series 4, Episode 4 - Arabella Weir interviews Paul Whitehouse

Arabella Weir talks to Paul Whitehouse about The Fast Show, Down the Line and his career in comedy.

Channel 4 logo. Copyright: Channel 4 Television Corporation 11:05pm (repeat)
Alan Carr: Chatty Man. Alan Carr. Copyright: Open Mike Productions

Alan Carr: Chatty Man

Series 2, Christmas Special - Chatty Man Christmas Special

In this special Christmas episode, Alan is joined on the sofa by the showbiz legend Cilla Black, Alan's old partner in crime from The Sunday Night Project Justin Lee Collins and, making his second appearance on the Chatty Man sofa, Little Britain star David Walliams stops by for a festive chat. There's plenty of Christmas surprises and a performance from Britain's favourite new girl band The Saturdays.

ITV1 logo. Credit: ITV 11:15pm (repeat)
Shakespeare In Love

Shakespeare In Love

Romantic comedy about a fictional relationship between William Shakespeare and a young woman who poses as a man in order to star in his plays.

E4 logo. Copyright: Channel 4 Television Corporation 11:30pm (repeat)
Fonejacker. The Fonejacker (Kayvan Novak). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

Fonejacker

Series 1, Special - Fonejacker Christmas Special

The king of prank calls returns for a festive special, featuring all the favourite characters from series one: George the scamster, Irish Mike, Terry Tibbs, Indian Call Centre and Mr Miggins, as well as Fonejacker himself out in the streets of Britain seeking targets to call and confuse.

BBC Two 11:40pm (repeat)
The Funny Side Of.... Clive Anderson. Copyright: BBC

The Funny Side Of...

Episode 6 - The Funny Side Of Christmas

Clive Anderson presents the best and the worst that TV has served up to us over the years at Christmas.

E4 logo. Copyright: Channel 4 Television Corporation Midnight (repeat)
Russell Brand's Ponderland. Russell Brand. Copyright: Vanity Projects Limited

Russell Brand's Ponderland

Series 2, Special - Russell Brand's Christmas Ponderland

Following his recent series, Russell Brand holds forth on all that is Christmas in this special episode.

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