A gala programme broadcast each Christmas night by the BBC from 1958 to 1972 and also revived in 1994. It was hosted by a leading star and featured specially made short, seasonal editions of the previous year's most popular sitcoms and light entertainment programmes.
1958
Dec 25, 1958
Introduced by David Nixon and featuring Charlie Chester, The Beverley Sisters, Charlie Drake, Perry Como, Kenneth Connor, and Billy Cotton and his Band.
1959
Dec 25, 1959
Introduced by David Nixon and starring Ken Mackintosh and his Orchestra, Jimmy Logan, David Hughes, Charlie Drake, Jack Warner, Joan Regan, Jimmy Edwards, and The Black and White Minstrels.
1960
Dec 25, 1960
Introduced by David Nixon and starring The Black and White Minstrels, Sid James, Harry Worth, Kenneth McKellar, Joan Regan and Jimmy Edwards.
1962
Dec 25, 1962
Eamonn Andrews introduces contributions from the casts of the Billy Cotton Band Show, The Black and White Minstrel Show, Dixon of Dock Green, Steptoe and Son, The Rag Trade and The White Heather Club.
1963
Dec 25, 1963
Eamonn Andrews introduces contributions from Stanley Baxter, Michael Bentine, The Black and White Minstrels, Marriage Lines featuring Richard Briers and Prunella Scales, Russ Conway, Billy Cotton, the cast of Dixon of Dock Green, Dick Emery, Kenneth McKellar, Nina & Frederik, Terry Scott and Hugh Lloyd and Andy Stewart, with the Harry Rabinowitz orchestra.
1964
Dec 25, 1964
Jack Warner introduces The Barron Knights, The Black and White Minstrels, Roy Castle, Billy Cotton, Dick Emery, Benny Hill, Kathy Kirby, The Likely Lads with Rodney Bewes and James Bolam, Marriage Lines, Meet the Wife with Freddie Frinton and Thora Hird, Terry Scott and Hugh Lloyd and Andy Stewart, with the Harry Rabinowitz orchestra.
1967
Dec 25, 1967
Rolf Harris introduces Cilla Black, Val Doonican, Billy Cotton, Roy Hudd, Lulu, David Nixon, Beryl Reid, Sandie Shaw, Kenneth Williams and Harry Worth with the casts of Beggar My Neighbour, Steptoe and Son and Till Death Us Do Part with the Alyn Ainsworth orchestra.
1968
Dec 25, 1968
Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise introduce Louis Armstrong, Petula Clark, Rolf Harris, Jimmy Logan, Lulu, Kenneth McKellar, Nana Mouskouri, Cliff Richard, The Seekers and The Young Generation with excerpts from Ray Alan’s Ice Cabaret, Marty Feldman, Oh Brother, Not in Front of the Children, Dad's Army and Harry Worth. With the Alyn Ainsworth orchestra.
1969
Dec 25, 1969
Val Doonican introduces Moira Anderson, Cilla Black, Roy Castle, Wendy Craig, Rolf Harris, Mary Hopkin, Lulu, Kenneth McKellar, Kenneth Williams, and The Young Generation.
1970
Dec 25, 1970
Introduced by Cilla Black. Special guests: Bob Hope, Mary Hopkin, Graham Kerr, Jerry Lewis, Nana Mouskouri, Clodagh Rodgers, Frank Sinatra and Jack Warner.
1971
Dec 25, 1971
Hosted by Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett, with special guests Engelbert Humperdinck, Lulu, Vera Lynn, Harry Secombe, and The New Seekers. Also featuring contributions from Till Death Us Do Part, Bachelor Father, Dick Emery, The Young Generation, and Look - Mike Yarwood!
1972
Dec 25, 1972
Hosted by Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett, with special guests Cilla Black, The Young Generation, Lulu, and The Breakaways. Also featuring contributions from The Goodies, The Liver Birds, Dad's Army, and Look - Mike Yarwood!
1994
Dec 27, 1994
Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie are joined by a galaxy of stars for a feast of BBC2 comedy and music. Guests include comedians Reeves and Mortimer, performers from The Fast Show, Alan Partridge, Rab C Nesbitt, the cast of The Real McCoy, Alexei Sayle, Ronnie Corbett and singer Sandie Shaw. Archive footage from Christmas Nights of old includes Tony Hancock, Dick Emery, Benny Hill, Kathy Kirby, Jack Warner, David Nixon, Charlie Drake, Billy Cotton, the Toppers and many more.
2003
Dec 25, 2003
Hosted by Michael Parkinson. Performers include The Kumars, Will Young, Jo Brand, Ricky Tomlinson, Victoria Beckham, Jon Culshaw and Ronnie Corbett.
