Kurt at 19:44, 23 January 2023

2023-01-23T19:44:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:44, 23 January 2023
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	{{~~Use dmy dates\|date=April 2022~~}}		{{Italictitle}}
	'''''Christmas Night with the Stars''''' is a television show broadcast each [[Christmas]] night by the [[BBC]] from 1958 to 1972 (with the exception of 1961, 1965 and 1966).<ref>{{cite book\|title=The Kaleidoscope British Christmas Television Guide 1937–2013 \|author=Chris Perry \|date=3 February 2016 \|edition=2nd \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IJQACAAAQBAJ \|publisher=[[Kaleidoscope Publishing]] \|isbn=978-1-900203-60-9 \|pages=129–135}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051265/ \|title=Christmas Night with the Stars \|website=imdb.com \|access-date=15 November 2008}}</ref> The show was hosted each year by a leading star of BBC TV and featured specially made short seasonal editions (typically about 10 minutes long) of the previous year's most successful BBC sitcoms and light entertainment programs. Most of the variety segments no longer exist in accordance with the BBC's practice of [[Lost television broadcast\|discarding programmes]] at the time.		'''''Christmas Night with the Stars''''' is a television show broadcast each [[Christmas]] night by the [[BBC]] from 1958 to 1972 (with the exception of 1961, 1965 and 1966).<ref>{{cite book\|title=The Kaleidoscope British Christmas Television Guide 1937–2013 \|author=Chris Perry \|date=3 February 2016 \|edition=2nd \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IJQACAAAQBAJ \|publisher=[[Kaleidoscope Publishing]] \|isbn=978-1-900203-60-9 \|pages=129–135}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051265/ \|title=Christmas Night with the Stars \|website=imdb.com \|access-date=15 November 2008}}</ref> The show was hosted each year by a leading star of BBC TV and featured specially made short seasonal editions (typically about 10 minutes long) of the previous year's most successful BBC sitcoms and light entertainment programs. Most of the variety segments no longer exist in accordance with the BBC's practice of [[Lost television broadcast\|discarding programmes]] at the time.

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	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}

	~~{{italic title}}~~

	[[Category:British variety television shows]]		[[Category:British variety television shows]]
	[[Category:Christmas television specials]]		[[Category:Christmas television specials]]
	[[Category:BBC Television shows]]		[[Category:BBC Television shows]]

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en>Niki2006: /* 1969 Christmas Night with the Stars */ Spelling correction Carol Cleveland

2022-12-01T13:19:13Z

1969 Christmas Night with the Stars: Spelling correction Carol Cleveland

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
'''''Christmas Night with the Stars''''' is a television show broadcast each [[Christmas]] night by the [[BBC]] from 1958 to 1972 (with the exception of 1961, 1965 and 1966).<ref>{{cite book|title=The Kaleidoscope British Christmas Television Guide 1937–2013 |author=Chris Perry |date=3 February 2016 |edition=2nd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IJQACAAAQBAJ |publisher=[[Kaleidoscope Publishing]] |isbn=978-1-900203-60-9 |pages=129–135}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051265/ |title=Christmas Night with the Stars |website=imdb.com |access-date=15 November 2008}}</ref> The show was hosted each year by a leading star of BBC TV and featured specially made short seasonal editions (typically about 10 minutes long) of the previous year's most successful BBC sitcoms and light entertainment programs. Most of the variety segments no longer exist in accordance with the BBC's practice of [[Lost television broadcast|discarding programmes]] at the time.

From 1969 to 1973, [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] countered with its own annual Christmas variety show, ''[[All Star Comedy Carnival]]'', while the BBC itself resurrected the format in 1982 with a special titled ''[[The Funny Side of Christmas]]''.

Since its original run, ''Christmas Night with the Stars'' has been revived twice, with [[Fry and Laurie]] in 1994, and with [[Michael Parkinson]] in 2003.

In 2005, the show was voted 24th in [[Channel 4]]'s 100 Greatest Christmas Moments.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/christmas_moments/1-25.html |title=100 Greatest Christmas Moments |website=Channel 4 |access-date=15 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212132140/http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/christmas_moments/1-25.html |archive-date=12 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Some featured television programmes==
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* ''[[All Gas and Gaiters]]''
* ''[[Bachelor Father (UK TV series)|Bachelor Father]]''
* ''[[Beggar My Neighbour (TV series)|Beggar my Neighbour]]''
* ''[[Dad's Army]]''
* ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]''
* ''[[Faces of Jim]]''
* ''[[Hugh and I]]''
* ''[[Marriage Lines]]''
* ''[[Not in Front of the Children (TV series)|Not in Front of the Children]]''
* ''[[Oh, Brother! (TV series)|Oh, Brother!]]''
* ''[[On the Buses]]''
* ''[[Steptoe and Son]]''
* ''[[Sykes and a...]]''
* ''[[The Likely Lads]]''
* ''[[The Liver Birds]]''
* ''[[The Rag Trade]]''
* ''[[The Two Ronnies]]''
* ''[[Till Death Us Do Part]]''
{{div col end}}

==Chronological listing of episodes==

===1958 ''Christmas Night with the Stars''===
Broadcast on Thursday 25 December 1958. Introduced by [[David Nixon (magician)|David Nixon]] and starring [[Charlie Chester]] with Eric 'Jeeves' Grier, The George Mitchell Singers and The Television Toppers, The [[Beverley Sisters]], [[Charlie Drake]] with Dave Freeman, [[Perry Como]], [[Ted Ray (comedian)|Ted Ray]] with [[Kenneth Connor]], David Nixon with Sheila Holt, [[Tony Hancock]] with [[Totti Truman Taylor]], [[Alec Bregonzi]] and [[Percy Edwards]], [[Vera Lynn]] with The Lynnettes, [[Jimmy Edwards]] with [[Arthur Howard]], John Stirling, David Langford and Jeremy Roughton, Billy Cotton and his Band with [[Alan Breeze]] and The Leslie Roberts Silhouettes, Jack Warner with [[Arthur Rigby (actor)|Arthur Rigby]], Jeannette Hutchinson, [[Peter Byrne (actor)|Peter Byrne]], Anthony Parker, Moira Mannion and [[Graham Ashley]].

===1959 ''Christmas Night with the Stars''===
Broadcast on Friday 25 December 1959. Introduced by David Nixon and starring [[Ken Mackintosh]] and his Orchestra, [[Jimmy Logan]], [[David Hughes (tenor)|David Hughes]], [[Charlie Drake]], [[Jack Warner (actor)|Jack Warner]], [[Joan Regan]], [[Jimmy Edwards]], and ''[[The Black and White Minstrels]]''.

===1960 ''Christmas Night with the Stars''===
Broadcast on Sunday 25 December 1960. Introduced by [[David Nixon (magician)|David Nixon]] and starring The Mitchell Minstrels, The Television Toppers, [[Sid James]] with [[Bill Kerr]], [[Liz Fraser]], [[Sydney Tafler]], Nina and Frederik, Harry Worth with [[Deryck Guyler]], Hugh Lloyd, George Roderick, [[Kenneth McKellar (singer)|Kenneth McKellar]] with The Showtime Dancers, David Nixon and [[Robert Harbin]], Stanley Baxter and [[Betty Marsden]], [[Joan Regan]], Jimmy Edwards with Arthur Howard, [[Cyril Fletcher]], Pip Hinton, [[Eric Robinson (conductor)|Eric Robinson]], [[Johnny Vyvyan]], [[Chan Canasta]], The Showtime Dancers and the George Mitchell Singers

===1962 ''Christmas Night with the Stars''===
Broadcast on Tuesday 25 December 1962. [[Eamonn Andrews]] introduced 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]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/93e06e3c35714e8cb4da591f8e123c3b|title=Broadcast - BBC Programme Index|website=genome.ch.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

*The ''Billy Cotton Band Show'' – Billy Cotton and his Band with Alan Breeze, [[Kathie Kay]], The High-Lights and The Leslie Roberts Silhouettes
*''The Rag Trade'' – [[Peter Jones (actor)|Peter Jones]], [[Miriam Karlin]], [[Reg Varney]], [[Esma Cannon]], with [[Barbara Windsor]], [[Sheena Marshe]], Patricia Denys, [[Claire Davenport]]
*''A Song for Everyone'' – Kenneth McKellar with Tom McCall at the organ.
*''Sykes and his Sister'' – [[Eric Sykes]] and [[Hattie Jacques]]
*''Adam Sings'' – [[Adam Faith]] with [[Susan George (actress)|Susan George]]
*''Raise Your Glasses'' – [[Arthur Askey]] and [[Alan Melville (actor)|Alan Melville]] with [[Mary Hignett]], Alec Bregonzi, Ken Grief
*''Juke Box Jury'' – [[David Jacobs (broadcaster)|David Jacobs]], Sid James, Sydney Tafler, Terry Scott, Hugh Lloyd and [[Jill Curzon]]
*''It's A Square World'' – Michael Bentine
*Cartoon by Biographic Cartoon Films Ltd.
*''Russ's Requests'' – Russ Conway with The Billy Cotton Band
*''The Christmas Face of Jim'' – Jimmy Edwards with [[June Whitfield]], [[Ronnie Barker]], [[Michael Brennan (actor)|Michael Brennan]], [[Eunice Black]]
*''The White Heather Club'' – Andy Stewart with The White Heather Dancers, [[Ian Powrie]] and his Band
*''Steptoe and Son'' – [[Harry H. Corbett]], [[Wilfrid Brambell]]
*''The Black and White Minstrel Show'' – The Mitchell Minstrels and The Television Toppers
*''Dixon of Dock Green'' – Jack Warner with Arthur Rigby, Peter Byrne, Jeannette Hutchinson, Geoffrey Adams, Anne Ridler, John Hughes, Christopher Gilmore, Jocelyne Rhodes

===1963 ''Christmas Night with the Stars''===
Broadcast on Wednesday 25 December 1963. [[Eamonn Andrews]] introduced 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 (singer)|Kenneth McKellar]], [[Nina & Frederik]], [[Terry Scott]] and [[Hugh Lloyd]] and [[Andy Stewart (musician)|Andy Stewart]], with the [[Harry Rabinowitz]] orchestra.

===1964 ''Christmas Night with the Stars''===
Broadcast on Friday 25 December 1964. [[Jack Warner (actor)|Jack Warner]] introduced [[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]]'' (as 1963), ''[[Meet the Wife (TV series)|Meet the Wife]]'' with [[Freddie Frinton]] and [[Thora Hird]], [[Terry Scott]] and [[Hugh Lloyd]] and [[Andy Stewart (musician)|Andy Stewart]], with the [[Harry Rabinowitz]] orchestra.

===1967 ''Christmas Night with the Stars''===
Broadcast on Monday 25 December 1967. [[Rolf Harris]] introduced [[Cilla Black]], [[Val Doonican]], [[Billy Cotton]], [[Roy Hudd]], [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]], [[David Nixon (magician)|David Nixon]], [[Beryl Reid]], [[Sandie Shaw]], [[Kenneth Williams]] and [[Harry Worth]] with the casts of ''[[Beggar My Neighbour (TV series)|Beggar My Neighbour]]'', ''[[Steptoe and Son]]'' and ''[[Till Death Us Do Part]]'' with the [[Alyn Ainsworth]] orchestra.

===1968 ''Christmas Night with the Stars''===
Broadcast on Wednesday 25 December 1968. [[Eric Morecambe]] and [[Ernie Wise]] introduced [[Louis Armstrong]], [[Petula Clark]], [[Rolf Harris]], [[Jimmy Logan]], [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]], [[Kenneth McKellar (singer)|Kenneth McKellar]], [[Nana Mouskouri]], [[Cliff Richard]], [[The Seekers]] and [[The Young Generation]] with excerpts from [[Ray Alan]]’s Ice Cabaret, [[Marty Feldman]], ''[[Oh, Brother!|Oh Brother]]'', ''[[Not in Front of the Children (TV series)|Not in Front of the Children]]'', ''[[Dad's Army]]'' (see "[[Santa on Patrol]]") and [[Harry Worth]]. With the [[Alyn Ainsworth]] orchestra.

===1969 ''Christmas Night with the Stars''===
Broadcast on Thursday 25 December 1969. [[Val Doonican]] introduced [[Moira Anderson]], Cilla Black, Roy Castle, [[Wendy Craig]], Rolf Harris, Mary Hopkin, Lulu, Kenneth McKellar, Kenneth Williams, and The Young Generation. Choreography by [[Dougie Squires|Douglas Squires]]. Also featured:
*''Dad's Army'' – Script by [[Jimmy Perry]] and [[David Croft (TV producer)|David Croft]], starring Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier and Clive Dunn, featuring John Laurie, James Beck, Arnold Ridley and Ian Lavender, with Bill Pertwee, [[Robert Aldous]]. Directed by David Croft.
* Dick Emery – with Peter Elliott. Script by Peter Robinson. Directed by [[Ernest Maxin]].
* ''Marty'' – Written by Marty Feldman and [[Barry Took]], starring Marty Feldman with [[John Junkin]], [[Tim Brooke-Taylor]] and [[Roland MacLeod]]. Directed by Roger Race.
* Kenneth McKellar and Moira Anderson – Orchestra directed by [[Peter Knight (composer)|Peter Knight]]. Directed by [[Yvonne Littlewood]].
* ''Not in Front of the Children'' – by [[Richard Waring (writer)|Richard Waring]], starring Wendy Craig and [[Ronald Hines]], with [[Hugo Keith-Johnston]], Verena Greenlaw, Jill Riddick and [[Reginald Marsh (actor)|Reginald Marsh]]. Directed by Graeme Muir.
* ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' – Conceived, written and performed by [[John Cleese]], [[Graham Chapman]], [[Michael Palin]], [[Terry Jones]], [[Eric Idle]], with [[Carol Cleveland]]. Animations by [[Terry Gilliam]]. Directed by [[Ian McNaughton]].
*The [[Cliff Adams Singers]] – Orchestra directed by [[Ken Thorne]]. Script by Austin Steele, David Climie and Val Doonican. Graphics by [[Bernard Lodge]]. Design by Brian Tregidden. Associate producer Colin Charman. Produced by [[Terry Hughes (director)|Terry Hughes]].

===1970 ''Christmas Night with the Stars''===
Broadcast on Friday 25 December 1970 at 6.45 pm. Introduced by [[Cilla Black]]. Special guests: [[Bob Hope]], [[Mary Hopkin]], [[Graham Kerr]], [[Jerry Lewis]], [[Nana Mouskouri]], [[Clodagh Rodgers]], [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Jack Warner (actor)|Jack Warner]].
*''Dad's Army'' – Script by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and starring [[Arthur Lowe]], [[John Le Mesurier]] and [[Clive Dunn]], featuring [[John Laurie]], James Beck, [[Arnold Ridley]] and [[Ian Lavender]] with [[Bill Pertwee]]. Produced by David Croft.
*Stanley Baxter – Script by Ken Hoare. Produced by Roger Race.
*Dick Emery – Script by Warren & Singer and Gary Chambers. Produced by Colin Charman.
*''Bachelor Father'' – Script by Richard Waring, starring [[Ian Carmichael]] with [[Pauline Yates]], Ian Johnson, [[Briony McRoberts]], Beverley Simons, Roland Pickering. Produced by Graeme Muir.
*Terry Scott and June Whitfield – Script by Dave Freeman and Ronnie Taylor. Produced by Peter Whitmore. Choreography by [[Irving Davies]]. Vocal backing by [[The Breakaways]]. Orchestra directed by [[Ronnie Hazlehurst]]. Designed by Vic Meredith. Associate producer [[James Moir (executive)|James Moir]]. Produced by [[Michael Hurll]].

===1971 ''Christmas Night with the Stars''===
Broadcast on Saturday 25 December 1971. Hosted by [[Ronnie Barker]] and [[Ronnie Corbett]], with special guests [[Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)|Engelbert Humperdinck]], [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]], [[Vera Lynn]], [[Harry Secombe]], and [[The New Seekers]]. Also featuring contributions from ''[[Till Death Us Do Part]]'', ''[[Bachelor Father (UK TV series)|Bachelor Father]]'', [[Dick Emery]], [[Dougie Squires#The Young Generation|The Young Generation]], and ''[[Mike Yarwood|Look: Mike Yarwood!]]''

===1972 ''Christmas Night with the Stars''===
Broadcast on Monday 25 December 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 ''Christmas Night with the Stars''===
Broadcast on Tuesday 27 December 1994. [[Stephen Fry]] and [[Hugh Laurie]] hosted the show. Performers included [[Sandie Shaw]], [[Vic and Bob]], [[The Fast Show]], [[Ronnie Corbett]], [[Alan Partridge]], [[Rab C. Nesbitt]], [[Felix Dexter]] and [[Alexei Sayle]].

===2003 ''Christmas Night with the Stars''===
Broadcast on Thursday 25 December 2003. Hosted by [[Michael Parkinson]]. Performers included [[The Kumars]], [[Will Young]], [[Jo Brand]], [[Ricky Tomlinson]], [[Victoria Beckham]], [[Jon Culshaw]] and [[Ronnie Corbett]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beyondthetitle.co.uk/2018/12/14/a-memorable-christmas-night-with-the-stars/ |title=A Memorable Christmas Night With The Stars |first=Josh |last=Barry |date=14 December 2018 |website=beyondthetitle.co.uk |access-date=14 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308170844/http://www.beyondthetitle.co.uk/2018/12/14/a-memorable-christmas-night-with-the-stars/ |archive-date=8 March 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{italic title}}

[[Category:British variety television shows]]
[[Category:Christmas television specials]]
[[Category:BBC Television shows]]

Christmas Night with the Stars - Revision history

Kurt at 19:44, 23 January 2023

Kurt: 1 revision imported

en>Niki2006: /* 1969 Christmas Night with the Stars */ Spelling correction Carol Cleveland