Call The Midwife Christmas Special
Tuesday 26 December 7.30pm
With Christmas approaching, the midwives move to their maternity clinic and are delighted when their first patient is a familiar face. Life in Poplar returns to normal after the tragic train crash, and everyone unites for a festive talent show.
It is December 1967 and life in Poplar is getting back to normal following the fatal train crash. Lucille (Leonie Elliott) delivers a beautiful baby boy to an overjoyed mother, despite living in abject poverty, and Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) receives surprising news from the Mother House.
Sister Monica (Judy Parfitt), Joan, Nancy, Sister Frances (Ella Bruccoleri), Nurse Crane (Linda Bassett) and Sister Julienne look forward to Trixie’s (Helen George) return from Italy where she has been caring for her ill Godmother. Matthew (Olly Rix) is overjoyed Trixie is back home and makes a very romantic gesture.
Fred (Cliff Parisi) is reminded of those in Poplar who are still affected by the train crash and is determined the community pulls together to help these struggling families. He pitches the idea of a talent show. Violet (Annabelle Apsion) naturally takes the lead in organising.
The baby and antenatal maternity clinic moves to a new premise at The Florence Dean Hall. Nurse Crane and Miss Higgins are relieved to finally receive the keys and it’s all hands-on deck to get it ready in time for a busy Tuesday clinic.
Dr Turner and Shelagh (Laura Main) are reunited with the Mullucks family who continue to suffer the devastating effects of Thalidomide. Rhoda Mullucks (Liz White) is pregnant with her fourth child and will be under Shelagh and Dr Turner’s care at the maternity home.
As snow falls over Poplar, Nurse Crane and Miss Higgins come to the aid of a young pregnant mother who has recently come out of prison. Meanwhile, Sister Frances’ workload increases due to the team being understaffed, yet she’s forced to take rest following an incident on Christmas Day.
Production credit: A BBC Production.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Wednesday 27 December 7.30pm
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo makes its return to the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade in 2023 with a brand new show, Stories.
The iconic military spectacle will transport audiences with tales of music, dance, and culture with performers and musicians from around the globe.
Featuring the military at the heart of the showcase with the Royal Air Force confirmed as the lead service, audiences can expect a spectacular combination of music, dance and military precision from some of the world’s leading armed forces and cultural performers including the magnificent sound of the Massed Pipes and Drums, supported by Tattoo pipers and drummers, musicians from UK Military Regiments and international acts, the Tattoo dancers and Shetland fiddlers.
Stories embraces all the military tradition the Tattoo is known and loved for while bringing new cultures and vibrancy to this sought after spectacle.
Production Credit: A Live Wire Production Film
Death In Paradise Christmas Special
Friday 29 December 7.30pm
A podcaster is murdered whilst investigating the disappearance of a child. It’s a case that’s haunted Selwyn for many years, and now Neville and the team must lay its ghost to rest. CAST: Don Warrington
When nine-year-old Linus Peters went missing on Christmas Eve in 1977, a young Selwyn Patterson promised Linus’ twin brother, Marvin, he would find him. A promise he failed to keep as the boy was never found. The case has haunted him all these years.
In 2022, crime novelist Jennifer Langan (Siobhan McSweeney) comes looking for answers for her podcast on Linus’s disappearance and digs it all up again for Commissioner Selwyn (Don Warrington).
When Jennifer is murdered at the swamp where Linus went missing, the team begin to think she may have been targeted for investigating the case. Then Officer Marlon Pryce (Tahj Miles) discovers a recording from the night of the murder and the team hears what they think sounds like Linus’ ghost.
DS Naomi Thomas (Shantol Jackson) and DI Neville Parker (Ralf Little) insist they work logically. There’s no such thing as ghosts, is there?
Production details: Red Planet Pictures
All Creatures Great and Small Christmas Special
Saturday 30 December 8.20pm
It’s Christmas in Darrowby and everyone is trying to make the most of things while the world is at war. A young guest brings some wonder, mischief and cheer to Skeldale house while everyone waits for important news. When Mrs Pumphrey (Patricia Hodge) heralds the arrival of a kitten in need of some extra care at Pumphrey Manor, James (Nicholas Ralph) has just the person to take him under their wing.
Siegfried (Samuel West) is asked to pay a visit to an injured River just before a big race and makes an important discovery which Sebright Saunders (Michael Maloney) uses as leverage to get River back on the racetrack. Siegfried risks compromising himself and everything he stands for, but Tristan (Callum Woodhouse) has other ideas.
When Mrs Hall (Anna Madeley) runs into Gerald (Will Thorp) at the market and hears his news, she finds herself inviting him to a Skeldale Christmas party that hasn’t been organised. The rest of the house help her cobble together some guests and a spread - but will he come, and if he does, is Mrs Hall ready to tell him how she feels?
Production credit: Production company: Playground Entertainment. Executive Producers: Colin Callender, Melissa Gallant, Rebecca Eaton, Susanne Simpson, Ben Vanstone, Louise Pedersen, David Sweetman. Producer: Richard Burrell. Lead Writer, Ben Vanstone.
Royal Carols: Together At Christmas 2023
Monday 25 December 6:00pm
The Princess of Wales will return to Westminster Abbey to host a special Christmas carol service and will be joined by Adam Lambert, Beverley Knight, Jacob Collier, Freya Ridings and James Bay.
