Forgotten Christmas TV of the Past | 60s 70s 80s

[@simonslaughter6098]

For me Christmas TV was so much better than what we have now

[@stuviewtv]

Absolutely.

[@gwheregwhizz]

If you're under the age of 25, you're too young to remember Christmas Day without an episode of EastEnders where someone dies, a Doctor Who people complain about, being able to watch some celebrities nobody has heard of dancing, and Mrs Brown's Boys where his offspring in real life try to sing at the end. Yeah, it was better 😊

[@RamblesBrambles]

I remember star wars being shown on itv..1984..christmas day...i was 8 years old...i was so happy i punched my step dad

[@RamblesBrambles]

My kids will probably say this christmas will be their best...😅

[@dragonflydance9204]

I agree, the Christmas ads were far more entertaining back then than Christmas TV programmes they show now, especially the Woolies one

[@robertbills4290]

It makes me sad to think that so many of these fantastic comedy Actors are no longer with us. I am so blessed to have grown up with all these magical moments.

[@michaelmcdonnell5998]

The whole family watching the only TV in the house with a choice of three channels and still being entertained!

[@stuviewtv]

Great days.

[@kumachan9311]

Unless Christmas Day was a Sunday and they'd be loads of Religious shows

[@stevencarter87]

Wow, that makes me crave Christmas of the past 🤔🎉

[@least1]

I miss being a kid in the 70s and early 80s.

[@stuviewtv]

Me too.

[@miked4377]

@@least1 great times...

[@acrodave9287]

The Morecambe and Wise Christmas special on Christmas day evening was obligatory viewing in our house. Getting the Christmas editions of the Radio Times and the TV Times that we never got through the rest of the year was a sure sign that Christmas was just around the corner.

[@stuviewtv]

Wonderful days.

[@cblack1green]

Whenever you saw Christmas special advertised it would be a program that as a family we would watch together, my mum would get out the Christmas sweet box , me as a child would look for the biggest bar of chocolate in there 😂, I wish I could go back and see us all together one more time.

[@stuviewtv]

Wonderful days.

[@awall1701]

It was not Christmas in my house until mum got the Christmas Radio Times and the Christmas TV Times. As a kid, I always liked seeing the BBC One globe as a Christmas pudding. Another enjoyable, nostalgic filled video,

[@stuviewtv]

Thanks! 👍

[@alanprior7650]

A true Christmas staple...buying both the Radio Times and TV Timed (which gave you tv guides from about Dec 21st to New Year and maybectwo days after). It was great working out what you could watch over yuletide!

[@gwheregwhizz]

As a kid you knew it was Christmas when Blue Peter got the coat hangers, candles and tinsel out for the pre-health and safety advent crown, gameshows like Bullseye had charity editions filmed in August with celebs promoting their panto, trying to win a telly for the local hospital, and the TVTimes and Radio Times double issues were both full of adverts for holidays. To look forward to, there's some Hayley Mills film and Digby the Biggest Dog in the World on Boxing Day, a Top of the Pop Christmas Special not ruined by Simon Cowell output, and Quality Street that actually was.

[@stuviewtv]

Yes, Quality Street in proper big tins!

[@borusa32]

Jon Pertwee was brilliant as Worzel Gummidge and the Third Doctor.

[@stuviewtv]

Absolutely.

Jon Pertwee was also the host on a ITV show called "Whodunit"

[@danieladams9950]

@@borusa32 Better as Worzel. It's what everyone contemporary remembers him.

[@sarahb2652]

I love the Worzel song and dance at the end...great memories of watching Worzel Gummidge as a child. I also remember being taken to the theatre to see Worzel Gummidge on stage!!!

[@stuviewtv]

Fantastic!

[@robsmith6281]

Happy days they were best tv ever thanks Stu.👍🏻

[@stuviewtv]

Great days!

[@ronwhite8503]

Les Dawson and Roy Barraclough........ comedy genius.

[@stuviewtv]

Truly magnificent together.

[@alanprior7650]

​@stuviewtv Especially when taking about women's 'problems'.😂

[@DemeterTelphousia-Erinyes]

When I was a young kid I saw them in panto in Doncaster- a lovely memory.

[@JasonComan-w1b]

Thanks Stuview. A wonderful collection of Christmas TV. Many happy memories and great personalities. A golden time, when TV was worth watching!

[@stuviewtv]

Glad you enjoyed it Jason. Many thanks.

[@johnklimcke8875]

Brilliant again stu I used to love the Christmas shows and specials on tv when I was younger. Brings back so many great memories. Cheers 🍻

[@stuviewtv]

Glad you enjoyed the festive memories! Thanks as always.

[@geetee7154]

I remember TV was an integral part of Christmas day, my mother ensured we would always watch the Queens speech at 3pm, then it would be film in the afternoon & in the evening would be the family entertainment shows, which on our telly had to be Morecombe & Wise show, Christmas TV would actually last right up to new year's eve, quality TV back then, nowadays TV is poor, barely worth switching on, never mind watching, this brought back some very happy family memories 😁👍

[@stuviewtv]

Yea, all so very different back then. Much more family orientated. Glad you enjoyed the memories! Many thanks.

[@BecomeConsciousNow]

'Language Timothy!'

[@carolebarker2195]

I used to love "Carry on Christmas" they seemed so traditional and atmospheric. And all the Christmas specials they put on, Morecambe & Wise, Two Ronnies, I wish I had a time machine to go back to those times. We really looked forward to those festive shows. Thanks for all your hard work making this video, Stu, so nostalgic. I loved Cissie and Ada played by Les Dawson and Roy Barraclough as well, they were hilarious. It sounds corny but the actors and performers seemed like old friends back then.

[@stuviewtv]

Thanks Carole. We still watch the Carry On Christmas specials every year, particularly the last one with Sid James as a department store Santa. I remember when Roy Barraclough came into Coronation Street and at first I couldn't see him as anybody else but Cissie!

[@carolebarker2195]

@@stuviewtv Lol! Roy played the part so well, didn't he?

[@AtheistOrphan]

Remember the all-star Woolies ads that took up the whole ad breaks?

[@stephenchappell7512]

Nowadays I wouldn't know who any of the 'household names' are

[@stuviewtv]

Christmas wasn't Christmas without the Woolies ads!

[@AtheistOrphan]

@@stuviewtv - True. Thinking about it their budget for those ads must have been phenomenal! Fees for all the big stars of the day plus booking the ENTIRE ad break.

[@SteveB-xz2zy]

Once again I find myself giving a thumbs up before I’ve even started watching👍🏻 it’s always guaranteed top notch content🤩

[@stuviewtv]

That's very much appreciated Steve!

[@neilshenton1834]

Aw, cheers mate. That Worzel number was an utter delight! 👏🤩👍

[@stuviewtv]

My pleasure 👍

[@Mazalinda]

The Carry on Christmas specials were watched by the family balancing turkey sandwiches with pickled onions on our laps, the butter so cold it wouldn’t spread and was cut into slices. These were followed by mum’s mince pies so overcooked the mince meat was like toffee. Then mum’s Christmas cake, the icing so hard we needed a pneumatic drill to break it. Then, at last, the Quality Street in a huge tin. We plunged our hands in searching for our favourites - the toffee penny! - and there were so many sweets it took ages to eat them all.

[@terryjohnson7389]

Rudolph the red nosed reign deer narated by Burl Ives and A Christmas carol starring Alastair Sims was our favorite during the 60s.

[@2760ade]

Alastair Sims!! Best ever Scrooge wasn't he!

[@Clara-ph7my]

The time and effort which was put into these sitcoms. Main Screen TV. Three channels managed to entertain a household. Compared to the amount of channels now accessible and you still can't find anything decent to watch. TV of pure Classic Gold, of actors and entertainers, who we grew to love.

[@frankowalker4662]

I found Kenny Everett's Christmas Carol (1985) on YT earlier this year. Brilliant all star cast.

[@fus149hammer5]

@@frankowalker4662 His shows are currently replaying on Thats TV and are unbelievably funny.

[@frankowalker4662]

@@fus149hammer5 Oh cool. Cheers. 👍

[@AtheistOrphan]

@@fus149hammer5- Unfortunately they’re VERY heavily censored.

[@fus149hammer5]

@@AtheistOrphan Not the ones I've seen. One even had large tits all over the old Thames TV ident.

[@anjkovo2138]

I'll never forget Frankie Howard as the fairy god mother. Nearly choked on my Xmas cake laughing hysterically

[@stuviewtv]

Oh yes, absolutely hilarious! Especially the huge backside!

[@fus149hammer5]

Oo er missus....😂

[@DavidNettleton-l3r]

Some great memories there Stu, they don't make em like that anymore thank you 😊😊

[@stuviewtv]

They certainly don't David. Glad you enjoyed the memories.

[@thomascook578]

Back when Xmas telly was fun, now the mainstay is soaps with doom and gloom. I remember very few of these, but the one that caught my eye was the Carry On shorts. Great video Stu 👍

[@stuviewtv]

Many thanks! 👍

[@garybryant5946]

Sherry and Mince Pies Tin of Quality Street Big Movies and Comedy which actually made you laugh and nearly choke on a toffee 🎄😃

[@stuviewtv]

Oh yes, great days

[@fus149hammer5]

@@garybryant5946 Battery operated toys (no sniggering at the back) no batteries supplied and the shops shut until past new year.🥹

[@anjkovo2138]

Lovely👍👍🎅🎄

[@anjkovo2138]

Do another Stu, Part 2 by popular demand👍👍

[@SafetyProMalta]

What we have lost...😢

[@phillipcarter8045]

Not a lot . 😢

[@candjim]

Christmas tv on the BBC, ITV and LWT was always such a treat.

[@nickyoung4799]

All Christmas specials are probably filmed in August 😂

[@garycrowther4912]

How have I missed Carry on at Christmas 😮

[@stephenparkes9543]

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas.

[@terencemeikle534]

Just one look at even a still image of Sid James broadly grinning makes me feel a whole lot better. 😊

[@marieohanlon8871]

❤❤❤ love all of ur footage Stu, and appreciate all of the hard work u put into it xx❤❤❤

[@stuviewtv]

That's lovely to hear Marie! Many thanks!

[@timmytimkins4379]

Very Warm & Festive. Thank you

[@stuviewtv]

My pleasure.

[@chrisrovai9625]

Such old style fun..love yourr stuff😂

[@stuviewtv]

Many thanks! 👍

[@outdooradventures8773]

Now i am going to be singing that cup of tea song for weeks

[@mattwuk]

Who else is singing 'a cup of tea and a slice of cake' in their head?🤣

[@michaelwebster8666]

Great memories Stuart! They dont make them like they used to 👍🎅

[@stuviewtv]

Very true!

[@Julie-sm7sp]

This is what Christmas TV should be, for me when i was younger it wasn't Christmas if we all didn't sit and watch The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show eating our way through a tin of chocolates, one we still watch on Christmas Day is the Rising Damp Christmas Special 'For The Man Who Has Everything ' it's now become a tradition we can't break 😆

[@stuviewtv]

You can't beat good, old-fashioned family entertainment at Christmas!🎄

[@carolebarker2195]

That's a great episode, Julie, I love it.

[@Julie-sm7sp]

​@@stuviewtvYou can't Stu, great memories, thanks again for reminding us of them.

[@Julie-sm7sp]

​@carolebarker2195 It is isn't it Carole, no matter how many times we watch it we always laugh 😆

[@Wench64]

I think Christmas stopped in late 80s, after that not many programs were for Christmas, and this century is even worse, can't find anything to watch at night, and people are frightened to say merry Christmas to anyone😢

[@rafiqadarr6217]

I always loved watching the animations which were made probably in the 1970s/1980s of A Christmas Carol - serious animations, not goofy animations (they are not bad, but I prefer serious). I love Dickens and no Christmas would ever be complete without him. I always watched at least one animation, probably before lunch time on Christmas Eve, which really resonated with me and made my Christmas. I love Christmas, a special time of year, and I loved Charles Dickens and his Christmas Books - the joy of Christmas and the season, with good food and family. 😊

[@stuviewtv]

I think I remember some of those animations of A Christmas Carol. Enthralling stuff.

[@danieladams9950]

Absolutely brilliant research. Had no idea about the collective BBC extravaganza. This 11 year old must have been paying too much attention to Chocky.

[@stuviewtv]

Many thanks 👍

[@TCFKAE]

Thanks for the Dukes of Hazard, Six Million Dollar Man and Magnum ep references/never knew about those. Starsky & Hutch had a festive ep - "S02 E03 Little Girl Lost", broadcast 25.12.76.

[@stuviewtv]

Thanks for the Starsky and Hutch info. I will have to find it and have a watch.

[@TCFKAE]

@@stuviewtv Some more 70's US TV Xmas specials: Hardy Boys & Nancy Drew S2 Ep12 (18.12.77), nice one for the kids; 3 Mash Xmas eps (S1 Ep12, S7 Ep15 and S9 Ep5)/not for the kids...; Taxi S1 Ep 13 (12.12.78)/good fun.

[@stuviewtv]

@@TCFKAE Brilliant! Thanks.

[@cocopopalops]

Christmas telly as it should be.... Ahhhh memories.

[@stephenguppy7882]

I used to spend my pocket money on the Christmas editions of the TV and Radio Times, the only time of the year they were ever seen in our house. We used to go through them from cover-to-cover and mark everything we wanted to watch across all THREE channels! Ah, happy days.

[@stuviewtv]

Great days indeed.

[@glenjones6980]

Once the video and more channels appeared things didn't seem to be the event they once were. I think most of us are grateful to be of an age when Christmas TV was special and have fond memories of those days. What we lacked in choice of channels was more than made up for in the quality of the programmes aired, it didn't matter if you were six or sixty the Two Ronnies were funny to watch and always will be for the same reasons they always were. Some of my earliest memories are sitting on grandad's knee watching the Xmas specials and us both laughing at the humour the writers created which appealed to such a wide audience.

[@stuviewtv]

Couldn't agree more Glen. 👍

[@martinharris6469]

A lot of these are being repeated on that's TV... channel 181... good video as always STU...

[@stuviewtv]

Thanks!

[@PeterMackett]

I remember those short episodes of classic comedies, ITV were definitely doing them in the black and white days as i remember watching them at my grandparents on Christmas Day back in the 1960's as i clearly remember an episode of The Dustbinmen, TV was so much better back then, proper entertainment and variety, now it's just soaps and reality!

[@alisonjordan]

Hello Stu👋 A wonderful Christmas 🎄 trip down memory Lane. I grew up during the 1970s...So most of the Christmas 🎄 specials passed me by. I loved the Carry On Series, but I have no recollection of the Christmas Specials... I am sure I would have watched them, as they looked great fun!! That song 🎶 with Wurzel Gummidge, Was a single, but I have no idea how it got on in the single charts(?!) I am sure there were more “Christmas Themed” Shows than there are now. Thanks again for the memories...

[@stuviewtv]

Hi Alison. I didn't realise the Worzel Gummidge song had been released as a single. Wow. The Carry On Christmas specials will likely be on again this Christmas I should think. They may be here on KZbin too.

[@pete6645]

My favourite Christmas special is "Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads" from 1974 which I always watch of Christmas Eve. I also love "The Jolly Boys Outing", an "Only Fools and Horses" Christmas special from 1989 even though it isn't Christmassy, being set in the summer.

[@stuviewtv]

Two of my favourites too.

[@darrengrimmer8541]

The best days of my life. It was great back then it seemed a lot more light hearted.. now I feel the over politicisation of everything makes it feel different now.. sad

[@63mckenzie]

Loved all the Carry On Christmas specials, but no surprise the scene with Babs Windsor as a 13 year old school girl gets edited out these days!

[@owenmcgheeandbdawg]

I don't recall most of these, other than The Avengers (on vid) so this was another treat. Thank You.

[@stuviewtv]

Thanks Owen! 👍

[@rebornitsybitsy7515]

Great video, kudos to you being able to obtain all this information, must have taken a lot of time to make this video! 👍

[@stuviewtv]

Many thanks. It's certainly great fun making these videos!

[@SoUtHMeMpHis]

70/80s Dr. Who Christmas 🎄 Episodes, Are You Being Served and a host of 70s/80s American television Christmas episodes and tv Specials. I've grown to love and enjoy finding the many shows of the BBC and the Uk that had Christmas and Boxing Day episodes. The comedies, the dramas and the detective/inspector Christmas/ Boxing Day episodes are the best😢. The settings, time periods and families depicted really make me wish I could've went on a holiday there during the 60s/70s &80s holidays. I know many episodes are now on KZbin but I'd love them all on Blu- Ray instead as apart of my personal physical collections. 🦃🎄 📦 🍂🎅🦌✨️☃️🎶🎁🍭🌟🧑‍🎄🍬🪀🤶❄️🍁🕎🕯🎀🧸🔔🌟🎄🙏‼️

[@alanprior7650]

The Worzel Gummidge Christmas special,as well as the regular kids and Una Stubbs I recognize Barbara Windsor and I think Bill Maynard and Geoffrey Blaydon.

[@stuviewtv]

Spot on.

[@dchapman8427]

The Carry on Christmas programs have not long been repeated on the Freeview That’s Christmas channels ! Maybe they will show them again before Christmas Day.

[@donnahollins5071]

Once upon a Christmas, comedy was actually funny.

[@raybrooksbank5723]

Those were the days

[@AnneRoberts-m3v]

The best Christmases ever

[@Cornz38]

Sid James private life is a read in itself!!! Pretended to be a boxer, was a hairdresser!

[@fus149hammer5]

I've got the book. Apparently the hang dog look and wrinkles were a inherited trait of the male line in the Cohen family (his real surname) and wasn't apparent until his late twenties. He was quite handsome before that and was very popular with the ladies visiting his salon.

[@shirleydrury5565]

These were better DAYS. Unlike crap we have to put up with TODAY!!😢😢

[@fus149hammer5]

Looking forward to Carry On Christmas not being just a vague memory. Hopefully it'll be on one of the more obscure TV channels again soon.

[@stuviewtv]

Channel 5 often show them at Christmas. They may well be on the That's Christmas channel too.

[@AndyMaddog]

Bah… Humbug!

[@paulmcnamara2908]

Hated that damned scarecrow!

[@jeffreyromain7336]

No "cup o' tea an' a slice o' cake" for you.

[@nickyoung4799]

Is that you Aunt Sally?

[@jeffreyromain7336]

@@nickyoung4799 No, this is the Crowman.

[@fus149hammer5]

Still far better than that rubbish woke reboot on the BBC.

[@SamLowryDZ-015]

You swine - I had managed to forget that damn cup of tea song and now it's stuck in my head.

[@stuviewtv]

Woops!

[@sadler76]

I remember a small clip of Twiggy in a wooden soldier uniform introduced Doctors of Madness on her variety series. I hope some have the full episode.

[@BigKelvPark]

It''s always Christmas on the box now when you watch/stream channels.

[@philrob1978]

It can't be just me that thought Worzel, and all surrounding it, was bloody terrifying? It was like "The Wicker Man" for kids. Pure folk horror.

[@dockaos924]

The good old days without the internet telling us how to be happy

[@peterskegness3204]

Another highlight in kids tv around Christmas, was "All Star Record Breakers" - an extended version of the Record Breakers with many of the then stars of kids tv's doing allsorts. Here's a clip I found of Blue Peter's Sarah Greene in one show kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIC1dWiVqrWSj7Msi=Bq9YnnXtiN9V0P-s

[@stuviewtv]

Great, thanks!

[@fus149hammer5]

That Worzel Gummidge except was sheer magic. All those characters and the actors were simply loved by the nation. Compare them to the self obsessed "right on, can't say anything even slightly dodgy" mob of today. We loved Jon Pertwee, we loved Eric and Ernie, Ronnies B+C, Sid and Peter and when we lost them we felt it personally. Does anyone really care about James Corden or Brendan O'Carroll? I certainly don't. There's nothing they could write or make that could ever rival those classic Christmas shows.

[@carolebarker2195]

I agree with you. Our fave stars popped up everywhere, quiz shows, on the TV and Radio Times covers, interviews. That was like their day job or something! And sometimes adverts as well. Remember Norman Vaughan on the Roses ad "Roses grow on you". Maybe that's too old for you though, lol. I think he presented the Golden Shot at one time.

[@fus149hammer5]

@carolebarker2195 No I remember Norman Vaughan very well. Also remember that embarrassing episode of The Golden Shot where a teary Bob Monkhouse had to hand the show over to him. I've had school lunches at home to Rainbow and Mr Trimble, hid behind the couch to Dr Who and was genuinely scared when Captain Black appeared in that misty cemetery. Great memories and a more innocent time we'll never see again.

[@carolebarker2195]

@@fus149hammer5 I remember Rainbow and Mr Trimble but usually when I was on my hols during High school! I did hide behind the couch during Dr Who, particularly one episode that featured Wendy Padbury as Zoe and Fraser Hines as Jamie, in his kilt, and also that Dr Who series where some shop mannequins came to life and began firing at random passers-by !! Would that be made today? Probably not. Captain Black, I assume you mean the Captain Scarlet series, that was a cracking show. Great memories indeed.

[@fus149hammer5]

@@carolebarker2195 Definitely Captain Scarlet, a series that would definitely not be made today without a massive rethink.

[@carolebarker2195]

@@fus149hammer5 Yes, I think Gerry Anderson would be spinning in his grave at all the "political correctness" nowadays.

[@GarryShepherdDreamGazePostPunk]

Ta Stu👍✨️ back to 2024😭🤭

[@trytellingthetruth.2068]

With multiple tv channels, and films being shown continuously, when Christmas comes around there's nothing special to look forward to because you've already seen it.

[@lordeden2732]

Although I was around and of an age to have seen these, I never did. Having seen these clips, I'm externally grateful I didn't!

[@kedwards8373]

There were a few Christmas episodes of The Golden Girls in the 80s

[@SpuktasticAudio]

Reassuring to be reminded that Christmas TV has always been rubbish! 🤔🤔

[@Comfortzone99]

Here is a Christmas special from 1967 that has been buried for years..to the point the tape had stuck together in places. If you can ignore the elephant in the room and just appreciate what a beautifully made show it was in all aspects and that it did what it was suppose to do -entertain. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHu6Yn1phrmdgqssi=30pAqENuXnwZ6mOu

[@stevejohnson9234]

When tv was good

[@crispendaysh3401]

She’s so funny

[@KevinRudd-w8s]

There were some great shows back then, but it wasn't all good, as I recall there were plenty of shows that ranged from being bland to down right awful. Still I did prefer it to whats on offer today, in fact I got rid of the telly earlier this year so I won't be watching anything this Christmas. I somehow don't think I'll be missing much.

[@joanne26]

I was born in 1965 so I was really too young to know of the shows before 1973. I used to ❤Ronnie C playing Timothy in Sorry I remember Jon in Worzel Gummidge around this time of year as I was a teenager by 79 The Likely Lads Never a fan really A bit too drab even in the later episodes 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿❤️❤️

[@carlfrederickbowers]

Nice comedy, funny but not offensive.

[@tonyhoughton6857]

They don't seem to be the big star's now like they were in years gone by

[@aala7337]

Only time my mother bought the radio times,then we knew Christmas was coming.The programs were far better ,not like the crap they show at Christmas now!

[@what-uc]

Name a comedy series which STARTED with a Chirstmas episode. I'm thinking of a sitcom, the initial episode was a pilot, listed as S1E0, and had a definite Christmas theme

[@fus149hammer5]

Christianity. 😂

[@michaelmcdonnell5998]

😂​@@fus149hammer5

[@alanprior7650]

The Two Ronnies

[@what-uc]

@@alanprior7650 No, that started in April 1971

[@duckarse11]

[@CarlDraper]

Most Xmas specials are absolutely terrible with a few exceptions

[@ironsights9448]

Christmas was never the same after Eric morecambe died