20 Dec 2009
12 Highlights For Christmas
Okay, there's a lot of the Christmas to watch. A lot of it being
forgettable rubbish and some of the other stuff being movies that have been seen
a thousand times over but here are some of the more interesting and media
grabbing things to watch this year.
1: Doctor Who - The End Of Time Parts 1 And 2, Christmas Day 6pm
and New Year's Day 6.40pm on BBC1.
Did anyone ever think that David Tennant and Russell T. Davies last story
would be a quite affair? This two parter certainly aims to dispell that as the
Doctor hurtles towards the end of his tenth incarnation, the Master is
ressurected on Christmas Eve while Joshua Naismith attempts to open the
Immortality Gate. Bringing back the Master as the villain of the piece is a
masterstroke (pun most definitely intended) with John Simm promising to make the
rogue Time Lord more deranged than last time. Also there's Wilfred as the main
companion of the piece and the welcome return of Donna and several others into
the mix.
2: An Englishman In New York, December 28th, 9pm on
ITV1
Yes, every now and then, ITV1 can produce some excellent drama and the much
awaited sequel to The Naked Civil Servant, John Hurt takes his
character Quentin Crisp to New York where a calvacade of events see the
flamboyant gentlement out of favour with the gay community upon making some
ill-advised comments on the nature of AIDS. This special one-off also features
Sex And The City's Cynthia Nixon as Penny Arcade and also
upcoming True Blood guest star, Denis O'Hare.
3: Alan Carr: Chatty Man, New Year's Eve, 10.20pm on Channel
4
I've not gotten into this show as much as I did with The Friday/Sunday
Night Project and Carr is one of those comedians who seems to be fairly
ubitiquous nowadays but it could be fun enough. Davina McCall's not my cup of
tea but it's nice to see that David Tennant and Catherine Tate are ever present
over the holiday period.
4: Graham Norton New Year's Eve Christmas Show, New Year's
Eve10.40pm on BBC1
Competing with Alan Carr, Norton's selection of guests include Sarah
Jessica Parker, Joan Rivers and The Wire's Dominic West. Could
be fun.
5: Grumpy Guide To Christmas, December 23rd, 9pm on
BBC2
For those of you who are not in the festive spirit, it seems that a new
edition of the popular series looks set to round off everything that virtually
sucks about Christmas. Oh go on, embrace your inner Grinch for a half an
hour.
6: Stephen Gately: Picture Of You, December 27th, 10.30pm on
RTE1
The only Irish thing I've noted but hey, it's still a huge media story.
Stephen's death was certainly tragic and while I don't think this will uncover
anything new, it could be still worth looking into.
7: Hamlet, Boxing Day, 5.05pm on BBC2
You can't move for the amount of David Tennant on screen during this
Christmas period. In this made for TV version of his 2008 performance of Gregory
Doran's take on the popular play, the actor takes on the title role with certain
boyish charm and gusto. Look out for Patrick Stewart as well, who eclipses
Tennant.
8: Soaps, Various Times/Days/Channels
In terms of LGBT stuff, Connie/Yvonne split in Fair City,
Christian is determined to ruin Syed and Amira's wedding in
EastEnders and Zoe's attempts to expose Lydia nearly get her
killed in Hollyoaks. Corrie meanwhile stick to
panto and Emmerdale aren't doing much to forward the Aaron
storyline.
9: Charlie Brooker's Screewipe Review Of 2009, December 22nd,
10.30pm on BBC4
Last year saw the likes of The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent ripped to
piece, so I'm pretty sure that this year the witty Mr Brooker will be eyeing up
the usual suspects again to give a dressing down to.
10: The Day Of The Triffids, December 28th and 29th, 9pm on
BBC1
Wow, the Beeb are going for their remakes, aren't they? If you can't wait
for Survivors (that's next month), then here's another remake
to get into. Starring Dougray Scott, Joely Richardson and Eddie Izzard.
11: Gavin And Stacey, New Year's Day, 9pm on BBC1
I haven't gotten into this series as much as I did with the last one but
this series finale could be a crowd pleaser. Can Smithy stop Nessa from marrying
Dave Coaches and will Uncle Bryn get something better to do?
12: Catherine Tate: Nan's Christmas Carol, Christmas Day, 10.30pm,
BBC1
Be glad it's not Lauren. Instead the most racist, homophobic and nastiest
fictional OAP is supposed to be shown the error of her ways when the ghosts of
Christmas past, present and future pay her a visit. Will Nan change her ways?
Not fucking likely!