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Christmas Night with the Stars

Christmas Night with the Stars

1958 7.0 Comedy, Family 60m
GB • English

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.

Cast

Episodes

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1958

E1

Introduced by David Nixon and featuring Charlie Chester, The Beverley Sisters, Charlie Drake, Perry Como, Kenneth Connor, and Billy Cotton and his Band.

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1959

E2

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.

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1960

E3

Introduced by David Nixon and starring The Black and White Minstrels, Sid James, Harry Worth, Kenneth McKellar, Joan Regan and Jimmy Edwards.

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1962

E4

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.

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1963

E5

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.

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1964

E6

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.

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1967

E7

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.

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1968

E8

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.

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1969

E9

Val Doonican introduces Moira Anderson, Cilla Black, Roy Castle, Wendy Craig, Rolf Harris, Mary Hopkin, Lulu, Kenneth McKellar, Kenneth Williams, and The Young Generation.

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1970

E10

Introduced by Cilla Black. Special guests: Bob Hope, Mary Hopkin, Graham Kerr, Jerry Lewis, Nana Mouskouri, Clodagh Rodgers, Frank Sinatra and Jack Warner.

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1971

E11

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!

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1972

E12

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!

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1994

E13

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.

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2003

E14

Hosted by Michael Parkinson. Performers include The Kumars, Will Young, Jo Brand, Ricky Tomlinson, Victoria Beckham, Jon Culshaw and Ronnie Corbett.