Christmas Video Page

The best of the web (or at least the stuff I thought about; email me with any suggestions!).

Ever wondered what it would sound like if Cliff Richard had done a charity record with the Beatles and Bonnie Tyler? Now you know. I wonder how many of this lot are still on the cabaret circuit?
Stars In Their Eyes - Christmas 1992
   
Oh this is glorious.
The Twelve Days of Christmas - A Parody
   
Some things don't go together - oil and water, chalk and cheese, Alan Partridge and live television. Brokenhearted and at the end of his rope, the chat show host from hell finally loses his cool and punches several guests - as if that wasn't bad enough, one of them happens to be his boss. (Contains adult humour.).
Knowing Me Knowing Yule - Alan punches his guests
 
There are twenty-five of them. There's as wacky as a Morecambe and Wise Christmas special and as fun as a box of kittens. They're the Polyphonic Spree, and they're here to rock your world.
The Polyphonic Spree does Christmas
   
This is one of the greatest moments in sitcom history. David Brent finally loses his patience with the obnoxious, bullying Chris Finch, and Dawn and Tim get the fairytale ending they so desperately deserved. There could have been no finer way for the show to bow out. (Contains strong language.)
The Office Christmas Special - Dawn Kisses Tim
   
Say what you like about Mariah Carey - she's got a set of lungs on her, and Corden can carry a tune as well. Look out for a host of celebrity cameos in this singalong of one of the greatest Christmas songs ever.
James Corden and Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
 
This is one of mine, so it's technically cheating, but I'd been toying with the idea of a Who-themed Christmas montage for a while, and when Greg Lake died in 2016, the song more or less chose itself.
Doctor Who - I Believe in Father Christmas
   
Lidl's heartwarming 2016 Christmas commercial about a family gathering for seasonal celebrations - with a very special guest. If you don't get a lump in your throat watching this, there's something wrong with you.
Lidl Ireland - Family Reunion
   
Richard Curtis's 2003 comedy has so many memorable moments it's difficult to pick a favourite - but this scene between ageing rock star Billy Mack and his long-suffering manager Joe is among the most affecting. Features the line "Ten minutes with Elton John and you're as gay as a maypole."
Love Actually - The Love of My Life
   
I know that of getting a telescope to the lunar surface using a bunch of helium balloons defies just about every scientific principle in the book, but that didn't stop this year's John Lewis advert from bringing a tear to my eye with its simple, powerful message. Then someone did a version with Darth Vader, and oh how we laughed.
The John Lewis advert - Star Wars edition
   
I defy you to watch this without wincing.
Home Alone - Booby Traps
   
Bill Murray's made such a name for himself as a quirky, middle-aged semi-serious actor that it's easy to forget how young he once was. Here's a memorable scene from his 1988 take on A Christmas Carol, in which cynical TV executive Frank Cross has an epiphany and vows to change his ways - on live television.
Scrooged - A Christmas Miracle
   
Apologies for the slightly ropy quality, but this really is the best version I could find: the Muppets join forces with a country music legend to produce a one-hour show of music, mirth and mayhem. This festive favourite opens the programme, but the whole thing is on YouTube if you want to take a look.
John Denver and the Muppets - Twelve Days of Christmas
   
The 2013 Christmas episode of Old Jack's Boat was one of the most moving pieces of children's television I've ever witnessed, and if you ever get the chance to watch the whole thing, do so. It's good old-fashioned storytelling, with stalwart Bernard Cribbins turning in one of his greatest performances.
Old Jack's Boat - The Christmas Quest
   
Andre Previn, guest starring on the Morecambe and Wise 1971 Christmas Special, reluctantly agrees to conduct a performance of Grieg's Piano Concerto - with Eric sitting in front of the grand. What could possibly go wrong, apart from playing the right notes in not necessarily the right order?
Morecambe and Wise meet Andre Previn
   
Not exactly seasonal, but the high point of the Father Ted Christmas special. While shopping for gifts, Ted and Dougal inadvertantly wander into an enormous lingerie department, where they come across a number of other priests who seem to have become lost. Can Ted keep it together and get everyone out unseen? Or will it end in a pinged bra strap and national scandal?
Father Ted - Ireland's biggest lingerie department
   
Hammersmith's answer to Waiting for Godot sees the hapless Richie and Eddie attempt to cook Christmas lunch, with disastrous results.
Bottom - Christmas Dinner
   
Michael McIntyre talks about tree lights, getting children out of the house, and sellotape. Contains the occasional use of strong language.
Michael McIntyre - Children and Christmas  
   

Before The X-Factor, before Open Road and before Take That (mks I or II), there was this: Gary Barlow in an amazing jumper on Pebble Mill. Listen out for the modulations, which are not at all smug.

Gary Barlow - Let's Pray For Christmas
   

You kind of have to be a fan of 24 to really appreciate this one, but like the best mashups it's clever, funny and extremely well made. You can barely see the joins, even if Jack is wearing several different shirts.

Jack Bauer interrogates Santa Claus
   

Just over halfway through 'The Daleks' Master Plan', the Doctor and his companions (Steven and Sara, the latter of whom will sadly not come out of the story alive) retire to the TARDIS for a little seasonal bubbly - just before our favourite time traveller, in a rare moment, turns to the camera and adds "Incidentally, a Happy Christmas to all of you at home". The episode has been lost in the BBC archives, but audio still exists - in this extract, some bright spark has animated it, and rather successfully too.

The First Doctor breaks the fourth wall
   

On a visit to Harrods, Mr Bean re-enacts the nativity as only he knows how: with dinosaurs.

Mr Bean's Nativity
   

Later on in that same episode, our hapless hero gets over-excited on Christmas morning, gives new life to his teddy bear, and shows there's a right and a wrong way to stuff a turkey.

Mr Bean's Christmas
   

It wouldn't be Christmas without Cliff, and if you had to pick one, it would be this. The usual earnest posturing, the legendary jacket, and lots of swaying. The interesting thing is that this song - which is actually a really good song, whatever its tendency for corn - was originally intended by its creators to be an ironic gesture, delivered as a little matchgirl is thrown outside in the snow. Cliff got hold of it, delivered a sincere and captivating performance, and the rest is history.

Cliff Richard - Mistletoe and Wine
   

Hailing originally from Oxford, Thea Gilmore's quirky brand of folk has enthralled critics and public alike ever since she first broke into the charts back into 2003. It wasn't until two years ago, however, that I discovered her late one winter's night on the Bob Harris show, singing the opening track from that year's Christmas album, Strange Communion. Said album is full of warm, reflective seasonal cheer - a notable highlight is her cover of 'The Stephen's Day Murders' (with Mark Radcliffe, of all people) but it's Strange Communion's hit single that I've chosen to include here - a song that is destined, I hope, to generate as much future airplay as the likes of the Pogues or Slade.

Thea Gilmore - That'll Be Christmas
   

This is basically Marmite. It will either make you vomit or leave you with a warm, satisfied feeling inside. I know some people don't like sentimentality and I know this trends towards the mawkish side of things, but is perhaps for that reason that I like it so much. (And this year's one is rubbish.)

John Lewis Christmas Ad 2011

   
Another one of mine. But everyone loves Kate Bush, right?.
The Nativity - This Woman's Work
   
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