Over the weekend, it emerged the Australian soap could be forced off air after 37 years, following Channel 5′s announcement it is to stop screening the show in the UK this summer.
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Unless another British network picks it up, Neighbours will finish filming in June, as the show is largely funded by its international broadcast partner.
Jackie and Alan – who have played Susan and Karl Kennedy since 1994 – revealed the cast are “very emotional” at the real possibility the soap could end this year, and said a “hero” is needed to save it from the axe.
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Cast and crew were called to a meeting at the show’s studios in Melbourne on Monday to discuss its future, where Jackie said everyone present was in tears.
They’ve been our Neighbours for 37 years, but we could soon be farewelling the residents of Ramsay Street after UK network Channel 5 announced it would no longer broadcast the show. Jackie Woodburne plays Susan Kennedy, and joins us.#TheProjectTVpic.twitter.com/vxihFqDGiZ
Appearing on The Project, she said: “It’s been a rollercoaster, absolutely, the last 24 hours or 36 hours, as you can imagine. Kind of a lot of information to try and process. I still feel a bit in shock, a bit overwhelmed.
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“We had a meeting today where our producers gave us some more information, really nothing more than what’s already been out there, but, look, I have to say, the feeling was one of… it was just, it was quite lovely.
“Everybody is sad. We’re all crying, we’re all very emotional about it all, but we’re all so determined to bring this show home as best we can.”
In a newsletter sent to fans, Alan said that the news had “come as a huge shock to a lot of people”.
“The show still has upwards of 1.5 million viewers in the UK on any given day and it seemed to be going strong,” he said, adding that “it seems that the axing of Neighbours is a financial decision”.
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He continued: “We need a hero and, maybe, one will come along. In the meantime we have at least seven months of fantastic Neighbours episodes to look forward to.”
If production does come to an end, Jackie said that “everyone wants to honour the show” and end it “with love and with pride and dignity”.
“Would you want to be a writer in that room trying to wind up a show after 38 years in a way that’s going to please everybody? I mean, no pressure at all!” she said.
Jackie added that it would be “awesome” if reports claiming Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan will return to the soap to see it off were true.
The pair found international fame as Charlene Mitchell and Scott Robinson in the 1980s, with their on-screen wedding drawing 20 million UK TV viewers in 1988.
Scott and Charlene’s wedding drew 20 million viewers in 1988
Fremantle Media/Shutterstock
Jason, whose daughter Jemma currently appears on the soap as Harlow Robinson, tweeted on Sunday: “Neighbours changed the Australian television landscape. It launched many careers over decades including mine. Engaged and entertained audiences for generations.
“Hoping that it will find a new home with another UK broadcaster and continue to provide opportunity and entertainment.”
@neighbours changed the Australian television landscape. It launched many careers over decades including mine. Engaged and entertained audiences for generations.Hoping that it will find a new home with another U.K. broadcaster and continue to provide opportunity and entertainment
Channel 5 has aired Neighbours in the UK since 2008, after poaching it from BBC One, where it had screened twice daily since 1986.
The network said the decision to drop Neighbours had been motivated by its “current focus is on increasing our investment in original UK drama, which has strong appeal for our viewers”.
Neighbours has long been more popular in the UK than in Australia, where it airs to around 100,000 daily viewers on digital channel 10Peach, with Channel 5 heavily contributing to its production costs.
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The cast of Neighbours were told the show faces an uncertain future
Fremantle/Channel 5
Aussie network Ten said it is its “intention to continue our association with Neighbours if another broadcast partner comes forward”.
An email to staff from Fremantle Media executive producer Jason Herbison, seen by the Sydney Morning Herald, said that “discussions are ongoing, however there is no new broadcaster at the moment”.
He said that “production must end, effectively resting the show”, with filming set to wrap on 10 June, and the show remaining on air until August.
James Buckley has ruled out ever returning to The Inbetweeners as Jay Cartwright, saying: “There’s not enough money in the world.”
The actor played sex-mad fibber Jay in the beloved E4 sitcom about a group of hapless sixth form students between 2008 and 2010, before reprising the role in two subsequent films.
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However, while James described playing Jay as “the best job” in the world, he explained he doesn’t want to spoil a “universally loved” show.
During an interview with Chris Moyles on Radio X, James said: “I don’t want to go near it anymore, not because I don’t think I would have an amazing time doing it, because I know I would.
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“I love the boys, I love the writers. Doing The Inbetweeners was the best job in the world.
“All we did was muck around all day long and they filmed us doing it, and, at the end of the day, we might have had an episode … or a film or something.
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“But it might – you know, as I’m getting older – it’s looking like it might be the only thing that I do professionally that is universally loved.
“There’s not enough money in the world for me to spoil that.”
James Buckley
Eamonn M. McCormack via Getty Images
James also admitted he knows he will probably always be known as Jay from The Inbetweeners.
“As an actor, it’s difficult professionally for me to move away from that character,” said James, who has also starred in the likes of Only Fools And Horses spin-off Rock & Chips and Doctor Who and is currently appearing in West End play 2:22 A Ghost Story.
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“But you can’t have it all, can you? You can’t be in a big hit sitcom and then moan about it after!”
(L-R) Blake Harrison, James Buckley, Simon Bird and Joe Thomas arrive at the premiere of The Inbetweeners 2 in 2014
Brendon Thorne via Getty Images
James and his former co-stars Simon Bird, Joe Thomas and Blake Harrison reunited in 2019 to mark the 10th anniversary of The Inbetweeners with a one-off non-scripted special titled Fwends Reunited.
He also shared the discomfort he experienced during filming it, he explained: “It became a thing that wasn’t a celebration of this good thing I did in my life, it was me being taken the piss out of for hours on end.
“I didn’t have the personality or the intelligence to cope with it, especially when you’re up against someone like Jimmy Carr, who’s super quick and super funny. So I come across as a complete moron through the whole thing.”
The Chris Moyles Show airs weekdays 6.30am to 10am and Saturday 8am to 11am on Radio X.
Harry Potter fans across the globe have eagerly been tuning in to the 20th anniversary reunion over the weekend, but they also noticed there was something not quite right in the TV special.
Some eagle-eyed Potterheads have noticed that there was a huge error involving a supposed photo of Emma Watson as a child.
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As Emma – who played Hermione Grainger in the film franchise – reunited with co-stars including Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint to reminisce about their time in the Wizarding World, a picture of very young ‘Emma’ wearing Minnie Mouse ears was shown.
However, the photo was in fact of Emma Roberts – best known for her roles in the likes of We’re The Millers, Scream Queens and American Horror Story.
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Emma Roberts
Amy Sussman via Getty Images
Some fans even found that Emma Roberts even posted the snap on her Instagram page back in February 2012.
However, that wasn’t the only error in the reunion, as George Weasley actor Oliver Phelps also posted on Twitter that bosses had got him and his brother James mixed up and were given the wrong on-screen credits.
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Posting a screengrab on Instagram, he wrote: “I guess after all those pranks over the years somebody decided to get their revenge.
“It was fantastic to be part of the HP reunion. Hope you all enjoyed it #ReturnToHogwarts.”
A spokesperson for the Return To Hogwarts special told Metro the mistakes would be rectified.
“Well spotted Harry Potter fans!” they said. “You brought an editing mistake of a mislabeled photograph to our attention. New version up shortly.”
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During the reunion, Emma discussed how she contemplated quitting the Harry Potter series.
“I think I was scared,” she said. “I don’t know if you ever felt like it got to a tipping point when you were like… ‘This is kind of forever now’.”
Emma went on: “The fame thing had finally hit home – in a big way. No one had to convince me to see it through. The fans genuinely wanted me to succeed and they all genuinely have each other’s backs. How great is that?”
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The actor has admitted he was “an absolute dick” on set during filming of the scene in Deathly Hallows: Part 2 where Emma’s Hermione and Rupert’s Ron locked lips.
Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson attend the New York premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Jim Spellman via Getty Images
“It was meant to be this dramatic make out, but [Rupert] and I just kept corpsing and just kept laughing,” Emma explains.
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“I was really scared we were never going to get it because we just couldn’t take it seriously.”
Daniel interjects, adding: “I did not make this better because I’ve been told significantly that I was just being an absolute dick about this and was like, ‘I’m gonna come on set and watch [Rupert and Emma] kiss’.”
Emma adds: “Everyone wanted to be on set for it because everyone was like, ‘This is gonna be good guys’.
“I knew I was going to have to be the one to make this happen. I needed momentum into the kiss in order to do it… It just felt wrong, so wrong on every level because Dan, Rupert and I are so much siblings. All three of us felt so matched in how much it meant to us.”
“I think I blacked out,” Rupert says. “I just remember your face just coming closer and closer.”
Helena played Voldemort’s evil lieutenant Bellatrix Lestrange and is 23 years older than Daniel.
Sharing a note he sent to his British co-star after the two stars completed work on the ten-year franchise in 2011, Daniel says: “Dear HBC, it was a pleasure being your co-star and coaster in the fact I always ended up holding your coffee.
“I do love you and I wish I’d just been born ten years earlier so I might’ve been in with a chance.”
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts is available to watch on Sky and streaming service NOW (with an Entertainment membership) from New Year’s Day.
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We only have a few days left to wait until the Harry Potter cast are reunited for their one-off TV special, and we’re already being teased with what we can expect from the 20th anniversary celebration – including plenty of cast secrets.
One of those is Daniel Radcliffe’s revelation that he had a major crush on one of the film franchise’s older stars.
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Daniel, now 32, admits he had a soft spot for Helena Bonham Carter, who played Voldemort’s evil lieutenant Bellatrix Lestrange, and is 23 years older than the Harry Potter actor.
Reading his message aloud for the first time, he said: “Dear HBC, it was a pleasure being your co-star and coaster in the fact I always ended up holding your coffee.
“I do love you and I wish I’d just been born ten years earlier so I might’ve been in with a chance.”
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Helena Bonham Carter and Daniel Radcliffe backstage at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
via Associated Press
And Daniel wasn’t the only Harry Potter star who had an on-set crush.
Emma Watson recalled the exact moment she “fell in love” with her former co-star Tom Felton during a tutoring session between filming.
Emma – who played Hermione Granger – reminisced about her crush on Tom, who played villainous Draco Malfoy.
“I walked into the room where we were having tutoring,” Emma recalled. “The assignment that had been given was to draw what you thought God looked like, and Tom had drawn a girl with a backward cap on a skateboard.
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“And I just don’t know how to say it – I just fell in love with him. I used to come in every day and look for his number on the call sheet, it was number seven, and if his name was on the call sheet, it was an extra exciting day.
“He was three years above me and so for him he was like: ‘you’re like my little sister’.”
(L-R) Tom Felton, Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Matthew Lewis attend the New York premiere of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on July 11, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Stephen Lovekin via Getty Images
Nothing ever happened between the two young stars, but Tom did admit that he knew that Emma had a crush on him.
Tom said: “I think I was in the hair and make-up chair and someone said something along the lines of, ‘Yeah, she had a crush on you.’
“I became very protective over her. Yeah, I’ve always had a soft spot for her and that continues to this day. There’s always been something that’s like, I don’t know, a kinship.”
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts is available to watch on Sky and streaming service NOW (with an Entertainment membership) from New Year’s Day.
While every year there are moans and groans about the Christmas TV schedules being packed with repeats, there’s one show that we definitely don’t mind watching again and again – the original Gavin & Stacey Christmas special.
The BBC sitcom had been running for two seasons by the time we got the first festive episode in 2008, and what a Christmas special it was.
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While we’d seen plenty of interactions between the entire Shipman and West clan in the years previous, there was a real moment of joy seeing them all prepare for their first Christmas together following Gavin and Stacey’s wedding.
Not only did the hour-long episode deliver on comedy and plot, but it also highlighted all those little Christmas foibles that go on in households up and down the country come 25 December.
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And while it was a burst of nostalgia having the gang back together in 2019 for the much-anticipated reunion episode, there’s something magical about the original that made it such a festive masterpiece.
Here’s why it’s a show that’s worthy of repeat viewing every December…
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1. Pam’s stance on Christmas cards
Pam had strong views on when to send Christmas cards
Prior to 2008, we were always baffled as to why some people would send their Christmas cards before December had even rolled around, but Pam Shipman imparted some serious wisdom on us that made us completely reverse our stance.
“What is the point of sending cards that arrive on Christmas Eve? They’ll get taken down in a few days. That’s why I send all mine on the first of November. Gives people seven weeks to enjoy them,” she said.
You have to admit, she has a point, right?
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2. John who?
Step-brother John!
Speaking of Christmas cards, Pam and Mick also tapped into something we’ve all heard our parents say when they receive a festive greeting from someone they cannot quite place.
“Oh, look at that, ‘From John’… It could be mechanic John… It won’t be John from Ann and John.”
3. Doris being “absolutely twatted” before lunchtime on Christmas Eve
Oh how we miss Doris
A relatable queen.
4. Nessa in the grotto
“Oh! Oh! Oh! Merry Christmas” was an inspired piece of writing from Ruth Jones and James Corden.
","type":"video","meta":{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcAUKOICPn4","type":"video","version":"1.0","title":"Smithy and Gavin’s Christmas sing-a-long | Gavin & Stacey – BBC","author":"BBC","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCj956IF62FbT7Gouszaj9w","provider_name":"YouTube","description":"Subscribe and 🔔 to OFFICIAL BBC YouTube 👉 https://bit.ly/2IXqEIn\nStream original BBC programmes FIRST on BBC iPlayer 👉 https://bbc.in/2J18jYJ\n\nGavin, Stacey, Smithy and Nessa have a Christmas to remember and not necessarily in a good way in a special festive edition of the award-winning comedy.\n\nGavin & Stacey | Christmas Special 2008 | BBC\n\n#BBC #BBCiPlayer #GavinandStacey\n\nAll our TV channels and S4C are available to watch live through BBC iPlayer, although some programmes may not be available to stream online due to rights. If you would like to read more on what types of programmes are available to watch live, check the ‘Are all programmes that are broadcast available on BBC iPlayer?’ FAQ 👉 https://bbc.in/2m8ks6v.","thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lcAUKOICPn4/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"thumbnail_height":720,"cache_age":86400,"options":{"_start":{"label":"Start from","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_end":{"label":"End on","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}}},"fullBleed":false,"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[{"attribs":{},"scriptBody":"\r\n (function(){\r\n var c = document.getElementById(‘taboola-endslate-thumbnails’);\r\n c.id += ‘-‘ + Math.round(Math.random()*1e16);\r\n \r\n var taboolaParams = {\r\n loader: \"//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/aol-huffingtonpost/loader.js\",\r\n mode: \"thumbnails-b\",\r\n container: c.id,\r\n placement: \"Endslate Thumbnails\",\r\n target_type: \"mix\"\r\n };\r\n \r\n if (typeof window.modulousQueue === \"function\") {\r\n \twindow.modulousQueue.add(function(){ doTaboola(taboolaParams); });\r\n } else {\r\n \tdoTaboola(taboolaParams);\r\n }\r\n }());\r\n"}],"otherHtml":"
It’s the scene that inspired James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke, and despite the fact he’s had the likes of Adele, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga join him in his car to sing along to their biggest hits, it’s still Smithy’s duet down the phone on Do They Know It’s Christmas? that remains the original and the best.
We’ve also never been able to say Midge Ure’s name the same way since.
The scene where Gwen and Bryn share their first ever mint Baileys before boarding the coach to Essex wasn’t big or flashy, but it had a quiet comfort and poignancy about it, which Gavin & Stacey always nails so perfectly.
7. Mick’s turkey saga
The turkey scene in Gavin and Stacey
Are you basting it? Are you soaking it overnight? Are you doing it the Nigella way? Or are you sticking to Jamie Oliver, because you “know where you are with him”?
Through the characters of Mick and Pete, the Christmas special managed to perfectly encapsulate the bizarre obsession and competitiveness dads have with other men about their turkeys each year.
8. The fight
Pam wasn’t exactly thrilled with Gavin’s news
Pam’s eruption after finding out her “little prince” was planning on relocating to Barry set off a chain of events that made this scene one of the most memorable in Gavin & Stacey history.
Not only did Alison Steadman absolutely commit to the moment, but we also saw Gwen finally stand up to Pam, Nessa threaten to “see her outside” (and Pam stupidly believe she could take her on), before Pete went toe-to-toe with Dave Coaches to defend Dawn’s honour.
Admittedly, there’s some language that we’d hope wouldn’t make it into the script in 2021 and we were very pleased when they all put the row behind them. But it has to be said, this scene shook up the dynamic between all the characters and also sent up those fights that happen in every family each festive season.
9. Pam and Mick’s royal romp
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Mick in his comedy Prince Charles ears
We learned that Pam’s obsession with the Duchess of Cornwall translated into the bedroom as she prepared to be “knighted” with Mick’s “special sword” while he was wearing a comedy pair of Prince Charles ears.
10. Pam’s vegetarianism comes unstuck
As “Three Steaks Pam” faced the prospect of a turkey-less Christmas after her long-standing lies about being a vegetarian, it transpired she hadn’t fooled anyone with her stance on meat – except for Gwen that is, who had bought her a vegetarian cookbook for Christmas.
11. The opening of the “presents”
Nessa and Dave gifted everyone a single chocolate from a box of Celebrations
Never before had we been so eager to see which Celebration someone was eating, and we definitely still relate to Smithy wrapping all his presents in tin foil for ease.
Doris gifting Gwen talcum powder, despite her still having a stack of it unused at home from previous years, was also a foible we’ve seen play out during present openings over the years.
12. The Nessa and Smithy sexual tension
Smithy didn’t want Nessa to marry Dave
Years before we got the 2019 Christmas proposal, there was a special moment between Nessa and Smithy that gave fans hope that the characters would finally end up together as Smithy urged her not to marry Dave Coaches.
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All episodes of Gavin & Stacey are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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If you’re anything like us, you’ll currently be poring over the Christmas TV listings, picking out all the unmissable shows you need to see this year.
And while the BBC, ITV, Netflix and co have put on a veritable buffet of televisual treats for us over the festive period, we’ve been feeling all nostalgic about the telly of Christmases past.
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So join us as we head back in time to 2001, to see what we were all sitting down to watch (and perhaps fall asleep to) 20 years ago…
CHRISTMAS EVE
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Dale’s National Lottery Christmas Cracker
7.15pm on BBC One
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Dale Winton
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The late Dale Winton hosted a special edition of his National Lottery show, which saw him joined by Will Smith and Vinnie Jones, while Westlife, S Club 7, the Corrs and Cher were on hand to provide the music.
Des O’Connor Tonight At Christmas
8.30pm on ITV
Des O’Connor and Will Smith
There was a double dose of Will Smith on 24 December, as he was also one of the guests on a special festive edition of Des O’Connor’s chat show.
It was a chat show extravaganza on Christmas Eve back in 2001, as no sooner had Des finished up his ITV show than Parky was welcoming a host of famous faces onto his iconic interview series.
Dame Edna Everage swung by for a chat, while Robbie Williams teamed up with Lenny Henry to perform some big band numbers in support of his Swing When You’re Winning album, while Charlotte Church was on hand to sing a special Christmas Carol.
But the absolute highlight was Geri Horner (then Halliwell) performing an acoustic medley of Spice Girls songs, mixed in with her own hits and some Christmas classics (complete with beatboxer), for reasons we’re not entirely sure about.
While Christmas editions of daytime favourites like This Morning and Lorraine have become more commonplace in recent years, Channel 4’s defunct (and much missed) breakfast show was serving up a televisual treat to open your stocking to 20 years ago.
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Back in 2001, Top Of The Pops was still a weekly part of the TV schedule, compared to the annual festive one-off it is now following its axe in 2006, but it still pulled in the biggest chart names for its Christmas Day episode.
In what is truly a marker of the time, the list of performers included Shaggy, S Club 7, Wheatus, Westlife, Atomic Kitten, Hear’Say, Kylie Minogue and Afroman, as well as a rendition of that year’s Christmas number one by Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman with Something Stupid.
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The EastEnders Christmas special was still split into two 30-minute parts back in 2001.
That year saw Phil Mitchell discover he was Louise’s real father, with Lisa Shaw and Mark Fowler having made the Square believe the baby was his.
Elsewhere, the domestic abuse storyline between Trevor Morgan and Little Mo reached grim new levels as he pushed his wife’s face into her Christmas dinner and made her eat the remains off the carpet.
There was some cheer to be had, however, as Jim Branning proposed to Dot Cotton, but not before a mix-up with Sonia Fowler, who believed Jamie Mitchell was about to pop the question to her after finding the ring.
This was BBC One’s big Christmas drama in 2001, with the two-parter spread over Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Based on Arthur Conan-Doyle ’s novel, it followed a maverick professor who led a party from London to South America in search of plateau where dinosaurs are rumoured to roam.
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Christmas Day 2001 heralded one of Corrie’s most iconic – and unexpected – storylines ever, as it marked the beginning of Deirdre Barlow’s affair with Dev Alahan.
It wasn’t a peaceful Christmas at the Barlows, as a drunken Peter accused his stepmother of being responsible for the death of his sister Susan.
After slapping him and storming out to leave the family to make their own Christmas dinner, she ended up at her boss Dev Alahan’s where they wallowed in how disastrous their respective days have been. But as the wine started flowing, it wasn’t long before they ended up in bed together…
Elsewhere on the Street, the law caught up with Terry Duckworth as he was arrested while trying to take dad Jack to hospital with chest pains.
Impressionist of the moment Alistair McGowan landed a prime-time slot on Christmas Day, as him and Ronnie Ancona took off celebrities including Davina McCall, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Des Lynham, Pete Waterman, the cast of EastEnders and Helen and Paul from Big Brother 2.
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The Only Fools And Horses Christmas special was a long-held tradition, with the 2001 catching up with the Trotters five years after they were last seen on TV.
It saw Del and Rodney return to Peckham after losing the riches they’d made in the 1996 special after making a bad financial investment that saw them declared bankrupt. But they were given a chance to win their fortune back when Del Boy appeared on a gameshow, but things didn’t exactly go to plan.
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The show went up against Only Fools And Horses in the Christmas Day ratings war, and more members of the public walk through those famous doors to emerge as their pop icons – although this time performing festive classics.
Among them were Shakin’ Stevens’ Merry Christmas Everyone, Karen Carpenter and Merry Christmas Darling, and, errrm, Gloria Gaynor & Aretha Franklin doing It’s Raining Men – quite how that fitted into the festive theme, we can’t tell you because it’s not on YouTube.
Snow Graham Norton
11pm on Channel 4
Snow Graham Norton
To finish off Christmas Day, Channel 4 showed a late night repeat of the festive edition of Graham Norton’s pre-BBC chat show, which saw the comedian joined by Kate Beckinsale, Martine McCutcheon, Alison Moyet and S Club 7.
BOXING DAY
Cilla’s Surprise Surprise
5.15pm on ITV
Cilla went to Disneyland for the 2001 Surprise Surprise Christmas special
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Cilla Black was on hand to bring some festive surprises to a host of unsuspecting members of the public with a special edition of Surprise Surprise, which saw her travel to Disneyland Paris.
Ultimately, it would prove to be Cilla’s last episode hosting the long-running show, which had been on air since 1984.
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A 20th anniversary episode that was made for transmission in late 2003 never made it to air after Cilla sensationally quit ITV live on an episode of Blind Date earlier that year. However, the lost episode did eventually air during the Christmas period some 12 years later.
There was even more Graham to be had over the Christmas of 2001, with the chat show legend journeying to Dollywood, Tennessee, at the invitation of the great lady herself – Dolly Parton.
It is also one of the few shows on this list that is still available to watch in full, with the episode on All4.
Jonathan Creek
9.05pm on BBC One
Jonathan Creek
Bill Bailey and Steven Berkoff joined Alan Davies for a new adventure for Jonathan Creek as part of BBC One’s Boxing Day schedule.
The latest supernatural mystery saw him join forces with the police to solve the murder of an actress on a film set, baffled by how the window she was shot through had managed to remain in tact.
After what was undoubtedly one of the most exhausting years in living memory, it will no doubt come as a relief that the way Christmas and Boxing Day have fallen in 2021 means we’re in for a bumper string of Bank Holidays.
More days off means more time to sit at home watching films, and this year there are some real corkers to tune in for.
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Here’s our guide to the most unmissable of the lot – plus who they’re such ideal viewing for…
Moana
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When’s it on? 20 December at 3.05pm on BBC One
Perfect for: When you’re sick to death of the British winter weather and are in dire need of some sunny escapism… even if the scenic view in question is completely CGI.
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Crazy Rich Asians
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When’s it on? 22 December at 10.35pm on BBC One
Perfect for: If you’re in the mood for a rom-com, but you’re not quite near enough to Christmas to break out The Holiday and Love Actually.
Die Hard
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When’s it on? 22 December on at 10.45pm on BBC One
Perfect for: Those with strong feelings about whether Die Hard qualifies as a Christmas film, who feel like proving a point to anyone in the immediate vicinity.
Matilda
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When’s it on? 23 December at 5.10pm on Channel 4
Perfect for: Let’s be honest, when’s it not the “perfect” time for the cosiness and magic of Matilda?
The Holiday
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When’s it on? 23 December at 11pm on ITV
Perfect for: Getting the ball rolling on a few days’ worth of non-stop Christmas films and TV specials with a comfort film you’ve seen a million times before.
Frozen
When’s it on? Christmas Eve at 1.30pm on BBC One
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Perfect for: Anyone who has some little ones that you might need to distract while you do some last-minute Christmas wrapping.
It’s A Wonderful Life
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When’s it on? Christmas Eve at 2pm on Channel 4
Perfect for: If you’ve got a couple of hours free to have your heart broken and then put back together again.
When’s it on? Christmas Eve at 2.15pm on Channel 5
Perfect for: That moment the dysfunction levels reach new highs, and you need to remind yourself that it could be worse.
Home Alone
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When’s it on? Christmas Eve at 6pm on Channel 4
Perfect for: When nothing says Christmas quite like watching an intruder getting smacked in the face with a paint can.
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Don’t Look Up
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When’s it on? Christmas Eve on Netflix
Perfect for: If you’ve well and truly reached your tolerance for festive cheer, and need a bit of a break from it all.
Meet Me In St Louis
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When’s it on? Christmas Day at 12.50pm on BBC Two
Perfect for: Those who understand that no one is ever going to top Judy’s version of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.
Mary Poppins Returns
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When’s it on? Christmas Day at 3.10pm on BBC One
Perfect for: The whole family, which makes it the perfect Christmas Day watch. And trust us, even the most cynical fans of the original 1964 classic will be charmed by this star-studded modern follow-up.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
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When’s it on? Christmas Day at 3.15pm on Channel 5
Perfect for: Those who think they’ve overcome their childhood fear of the Child Catcher (spoiler alert, you probs haven’t).
Love Actually
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When’s it on? Christmas Day at 10.40pm on ITV
Perfect for: When everyone is starting to wind down and you can finally put your festive fave on without any interruptions.
When’s it on? Christmas Day at 12.20am on Channel 4
Perfect for: When you’re absolutely not ready to call it a night, and a critically-acclaimed Oscar-nominated film is as good a reason to stay up as any.
Paddington
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When’s it on? Boxing Day at 4.20pm on BBC One
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Perfect for: Literally everyone, so whoever you happen to be spending Boxing Day with, this is a great one to sit them in front of.
Sister Act
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When’s it on? Boxing Day at 5.10pm on Channel 5
Perfect for: Anyone in need of a really big laugh.
Dirty Dancing
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When’s it on? Boxing Day at 8pm on Channel 5
Perfect for: One maaaassive nostalgia trip.
A Star Is Born
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When’s it on? 27 December at 10.05am on BBC Two
Perfect for: Anyone who feels like using the Bank Holiday as an excuse to dive into some classic cinema. Trust us, this is a brilliant place to start.
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My Fair Lady
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When’s it on? 27 December at 1.10pm on Channel 5
Perfect for: Anyone who wants to see the above outfit in motion (which, we assume, is everyone).
Misery
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When’s it on? 28 December at 11.15pm on Channel 4
Perfect for: If four days’ worth of Christmas cheer has got you in drastic need of the antidote to all things festive.
Inside Out
Inside Out
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When’s it on? 29 December at 1.40pm on BBC One
Perfect for: When you need a bit of Pixar magic in your life.
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie
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Absolutely Fabulous
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When’s it on? 29 December at 12.55am on BBC Two
Perfect for: If you’ve been a bit naughty over Christmas and need to watch people being even naughtier to make you feel better.
Judy
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When’s it on? 30 December at 9pm on BBC Two
Perfect for: If you’ve enjoyed Meet Me In St Louis and A Star Is Born and feel like learning a bit more about the woman at the centre of them all.
The star appeared alongside Paul in the original film version of Clueless, where he played Cher’s love interest Josh.
After Paul received the sexy honour earlier this week, Alicia celebrated with a Clueless moment on TikTok, keen to remind everyone that her character Cher Horowitz always knew how handsome he was.
She shared a clip of where Cher suddenly realises her feelings for Josh, but with an image of Paul’s People cover shoot superimposed over the top.
“I mean… Cher’s been saying he is a kind of a Baldwin since 1995 #Clueless #PaulRudd,” Alicia wrote.
Of course, she’s not the only one of Paul’s former co-stars to remark on his new title.
Paul’s Friends co-star, who he also shared the silver screen with in 1998 film The Object Of My Affection and 2011′s Wanderlust, wrote on her Instagram Story: “This makes me so happy. We’ve ALWAYS known this, but Paul Rudd is officially @people’s Sexiest Man Alive!”
She then shared a snap of them from The Object Of My Affection, writing: “You don’t age, which is weird. But we still love you.”
Paul, who is best known for playing Phoebe’s husband Mike in Friends, previously revealed his wife had an equally sweet reaction to his win.
He said Julie Yaeger, who he has been married to since 2003, was “stupefied” by his new title.
Having teased fans for the last three years, ABBA finally confirmed earlier this year that not only would they be launching a unique residency in London in 2022, they’d also be dropping their first album of new material in 40 years.
Dubbed ABBA Voyage, the Swedish band’s “concert experience” will take place at a specially-constructed arena in East London, and will feature digital recreations of all four members performing their old favourites (as well as recent hits I Still Have Faith In You and Don’t Shut Me Down).
Explaining how it all works, producer Ludvig Andersson (yes, Benny’s son) previously explained: “Agnetha, Frida, Benny and Björn got on a stage in front of 160 cameras and almost as many VFX geniuses and they performed every song in this show to perfection over five weeks, capturing every mannerism, every emotion.
“When you see this show it is not a ‘version of’, or a ‘copy of’, it is actually them.”
While fans have long been curious about exactly how the so-called ABBAtars would look in motion, the first trailer for Voyage was released on Thursday morning, and the whole thing just looks incredible.
ABBA VoyageThe ABBAtars have been seen in action for the first time, and we can’t wait to see more
Accompanied by the ABBA classic Summer Night City, all four ABBAtars are seen performing in the 20-second clip, while dressed in neon-inspired outfits and surrounded by colourful lights.
ABBA Voyage will launch in May 2022, with tickets available until the following December.
And if the sight of the ABBAtars in motion has got you hungry for more, you’ll be excited to know that ABBA’s ninth album (also named Voyage) is released on this Friday (5 November).
