Retro Yakking

 Wot no Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles this Christmas?

We all know about the New Wallace and Gromit, Royle Family and Blackadder Christmas “Comeback specials” being broadcast during this, the 2008th festive period. But what about the wonderful programming pushed to the very edges of the scheduling that you could very well miss? Fire up your Sky Plus boxes and put away your complaining hats…

• Fonejacker Christmas Special (E4, 20th December, 10.35 & Channel 4, Boxing Day, 23.40). Kayvan Novak, the legend in his own lunchtime, returns for some Chrimbo-themed crank calling. Did you know that he went through literally thousands of phone calls to generate material for his newest series? There’s also rumours of a movie afoot, so I can only imagine how many calls he’d have to make for that…
• The Peter Serafinowicz Show (BBC2, 23rd December, 22.55). Something of a quiet classic of 2008, the Peter Serafinowicz show featured spoof commercials, sketches and general silliness from (almost) everyone’s favourite voice-over artist. Watch out for the “World’s Smallest Laptop” and the “iToilet” as well as bunch of other stuff probably recorded in the summer!
• Charlie Brooker’s Review of the Year (BBC4, Christmas Eve, 22.00, 00.35) Not for kids. Well, you either love him or loathe him but you can’t deny he isn’t afraid of speaking his mind - think a really angry version of me with an over-inflated self-esteem. Expect some strongly worded criticism not at all similar to the kind you find in the Sunday Times.
• Nigel Marvin’s Penguin Adventures (Five, Christmas Day, 10.30). After unwrapping the presents and before setting to work on the Christmas Dinner, why not settle down to this documentary about that seminal family favourite, the penguin. Come on… you can’t deny that they are cute. If you miss that, you can always catch it again in Fiver’s Nigel Marvin afternoon (Boxing Day, 12.20-18.00) along with a bunch of polar bears covering their noses.
• Olive, The Other Reindeer (Channel 4, Christmas Day, 7.30 & E4, 11.50). Almost ten years old now, but still a wonderful little Christmas ditty not only for kids, but adults too, surprisingly: produced by Simpsons creator Matt Groening. An Annie Award winner too, whatever that is.

And one Christmas turkey for you all to avoid: Domino Day 2008 (Channel 5, Boxing Day, 12.20). If you really are domino enthusiast, though, check the passionate commentary from The Gadget Show’s Jason Bradbury!

Have a very Merry Yakking Christmas.

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