Christmas Day 2007 Entertainment in the UK
Posted at 6:58 PM (PST) on Monday, December 24, 2007

On television - BBC1:

2:30 p.m.

Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind

Keira Knightley, Gillian Anderson and Russell Brand are among the A-list celebrities lending their vocal talents to the third instalment of this festive animation, the production profits of which are being donated to Comic Relief.*

The reindeer's fiancee Donner is kidnapped by aliens, prompting the hapless hero to embark on an unlikely mission to rescue her and prevent the destruction of the planet by the evil Vorkana, Queen of the Nargathrons. The regular voice cast is headed by Ardal O'Hanlon, Jane Horrocks, Harry Enfield, Paul Whitehouse and Sean Hughes

Actors:

Jane Horrocks (Donner), Harry Enfield (Old Jingle), Gillian Anderson (Vorkana), Sophie Ellis-Bextor (Singer), Ross Kemp (Stormtrooper), Keira Knightley (Em), Michael Palin (Gary), Graham Norton (Computer), Paul Whitehouse (Prancer), Sean Hughes (Tapir), Shane Richie (Stormtrooper), Ardal O'Hanlon (Robbie), Ozzy Osbourne (Vicar), Russell Brand (Young Earth guardian)

Book/Script: Mark Huckerby, Nick Ostler
Director: Donnie Anderson

*Comic Relief's vision is a just world free from poverty. Their mission is to drive positive change through the power of entertainment.

On BBC Radio 4:

15:00 - HM the Queen: The Queen's Christmas message to the peoples of the Commonwealth, followed by the national anthem.

15:05 - Afternoon Play: "84 Charing Cross Road" with Gillian Anderson and Denis Lawson.

Helene Hanff's classic story, adapted by James Roose-Evans, chronicles the enduring friendship between a feisty American writer and a reserved English gentleman. The tale spans two continents and three decades.

You may listen to The Afternoon Play here for seven days after the broadcast.