The Courier Edition 252

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Friday 30th October 2015 Friday 6th November Friday 18th December

WHERE’S THE MONEY GONE?

ALEX TRELINSKI

O

rihuela mayor Emilio Bascuñana has said that two million euros earmarked for Orihuela Costa’s uncompleted emergency centre could well have been transferred by the Valencia Government for other uses, after it apparently laid unclaimed for three years. Bascuñana’s revelation comes after around 100 protestors gathered outside the shell of the building in La Zenia last Saturday to call for the structure to be completed. Work on the new centre started in 2010 but construction was stopped when the builder went bankrupt, and despite the project being funded by the Valencian Government, nothing further has happened on the site since then. Protestors on Saturday called on Bascuñana of the Partido Popular to lobby the Socialist-PSOE Valencian administration for a re-tendering of the project.

Speaking on Monday, Emilio Bascuñana, said that he supported the demonstrators, but added that he had met with Valencia’s General Director of Emergencies, José María Ángel Batalla, and was told that the “situation was resolved in 2012, and since then nobody had

DEMONSTRATORS CALL FOR NEW TENDER claimed anything to continue the project”.

Bascuñana added that the General Director had told him that after three years, nobody knew what would happen to the money for the new centre, and that Orihuela may have lost the Plan Confianza funding for it. The Mayor gave no indication of what he and the council planned to do next, with campaigners believing that the matter has stalled because of political differences of opinion between Orihuela and Valencia.

The delayed centre was going to house the local Police and Guardia Civil, as well as being a base for the fire and ambulances services in addition to the local Civil Protection group.

Campaigners say that the non-completion of the building leaves the Orihuela Costa with a second rate service compared to the rest of the Orihuela municipality.

Coastal councillor Sofia Alvarez admitted that not enough has been done for the Orihuela Costa over recent years but also blamed the Valencia Government PSOE-led coalition, which was only elected in the spring replacing the previous Partido Popular administra-

tion, for not having the enthusiasm to complete the project.

Alvarez said that she was going to a meeting with regional health chiefs in Torrevieja along with Orihuela health councillor, Noelia Grao, to discuss improvements to the Orihuela Costa ambulance service, including round the clock locally based cover, as opposed to the twelve hours a day that is currently provided out of Cabo Roig. Grao said that coastal party CLARO president, Paul

Piccio, was welcome to come along with them to the meeting.

Ironically the day before the La Zenia protest, the Valencian Health Minister, Carmen Montón, was in Orihuela City at a PSOE General Election rally where she said a tender announcement was imminent for a new health centre in the Rabaloche area of Orihuela City, describing it as a "historical debt" being paid off to the city, with no mention being made of the situation on the Orihuela Costa. .

MERRY XMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR Season’s greetings to you all from The Courier team, and we’re taking a fortnight break, which means we will be back with our next issue on Friday January 8th 2016.

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News

Friday 18th December 2015

Dirty Fingers

All To Play For

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Editor Alex Trelinski

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Writers Alex Trelinski Mark Nolan Jeanette Erath Dave Silver Tony Mayes John McGregor Ivie Davies Nicola Cross

Ex-San Fulgencio mayor, Trinidad Martinez, has had a 17 month jail month term confirmed by a higher court after an Orihuela judge gave her the initial sentence for a crime against urban planning earlier this year, which also included a nine year ban from public office. The ex-PSOE leader was found guilty over events dating

back to 2000 with the green light given for the building of eight apartment blocks on the La Marina urbanisation, which were built on land that had been designated for sports accommodation. Five other guilty parties including two former councillors also had their sentences upheld over the illegal four million euro project.

Home Death

An odious stench filtering out of a Santa Pola bungalow led firefighters and the Guardia Civil to break in only to discover the rotting body of an old man who is believed to have been dead for at least three weeks. The door of the

home on Avenida de Zaragoza in the Gran Playa area was broken down on Monday morning with emergency services finding the decomposed corpse of a Spaniard. Suspicious circumstances have been ruled out.

Alicante-Elche airport recorded its busiest ever November since it opened in 1967, with 645 thousand passengers going through its doors, a big nine point three percent rise on the same month last year. The statistics mean that just under ten million people have used the facilities at El Altet so far in 2015, and the overall figure for this year will easily beat that achieved in 2014, which in itself was a record-breaking year. UK passengers accounted for a huge 264 thousand of the 645 thousand travellers last month, followed by Germany with 50 thousand, and then Holland with 42 thousand.

Alicante-Elche manager, Santiago Martínez-Cava, says that he expects the overall figure for 2015 to

come in at 10.5 million passengers, with 20 percent more seats booked for this December compared to a year ago. Based on those figures, Martínez-Cava believes that 765 passengers will use El Altet this month.

In contrast, the decline continues at San Javier airport in Murcia, due to Alicante-Elche getting more routes and the continuing uncertainty over the longdelayed move to Corvera.

Just over 25 thousand passengers used the services that were laid on in November, a ten percent drop on the figures for November 2014, and a far cry from the 100 thousand or so passengers that were using the facility a decade ago in the same month.

A Real Flyer

Spain goes to the polls this Sunday in the General Election with the only certainty being that, assuming the opinion polls are correct, no single party will be able to control the government, a first in Spanish democracy after the death of the dictator, Francisco Franco in 1975. The excitement appears not to be in the actual result, but in the subsequent deals that will have to be struck after Sunday to put together a majority government.

All the surveys put Mariano Rajoy’s ruling right of centre Partido Popular as the largest single party, but well down

on the levels of the last election four years ago which saw Rajoy become Prime Minister with figures for the PP in the low to mid forty percent range. Polls run in El País and El Mundo suggest that Rajoy and the PP will pick up just over one in four votes this Sunday, almost 20 percent down on the 2011 election. Coming in second place, in both polls is the country’s other large established party - the PSOE-Socialists.

But attention is also on the two new parties that are set to win close to 20 percent of the vote. In something of a surprise

result, the poll in El País has the anti-austerity party Podemos in third place and the right of centre Ciudadanos party in fourth. El Mundo, meanwhile, has Ciudadanos in third place and Podemos in fourth place, which is more in line with other poll results. Most experts predict the new parties getting about 60 seats each in a system where the two traditional parties are favoured in many of Spain's smaller provinces. But with a recent poll suggesting that four in ten voters are still undecided, anything could still happen come this Sunday.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy The secrets to a happy expat life in Spain have been revealed in a survey put together by the British Embassy, and integration appears to be a key factor.

More than half of the sixteenhundred British residents who responded to the on-line survey say they speak Spanish regularly with friends and neighbours, enjoy Spanish food, use the Spanish healthcare system and employ Spanish tradespeople.

The adjective ‘happy’ is the word that they most commonly use to describe their lives in Spain, followed by ‘relaxed’ and ‘content’. In contrast, some Brits admit to getting by without learning

Spanish or registering on the padrón, and fail to make Spanish friends or keep up with Spanish news and politics, all things that appear to help others get more out of living in Spain.

Nine out of 10 people say they are registered on the padrón, which implies that one in 10 survey respondents have yet to do so.

More than half say they have a Spanish will, and over 50% have a Spanish driving licence. Two thirds are registered for Spanish healthcare, with another 13% having private medical insurance. But an alarming 16% admit they have failed to provide for their healthcare in Spain, leaving them at serious risk

of difficulties in the event of an accident or illness. Nearly a quarter say they eat a Spanish meal every day, and eight out of ten do so at least once a week. Only six percent say they eat a Spanish meal less than once a month.

British ambassador Simon Manley said: “It’s great to see so many Brits saying they are happy and content in Spain as a result of their efforts to integrate into local life. I would definitely urge others to follow their example. If you are settling here, the first and most important thing to do is to register on the padrón. That way you can access the health and social services you may need now or in future.”

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Friday 18th December 2015

Dolon Versus Dolon

Food Facts

People in the Murcia region want to keep their hands in the pockets as far as buying food is concerned with a survey from the Ministry of Agriculture suggesting that they spend 217 euro less per person than the national average on food purchases every year.

The national average is

nearly one thousand five hundred euro, whilst the Valencia region, including the Costa Blanca comes in at one thousand four hundred euro.

The biggest food spenders are those in the northern Basque region at eighteen hundred euro per head.

Good Tradition

Torrevieja’s ex-mayor has been slammed by the city’s current Green Party mayor, José Manuel Dolón for allowing permission for an environmental feasibility study for a waste transfer plant just 100 metres from a school, and the alleged hypocrisy of now putting his name to a campaign against the project.

Approval for the feasibility study was signed by exTorrevieja Partido Popular mayor, Eduardo Dolon, back in February for the project at the Casa Grande industrial estate next to the Habaneras school, with previous permissions

signed in 2013 and 2014.

The current mayor showed documents confirming that to the media and criticised the fact that opposition parties had been kept in the dark over developments at the site for the last two years.

Submissions against the project are being received by the council from local residents and businesses, with the current mayor caustically describing a recent meeting between the Partido Popular (including Eduardo Dolon) and local businessmen who are against the plans, as total “bull---t”.

In turn, ex-mayor Eduardo Dolon angrily fired back at his successor saying that he was making too much of what was essentially just a study to see whether the land would be suitable for any development rather than any kind of agreement for the waste plant to be built. He rubbished the current mayor’s claims that there had been secrecy over any study being approved, saying that all the information was available to opposition parties and they hadn’t made a fuss at the time because they knew it was of little consequence.

Australia says no plan to stop surveillance flights over South China Sea. Yemen warring parties swap hundreds of detainees.

Seoul court acquits Japanese reporter of defamation.

China summons US envoy over warship sales to Taiwan.

Turkey kills 23 Kurdish militants in southeast towns.

Pleasant early evening weather blessed Torrevieja's 13th Carols in the Square concert last Friday at the Plaza de la Constitucion.

Around one thousand people were estimated to have joined in the pre-Christmas

festivities with music provided by the Phoenix Concert Band, as well as a number of local choral groups including the Rascals. The local dignitaries were led by Torrevieja mayor, José Manuel Dolón.

Season’s Greetings

Singapore Strait collision sinks freighter; six crew still missing.

Philippine government to challenge ban on GM imports ordered by top court.

Singapore seizes huge shipment of elephant tusks, pangolin scales.

Brazil stripped of investment grade rating as crisis deepens.

He’s Been Tangoed

Man stabs himself in head at London airport: police.

Air India worker dies 'after being sucked into jet engine'.

US, Cuba near deal on restoring commercial flights.

A 20-year old orange rustler from Murcia City has been hauled up before San Javier magistrates after the Guardia Civil caught him in the act on a Torre Pacheco farm. Officers were tipped off by farmers that people were stealing fruit overnight

in the area, and so they upped their night patrols where they spotted a van which was parked up on a farm at a strange time of the day.

A man spotted the Guardia officers approaching and ran away before the officers

caught him and discovered some 700 kilos of illegally pilfered oranges in the back of his vehicle. The fruit was subsequently returned to the farmer whilst the young thief had a court date to look forward to, minus his fruit booty.

The Guardia Civil, in conjunction with local police forces, have upped their patrols and check-points over the busy Christmas and New Year holiday period in the war against drunk and drug-taking drivers.

Trafico have set a target of 25 thousand daily breath and drug tests adding that officers could pull over anybody anywhere and that they were especially targeting repeat offenders.

Drink-driving and drugdriving are behind at least a

third of road crashes involving deaths, says the Guardia, and an estimated 12 motorists in every 100 consume alcohol or illegal substances before getting behind the wheel.

Christmas, New Year and the Three Kings celebrations over the Epiphany and Twelfth Night, which involve several bank holidays and a high number of office parties and festive gatherings, mean this time of year is particularly highrisk.

Crowds march against 'coup' targeting Brazil's president.

French railways test software to track suspicious behaviour.

End of an era as Britain's last coal mine closes.

US seeks to return auctioned dinosaur skull to Mongolia.

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Getting Older

Friday 18th December 2015

Heritage Call Valencia Tourist Agency president Francesc Colomer has been asked to support Orihuela City's bid to be classified as a World Heritage site. His first visit to the municipality saw him meet with the mayor, Emilio Bascuñana and Tourism councillor, Sofía Álvarez. before visiting the tourist office and casting his eye around the some main historic attractions in the city.

Colomer has also been busy in Guardamar meeting local business leaders to discuss ways to boost tourism and tourist facilities next year.

The age of first-time mums on the Costa Blanca has gone over the average age of 30 for the first time ever according to figures from the INE (National Statistics Institute). It contrasts with 24.4 years recorded back for Alicante Province in 1978, whilst the national average currently stands at 30.55 years.

Food Banked

Over one thousand kilos of food and 400 euro in shopping vouchers have been collected by 54 volunteers working for the San Miguel de Salinas Arcángel Neighbourhood Association to help the local needy over the Christmas period. The group said that their efforts would not have been so successful had it not been for the generosity of local businesses and residents.

Keep It Civil

Sticking up posters in unauthorised parts of the Pilar de la Horadada area will be prosecuted with fines of up to 300 euro according to Pilar mayor, Ignacio Ramos.

The civic boss reminded potential illegal bill stickers that a new law came into force last year and that he wanted "public places to preserved as areas of civility".

Knee Trembler

An earthquake measuring 1.8 on the Richter scale off the coast of Torrevieja was felt in a number places at 1.41 am on Tuesday morning.

Besides Torrevieja, it was felt in Almoradi, Formentera, and Guardamar.

Guardamar Babylon Row

A Guardamar councillor has called on the municipality’s PSOE-mayor, José Luis Sáez, to take decisive action against a local resident who allegedly used diggers to move sand to the front of his property at Babylon beach. The action appears to be a major

breach of the law as the area was cordoned off in September due to unsafe state of the beach side buildings. Andrés Navarro of the opposition Queremos Guardamar party said that the work in creating the illegal breakwater was apparently done at night

Council’s Weevil War

Landscaping and anti-red weevil work has been competed in the Callosa de Segura area at the La Pilarica park, in a 33 thousand euro project funded by Alicante Provincial Council.

Around 200 diseased trees

have had to be chopped down in the mountain area above Callosa with four special weevil traps installed, along with general improvements around the picnic area as well as the planting of new trees.

Police believe a mother threw her two daughters to their deaths from a 13th floor window before taking her own life. The children, aged nearly one and 11, died after falling from the building in the north-eastern city of Girona. A man drinking in a nearby bar tried without success to save the older girl.

The body of their 42-

year-old mother, as Mireia Pujadas Polo, was recovered from a different spot on top of an old water deposit beside the building. It is believed that she went to an office in the apartment block that she shared with her husband before tragedy struck and the murder suicide was committed from that flat.

No signs of violence

were found at the apartment and police have ruled out the idea the mum and her daughters jumped at the same time because they were found in different spots.

Investigators were focusing on the theory the youngsters were thrown to their deaths by their mum before she jumped from a window of the office.

Poor Surfer Spain's major telecoms company, Movistar (owned

by Telefonica) has come bottom in an online internet streaming survey done by content provider Netflix, based on speeds provided during the evening.

Movistar's ranking makes it the fourth worst performer in Europe according to Netflix, who said that prob-

lems encountered by lower speeds include "poorer image quality" and "slower video starts".

Telefonica released a statement saying it "complies with interconnection recommendations and rules issued by authorities and regulators." The Netflix survey, which did not declare how many people con-

tributed or what the methodology was, suggested that competitors ONOVodafone and Orange provided, average download speeds that were close to double of Movistar. Internet speed though will still depend on where exactly you are in Spain and what services you can access in the first place.

Vanishing Act

Nice Rooms With Views

Double Deaths Two people lost their lives in two road accidents last Saturday lunchtime. A 69-year-old motorcyclist died when his bike went off the CV873 in the Albatera area whilst a 50-year-old pedestrian was fatally injured as he was hit by a car when he was trying to walk across the fourlane A-70 highway by the Sant Joan tunnel in Alicante.

Death Riddle

Benidorm’s giant white elephant is finally to go up for sale after the go-ahead from Alicante’s Commercial Court. The 200 metre tall In Tempo building was set to be the tallest residential

development in Europe but the whole project went under with debts of 100 million euro. The sales process will start in January to try and recoup some of the debt.

The long-standing controversial case involving two individuals who accused Torrevieja's local police force of brutality back in June 2006 has been thrown out after the accusers failed to appear at a third trial at an Elche court. The story hit the headlines nine years ago with eleven officers as well as Torrevieja police chief, Alejandro Morer, being arrested by the Guardia Civil over allegations of torture in addition to falsifying records and a failure to carry out their duty as police officers.

The charges related to the detention of a Guatemalan man, Luis Carlos CR, who was caught red-handed robbing the home of one of the charged-officers.

The Guatemalan alleged that both he and his girlfriend, who was acting as a lookout during the burglary, were subjected to blows from officers, and in the process had two ribs broken.

The first court hearing took place towards the end of 2009 with Luis Carlos CR and his girlfriend Vilma L (hidden under a blanket out-

side the court six years ago) being the key witnesses for the prosecution with eight people facing charges. A whole series of subsequent delays and postponements culminated in the case being thrown out by a judge at the request of prosecutors who admitted they could not find their two key witnesses.

The case led to such strong feelings back in 2006 that around two thousand people took to the streets of Torrevieja in a demonstration in support of the local police.

News

Friday 18th December 2015

Copper Felled

A National Police officer suffered a broken leg as he tried to stop a fight in the San Anton area of Orihuela City on Sunday night. A bar-room brawl kicked off at around 7.00 pm between a man and the new partner of his ex-wife, and customers called the police in order to calm things down. Two National Police officers arrived, only for one of them to be injured by the man who started the fracas.

Local police had to be called in as reinforcements to quell the uproar, with the injured officer being taken

by ambulance to the Vega Baja Hospital.

A local resident told the Informacion newspaper that the scene resembled a pitched battle and that

fights are not uncommon in the San Anton area with drug trafficking and police raids a regular occurrence.

One man was arrested after Sunday’s violence.

Diva Sentenced

The opera singer Montserrat Caballé has been handed a six-month suspended jail sentence and fined more than quarter of a million euros for tax evasion. The 82year-old soprano, who sang Barcelona with Queen star

Freddie Mercury, had previously struck a deal with prosecutors over the case, which was ratified by a judge, ironically in Barcelona on Tuesday.

Caballé appeared at the hearing via videolink from her home for health reasons after suffering a stroke in 2012.

She was also ordered to pay more than 72 thousand euros to tax authorities. The diva was placed under investigation last year, accused of channelling earnings through a company in Andorra when she lived in Barcelona and thus defrauding tax authorities of half a million euros, which she has since paid.

Chips Are Down

The police have been clamping down on illegal gambling in bars and clubs across Alicante Province, with four British bars being raided in Benidorm in recent weeks.

Bingo as well as betting

on horse races and other sporting events was stopped by the authorities with computers, printers, screens, and betting slips being seized as well as nearly 17 thousand euro and five thousand pounds.

Opie’s Sign

A graffiti artist is leading police a merry dance and his latest target has left authorities scratching their heads as he's struck on an overhead sign on the A-7- highway in Alicante. The artist is signed

as Opie, and his handiwork has been appearing lately in the Orihuela area, and clearly he seems to have a head for heights, unless he has a copycat admirer or works with accomplices.

Power Hike Despite tumbling global energy prices in recent months, Spanish electricity prices went up by two point six percent in November, with an annual rise of nought point four percent over the last year, according to figures released by the INE(National Statistics Institute). Gas prices have shown a fall of just over 15 percent in the last twelve months.

Fiery Temper

Prosecutors are calling for a man who they accuse of setting fire to his own La Manga business in 2013 to be jailed for 15 years. Luis G.R. proprietor of the El Pedrucho restaurant at the Euromanga I urbanisation is accused of arson on the back of a long-standing row with a former President of the Euromanga building in which the restaurant was located.

It's alleged that the argument ensued over the use of a terrace, which ultimately Luis G.R. could not have access to, which would have allowed him to accommodate smokers. The then 74-yearold restauranteur is accused of setting the awning of his premises alight in January 2013, helped by opening gas taps in the building. Then prosecutors accusing of going to the apartment above the restaurant, belonging to the ex-president, to start a blaze there. Some 30 thousand euros of damage was done in the incident.

House Boost Spanish property sales went up by two point seven percent in October compared with the same month last year, with 27,294 sale & purchase agreements recorded. The property market has now shown a continuous upward trend for the past 20 months. The number of new property being sold, however, has dropped to an all-time low, with just 5,357 sale & purchase agreements signed last month. Overall this year there has been an 11.2% increase in property sales, with a 13.8% rise in September. Meanwhile, Development ministry figures published in Madrid suggest that the Costa Blanca (led by Torrevieja) is still the place to go to for foreign home buyers, with the number of sales for July to September reaching almost the same number as for overseas purchasers in Madrid, Barcelona, and the Balearic Islands combined.

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End Of The Line

News

Friday 18th December 2015

Holding Pattern

Pallets Plundered

A man was killed when he was hit by a train in the Torre Pacheco area last Friday afternoon. The unnamed victim was apparently crossing the line some three kilometres out of La-Palma-Pozo Estrecho station.

Mild Prediction

The Costa Blanca and Murcia regions are set for a warm Christmas, according to Spain’s national weather agency, AEMET. The forecasters say that warm dry air from North Africa will hit the southern half of the country with temperatures rising above the seasonal average, with daytime values of around 22C predicted.

None Spilt

Almoradi’s Casa de Cultura had a lot of blood about last Sunday but it was all in a good cause as it was a marathon blood donation session to top up local hospitals ahead of the Christmas and New Year holiday. 79 donations were given, with ten people giving blood for the very first time.

Expansion of Spain's air force has been delayed after this year's military Airbus crash in Sevilla The government wants further tests before taking delivery of 13 A400M air-

craft. Last May, an Airbus A400M cargo plane crashed at La Rinconada, close to Sevilla airport.

Black box analysis revealed a number of technical issues with the plane.

Nine drug smugglers and dealers have been jailed for a total of 27 years after the National Police smashed a massive heroin ring last year based in San Pedro del Pinatar. The ring-leaders were Dutch and Moroccan citizens who would co-ordinate the importation of the drug to San Pedro from the Netherlands. The National Police say that once the heroin had arrived in the area, it would be distributed in children's backpacks to

their clients. Children of the gang members would carry the packs on school journeys with their parents, who used their youngsters as a front for the illegal distribution. Money raised from the heroin sales would be then shipped off to Holland, with over 18 thousand euro being seized at Rotterdam Airport by authorities in April 2014, which a gang member had brought in from Spain.

Three defendants were acquitted.

Druggies Sentenced

11 people, including men from Liverpool, were arrested in international raids after police found one and a half tonnes of cocaine worth over 300 million euro disguised as wooden pallets at the port of Valencia. The National Police seized 40 pallets made out of compressed cocaine that was made to look like wood that arrived on a shipping container from Colombia. The con-

tainer appeared to be loaded with sacks of charcoal on wooden pallets but forensic examination found that the pallets were made of compressed cocaine powder made to look like wood, and some of the sacks contained cocaine disguised as charcoal.

The authorities suspect the group used a charcoal company in Spain as a front to import the cocaine

and hide a lab where the drug was extracted from pallets and charcoal, processed and repackaged for distribution across Europe. It was then shipped to Valencia by boat, where the traffickers planned to distribute the drug around Europe. The false pallets arrived along with 24 tonnes of charcoal, which the traffickers used in a bid to put sniffer dogs off the scent.

Clean Up Call An environment group has filed a complaint with the Guardia Civil over what they say is the continuing dumping of rubbish into the river Segura in the

Guardamar area.

The Guardia’s environment unit, Seprona, has received a report on the matter from the Friends of the Alicante South wet-

lands group who complained about the matter, which they say is especially bad in the stretch by the El Marjal camping site by the coast.

Dave Silver

Friday 18th December 2015

Dental Date For A Coleslaw Filling

I COULDN'T get to sleep the other night because of something Mrs S had said to me a little earlier.

We'd had a slight contretemps over something somewhat silly and during our verbal skirmish I had happened to observe (as I'm sure most of us do during the most minor marital dispute) that she was seriously getting on my nerves and furthermore was driving me completely bonkers and irretrievably nuts.

I'd also remarked that I desired a damned divorce and further mentioned that I wished we'd never have gotten together in the first blummin' place. So there!

Mrs S instantly accepted that I had spoken in the heat of the moment and understood clearly that I hadn't

meant anything terrible when I'd said what I'd said.

However, before we kissed goodnight and turned over onto our sleeping sides, I heard Mrs S mutter into her pillow: 'That Dave Silver is an unsavoury character.'

And it was that what had got me so contemplative into the wee small hours. Not that Mrs S thought I was imperfect but that the word 'unsavoury' was a twoedged sword.

'What exactly do you mean by that?' my best friend Eric the dentist asked me over coffee and a sandwich the following lunchtime.

'It's like this,' I said. 'If someone is unsavoury, doesn't that mean by the grammatical law of opposites that he has to be a

sweet person -- which, incidentally, I happen to be.'

'Hmm,' hmmed Eric.

'We've been pals now for more than 60 years but I have never been able to follow your logic. Allow me just to say that unsavoury means unsavoury and let us leave it at that.'

I stretched out in my seat and took a sip of my coffee.

'Now spit out,' said Eric the dentist.

'Huh?' I said. 'And you can't follow MY logic? Well, at this moment I am having a serious problem with YOUR logic. What the heck do you mean by instructing me to spit out my mouthful of skinny latte?'

'Sorry,' Eric blushed.

'When you sat yourself in the dentist chair I honestly thought for a moment that

you were a patient.'

'Please get a life, Eric,' I muttered. Eric shrugged and retorted: 'I'll get a life when YOU do. In the meantime, please keep an eye on your sandwich. You're dropping bits of coleslaw into my spit sink.'

Anyway, we finished our lunch, retired to the waiting room and leafed through a few old magazines until it was time for Eric to see his first proper patient of the afternoon.

'By the way,' said my bezzie mate as we prepared to say our farewells. 'What was your quarrel with Mrs S about?'

'It was nothing really,' I said. 'We were reminiscing about our first dog Brian and each of us claimed to have given him his name. One thing led to another and it finished up with me and Mrs S trading insults willy-nilly.'

Eric the dentist chuckled and slapped himself on the knee. 'You should have phoned me last night and I would have settled your argument immediately.'

'Huh? I said, confused.

'It wasn't you that named your mutt Brian. Nor was it Mrs S,' chortled Eric. 'It happened to be none other than myself who gave your dog a name.

'Don't you remember those dentures I kept in my top drawer and would often

examine during my early studies as a dental student.'

There was a long silence as thoughts churned in my confused brain. 'What!' I barked eventually. 'My dog was named after a set of false teeth?'

'No, idiot,' laughed Eric.

'Those choppers belonged to my late Uncle Brian who had a similar jawline to your then new dog. That's why I referred to the pooch as Brian, too, and somehow the name stuck.'

A tear formed in Eric the dentist's eye. 'What's making you sad, my old mate?' I asked.

Eric sniffed. 'It was you mentioning the word "unsavoury" before. It triggered memories of my Uncle Brian.'

'Ah,' I said. 'So he wasn't a nice person, then.'

'Just the opposite,' said Eric the dentist. 'My Uncle Brian was as sweet as sugar. Indeed, he even used to take eight spoonfuls of the stuff in one mug of tea.

That's why he had to have all his teeth out when he was 23. Hence the dentures.'

Anyway, after helping Eric clean out the coleslaw from his spit sink I went home where Mrs S asked me if I had taken out the rubbish.

'Too late,' I replied. 'I've already sent this week's column to The Courier. I'm afraid the rubbishy bits will

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have to stay in.'

Mrs S sighed. She was about to accuse me of being obtuse but as usual realised that I was merely being my naturally slow-on-the-uptake self.

Handing me the bag of kitchen rubbish to take out, Mrs S asked: 'So what's in it this week?'

I untied the rubbish bag and peered inside. 'The same old stuff,' I replied.

'Empty margarine containers, egg shells, used tea bags . . .'

'I meant what is your column about this week?' said Mrs S through blunted teeth long ground down from being gritted so often.

I scratched my head, trying desperately to remember the subject I was due to inflict on my readers.

'Oh, yes, now I remember,' I announced. 'It's all about Eric the dentist's uncle. Did you know that he had a lower jaw shaped like a dog's?'

Mrs S shook her head.

'Such an intellectual discussion. By the way, did you remember to get my shopping?'

'Didn't have time, luv,' I said. 'I was too busy cleaning up coleslaw at Eric's place.'

'That's no excuse!' declared Mrs S. 'The supermarket is within spitting distance of his surgery.'

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Rail Pledge

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has promised that a rail link will be built that will hook up Alicante-Elche airport to the rest of the network. The Partido Popular leader made his pledge during a PP rally in Orihuela City last Friday, ahead of this Sunday’s General Election. Rajoy’s visit was overshadowed by news of a Taliban terrorist attack that killed two Spanish police officers at a guesthouse used by the Spanish Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Pilar Fall A 45-year old man was rushed to Torrevieja Hospital on Tuesday lunchtime after he fell six metres to the ground from scaffolding in Pilar de la Horadada. The worker was part of a team on a construction site on Calle Comunidad Gallega. His condition was unknown.

News

Friday 18th December 2015

Benidorm Beat

More than 30 National Police officers along with sniffer dogs had a show of strength on Benidorm's Avenida del Rey Jaime I last Friday after complaints from residents of recent

cases of fighting and drug dealing.

The dragnet swept up three illegal immigrants; one drug seller; and a number of people in possession of illegal substances.

Scam Stopped

A Murcia-area couple have been arrested for allegedly ripping off phone and internet companies to the tune of 22 thousand euros. They would use fake identities or steal details of people to get phone contracts and mobile units, and other electronic gadgets. The couple would then flog off most of them to earn money via the inter-

net, as well buying on-line by assuming the identity of legitimate businesses in the area. The man and woman, aged 33 and 34, were arrested by the National Police in Sangonera la Seca, once authorities established they were using their home address as the delivery point for the illegally obtained items.

El Gordo Time

Spain will almost grind to a halt this coming Tuesday morning (December 22nd) with the annual El Gordo (The Fat One) lottery numbers being picked out in the world's biggest lottery draw. It costs 200 euros for a full ticket or 20 euros for a tenth of a ticket, known as a décimo, which is the most prolific in terms of prize giving, resulting in more winners than any other national or international lottery in Spain, but the cash handouts are usually much smaller.

The top prize for a décimo can be as much as 300,000 euros, but most big prizes are fivefigure sums and the majority are under 10,000 euros, or even just a few hundred. Total prize money will be two point two billion euros with the

odds of winning at least something put at one in six. Surveys suggest that some 75 percent of Spaniards have a go at El Gordo, spending a total of 0.3 percent of Spain's GDP, or three point two billion euros.

El Gordo is the second oldest lottery in the world.

The first draw took place on 22nd December 1812 in Cádiz and the event has been taking place on the same day every year since.

Not even the Spanish Civil War could stop the lottery, which moved to Valencia when the Republican government had to relocate their capital from Madrid. After the war, the lottery moved back to Madrid and continued under the regime of the dictator Francisco Franco The balls are drawn in

a unique way befitting the unique lottery tradition, with the numbers are sung by the pupils of Madrid's San Ildefonso school. The school was originally for orphans and the tradition of the winners of El Gordo donating a portion of their winnings to San Ildefonso dates from this time.

The balls were originally only drawn by boys, with the first girl taking part in the big draw singalong in 1984. Audience members at the live draw, as well as viewers watching from home, are known to dress up in lottery-themed clothing and hats. On the stage itself are two spherical vessels, one containing balls embossed with the numbers found on the lottery tickets and the other featuring the associated prizes in euros.

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Friday 18th December 2015

Nurse Nicked

A Colombian nurse working in Madrid has been arrested after it transpired he forcibly terminated over 150 pregnancies of female fighters with the rebel army in his home country. Héctor Albeidis Arboleda Buitrago, 40, has been wanted by Interpol for

forced abortions of FARC militants – some of them mere teenagers and some of whom died as a result of the non-consented procedure – because their pregnancy and eventual motherhood would have had negative consequences for their ability to fight, in the

Tight Squeeze A Spanish driver has been arrested after allowing a Moroccan man to cram his way into a tiny space into his vehicle which then made the ferry crossing from Tangier to the southern Spanish port of Algeciras. The Moroccan squeezed into a hidden compartment between the back seats of a car and the boot.

But the National Police spotted the deception in a routine check. The smuggled passenger was lucky to escape with his life.

guerrillas' view. Known within the FARC as El Enfermero, or 'The Nurse', Arboleda Buitrago has been taken into custody by the Guardia Civil and inquiries have been launched to find out whether he is a legal resident in Madrid.

Park Life Orihuela mayor, Emilio Bascuñana, dropped in this week to check out the progress on a major refit for a children’s playground in Campoamor.

The 55 thousand euro project on Calle Lope de Vega will take two months and includes new safer rubber play surfaces; better lighting; and better access to the park for both pedestrians and car drivers.

Holy Disorder

A protest group is saying the Catholic Church in Spain has "stolen" over a thousand buildings across the country so as to make money out of them.

A Pamplona-based group has published a leaflet called Thou Shalt Not Steal denouncing the church's actions. A law passed in 1998 allows the church to register places of worship without

owning the title deeds.

The protesters claim the church is using the law to pocket millions from entrance fees, with some town halls paying the church to return buildings to public ownership.

Buildings that have been registered include the mosquecathedral in Cordoba(pictured), the Giralda in Sevilla and the cathedral in Pamplona.

Cops Claim

Santa Pola's local police officers are having to work overtime to make up for a lack of manpower, according to their CSI·F union. They claim they are stretched to the limit at peak times like the summer and at fiesta periods and are given increased workloads.

They've also denied a council claim over the amount of funds for overtime saying that they've only been got sixty percent of the 261 thousand euros the authority say they have been given. Santa Pola’s finance councillor, Ignacio Soler(pictured), says the union claims and figures are simply not true and that it was unacceptable that officers were getting so much overtime which he said did amount to 261 thousand euros.

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Local & News

Friday 18th December 2015

A Very Helpful Donation

Under The Hammer Keith Remembered

Kind-hearted members of the Costa Cobras Rugby Club recently staged an auction in aid of DEBRA, the Butterfly Children’s charity at Victoria’s Tearooms in Almoradi.

Auctioneer, Dennis Christian of TKO The Pueblo Bravo Petanca club boosted the coffers of Help at Home Costa Blanca (Quesada group) to the tune of 205 euro thanks to a raffle at their Christmas Ball at The Club, Quesada. Jacky Jones from

HAH was at the event along two of her helpers, Hazel and Diane to receive the money.

HAH is always on the lookout for volunteers and fundraising ideas, and phone Jacky on 693 027 026 to get more details.

Profitable Day Age Concern’s annual Christmas Fair raised an impressive three thousand euro at their centre at La Siesta, Torrevieja.

President Maureen Payne said:-”I’m very grateful to everybody who turned up and to all who gave us prizes for our raffle”.

FM, was kept busy with the main item being an England shirt donated from the International Sevens tournament in Elche. The Costa Cobras are planning more events in support of DEBRA in the New Year.

The Man In Red Father Christmas made a surprise visit to a recent fundraiser for Torrevieja Stroke Support which raised 700 euros. The event was staged at Restaurante El Alto La Dolores, in Guardamar, with the redclad guest drawing the raffle tickets, with the first prize of a Mediterranean Cruise going to Colleen Pereira, from Algorfa.

The International Cofradia of Torrevieja that carries the Paso of Jesus in the Garden of Olives in the Easter processions (pictured) lost one of its members last month, when Keith Wightman died of a heart attack. He had been a member of the International Cofradia and a costalero for the last three years, whilst his wife,

Barbara, is also a member of the cofradia and has taken part in the Easter parades as a Nazarena since 2012. A collection was held after Keith’s funeral at the Cristo Recusitado Church in La Regia, with a magnificent total of 690 euro being raised which has been donated a local branch of the Spanish Caritas charity.

Gratefully Received The Crescendo International Choir’s Christmas Music evening at Benijófar church last Saturday raised just over 214 euro for the Caritas

charity. The choir also gave a big hamper of goodies for the local children which was presented to the priest Don Angel by the choir’s treasurer, Mags Vaughan.

Friday 18th December 2015

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Pets

Friday 18th December 2015

Pets Corner: Can You take in a Homeless Dog or Cat? BELLA

ELLIE

Bella is a beautiful eight month old female dog who is really good with other dogs.

She was found with her sister in the campo. Bella is not very big small to medium size. They had been out for a while and were quite nervous but have now settled well into their foster homes and are now ready to move on to a home of their own. For more about Bella please call PEPA on 650 304 746 or E-mail: p.e.p.a.animalcharity@gmail. com

Ellie is a typical, lively, friendly black Labrador. You wouldn't think she only has three legs.

She was rescued by APAH when her owner abandoned her after neglecting her so much that she lost one of her back legs.

All Ellie needs now is to be shown some love and care which she deserves so much after such a horrible life.

To meet Ellie, and give her a loving home, please call APAH on 630 422 563.

MYRTLE

Myrtle was brought into the SAT kennels in Dolores with some of her siblings. Their mother was unknowingly pregnant when she was rescued and had a litter of eight; we have taken four of the litter with another rescue group taking in the other four.

The litter is now five months old and are ready for adoption. For more details please contact the kennels in Dolores on 966 710 047 or send an email to info@satanimalarescue.com

RANI

SHEBA

SNOWBALL

Rani was born 18 months ago and survived in the campo. She has been living in a foster home since March with three other dogs and a cat.

Rani is a very intelligent and loving young dog and walks well on the lead, loves playing and she loves to learn. For more on this adorable girl please phone PEPA on 650 304 746 or send an email to p.e.p.a.animalcharity@gmail. com

Sheba is a two year old long haired female cat and was thrown out on the streets when her owner moved to Madrid.

Sheba is a very friendly young lady and, like a lot of long-haired cats, is very devoted to anyone who feeds her.

For more information on this beautiful young lady, or to offer her a forever home, call Pets in Spain on 645 469 253, or visit the website, www.petsinspain.com

Snowball is a beautiful white, blue-eyed kitten being cared for by APAH. She is about six months old, and one of many lovely cats and kittens currently being cared for in APAH's Cattery.

If you are looking for a cat to love and care for, APAH have many different types all looking for a forever home.

All of these animals deserve a chance to share their lives with love.

For more information please contact APAH on 630 422 563

Jeanette Erath - Learn Spanish

Simple Sentences In Spanish

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My last feature of 2015 will finish off the basic Spanish sentence building and I hope you use the Christmas break to practice what I have been writing about specifically over the last month. Making a sentence can be straightforward once you have the vocabulary you need, and if you don´t then you have to be able to think of another way to say what you want using the words you do know. You should be constantly improving your vocabulary, constantly learning new words, especially verbs and their conjugations, and using them to keep them fixed in your h e a d .

Watch

are ´practice and repetition´.

With that in mind I´m going to finish off explaining the ways to make yourself understood in Spanish and then give you a few phrases and words relating to Christmas that you can use over this festive season.

So finally, a few points to remember when making a basic sentence are these: when you want to make a sentence negative it is a lot easier than in English, because, in Spanish we just put the word ´no´ before the verb, for example: Juan come carne becomes: Juan no come carne, from there we could build up the sentence if we want and say for example: Juan no come carne porque es vegetariano.

Lastly as we finish with simple sentences we have to remember how to make a question in Spanish, this again is easier than h is Learn Span in English, ee fr r u o with although there are tutorial several ways to make a question in Spanish.

Firstly we leave the senSpanish tence as it is but add questelevision and listion marks when writing and ten to Spanish radio. Tune change the tone of voice your ear into the sound, the when speaking, so Juan pronunciation and you will come carne – John eats soon be speaking more flu- meat becomes ¿Juan come ently and confidently. The carne? – does John eat key words in all my articles

LEARNING SPANISH? HELP?

meat? You have to raise your tone of voice at the end of the sentence and make it sound like a question.

Another way is to change the verb and subject, which then becomes ¿come carne Juan? The tone of voice does change although it isn´t necessary because the Spanish are so used to raising their tone at the end of questions, and this way of asking is the least common way. The third and final way to make a question is Spanish is to add what’s called a question tag. This is when you say a normal sen-

tence, but you add a question word after the sentence, for example in English we´d say “you cook, don´t you?” but in Spanish we use the question tag ¿no? or ¿verdad? So, carrying on with John, we could say “Juan come carne ¿no?” or “Juan come carne ¿verdad? And that, in Engish would translate as: Juan eats meat, doesn´t he?

So now you have the basics to start speaking more naturally, I hope you use these basic tools to have a chat with Spanish friends or even use it when

you go to a Spanish café or restaurant.

As promised, here are some Spanish Christmas words you can look out for and maybe use over the next few weeks: Feliz Navidad – Merry Christmas, Nochebuena – Christmas eve, acebo – holly, calcetín de Navidad – Christmas stocking, Papá Noel – Father Christmas, campanas – bells, duendes navideños – Christmas elves, estrella – star, muérdago – mistletoe, papel de regalo – wrapping paper, regalo – present/gift, reno –

reindeer, villancico – Christmas carol, angel – angel, árbol de Navidad – Christmas tree, nochevieja – new year´s eve, feliz año Nuevo – happy new year, uvas de la suerte – lucky grapes, los reyes magos – the three kings.

Os deseo una Navidad muy feliz y con todos vuestros deseos, os deseo paz y tranquilidad. Esta época del año es muy especial, es el momento de mirar hacia adelante a un nuevo año y cumplir todos vuestros sueños. ¡Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo!

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Friday 18th December 2015

Tony Mayes - About Life

Con Trick Is A Real Pain

For years the product Nurofen has been synonymous with pain relief.

Millions of people worldwide have trusted the name and have bought the product.

But, it seems, that's just not good enough for the UKbased company, as they wanted more. So what did they do? They pretended they had special products for other ailments, such as back pain; period pain; migraine pain; and tension headache. They were all packaged differently and lo and behold, the price doubled! Australian watchdogs caught onto this clever little dodge, tested them all and found that the product was identical - each containing the same active ingredient, Ibuprofen lysine 342mg.

Not surprisingly an Aussie court has ordered all the products to be cleared off the down-under shelves.

Now here’s how the UK-based company tried to defend their moneymaking racket. Reckitt Benckiser said the products had been "designed to help the consumer easily navigate our range", particularly in groceries where there was no pharmacy.

"Consumer research indicates that nine in ten people (88%) look for pain relief for a specific type of pain (e.g. headache, migraine, back pain) and seven in ten (71%) say pain-specific packs help them decide

which product is best for their needs," said Dr Aomesh Bhatt, regulatory and medical affairs director for Nurofen. No problem with all of that - but why double the price? In my book whenever a company tries to hoodwink the public like this it should be fined so much it takes them out of the market place. It's just like Volkswagen fiddling those emission tests and being found out. Company owners have nothing in their pathetic minds other than maximising profits - no matter how they do it, and it's the public who suffer every time.

Here’s an important UK issue that has yet again been pushed into the long grass. Countless years of debate has gone into where and whether a new airport runway should be provided in Britain, with the only measure of agreement being that the country is in danger of losing business because London’s airports cannot cope with the number of flights and passengers, and are losing transfers to Holland and France.

But the debate as to where a new runway should be has dragged on for years, suggestions ranging from Heathrow to Gatwick; a new airport in the Thames estuary; and an expanded Stansted. Now a decision is delayed again, probably after the London mayoral

elections in May because the Tory candidate has pledged to fight against Heathrow, and we can't rock his election chances can we? Meanwhile all the nimby brigade are fighting their quarter yet again, forgetting that airports were there long before they moved into their over-priced properties in the suburbs.

So here we go again at vastly more expense, endless more debates and endless more years of indecision - the same story about getting UK railways, roads, hospitals, schools, defence and everything else fit for the 21st century, because we're bogged down with environmentalists, nimbies, those who are rich and influential in villages surrounding existing airports, rich land-owners determined to frustrate everything and, of course, politicians, who put their own and their party's futures before everything else.

A report that almost half of teenage girls in England think they are too fat makes sad reading.

A survey of 15-year-old girls found that 46 per cent described themselves as overweight. Even more worrying - more than a quarter of young people had been offered cannabis, with 11 per cent admitting they had tried it. Just over three in five 15-year-olds claimed they had previously had an

alcoholic drink while six per cent - around 7,200 children - said they were regular drinkers. These findings, resulting from 120 thousand interviews is very worrying.

It's demonstrating even more stupidity among teenagers today and parents who are not up for purpose. The argument about the "correct" size for female models is nothing new. For many years it was considered that the 'best' models were tall, ultra-skinny and leggy. Then came the campaign to get companies to use models who reflected the size of women in the real world.

However, now experts at the Simon Fraser University in Canada suggest that using larger body images in ad campaigns 'encourages the idea being overweight is acceptable', and is actually detrimental to health.

Please let us get some sense to all this - and let's accept once and for all that anorexia, bulimia and obesity are all just as dangerous to people's health; are all just as life threatening; and all spoiling people's enjoyment of a full, worthwhile and enjoyable life, which surely is what we all want!

If there's one piece of legislation above any other that has done a tremendous good in exposing corruption and scandals within UK government and public bodies, it's the Freedom of Information Act. This wonderful law has forced government, councils, the NHS, police and universities to

declare all manner of information they would have given their lives to have hushed up. It was brought in by the Blair government in 2000, but under the Tories, there's a sinister attempt to crush the public's right to know what people with millions of public money at their disposal are up to. These over-paid bosses, in town halls, in the NHS, and among universities are all doing their level best to water down the Act. They are claiming that elderly care and children's services would suffer unless the Freedom of Information Act is curbed.

This is despite the vital role the law has played in exposing corruption, incompetence, ill treatment and 'fat cat' pay and perks that drains vast sums from the Health Service, policing and council budgets, as well as of course exposing the MPs' expenses scandal. A Government commission is currently carrying out a review of the FOI laws, which it claims are too costly and should be restricted.

In a series of submissions to the panel – which comprises many critics of FOI – senior managers from across local government, the police, quangos, hospitals and universities all seized the chance to demand a draconian crackdown. This could include introducing fees for making a request, which would deter vulnerable and less well-off members of the public and make major Press investigations into

waste and corruption impossible. It could also be made far easier for requests to be thrown out on the grounds they take too long to process. Demanding new curbs, NHS England said the bill for providing transparency to the public 'must run into many millions of pounds and redirects staff and other resources away from the delivery of the authorities' core publicserving function'. Police chiefs, meanwhile, claim revealing information to the public is a 'burden' on them at a time of 'austerity' – despite staggering expenses claims by senior officers on six-figure sums. Isn't all this typical - the establishment looking after its own?

The public should have launched a petition to support and even increase the powers under the Act and throw out any suggestion of a watering down. Sadly the public seem more interested in trying to prevent Donald Trump from entering Britain than curbing what fat cats are doing to preserve their lavish lifestyles.

If there was ever an argument for getting as many girls as possible to fight in the Army it's this:-.

Apparently, Islamic State terrorist fighters are 'afraid of girls' because they believe being killed by a woman will prevent them from going to heaven. This is according to a commander in the Kurdish Women's Protection Unit. It's now all down to you girls - you have the power to rid the world of these vicious crackpots!

Friday 18th December Bumper Christmas Edition

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Friday 18th December 2015

Repeat - Whatson´s Choice

WOW! What can I say?

It´s finally happened, the week building up to the big day we call Christmas. That means we will have a bumper selection of TV Choice, so much so we bring you a very festive bumper edition of your FREE TV pull-out.

I remember the days of old when the family used to gather round the TV to enjoy the best in entertainment and drama, and to watch Her Majesty the Queen of course, well those times have changed a little, what with so much television available to watch on demand or download from the internet, the importance of sitting around at a set time is not quite as much of a matter. It is good to know that some

traditions still continue however, such as HRH on Christmas Day. The other funny thing whilst we´re talking about nostalgia is that many of the shows you used to watch are back again this year. Many people don´t see a problem with the likes of Morecambe and Wise being back on the box with repeats of their classic shows, but there are some in the press who are quite critical of the number of repeats being shown this year.

Let me give you a couple of examples. The Telegraph reported that BBC bosses say that “viewers want Christmas repeats”, although the Independent separately reported that the “BBC pledges fewer

Christmas TV repeats” this year. One of the most statistically detailed articles was published by The Mirror, who said, “There will be more repeated shows on TV this Christmas than ever before, with the main channels serving up nearly 10% more re-runs than last year. Out of a total of 1132 shows being screened during the festive fortnight across BBC1, BBC2, ITV and C4, 811 have aired previously. This means the total number of repeated programmes - excluding news and weather – will rise from 63% to 72%.”

For me though, I remember Christmas always being about repeats and the TV execs always being criticised for the same. One argument is that there are

now so many channels available it´s difficult to provide new content at any time of year, let alone during one of the most eagerly awaited television times of the year. Cost is also a consideration of course. There is a reason why so many television hours are taken up by reality-based, fly on the wall type shows following real people around their daily lives, the reason being that it costs considerably less to produce than a well written drama.

That said, there are some good new shows to watch this year and my bosses in their paper tower have given me more space to fill, so you will find my picks for the whole season littered through the entire pages of this pull-out, which is nice. That´s why I´ve not told you too much about what´s happening here, because I can just waffle about everything else for a change.

Ah, I just remembered that there is something I have to tell you about, but I´ve only gone and filled the space with my waffle, so I guess it will have to wait now, but I will tell you that when we return in the new year, expect these pages to be even bigger and better than ever before!

Merry Christmas my friends, Merry Christmas.

Timely Advice Don't let a bogus caller ruin the festive season for a loved one, remind elderly and vulnerable family and friends of safety advice.

Northumbria Police have been spreading 12 messages of Christmas which aim to help protect our elderly communities from bogus callers, advice which is valid wherever we are.

A bogus caller is someone who calls at a house unannounced and claims to be someone they are not. Their intention is to convince the occupant to let them into the property, once inside they will often try and cause a distraction so they can steal valuable items without the occupant realising.

Bogus callers often claim to be from the council, utility companies or even the police. They may also offer to carry out work in the garden or on the house but charge extortionate prices.

Chief Inspector Sarah Pitt said: "We know bogus callers target elderly and vulnerable people and we're urging people to look out for their elderly family, friends and neighbours this Christmas - make sure they're aware not everyone is who they claim to be, even if they seem convincing which often many of these callers are.

"A genuine caller will not mind being asked to come back at a different time so their identification can be checked or while arrangements are made for a relative or friend to be present when they return.

"Callers who turn-up unannounced, whether they're claiming to be carrying out work or selling something, should always be treated with caution. Never agree to work being done by people who cold-call at your home, and never leave people alone in the house, even for a few seconds.

"Taking time to pass this information on to someone you think could potentially targeted could help prevent them from being a victim."

Friday 18th December 2015

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Merry Xmas From TKO Teddy!

90.8fm & 91.9fm Christmas greetings to you all from TKO Teddy in my last round-up before the holidays, with some photos to show of what I’ve got up to.

By the way, this is a just a little selection that my paw has managed to pick out, and you can check out oodles of pics at my Facebook page, which is TKO Teddy! If you or any of your friends are on them, then just download them free of charge.

I popped along to the Punta Marina Commercial Centre last Saturday afternoon, and enjoyed meeting loads of you, including many visitors to the Samaritans in Spain Xmas Fayre, including

their vice-president and CEO, Lynda Brettle Cockman.

Tonight(Friday), I’m switching on the Christmas Lights at Casa Espana at La Siesta Roundabout, Torrevieja at 8.30 pm. I’d love to see you there as we’ll have loads of seasonal carols and we are collecting you presents that will be passed onto great local charities like the Elche Children’s Home.

Don’t forget that if you want me to pay you a visit in 2016, then contact me via Facebook and my special page, TKO Teddy. My phone number is 664 315 470 or via e-mail tkoteddy@tko.media

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Friday 18th December 2015

TRELI ON THE TELLY WITH ALEX TRELINSKI

Whatever you may think about the current state of The X Factor, there is one big thing it has over The Voice, and that it does produce stars. I don’t disagree with mentor Rita Ora that her teenage victor on Sunday, Louisa Johnson, is the best solo vocalist winner since Leona Lewis nine years ago. Wow, the girl can certainly sing, and it was an obvious done deal after the entertaining but vocally second-rate Reggie N Bollie gave the most out of tune performance ever of the potential winner’s single. What for next autumn? The show still has legs as over eight million viewers last Sunday night proved, but you can’t have Adele and Coldplay on every week as a boost. I’d cut the waffle and the runtime along with the sob stories, and also consider putting it out on a Tuesday/Wednesday night which would put the BBC schedules in a right old pickle. New judges Nick and Rita were great but wasn’t there just a few moments that we missed

LOUISA HAS THE X FACTOR the stupidity of Louis Walsh?

I almost cheered when that nice BBC Two announcer revealed the news over the closing credits of the final episode of The Last Kingdom last week that it's coming back for a second series, and quite right too. As we look back briefly on drama in 2015, I would put The Last Kingdom easily amongst my favourite new series of the year, along with another historical epic, the terrific Wolf Hall(also on BBC Two) with Mark Rylance totally superb.

The BBC Two list continues with the recent London Spy, whilst it was a great year of revival for Channel Four with the likes of cop comedy drama No Offence; robot thriller Humans; the sumptuous Indian Summers; and the (at times moving) Russell T Davies middle-age gay drama, Cucumber. BBC One's new list wasn't massive as many returning series were ready waiting in the cupboard, but I must confess to my

miss of 2015:- Poldark, which never appealed to me and so I never watched it, yet it was a mega-hit in almost Call the Midwife high audience figures territory. ITV's problems in not finding new hits was very apparent in 2015, but they produced a fantastic autumn "ace in the pack" with the beautifully-played detective series Unforgotten, which was easily better than the second run of

Broadchurch. A rare mention for UK drama on Sky and the hospital show Critical which was one of the best domestically produced scripted programmes they have just about done, but despite praise from the critics, the fools decided to pull it for no good reason, much to the justified chagrin of star Lennie James.

Disappointed over Critical, I've enjoyed seeing that Sky isn’t having

everything going its way these days and it’s been well reported the number of sports rights it has been losing to BT Sport, in addition to ITV teaming up with the BBC to stop Sky getting the Six Nations rugby. Now it seems to be spreading into buying American dramas. It was all pretty much an expected done-deal for Sky One to screen the New Year revival of The X Files and press releases were being

drafted to that effect when suddenly came news that the mega-rich owners of Channel Five, namely Viacom, had outbid them for a cool half a million pounds per episode, plus the chance to show some X Files classics. The silence coming out of Sky is almost deafening and the good news is that you have a subscription-free treat to look forward to next month. By the way, Viacom pulled the same trick last year when they slammed half a million on the table to outbid Sky for Gotham (by the way where is series two, Channel Five?). The irony in both cases is that the X Files and Gotham are Fox shows in the states, and Fox of course is owned by Rupert Murdoch, who of course has the largest stake in Sky, which makes of all this doubly entertaining.

The next bid war may be over Prison Break's return (another Fox production), which was originally screened on Channel Five in the UK before Sky pinched it.

Friday 18th December

The Courier TV Pull-out - 5

1997 07:00 Homes Under the Hammer 08:00 Oxford Street Revealed 08:45 Family Finders 09:15 An Island Parish: Falklands 09:45 Great British Menu 10:15 Victoria Derbyshire 12:00 News 13:00 The Daily Politics 14:00 Britain’s First Photo Album 14:30 The Great British Bake Off 16:30 The Great Antiques Map of Britain 17:00 The World’s Most Photographed 17:30 Wogan: The Best of 18:15 Bargain Hunt 19:00 Strictly 20:30 A Question of Sport Come Dancing: It Takes Two Sue Barker hosts the light20:00 Tom Kerridge Cooks hearted sports quiz Christmas Christmas din21:00 EastEnders Stacey ner Tom Kerridge-style struggles to come to terms Berry’s Mary 20:30 with her discovery Christmas Absolute 21:30 Citizen Khan Mr Favourites Mary cooks five Khan embraces Christmas indulgent but easy classics like never before 21:00 Mastermind Quiz 22:00 Have I Got News for You Looking back at the 21:30 An Island Parish: Falklands The Rev Richard big news of 2015 Hines completes his final 22:30 Peter Kay’s Car duties as he nears the end Share With a fancy new of his seven-year posting hands-free phone kit fitted, John arrives at Kayleigh’s 22:00 Alex Polizzi: Hire house, only to discover that Our Heroes Alex Polizzi she’s far more excited by works to find employment the previous night’s events for jobless military veterans

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Operation Meet the Street 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Oxford Street Revealed 12:45 13:15 Finders Family Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 The Doctor Blake Mysteries 16:10 Escape to the Home 16:40 Country Comforts at Christmas 17:25 Flog It 18:15 Pointless 19:00 News 20:00 The One Show

23:00 News 23:35 The Graham Norton Show 00:20 Josh 00:50 Film Reasonable Doubt (15) 02:10 Weather 02:15 News

Morning Good 07:00 Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle with Text Santa 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 News 15:00 Judge Rinder for Text 1000 16:00 Santa Heartbeats for Text Santa 17:00 Tipping Point for Text Santa 18:00 The Chase for Text Santa 19:00 News 20:00 Emmerdale Ross tells Debbie she has gone too far 20:30 Coronation Street Rob confides his dastardly plans to his cellmate

Santa Text 21:00 Christmas Jumper Day ITV’s annual charity appeal returns with a host of stars all doing their bit in a Christmas knit for a threehour, TV spectacular, with Phillip Schofield, Holly Amanda Willoughby, Holden, Alesha Dixon, Stephen Mulhern, Christine Bleakley, Olly Murs and Caroline Flack, who present an unmissable night of fundraising. Charities Macmillan Cancer Support, Make-A-Wish UK and Save the Children - will be highlighted by some moving 23:00 The Clare Balding films Show 23:30 Newsnight 00:05 Film - Artificial 00:05 News 00:55 The Intelligence: AI (12) 02:20 Best Bits 02:10 Jackpot247 Question Time 04:00 Jeremy Kyle USA

07:00 Countdown 07:45 3rd Rock from the Sun 08:35 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 11:00 Undercover Boss USA 12:00 Jamie’s Best Ever Christmas 13:00 News 13:05 Kirstie’s Homemade Christmas 14:05 Celebrity Come Dine with Me Christmas Special 15:10 Deal or No Deal 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Posh Pawnbrokers 18:00 Couples Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 News 20:30 TFI Friday Chris Evans is joined by Norfolk icon and national treasure Alan Partridge to co-host this special Christmas comedy show. A stellar line-up of guests includes James Corden, Jack Whitehall and Lee Mack Plus music from Sir Tom Jones, Bryan Adams, Lianne La Havas and Elle King 22:00 Gogglebox Britain’s favourite opinionated TV viewers share their sharp, insightful, passionate and sometimes emotional critiques of the week’s biggest and best shows 23:00 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 00:05 First Dates 01:05 Rude Tube 02:00 That’s So Last Century

07:00 Milkshake 10:15 Christmas with the Wright Stuff 12:40 Film - The Perfect Holiday (PG) 14:30 News 14:35 Neighbours 15:05 Film - Mrs Miracle 2: Miracle in Manhattan (PG) 16:50 Film - Help for the Holidays 18:30 News 19:00 Neighbours 19:30 News 20:00 Ultimate Strongman Masters World Championships 2015 The masters of weight-lifting are back for more back-breaking competition, this time against the world Seasoned athletes in Belfast 21:00 Ice Road Truckers VP Express takes on its most lucrative load to date, while a defection in the ranks leads to further tension in the Polar ranks 22:00 Film - Con Air (15) Newly paroled ex-con and former US Ranger Cameron Poe finds himself trapped in a prisoner transport plane 00:15 Caught on Camera 01:15 Super Casino

08:00 Peter Hurst, 11:00 Dennis Christian, 13:00 Alex Trelinski, 16:00 Andy James, 18:00 Suzy G

DON´T MISS 07:00 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 07:25 Psych 08:10 Emmerdale 09:10 Coronation Street 09:40 The Cube 10:40 Psych 11:35 Catchphrase 12:15 Take Me Out 13:30 Emmerdale 14:30 Coronation Street 15:00 Catchphrase 15:40 Jeremy Kyle 19:00 Judge Rinder 20:00 You’ve Been Framed 21:00 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Film - The Bourne Identity (12) 00:25 Film - The Nutty Professor (12) 02:20 Vampire Diaries

07:00 Movies Now 07:10 George and Mildred 07:35 Heartbeat 08:40 Murder, She Wrote 09:25 Where the Heart is 10:30 Judge Judy 11:55 A Touch of Frost 14:00 Heartbeat 15:05 Wycliffe 16:10 Where the Heart is 17:15 In Loving Memory 17:50 On the Buses 18:20 George and Mildred 18:55 Heartbeat 20:00 Murder, She Wrote 21:00 Midsomer Murders 23:00 Wycliffe 00:05 Poirot: Murder on the Orient Express 02:40 Where the Heart is 03:35 Judge Judy 04:40 Emmerdale Omnibus

07:00 The Big Match Revisited 07:50 The Professionals 08:45 Minder 09:50 Alias Smith and Jones 10:55 Pawn Stars 11:50 The Professionals 12:50 Kojak 13:55 Minder 15:00 Pawn Stars 16:50 Alias Smith and Jones 18:00 The Professionals 19:00 Kojak 20:00 Pawn Stars 21:00 Storage Wars Texas 22:00 Film - Police Academy (15) 00:05 Film - 6 Bullets (15) 02:25 Minder 03:15 Nitro Circus 03:40 ITV4 Nightscreen 04:00 Teleshopping

Text Santa - ITV

SOAPS

the Christmas party.

During the event, Laurel does a speech for the company, but falters when she sees one of the clients watching her closely. It’s Mat, the man she spent a drunken afternoon with in a bar a few months ago.

Ashley saves the day, which leads Laurel to make a confession.

However, Ashley has an even bigger confession to make.

realise what Diane is doing and goes to tell Robert. What will Robert do with the information?

self to Robert...

In Emmerdale Moses is in hospital and Ross has been by his bedside all night.

Debbie is in Ross’s bad books over the incident, but can she make it up to him? And is the feud between Debbie and Emma finally over?

Meanwhile, Nicola sets up Laurel by asking Ashley to

Elsewhere, Diane tells Doug that she is interested in looking at properties outside of the village, thinking it would make a nice change. When an estate agent arrives, Victoria is shocked to

In Coronation Street, Tracy thanks Robert for his grand gesture. After kissing him, she tells him that he’s right - it’s time for a change of direction and a florists is a great idea.

Back at the prison, Rob confides in Ian that he intends to introduce him-

Phillip Schofield, Holly Willoughby and Amanda Holden lead a host of stars rallying support for this year's charities - Macmillan Cancer Support, Make-AWish UK and Save the Children.

Highlights include a visit to Coronation Street with a Text Santa twist, Ninja

Meanwhile, Dee rages at Michael. Gail rushes to Michael’s defence, telling Dee how he burgled her house too but he’s a good man underneath. Eileen squirms with embarrassment. As Billy announces that Michael is the winner, Michael flees from the Bistro. Soon afterwards, Dee leaves but tells Michael that she will report him to the police if he ever tries to contact her again.

Michael apologises to Eileen for letting her down and causing her so much embarrassment.

Elsewhere, Fiz leads Tyrone into Number 9 and

1997: Dawn of Scottish parliament A bill giving Scotland its own parliament for the first time in three centuries has been unveiled in Glasgow.

Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar revealed his blueprint for the future of Scottish politics and called on the House of Lords not to delay or disrupt its passage into law.

"In well under 300 days we have set in train the biggest change in 300 years of Scottish history," he said.

The bill outlines the parliament described in the white paper, Scotland's Parliament, published in July.

It outlines a 129-member Scots parliament to be set up by the year 2000 with powers to legislate on all mainstream issues of national importance, including health and education.

Following elections in 1999 the majority party will form an Executive to act as government of the country.

The parliament, based in Edinburgh, will have the power to vary income tax by 3p in the pound.

Number 1 in the UK charts in 1997 Teletubbies Say 'Eh-Oh' Teletubbies

Warrior receiving the star treatment when a line-up of celebrities take on The Wall, plus Lord Grantham having a tough decision to make in a Downton Abbey special. reveals the Christmas makeover. Tyrone is gutted, explaining that he was looking forward to decorating the house with the kids. Sinead, Beth and Kirk leave feeling hurt. Fiz berates Tyrone for his ingratitude over the decorations.

about the baby.

Meanwhile, with Linda still refusing to open up, Mick tells everyone that he’s going out. However, he’s stopped in his tracks when Tina reveals that she wants Sylvie to come to the wedding.

In Eastenders, Stacey struggles to come to terms with her life-changing discovery. As further truths come to light, she realises that her life will never be the same again.

At the same time, Kush grows frustrated over his own secrets, telling Stacey that he wants to be honest with Martin and Shabnam

Soon afterwards, Linda follows Mick as he leaves and the couple sit down together to talk. Will Linda finally admit the truth?

Saturday 19th December

6 - The Courier TV Pull-out

07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen 12:30 Home Comforts at Christmas 13:00 News 13:10 Football Focus 13:55 Sports Personality - The Final 12 14:55 Film - The Muppets (U) 16:30 The Hunt 17:30 Final Score 18:25 News 18:45 Pointless 19:35 Strictly Come Dancing The remaining four couples perform two dances as they begin the battle to be crowned champions of Strictly 2015 21:00 Casualty It’s Christmas Eve and spirits are high, but not everyone is feeling merry 21:50 The National Lottery Live The National Lottery Live 22:00 Strictly Come Dancing Four couples become three then the voting lines reopen. Who will to take home the trophy 23:10 News 23:30 Match of the Day 00:55 The Apprentice 01:55 Weather

07:00 Fort Boyard Ultimate Challenge 07:25 Pat and Stan 07:35 Dino Dan: Trek’s Adventures 08:00 Share a Story 08:05 Oddbods 08:10 Sooty 08:25 Super 4 08:40 Mr Bean 09:00 The Aquabats!

Super Show 09:30 Thunderbirds are Go 10:00 Jessie 10:25 Murder, She Wrote 11:20 Jeremy Kyle 12:20 News 12:30 Film The Mirror Crack’d (PG) 14:35 Celebrity Squares 15:15 Doc Martin 16:15 Midsomer Murders 18:10 20:05 Japan: Earth’s News 18:35 Keep it in the Enchanted Island Looking Family Christmas Special at Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost and wildest island 19:35 Film - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 21:05 Porridge Fletcher (12) A reluctant hobbit, plans to add a bit of Bilbo Baggins, sets out to Christmas spirit to the fes- the Lonely Mountain with a tive season at Slade Prison spirited group of dwarves to reclaim their mountain 21:50 Rudolf Nureyev - home and the gold within it.

Freedom to Dance Dramatised documentary 22:45 The Jonathan Ross detailing the story of Rudolf Show Jonathan welcomes Nureyev Harrison Ford, David Walliams and Jamie Oliver 23:20 QI XL 00:05 James Brown: Mr Dynamite 01:45 23:50 News 00:05 Film Film - Soulboy (15) 03:05 Notting Hill (15) 02:20 This is BBC Two Jackpot247

07:00 Race to Super Bowl 50 07:50 Homes Under the Hammer 08:45 Natural Film 09:45 World Underdog (U) 11:00 Film Bridge to Terabithia (PG) 12:30 Escape to the Best 13:00 Country Christmas Bakes Ever 13:45 Film - The Bishop’s Wife (U) 15:30 Film Splash (PG) 17:10 Flog It 18:00 Film - Dad’s Army (PG) 19:35 The Perfect Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special

07:15 Great Ethiopian Run 2015 08:10 Survival of the Fittest Powered by the AllNew Renault Kadjar 08:35 Snowman Triathlon 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 The Morning Line 11:00 The Big Bang Theory 13:00 The Simpsons 14:30 Racing: Ascot and Haydock Park 17:00 News 17:10 The Simpsons 18:10 Film Arthur Christmas (U) 20:00 The World’s Weirdest Weather This episode features geysers exploding in the middle of the city and clouds that look like they’ve been cut with a razor 21:00 Film - Star Trek (12) The brash James T Kirk tries to live up to his father’s legacy with Mr Spock keeping him in check as a vengeful, timetraveling Romulan creates black holes to destroy the Federation one planet at a time 23:30 Film - Watchmen (18) 02:30 TFI Friday 03:55 Hollyoaks Omnibus

07:00 Milkshake 09:55 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 10:30 The Saturday Show 12:30 Film - A Country Christmas Story (PG) 14:20 Film This Christmas (12) 16:30 Film - Christmas Angel (PG) 18:10 Film - A Boyfriend for Christmas 19:55 Crackers About Christmas Documentary about people who celebrate Christmas all year round 20:55 Michael Buble’s Christmas Songbook The Canadian baritone Michael Buble performs a selection of classic Christmas hits including ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ 22:00 Football League Tonight Extended highlights of the weekend’s matches, including Brighton & Hove Albion v Middlesbrough and Rotherham v Hull City 23:30 Britain’s Favourite Abba Songs 00:55 ABBA: Live in Concert

14:15 Film - Mr Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (U) 16:10 Film - Santa Baby (PG) 18:00 Merry Christmas Mr Bean 18:35 Film - Ella Enchanted (PG) 20:25 Film - The Nightmare Before Christmas (PG) 22:00 Film - The Bourne Supremacy (12) 00:10 Celebrity Juice ITV3 12:50 Film - Swallows and Amazons (U) 14:40 By Royal Appointment 15:50 Film - The Queen (12) 17:55 Columbo 19:55 Rosemary and Thyme 21:00 Housewife 49 23:00 Lewis ITV4 14:05 Storage Wars Texas 15:05 Film - Jeremiah Johnson (PG) 17:20 Fifth Gear18:20 Formula E: Sound of the Future 19:00 FIA Championship Live 21:30 Film - Jackie Chan’s First Strike (12) 23:15Film Rambo III (18)

09:00 Trev Massey, 12:00 Gordon Lack, 15:00 Keith Nicol

Sunday 20th December 07:00 Breakfast 08:30 Match of the Day 10:00 The Andrew Marr Show 11:00 Fern Britton Meets Baroness Brady 12:00 Homes Under the Hammer 13:00 Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:15 Film - Rise of the Guardians (PG) 15:40 Film - Merry Madagascar 16:05 Film - Toy Story 3 (U) 17:45 Christmas Big Sing 18:25 News 18:50 Countryfile

07:15 Big Dreams Small Spaces 08:15 Countryfile 09:15 An Island Parish: Falklands 09:45 Natural World 10:45 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 12:15 13:15 Nigella Simply MOTD2 Extra 14:00 Hi-DeHi 14:45 Equestrian 17:30 Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em 18:20 Flog It 19:25 The Good Life 19:50 University Challenge 20:20 To the Manor Born Audrey and Richard’s 25th wedding anniversary is coming up, so there is a party at Grantleigh Manor

19:50 Sports Personality of the Year 2015 Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan host BBC Sports Personality of the Year, live from the SSE 21:20 Film - Safe Haven (12) A young woman with a Arena, Belfast mysterious past lands in 22:00 The Apprentice With North Carolina where her just two candidates left to bond with a widower forces battle it out for the £250,000 her to confront the dark investment Lord Sugar secret that haunts her informs them that their final task is to launch their busi- 23:10 Live at the Apollo 23:55 Family Guy 00:15 ness.

The Javone Prince Show 00:00 News 00:30 Have I 00:45 Country Strife 01:15 Got a Bit More News for Special Forces - Ultimate 03:15 Week You 01:10 Weather for the Hell Countryfile 04:15 Holby Week Ahead 01:15 News

07:00 Fort Boyard Ultimate Challenge 07:25 Pat and Stan 07:35 Dino Dan 08:00 Share a Story 08:05 Oddbods 08:10 Sooty 08:25 Super 4 08:40 Mr Bean 09:00 The Aquabats!

Show 09:30 Dc Comics: Batman Beleaguered 10:00 Jessie 10:25 FIA Formula e Championship Highlights 11:20 Jeremy Kyle 12:20 News 12:25 Jeremy Kyle 13:30 The Unforgettable Dick Emery 14:00 Doc Martin 16:00 Midsomer Murders 18:00 Tipping Point for Text Santa 19:00 News

07:20 King of Queens 08:35 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Frasier 10:30 Sunday Brunch 13:30 The Big Bang Theory 14:25 Film - Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (U) 16:15 Film - The Addams Family (PG) 18:10 News 18:30 Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (U)

07:00 Milkshake 10:55 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 11:30 Football League Tonight 13:00 Film - Surf’s Up (PG) 14:35 Film - The Christmas Switch (PG) 16:20 Film Christmas in the City (PG) 18:05 Pinocchio (U) 19:50 News

13:50 You’ve Been Framed 14:20 Film - Peter Pan (PG) 16:30 Film Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure (U) 18:20 Catchphrase 19:25 The X Factor Winner’s Story 2015 20:30 You’ve Been Framed 22:00 Film - The Bourne Ultimatum (12)

19:00 Film - Home Alone (PG) Macaulay Culkin stars as an eight-year-old who is accidentally left at home alone when his parents, siblings and relatives set off in a mad rush for a holiday in France

19:55 Film - Hellboy II: The Golden Army (12) The mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth, so Hellboy and his team must save the world from the rebellious creatures

ITV3

19:30 Jekyll and Hyde Robert has no wish to find the monster that is killing wealthy young men, but the trail is too compelling

21:00 Bear Goes Wild with Barack Obama In a historic and unprecedented special episode, Bear Goes Wild with Barack Obama

20:30 The Sound of Music Live A live broadcast of the classic musical - the first time a production has been shown live on UK television

22:00 Homeland Carrie finds herself following a lead

22:00 Film - War of the Worlds (12) Remake of the 1953 adaptation of HG Wells’s classic novel about a dock worker’s fight to get his children to safety when merciless aliens attack Earth. As the family race through the streets of they find themselves being chased by giant tripods

23:00 Gogglebox 00:00 Film - Four Christmases 23:05 News 23:20 Film - (12) 01:40 Film - Airplane!

Love Actually (15) 01:45 (15) 03:10 Alan Carr: Chatty Man Jackpot247

00:20 Britain’s Favourite Christmas Songs 03:10 Super Casino

12:50 Columbo 14:50 Film - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (U) 16:55 Clash of the Santas 18:55 Michael Bublé: Home for Christmas 20:30 Lewis 22:30 Inspector Morse ITV4 12:50 Pawn Stars 14:35 Film - No Name on the Bullet (U) 16:15 Film - The Appaloosa (15) 18:20 Film - Ice Cold in Alex (PG) 21:00 The Chase: Celebrity Special 22:00 Film - The Interpreter (12)

09:00 Trev Massey, 12:00 Gordon Lack, 15:00 Tony De Love

Monday 21st December

8 - The Courier TV Pull-out

1988 07:20 Homes Under the Hammer 08:20 Oxford Street Revealed 09:05 Family Finders 09:35 This Wild Life 10:35 Film - Flight of the Navigator (U) 12:00 The Hairy Bikers’ Northern Exposure 13:00 The Great Pottery Throw Down 14:00 Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em 14:45 The Polar Bear Family and Me 15:45 Coast 16:45 Perry and Croft: Made in Britain 17:15 Alaska: Earth’s Frozen 20:00 Cue the Queen: Kingdom 18:15 The Great the British Bake Off Christmas Celebrating Christmas Speech Kirsty Masterclass Young takes a unique look at the story of the Royal 19:15 Film - Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger! (U) Christmas broadcast A teacher has to juggle a 21:00 EastEnders The pregnant wife and a class feud between the Mitchells of children on a trip and Hubbards reaches University 21:00 breaking poin Challenge Quiz show 21:30 Miranda Miranda has received two proposals 21:30 Only Connect Quiz - one from Gary and one show from Mike. Will she choose one of them or will she run 22:00 Gorilla Family and Me Gordon Buchanan way? realises a lifelong dream by with time 22:00 The John Bishop spending Christmas Show John Grauer’s gorillas third his for returns Christmas Special, record- 23:00 Mock the Week 23:35 Russell Howard’s ed at the Lyceum Theatre Good News 00:05 The 23:00 News 23:40 Match of Javone Prince Show 00:35 01:05 Strife the Day 2 00:40 Citizen Country Khan 01:10 The Graham Special Forces - Ultimate 01:55 Hell Week 03:05 The Show Norton Weather 02:00 BBC News Apprentice

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Under Down Wanted Revisited 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Oxford Street Revealed 12:45 Close Calls: On Camera 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:45 Film - Raiders of the Lost Ark (PG) 16:35 Film - The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper (U) 16:50 Film - Shrek 2 (U) 18:15 Pointless 19:00 News

07:10 How I Met Your Mother 07:35 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:25 Frasier 09:50 The Big Bang Theory 10:50 Film - Magic in the Water (PG) 12:50 Film - White Christmas (U) 15:10 Deal or No Deal 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Posh Pawnbrokers 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 20:00 Emmerdale Leyla is Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 after an apology News 07:00 Dino Dan 07:25 Sooty 07:40 Super 4 08:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Rebound 11:20 Pick Me 12:20 Big Star’s Little Star 13:25 Tipping Point 14:30 News 15:00 1000 Heartbeats for Text Santa 16:00 Midsomer Murders 18:00 The Chase 19:00 News

20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Food Unwrapped at Tracy receives a visiting Christmas Matt Tebbutt, order from Rob Kate Quilton and Jimmy Doherty present a festive 21:00The Making of the edition of the food investiSound of Music Live A gation series, making their behind-the-scenes docu- way through the various mentary showing how the courses of a standard first ever live TV perform- Christmas dinner to identify ance of the musical The surprising, cost-effective Sound of Music got to air alternatives to Yuletide staples 21:30 Coronation Street Kevin and Anna both go on 22:00 The Rich Kids of hopeless dates Instagram This programme delves into the 22:00 BAFTA Celebrates lives of affluent youngsters Downton Abbey The who post pictures of luxuBritish Academy of Film - ries that most can only and Television Arts honours dream of on the photoDownton Abbey with a spe- based social network cial award presented by Julie Walters at the 23:00 Fargo 00:10 Film Richmond Theatre Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (12) 01:55 Film 23:00 News 23:40 Film - - Airplane II: The Sequel Music and Lyrics (PG) (15) 03:25 Josh 01:40 Jackpot247 04:00 Widdicombe: And Another Jeremy Kyle 04:50 ITV Thing 04:20 Grand Nightscreen Designs 05:15 Benchmark

07:00 Milkshake 10:35 Film Abominable Christmas (PG) 11:35 Film - James and the Giant Peach (U) 13:05 Film Jack and the Beanstalk (U) 14:50 Film - The Borrowers (PG) 16:30 Film - The Family Man (12) 19:00 Kids’ Hospital at Christmas Revisited 19:55 World’s Strongest Man 2015 Action from the Sweden Grand Prix, the first event in the Giants Live seriesat the Stadium Arena in Norrkoping 21:00 Chris Tarrant on the Polar Express Chris sets out to reach the northernmost railway station on Earth in an epic 2000-mile adventure from Moscow into Arctic Siberia 22:00 All New Shocking Moments in Pop 2 More ferocious feuds and sizzling scandals 01:00 Autopsy: The Last Hours of Amy Winehouse 02:00 Super Casino 04:10 My Crazy Christmas Obsession 05:00 Wildlife SOS 05:25 Divine Designs 05:45 House Doctor

1988: Jumbo jet crashes onto Lockerbie A Pan Am jumbo jet with 258 passengers on board has crashed on to the town of Lockerbie near the Scottish borders.

Initial reports indicate it crashed into a petrol station in the centre of the town, between Carlisle and Dumfries, and burst into a 300-foot fireball.

Hundreds are feared dead as airline officials said flight 103 was about two-thirds full with 255 adults and three children on board.

Rescue teams have confirmed there are many casualties at the scene including townspeople who were on the ground.

The Boeing 747 left London Heathrow at 1800 GMT bound for New York's JFK airport.

Shortly after 1900 the flight disappeared from radar screens at Prestwick Air Traffic Control Centre.

At 1908 there were reports by the Civil Air Traffic Control Authorities of an 08:00 Peter Hurst, 11:00 explosion on the ground 15 Dennis Christian, 13:00 miles north of the Scottish Alex Trelinski, 16:00 Andy border.

James, 18:00 Suzy G Emergency services attended immediately.

DON´T MISS 07:00 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 07:20 You’ve Been Framed 07:50 Emmerdale 08:20 Coronation Street 08:50 The Corrie Years 09:20 The Cube 10:20 The X Factor Winner’s Story 2015 11:20 Film Beethoven (U) 13:10 Emmerdale 13:40 Coronation Street 14:10 You’ve Been Framed 14:40 All Star Family Fortunes 15:40 Jeremy Kyle 19:00 Judge Rinder for Text Santa 20:00 You’ve Been Framed 21:00 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Film - The Holiday (12) 00:45 Celebrity Juice 01:45 Two and a Half Men 02:10 Scorpion 02:55 Film Mickey Blue Eyes (15)

07:00 On the Buses 07:25

SOAPS

stand why he needs to see his illness through alone.

However, by saying his prayers out loud, Ashley comes to an important realisation. Can he really do this without Laurel?

In Emmerdale, Laurel is stunned and heartbroken as Ashley continues to explain his dementia diagnosis and how it means he can’t be with her. Soon afterwards, Laurel privately confides in Doug about the news and it’s clear that she is determined to help Ashley in whatever way she can.

Later at the church, Ashley prays for Laurel to under-

Wycliffe 08:20 Film - The Baby and the Battleship (U) 10:20 Clash of the Santas 12:05 Inspector Morse 14:25 Heidi 16:45 Film - Death Becomes Her (PG)

18:40

Inspector

Morse 21:00 Foyle’s War 23:00 Endeavour 01:05 Film - Death Becomes Her (PG)

Meanwhile, Aaron is worried that Robert wants to buy Diane’s share of the pub. Aaron enquires about taking money out of the scrapyard so that he can put a deposit down on the pub, but Adam isn’t keen.

Cain overhears and Aaron is frustrated when Cain says that he doesn’t have the sort of money they would need to buy Diane’s share.

At the same time, Diane

07:00 The Big Match Revisited 07:50 The Professionals 08:40 Minder 09:45 Alias Smith and Jones 10:50 Pawn Stars 11:50 Goodwood Classic Cars 12:50 Kojak 13:55 Minder 15:00 Pawn Stars 15:55 The Professionals 16:55 Alias Smith and Jones 17:55 Film - The ‘Burbs (PG) 20:00 Pawn Stars 21:00 Storage Wars New York 22:00 Film - Dirty Harry (18) 00:05 Bundesliga 01:10 Film - The Big Lebowski (18)

ITV - Bafta Celebrates Downton Abbey

Number 1 in the UK charts in 1988 -

Jonathan Ross hosts a star-studded event at London's Richmond Theatre honouring the ITV drama ahead of its final episode on Christmas Day. There are reports from behind the scenes with cast and crew to provide an insight into one of the world’s most popular

Mistletoe & Wine - Cliff Richard

meets up with Gordon.

When they start to discuss Aaron’s troubled past, Gordon suggests offering a lifeline, but will Aaron accept?

for the miscarriage.

Elsewhere, Gabby shows Lachlan a web page which has been set up by David, offering a £500 reward in return for Val’s ring.

Lachlan thinks it’s easy money and begins to plot how he’ll return it.

Also today, Kerry seeks compensation from Rishi as she blames her diabetes on working in the sweet factory, while Leyla wants Megan to apologise for allowing her to think that she was responsible

In Coronation Street, Tracy enters Barlow’s Buys and finds another visiting order from Rob on the mat. She announces to Todd that she is turning Barlow’s Buys into a florists. Soon afterwards, Robert asks Ken for Tracy’s hand in marriage.

Later, as Ken, Emily, Nessa and Robert prepare to leave for Amy’s violin

shows, while creator Julian Fellowes takes to the stage to chat about its origins and secrets. Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville perform a specially written sketch. concert, there is no sign of Tracy. Amy becomes increasingly nervous. In the prison visiting room, Tracy reels as Rob lies to her, claiming there is a strong chance he might be released and he hopes they can start again.

Elsewhere, when David complains to Nick about how uncomfortable the spare bed is at Audrey’s, Nick urges him to return to his family and make up with Kylie. Will David go home?

In Eastenders, The ongoing feud between the Mitchells and Hubbards escalates following an incident in the Square

involving Sharon forced to matters hands.

Kim and Pearl. and Kim are step in and take into their own

Later, Vincent and Phil realise they’ve been set up and it might be best to end their war for the sake of their families. However, despite a desperate plea from Sharon, Phil takes some drastic action to destroy Vincent and the Hubbards...

Tuesday 22nd December

The Courier TV Pull-out - 9

1972 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under Revisited 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Oxford Street Revealed 12:45 Close Calls: On Camera 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:45 Film - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (PG) 16:35 Film - Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos (U) 16:50 Film - Shrek The Third (PG) 18:15 Pointless 19:00 News 20:00 Celebrity Mastermind John Humphrys puts the questions to some of the UK’s cleverest celebrities

07:50 Oxford Street Revealed 08:35 Home Comforts at Christmas 09:20 This Wild Life 09:50 Simply Nigella 10:20 Film Tintin and the Golden Fleece (U) 12:00 The Hairy Bikers’ Northern Exposure 13:00 The Great Pottery Throw Down 14:00 Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em 14:45 The Polar Bear Family and Me 15:45 Coast 16:45 Perry and Croft: Made in Britain 17:15 Alaska: Earth’s Frozen Kingdom 18:15 Money for Nothing 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Back in Time for Christmas 20:30 University Challenge

20:30 EastEnders Tensions remain high in Albert Square as residents struggle to come to terms with Phil’s latest act

21:00 MasterChef: The Professionals Marcus, Monica and Gregg set the five finalists an invention test

21:00 Holby City Troubled nurse Fran returns to Holby and is determined to get Jac’s full attention

22:00 We’re Doomed!

The Dad’s Army Story Comedy drama about how Jimmy Perry and David Croft overcame BBC management scepticism, focus groups and cast constipation to get the much-loved legend onto air

21:00 Midsomer Murders It’s a time of joy and happiness in Midsomer for once - Christmas is coming, and DCI Barnaby and his wife Sarah are soon to become parents. But the festive mood changes when a man is stabbed to death with an antique sword during a ghost-hunting party at a spooky manor house in Morton Shallows

23:00 News 23:35 Take That 00:35 Mrs Brown’s Boys 01:05 Weather 01:10 News

23:00 QI 23:30 Film Alpha Papa (15) 00:55 The Javone Prince Show 01:25 Race to Super Bowl 50 02:15 Film - Salvage (18) 03:30 The Hunt 04:30 Home Comforts

23:00 News 23:40 The Jonathan Ross Show 00:45 Film - Mickey Blue Eyes (15) 02:30 Jackpot247 04:00 Jeremy Kyle USA 04:40 ITV Nightscreen

07:00 The Hot Desk 07:10 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 07:30 You’ve Been Framed 07:55 Emmerdale 08:20 Coronation Street 09:20 The Cube 10:15 1000 Heartbeats for Text Santa 11:20 Film Beethoven’s 2nd (U) 13:10 Emmerdale 13:40 Coronation Street 14:40 All Star Family Fortunes 15:40 Jeremy Kyle 19:00 You’ve Been Framed 20:50 Take Me Out 22:00 Film - Love Actually (15) 00:45 Celebrity Juice 01:45 Two and a Half Men

07:00 Movies Now 07:10 In Loving Memory 07:35 Film - The Secret of My Succe$s (PG) 09:30 Clash of the Santas 11:30 The Best of Benny Hill 13:15 The Royal 14:20 Heidi 16:20 Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles 18:40 Inspector Morse 21:00 Paul O’Grady: For The Love of Dogs 22:30 Vicious 23:00 Endeavour 01:00 Wycliffe

07:00 Football’s Greatest: George Best 07:15 The Big Match Revisited 08:05 The Professionals 08:55 Minder 10:00 Alias Smith and Jones 11:05 TT 2015 13:05 The Professionals 14:10 Minder 15:15 Pawn Stars 16:10 Film - The Appaloosa (15) 18:15 Film - Gunsmoke (15) 20:00 Pawn Stars 21:00 The Chase: Celebrity Special 22:00 Film Coogan’s Bluff (15) 00:05 Film - First Blood (15) 02:10 Film - Death Wish 5: The Face of Death (18)

pub, but Aaron thinks he is trying to buy him off and angrily grabs him. Aaron then sees Ross heading off in his van and jumps in with him - he has changed his mind about doing that job after all.

nurse Fran returns to Holby and takes drastic action to get Jac’s attention. She finally reveals her true identity and the terrible childhood secret she shares with Jac. But tragedy strikes and a life is left hanging in the balance.

22:00 Luther High drama as Luther, who is dogged by ghosts from his past, finds a cold case that might be the key to unlocking a mystery that’s tormenting him

SOAPS

In Emmerdale, Ross asks Aaron if he wants to join him on a job, but Aaron isn’t keen. Soon afterwards, Aaron is shocked and furious to see Gordon emerge from a taxi in the village. He even remains disinterested when Gordon explains that he has been battling cancer.

Gordon offers to give his son the money to buy the

In Eastenders, Vincent and Kim are both furious as they come to terms with Phil’s latest act.

As the terrifying situation continues to escalate, Vincent and a drunken Phil clash again - forcing truths and secrets to come to light. Just how far will Vincent go to protect his family?

In Holby City, Troubled

07:00 Dino Dan 07:25 Sooty 07:40 Super 4 08:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Rebound 11:25 Pick Me 12:30 Big Star’s Little Star 13:30 Off Their Rockers 14:00 Celebrity Squares 14:45 News 15:15 Judge Rinder 16:20 Film - Liar Liar (12) 18:00 The Chase 19:00 News 20:00 Emmerdale David arranges a drop-off for Val’s ring 20:30 Tonight Fiona Foster reveals how loneliness can cause serious ill health and suggests what we can all do to tackle this hidden problem

Sacha finds himself having to treat the man who bullied him at school. It is a difficult case and a crisis of confidence ensues, as Sacha slips back into the role of victim. But an unlikely ally helps Sacha appreciate his worth.

Christmas romance is in the air when Arthur wades in to defend Morven.

07:20 How I Met Your Mother 07:45 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:35 Frasier 09:55 The Big Bang Theory 11:20 Film Space Chimps (U) 12:55 The Simpsons 13:25 Film Five Children and It (U) 15:10 Deal or No Deal Double Trouble: Christmas Leftovers 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Posh Pawnbrokers 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 How the Rich Live Longer Dr Christian Jessen investigates what the super-rich are willing to spend their wealth on in an attempt to live longer and, in some cases, search the ultimate goal for some, the chance to live forever, or at least they hope

07:00 Milkshake 10:15 World’s Strongest Man 2015 11:15 Ice Road Truckers 12:20 Film - The Flight Before Christmas (U) 13:50 Film - The Elf That Rescued Christmas (U) 15:20 Film - The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey (PG) 17:05 Film The Secret Garden (U) 19:00 A Primary School Nativity 19:55 World’s Strongest Man 2015 Action from the competition from Iceland 21:00 The Dog Rescuers Christmas Special with Alan Davies Alan Davies throws a Christmas party for some of the stars of the last series 22:00 Michael Buble’s Christmas 2015 Michael Buble brings the holiday spirit for the fifth consecutive year. Celine Dion, Sharon Jones and Tori Kelly join Bublé for special performances

22:00 The Supervet at Christmas It might be Christmas, but Noel Fitzpatrick is busier than ever in this festive special for the end of the current 23:00 Greatest Ever series Christmas Movies 01:50 23:00 That’s So Last Crackers About Christmas Century 00:00 The 02:50 Super Casino 05:00 Children Who Beat Ebola Michaela’s Wild Challenge 01:00 Rewind the Christmas Hits 02:30 Film Shakespeare in Love (15) 08:00 Peter Hurst, 11:00 04:35 Obsessive Dennis Christian, 13:00 Compulsive Cleaners Alex Trelinski, 16:00 Andy 05:30 Benchmark James, 18:00 Suzy G

1972: Survivors found 10 weeks after plane crash The Chilean Air force has found 14 survivors from a plane that crashed in the Argentine Andes over two months ago.

The first news that anyone had survived came when two of the passengers reached civilization yesterday after a 10 day trek to get help.

The two men, Roberto Canessa and Fernando Parrado then contacted the emergency services and directed them to the wreckage.

The Fokker "Fairchild" vanished on its way from the Uruguayan capital Montevideo to Santiago in Chile on Friday 13 October.

Number 1 in the UK charts in 1972 Long Haired Lover From Liverpool - Little Jimmy Osmond

Wednesday 23rd December

10 - The Courier TV Pull-out

1992 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Paul 11:15 Cue the Queen: Celebrating the Christmas Speech 12:15 Eat Well for Less at Christmas 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:45 Film - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (PG) 16:40 Donkey’s Caroling Christmas-Tacular 16:50 Film - Shrek Forever After (PG) 18:15 Pointless 19:00 News 20:00 Celebrity Mastermind John Humphrys puts the questions to some of the UK’s cleverest celebrities 20:30 A Question of Sport Sue Barker hosts the lighthearted sports quiz

06:55 Homes Under the Hammer 07:55 Oxford Street Revealed 08:40 Home Comforts 09:25 This Wild Life 09:55 Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip 10:25 Film - Short Circuit (PG) 12:00 Equestrian 13:00 The Great Pottery Throw Down 14:00 Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? 14:45 The Polar Bear Family and Me 15:45 Coast 16:45 Perry and Croft 17:15 Alaska: Earth’s Frozen Kingdom 18:15 Money for Nothing 19:00 Back in Time for Christmas 20:00 Gorilla Family and Me Gordon Buchanan realises a lifelong dream 21:00 University Challenge Quiz

07:00 Dino Dan 07:25 Sooty 07:40 Super 4 08:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Rebound 11:25 Pick Me 12:25 Catchphrase 13:10 News 13:45 Film - Bean (PG) 15:25 The Sound of Music Live 18:00 The Chase for Text Santa 19:00 News 20:00 Emmerdale Ross and Aaron are partners in crime 20:30 Coronation Street David’s shopping trip goes awry 21:00 All Star Mr and Mrs Martine McCutcheon and her husband, football manager Harry Redknapp and his wife, and acting duo Gwyneth Strong and Jesse Birdsall bid to win up to £30,000 for their chosen charity

07:25 Small Animal Hospital 08:10 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:35 Film - Rugrats the Movie (U) 10:00 The Big Bang Theory 11:30 Film - Space Chimps 2: Zartog Strikes Back (U) 13:00 The Simpsons 13:30 Film Aliens in the Attic (PG) 15:10 Deal or No Deal 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Posh Pawnbrokers 18:00 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 News 20:30 Film - Toy Story of Terror (U) Woody and the gang are held up at a roadside motel and members of the group start to disappear from everywhere

23:00 News 23:35 Peter Kay’s Car Share 00:05 Mrs Brown’s Boys 00:35 Film Meet the Fockers (12)

23:30 Goodness Gracious Me - India Special 2015 00:00 Top of the Pops 2 01:00 The Javone Prince Show 01:30 Country Strife 02:00 Special Forces Ultimate Hell Week

21:00 Posh Pawn at Christmas A former Miss England wants to trade in her diamonds for cash at 22:00 Prey As Murdoch the pawn shop continues with the search for his daughter, he is 22:00 24 Hours in A and forced into one last extraor- E Rod is rushed to A&E dinary mission before Lucy after falling 18 feet from can be freed. But, as a scaffolding onto concrete wanted man, it is a near- His injuries are so serious impossible task, and he that he’s taken straight for must fight to get her to a CT scan of his head, safety before the relentless neck and back Reinhardt catches her prey 23:00 Toast of London 23:00 News 23:45 Film - 23:30 Father Ted 01:35 Bridget Jones’s Diary (15) Best Before 02:00 The IT 01:30 Jackpot247 04:00 Crowd 04:15 Film - The Ejector Seat War Wagon (15)

07:00 Christmas Bonkers Guinness World Records 07:20 You’ve Been Framed 07:50 Emmerdale 08:20 The X Factor Winner’s Story 2015 09:20 The Cube 10:20 I’m a Celebrity! Coming Out 11:20 Film - The Flintstones (U) 13:10 Emmerdale 13:40 You’ve Been Framed 14:40 All Star Family Fortunes 15:40 Jeremy Kyle 19:00 Catchphrase 20:00 Film Uncle Buck (12) 22:00 Pampered Pooches: Hollywood 23:00 Celebrity Juice 00:05 Film - The Bourne Identity (12) 02:20 Release the Hounds

07:00 Movies Now 07:10 George and Mildred 07:35 Wycliffe 08:40 Inspector Morse 11:00 Where the Heart is 12:35 Rising Damp 13:05 A Christmas Carol 14:40 Film - Goodnight Mister Tom (PG) 16:50 A Touch of Frost 18:55 Goodbye, Mr Chips 21:00 Film - Mamma Mia! (PG) 23:05 Endeavour 01:05 Film - Goodnight Mister Tom (PG)

07:00 Football’s Greatest 07:20 The Professionals 08:10 Minder 09:05 Alias Smith and Jones 10:05 British Touring Car Championship 2015 Review 12:05 The Professionals 13:10 Minder 14:15 Pawn Stars 15:10 Film - The Rawhide Years 16:55 Film Death of a Gunfighter (PG) 19:00 British Superbike Championship Review Show 21:00 Fifth Gear 22:00 Film Jackie Chan’s First Strike (12) 23:45 Film - Rumble in the Bronx (15)

SOAPS

phone with all of the ransom texts.

Tracy confides in him that Rob might be released on a technicality and she still has feelings for him. Later, Robert confides in Leanne that he has received a visiting order from Rob.

21:00 EastEnders One resident goes to extreme lengths to seek revenge 21:30 Snow Chick Documentary telling the intimate dramatised story of an emperor penguin chick’s first precarious months on the ice 22:30 Boomers Comedy following the ups and downs of retired couples

In Emmerdale, Ross fills in Aaron about the job they are going to rob a warehouse and Aaron is the look-out. Ross heads into the warehouse as Aaron waits outside, but a worker who doesn’t recognise him soon questions him. Will Aaron do something he may later regret?

Meanwhile, David is aghast to find the money has gone but the ring hasn’t been returned. He’s furious with himself for falling for the scam, but Leyla and Nikhil have an admission to make. Soon Bernice comes across the

21:30 MasterChef: The Professionals The finalists have to create a dish without meat, fish or poultry 22:30 Christmas Shopping Fever: John Lewis and the Retail Race Behind the scenes at Lewis’s

In Coronation Street, Promising that he’ll be back in time for Max’s panto, David heads into town to do his Christmas shopping.

Meanwhile, Todd answers Tracy’s mobile for her in the shop and is taken aback to discover the caller is Rob Donovan.

Swearing Todd to secrecy,

In Eastenders, Vincent isn’t happy over recent events, so he comes up with a plan to get revenge on the Mitchells.

Fearful of what the consequences might be, Vincent’s loved ones try their best to stop him. Will Vincent go ahead with his dangerous plan?

Linda invites Shirley, Buster and Jade for Christmas dinner.

07:00 Milkshake 10:40 Film - Christmas Angel (PG) 12:20 Film - Fly Away Home (U) 14:30 World’s Strongest Man 2015 15:30 Film - The Glenn Miller Story (U) 17:50 Film Clash of the Titans (PG) 20:00 World’s Strongest Man 2015 This European strength summit includes Britain’s Strongest Man, Eddie ‘The Beast’ Hall Behind GPs: 21:00 Closed Doors In addition to ongoing struggles with alcohol and depression, Angela is suffering from injuries sustained in a fight 22:00 Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away The debt collection agents grapple with emotional evictions and moral dilemmas during the festive period 23:00 Christmas with Britain’s Biggest Family Benefits: On 00:00 Cashing in for Christmas 01:00 Michael Buble’s Songbook Christmas 02:00 Super Casino 04:10 GPs: Behind Closed Doors 05:00 Michaela’s Wild Challenge

08:00 Peter Hurst, 11:00 Dennis Christian, 13:00 Alex Trelinski, 16:00 Andy James, 18:00 Suzy G

1992: HRH The Queen's Christmas speech leaked A national newspaper has published the Queen's Christmas speech two days ahead of schedule sparking a full investigation from the BBC into the unprecedented leak.

Buckingham Palace today denounced as '"very regrettable" the publication of the Queen's traditional annual speech in the Sun newspaper ahead of its broadcast on the BBC on Christmas Day. It signalled a clampdown on the future advance availability of the speech to the world's press and warned other media organisations against reporting information from the newspaper.

Number 1 in the UK charts in 1992 I Will Always Love You Whitney Houston

The Courier TV Pull-out - 11

Christmas Eve

12 - The Courier TV Pull-out

Harry Hill in Professor Branestawm Returns

BBC One - The original mad professor is back, as Harry Hill reprises his role as Professor Branestawm but this time he has a rival.

Can he beat the self-proclaimed greatest inventor in the world, Professor Algebrain (Steve Pemberton) in an inventing competition, and win the cash prize to settle his outof-control tax bill?

When Lady Pagwell (Dame Diana Rigg) dies, leaving a substantial sum to fund local inventing, it could mean the end of Professor Branestawm's money troubles. But scheming local councillor Harold Haggerstone (David Mitchell) will stop at nothing to thwart Branestawm, and insists that Pagwell holds an inventing competition to decide who gets the money.

So Haggerstone tries to hire his own rival inventor without much luck - until Professor Algebrain from an unspecified European country turns up, Haggerstone thinks he’s on to a winner. Branestawm, meanwhile, is having problems of his own. Not only is he struggling to come up with an invention that will really knock the judges' socks off, he’s upset his faithful young assistant, Connie (Madeline Holliday).

He’s so wrapped up in his work that he’s been neglecting her and she’s torn between helping him and working with the seemingly charming and attentive Professor Algebrain.

Returning to show alongside Harry are Vicki Pepperdine, as the professor’s housekeeper Mrs Flittersnoop; Sophie Thompson as Connie’s mum Aggie; Simon Day as Colnel Dedshott; Adrian Scarborough as the vicar and Charlie Higson as the irascible local mayor; as well as guest starts Matt Berry as Professor Alwfulshirt and Rosie Caveliero as Professor Mary Oxford.

Walliams & Friend

BBC One - In this brand new sketch show, David Walliams stars in a 40-minute sketch spectacular alongside very special guest and national treasure, Joanna Lumley.

Filmed in front of a live studio audience, the show also features Morgana Robinson (House Of Fools) and Mike Wozniak (Man Down) and was written by David Walliams and Dawson Bros.

Carols from King's

BBC Two - This traditional and much-loved celebration of the birth of Christ is, for many, the true start of Christmas.

A solo chorister sings Once In Royal David's City and heralds a glorious feast of Christmas words and music from the candlelit fan-vaulted splendour of the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge.

Through The Christmas Keyhole

ITV - Join a festive Keith Lemon as he goes 'Through the Christmas Keyhole' of three celebrity homes, sniffing out seasonal clues to help the star-studded studio panel guess “who habitates in a house like this?”

Getting in the Christmas spirit with Keith are magician and presenter Stephen Mulhern, Strictly Come Dancing’s Claudia Winkleman and comedian Jimmy Carr.

Christmas Carols on ITV ITV - Aled Jones joins the congregation of St Elisabeth’s Church in the town of Reddish Stockport for their traditional candlelight Christmas Eve carol service.

The celebrations include festive performances from Britain’s Got Talent winners Collabro, Memphis soul singer Toni Green, & singersongwriter Laura White.

Along with everyone’s favourite carols, the service also features Christmas prayers and bible readings from Ted Robbins (Phoenix Nigthts), Alex Bain (Coronation Street) and actor Lee Boardman (Great Night Out).

The Courier TV Pull-out - 13

Thursday 24th December

1968 07:00 Breakfast 10:00 David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Paul 11:00 On Angel Wings 11:30 Film - The Santa Clause (U) 13:00 Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:20 Snow Chick 15:20 Film - A Christmas Carol (PG) 16:50 Film Finding Nemo (U) 18:20 Harry Hill in Professor Branestawm Returns 19:20 News 19:40 Celebrity Mastermind 20:10 Pointless Celebrities Christmas Special A special celebrity Christmas edition of the general knowledge quiz 21:00 Would I Lie to You at Christmas Festive edition of the comedy panel show 21:30 EastEnders One resident comes to a shocking realisation 22:05 Peter Kay: 20 Years of Funny The programme charts Peter’s life in comedy from Bolton schoolboy to award-winning, recordbreaking comic, actor, writer and director 23:05 Walliams and Friends 23:45 Not Going Out 00:30 News 00:45 Midnight Mass From St George’s Cathedral, Southwark 02:00 Film Serendipity (PG)

07:20 Homes Under the Hammer 08:20 Home Comforts 09:05 This Wild Life 09:35 Great British Menu 10:05 Film Bedknobs and Broomsticks (U) 12:00 The Hairy Bikers’ Northern Exposure 13:00 Natural World 14:00 Film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (PG) 15:45 Perry and Croft 16:15 Snow Wolf Family and Me 17:15 Snow Wolf Family and Me 18:15 Carols from King’s 19:30 To the Manor Born 20:00 Dad’s Army The vicar holds a Comforts for the Troops Fund bazaar 20:30 University Challenge Quiz 21:00 MasterChef: The Professionals The search for a chef to be crowned is almost over, as the three finalists face one last challenge 22:00 The Great History Quiz: The Tudors Quiz that delves into one of the most remarkable periods in British history - the Tudors 23:00 The Scandalous Lady W 00:30 Film - Dial M for Murder (PG) 02:10 Simply Nigella 03:10 Christmas Shopping Fever: John Lewis and the Retail Race 04:10 Home Comforts at Christmas

07:00 Dino Dan 07:25 Sooty 07:40 Super 4 08:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas 11:25 Pick Me 12:25 Film - Back to the Future Part II (PG) 14:30 News 14:45 Film - Small Soldiers (PG) 16:50 Film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (PG) 18:40 All Star Mr and Mrs 19:45 News 20:00 Emmerdale Past mistakes are catching up with Zak 21:00 Coronation Street Tyrone hopes for a Christmas miracle 21:30 The Abba Christmas Party Paddy McGuinness hosts a celebration of 1970s pop sensation Abba, who in the decade they stayed together became one of the most successful groups of all time 22:45 Through the Keyhole A festive Keith Lemon peeks into three more celebrity homes, sniffing out seasonal clues 23:45 News 00:00 Christmas Carols on ITV 01:00 Film - Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (PG) 02:40 Murder, She Wrote 03:30 Jeremy Kyle USA

07:15 Small Animal Hospital 08:00 The Big Bang Theory 08:40 The Snowman 09:05 Father Christmas 09:35 The Simpsons 10:10 Film Animals United (U) 11:55 Film - Dr Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who (U) 13:30 Film - Stuart Little (PG) 15:10 News 15:15 Film It’s a Wonderful Life (U) 17:55 The Snowman 18:25 The Snowman and the Snowdog 19:00 Hollyoaks

07:00 Milkshake 10:30 The Real Face of Santa Claus 11:30 Film - Gone with the Wind (PG) 15:45 Film - The Dam Busters (U) 18:20 Film - Scrooge (PG)

20:00 Jamie’s Night Before Christmas Jamie returns to help the viewers raise their seasonal game with foolproof recipes and clever last-minute ways to improve their festive menus and dishes

20:55 Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly: Ol’ Blue Eyes is Back Frank Sinatra returns from a twoyear retirement to perform in front of a live audience

21:00 My Crazy Christmas Lights This one-off film meets the people who spend each year going into seasonal battle with their neighbours in a bid to come out on top in the extreme decorating stakes

20:00 Christmas Makes You Laugh Out Loud A compilation of the most amusing and outrageous Christmas themed videos that have taken the internet by storm

21:25 Happy Holidays with Bing and Frank Christmas holiday special from 1957 22:00 Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special Ernie rewrites ‘Julius Caesar’ with Eric in the title role

SOAPS

In Emmerdale, Joanie’s boss Steve turns up at the Dingles’ home, demanding money for what she and Zak stole yesterday. Zak soon reassures Joanie that he has set Cain on the man.

Meanwhile, when the warehouse robbery comes on the news, Aaron has to cover by pretending that his pile of cash is from the

Shortly afterwards, the spacecraft passed out of contact with mission control in Houston, travelling into the dark side of the Moon - never seen directly by humans before, as it always faces away from the Earth.

23:00 Rude Tube 00:00 Gogglebox 01:00 The Inbetweeners 03:00 Man Down 04:25 Embarrassing Bodies 05:20 Benchmark

08:00 Peter Hurst, 11:00 Dennis Christian, 13:00 Alex Trelinski, 16:00 Andy James, 18:00 Suzy G

Once back in contact, Apollo 8 then fired another engine, sending it into circular orbit 69 miles above the Moon's surface.

The Abba Party - ITV

scrapyard. Things gets worse when he sees an image of himself in the paper. Later, Chas is floored when Gordon shows her the article and she refuses to believe it’s her son. Later, DS Hart arrives during the nativity, wanting to talk to Aaron about the robbery.

Carly’s plans to help with Johnny’s first night home.

In Coronation Street, While the residents put the finishing touches to the Christmas trees, Fiz breaks the news to Tyrone that Hope might not be allowed home for Christmas and Lapland might have to wait.

downbeat Tyrone announces that Hope is being kept in hospital.

However, as Tyrone gazes despondently around the street, a taxi pulls up and Fiz climbs out with Hope.

Tyrone is thrilled and as he hugs them tightly, suddenly the Christmas lights come on. Is it going to be a great Christmas after all?

As Kevin works on the lights and Kirk tinkers with the snow machine, a

Meanwhile, Robert heads out, making out that he is going Christmas shopping.

As Tracy tidies round, she is thrilled to discover an engagement ring in Robert’s jacket pocket.

Tracy confides in Todd that she thinks Robert is planning to propose and she’s not sure what to do. Later,

Also today, Vanessa is touched by Leyla and

Right on schedule, the crew fired their rocket engine to send Apollo 8 into the first of 10 elliptical lunar orbits.

22:00 8 Out of 10 Cats 8 Out of 10 Cats returns for a Christmas special hosted

by Jimmy Carr

07:00 Tommy Cooper 07:25 The Professionals 08:15 Minder 09:20 Alias Smith and Jones 10:25 British Superbike Championship Review Show 12:30 The Professionals 13:30 Everything or Nothing: The Untold Stories of 007 15:30 Film - Nevada Smith (15) 18:05 Film - The Green Berets (PG) 21:00 The Chase: Christmas Special 22:00 Fifth Gear 23:00 Film A Dangerous Man (18) 00:55 Film - Rambo III (18) 03:00 Film - The Interpreter (12)

Elsewhere, Lachlan tries to return the ring, but could his efforts backfire?

The climax of the mission began at 0959 GMT, when Frank Borman, James Lovell and William Anders were about 78 miles (125 km) from the Moon.

There followed a tense 45 minutes in which radio communication was impossible - a drama which will be repeated on each circuit around the Moon.

07:00 Judge Judy 07:20 The Royal 08:10 Film Goodnight Mister Tom (PG) 10:15 Inspector Morse 12:35 Foyle’s War 14:40 Film - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (U) 16:45 Agatha Christie’s Marple 18:50 Film Mamma Mia! (PG) 21:00 Lewis 23:00 Endeavour 01:00 Agatha Christie’s Marple

Meanwhile, will Laurel and Ashley regret not telling the kids sooner about their reunion when Arthur overhears a conversation?

The Apollo 8 spacecraft has taken its crew of three astronauts safely into orbit around the Moon, the first manned space mission to achieve the feat.

23:00 Christmas with the Double Acts 00:00 Morecambe and Wise Live! 1973 01:30 Film Scrooge (PG)

DON´T MISS 08:00 Emmerdale 08:30 Coronation Street 09:00 Keep it in the Family 10:00 Film - Santa Baby (PG) 11:55 Film - Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure (U) 13:45 Emmerdale 14:15 Coronation Street 14:45 Merry Christmas Mr Bean 15:20 You’ve Been Framed 16:20 All Star Family Fortunes 17:20 Catchphrase 18:25 Film - The Polar Express (U) 20:25 Film - The Nightmare Before Christmas (PG) 22:00 Film - Casino Royale (12) 00:55 Celebrity Juice

1968: First astronauts orbit Moon

Christmas

32 years after they split up, Abba are more popular than ever. To celebrate their music, Paddy McGuinness hosts a festive party in which stars perform the Swedish band's greatest hits. Those taking to the stage are Susan Boyle, Alexandra Burke, Corrie's Shayne Ward and Catherine

About two and a half hours afterwards, the astronauts beamed back the first television pictures of what they were seeing.

As the pictures flooded in, the astronauts broadcast the first words of Genesis.

Tyldesley, Scouting for Girls, the Feeling and the cast of West End show Mamma Mia! There is also an interview with Bjorn Ulvaeus, reminiscing about how the band themselves celebrated Christmas.

Robert visits Rob in prison.

Rob takes pleasure in telling him about Tracy’s recent visits. Refusing to let Rob get to him, Robert retorts that he intends to propose to Tracy on Christmas Day and leaves.

In Eastenders, Christmas Eve has arrived on Albert Square. Stacey has been sent home from the hospital after yesterday’s events, but she keeps busy by preparing for Lily’s role in the nativity play.

Even though her contractions are building, Stacey goes to watch her daughter perform.

As the play gets under way, Stacey goes into

They then signed out: "From the crew of Apollo 8, we pause with good night, good luck and merry Christmas and God bless all of you - all of you on the good earth." labour and gives birth. The new arrival is celebrated by most, but one resident starts to put two and two together - coming to a shocking realisation...

Meanwhile, the feud between the Hubbards and the Mitchells has now reached dangerous levels, so Ronnie tries one last time to put a stop to it.

When her efforts don’t go according to plan, Ronnie finds herself forced to choose a side.

14 - The Courier TV Pull-out

The Courier TV Pull-out - 15

Christmas Day

16 - The Courier TV Pull-out

Downton Abbey

ITV - Romance abounds in the final episode of Downton Abbey, but for some the year’s end is bitter-sweet. Mary endeavours to build bridges but Edith’s secret continues to pose a threat, even after she thought there was nothing left to lose.

As Henry settles into the role of husband, scars left by Charlie’s death are slow to heal, while Carson struggles to come to terms with developments which prove that even he is not invulnerable to change.

Spratt’s successful moonlighting venture is threatened by the conniving of Denker, and Daisy may

have missed her chance with an admirer.

Isobel receives devastating news and when the Greys’ scheming takes a sinister turn, she and Violet join forces. Robert must learn the value of independence, while the day that Anna and Bates have been waiting for arrives.

The last ever episode offers all the love and loss, happiness and heartbreak of Downton Abbey, and as the family and servants prepare to welcome 1926 with an unforgettable New Year’s Eve we will share our final two hours in their company, and reflect on the ending of a television event.

Call The Midwife

BBC One - As celebrations swing into action, Poplar readies itself for Christmas 1960; a festive bus trip to see the Regent Street lights and a visit from a BBC film crew promise to make it a Christmas to remember.

But it’s a difficult time of year for grieving mother Iris, bringing back memories of her long departed baby daughter. And at Nonnatus, things are tense as Sister Monica Joan determines to bring the Christmas spirit early, despite Sister Evangelina’s disgust.

As the community pull together to prepare for the televised carol concert, Nonnatus is rocked when Sister Monica Joan goes missing.

Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas Special BBC One - Agnes Brown is determined to have a safe and peaceful Christmas at home this year. But with Mark and Betty rowing over the reappearance of his first love Bubbles, carol singers haunting Agnes’ every waking hour and Buster installing a new Christmas tree with a very unusual safety feature, how will Agnes survive?

Michael McIntyre’s Big Christmas Show BBC One - Michael McIntyre’s Big Christmas Show will be an unmissable night of entertainment, recorded in front of a live audience at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London.

In this Christmas Day special for BBC One, Michael presents the world’s leading comedians, including Dara O Briain; the fabulous Dame Edna Everage; and ventriloquist and winner of America's Got Talent, Paul Zerdin as well as music superstars Ellie Goulding and Sir Tom Jones - for a night packed with festive treats and surprises.

Expect the unexpected as Michael provides his own inimitable take on Christmas, with a little help from an unsuspecting audience and some star guests. It’s a night at the theatre you won’t want to miss!

Doctor Who - The Husbands Of River Song BBC One - It’s Christmas Day on a remote human colony and the Doctor is hiding from Christmas Carols and Comedy Antlers. But when a crashed spaceship calls upon the Doctor for help, he finds himself recruited into River Song’s squad and hurled into a fast and frantic chase across the galaxy.

King Hydroflax is furious, his giant Robot bodyguard is out of control and coming for them all! Will Nardole survive? And when will River Song work out who the Doctor is?

All will be revealed on a starliner full of galactic super-villains and a destination the Doctor has been avoiding for a very long time.

The Courier TV Pull-out - 17

Friday 25th December

1952 07:00 Breakfast 10:00 Film - - Shrek the Halls 10:20 The Clangers 10:35 Danger Mouse 11:00 Christmas Day Service Live From Bath Abbey 12:00 Film - The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (U) 13:25 Film Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (PG) 14:50 News 15:00 Top of the Pops 16:00 The Queen 16:10 Film - Brave (U) 17:35 News 17:45 Stick Man 18:15 Doctor Who

07:00 Film - The Road to El Dorado (U) 08:20 Natural World 09:20 Film - Herbie Rides Again (U) 10:45 Film - The Cat in the Hat (PG) 12:00 Carols from King’s 13:15 Climbed Every Mountain - The Story Behind The Sound of Music 14:15 The Good Life 14:45 Film - Frankenweenie (PG) 16:05 Tim Rice - A Life in Song 17:35 Film - Romeo and Juliet (12) 19:20 The Queen 19:30 World’s Sneakiest Animals

19:15 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special of the dance contest

20:30 Dad’s Army Mainwaring’s Home Guard decides to give a turkey dinner to the pensioners of Walmington

20:30 Call the Midwife Festive cheer is in plentiful supply as Poplar readies itself for Christmas 21:45 EastEnders The Mitchells and the Beales spend Christmas Day together, but events soon take a sinister turn 22:45 Mrs Brown’s Boys Agnes is determined to have a safe and peaceful Christmas at home this year 23:25 Michael Mcintyre’s Big Christmas Show 00:25 News 00:40 Love Came Down at Christmas 00:45 Comedy Bloopers 01:15 Not Going Out 02:00 Film Surviving Christmas (12)

21:00 The Two Ronnies Christmas Show Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett star in a classic special Christmas programme from 1984 21:50 Darcey’s Ballet Heroes Ballet star and Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell undertakes a very personal journey to meet the heroes and dancers who transformed male ballet 22:50 QI 23:20 We’re Doomed! The Dad’s Army Story 00:20 Film - Gambit (12) 01:40 Film - The Trouble with Harry (PG) 03:20 This is BBC Two

07:00 Dino Dan 07:25 Sooty 07:50 Oddbods 08:00 Dino Dan 08:15 Horrid Henry 08:45 Chowder 09:10 Almost Naked Animals 09:25 Weekend at Christmas 10:25 Film - Santa Claus (PG) 12:30 Film - Happy Feet (U) 14:35 Text Santa 15:45 News 16:00 HM the Queen 16:10 Cameraman to the Queen 17:10 Countrywise Winter Wonderland 18:00 Paul O’Grady: For The Love of Dogs 19:00 News 19:15 You’ve Been Framed

06:55 Olive, the Other Reindeer 07:45 Prep and Landing 08:30 The Bear 09:00 Film - A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures (U) 10:40 The Simpsons 12:15 Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (U) 12:40 Toy Story Toons 13:10 Father Christmas 13:40 The Snowman 14:15 The Snowman and the Snowdog 14:45 Film - The Muppet Christmas Carol (U) 16:25 News 16:35 Alternative Christmas Message 16:45 Film Scrooged (PG)

19:45 Emmerdale Ross comes clean

18:45 Film - Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (PG) One year after Kevin was left home alone he accidentally finds himself in New York City, and the criminals are not far behind

20:45 Coronation Street Tracy is given a Christmas to remember 21:45 Downton Abbey Romance abounds in the final episode of the hit drama, but for some the year’s end is bittersweet.

Mary endeavours to build bridges but Edith’s secret continues to pose a threat.

As Henry settles into the role of husband, the scars left by Charlie’s death are slow to heal 23:45 Our Cilla 00:45 News 01:00 Film - Dr No (PG) 02:50 Murder, She Wrote 03:45 Jeremy Kyle USA 04:25 ITV Nightscreen

21:00 Gogglesprogs Gogglebox is transformed, the nation’s children share their opinions 2015’s TV 22:00 Alan Carr: Chatty Man There’s a treat of festive frolics plus the odd song or two by Alan’s house band 00:00 8 Out of 10 Cats 01:05 Very British Problems at Christmas 02:05 Film - Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (15) 03:50 Friday Night Dinner 04:15 Gadget Man

07:00 Milkshake 10:50 Andre Rieu’s Christmas Spectacular 11:50 Film Scrooge (U) 14:05 Film Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (U) 16:10 Film The Wizard of Oz (U) 18:10 Michael Buble’s Christmas 2015

1952: Queen makes first Christmas speech

19:05 Britain’s Favourite Christmas Songs A countdown of the nation’s favourite Christmas songs

In a tradition that began in 1932, the Queen made her address on BBC radio from the study at Sandringham House at 1507 GMT.

21:50 Chas and Dave’s Xmas Knees-Up The Cockney singers Chas and Dave are joined by Eric Clapton for this musical special 22:40 Britain’s Favourite Abba Songs Documentary and clip show charting our enduring love affair with the ultimate Swedish pop stars. Learn fascinating facts, glimpse rare footage, explore the band’s unique legacy, and meet the crazed fans who have gone out of their way in honour of their idols 00:05 Sinatra at 100 - An All-Star Grammy Concert 02:25 ABBA: Live in Concert

08:00 Peter Hurst, 11:00 Dennis Christian, 13:00 Alex Trelinski, 16:00 Andy James, 18:00 Suzy G

DON´T MISS 07:00 Christmas World Records 07:25 Emmerdale 08:25 Coronation Street 08:55 Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas 09:55 You’ve Been Framed 11:15 Catchphrase 12:15 Merry Christmas Mr Bean 12:50 Mr Bean 13:25 Emmerdale 14:25 Coronation Street 15:00 Film - The Polar Express (U) 16:55 Film - ET The Extra-Terrestrial (PG) 19:15 Film - The Lost World: Jurassic Park (PG) 21:45 Film - Quantum of Solace (12) 23:55 Film - The Bourne Supremacy (12)

07:00 Movies Now 07:10 George and Mildred 07:35 Film - Carry on Don’t Lose Your Head (PG) 09:30 Film - Carry on Cruising (U) 11:20 Film - Carry on at Your Convenience (PG) 13:15 Film - Carry on Loving (PG) 15:05 Film Carry on Cowboy (PG) 17:05 Film - Carry on Jack (PG) 19:00 Film - Carry on Screaming (PG) 21:00 Film - Carry on Camping (PG) 22:50 Film - Carry on Cleo (PG)

07:00 Football’s Greatest 07:15 The Big Match Revisited 08:05 The Professionals 09:10 Minder 10:15 Alias Smith and Jones 11:20 Goodwood Cars of the Future 13:25 Tim Vine’s Punslinger 14:50 Film - Every Which Way But Loose (15) 17:10 Film Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (15) 18:55 Film - The Great Outdoors (PG) 20:45 Film Cannonball Run II (PG) 23:00 Film - National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (PG)

The Queen

These words, spoken on 25 December 1932 by King George V from a small office at Sandringham, marked the beginning of a tradition which, to many, has become an integral part of the yuletide festivities - the

Christmas Broadcast.

SOAPS

ues, knowing that Belle is furious and more than ready to spill the beans about him and Joanie. Will Belle keep quiet, or is she just moments away from ruining Christmas with her shattering reveal?

When Tracy overhears Amy telling Robert that he can be her number two dad, Tracy realises that Robert is the one for her.

In The Rovers, Tracy confides in Todd that she reckons Robert is about to propose and she is going to accept.

Rob she wants to spend the rest of her life with him.

Can Tracy talk Robert round and get him to place the ring on her finger?

one another.

In Emmerdale It’s Christmas Day in the village, but Belle struggles to hide her hatred of Joanie after what she witnessed yesterday. When everyone arrives for Christmas lunch, Zak begins to get suspicious of Belle’s behaviour, realising that she knows something.

Zak gets increasingly nervous as the day contin-

Meanwhile, Eric remains holed up in his house and is still as miserable as ever. However, events take a turn when Eric is forced to follow his mischievous dog Cheryl out into the village. Once out, Eric is faced with his past, his present and what is to come. Could there be a happy Christmas for him after all?

In

Coronation

Street,

Robert pulls out the engagement ring from his pocket, but before Tracy can take it, he demands to know why she has told

"I speak now from my home and from my heart to you all".

At the same time, Johnny’s phone rings.

Seeing the caller is Rob, Carla takes the call. Carla chats to Rob while Johnny goes into meltdown. Will Rob spill the beans about Johnny’s past?

In Eastenders, It’s Christmas Day on Albert Square, but for one resident it will be their last. As shocking truths come to light, families go to extreme measures to protect those they love - forcing residents to turn on

Since that time, a Christmas Day message has been delivered by the monarch to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth almost every year.

With families at war, it’s not long before people get caught in the crossfire, leading to devastating consequences which will change the Square forever...

The Beales’ day gets off to a positive start when an upbeat Ian presents Jane with a new car. However, the mood turns sour when Jane reveals some worrying news which could tear their family apart.

As the tensions mount, everyone is oblivious to the fact that the hostilities between Bobby and Dennis are increasing at

Millions of British and Commonwealth listeners have been listening to Queen Elizabeth's first Christmas broadcast of her reign.

She used the same desk and chair as her father King George VI and his father King George V had done.

The annual broadcast allowed nations around the world to hear the voice of their monarch, made more human by the power of radio.

The Queen began: "Each Christmas, at this time, my beloved father broadcast a message to his people in all parts of the world. Today I am doing this to you, who are now my people.

Message to armed forces "As he used to do, I am speaking to you from my own home, where I am spending Christmas with my family."

She also made mention of those serving abroad, referring no doubt to armed forces in Korea, Malaya and Kenya.

"I have a special thought for those who are serving their country in distant lands far from their families. Wherever you are either at home or away, in snow or in sunshine, I give you my affectionate greetings, with every good wish for Christmas and the New Year." an alarming speed. This triggers off a series of incidents which leave lives hanging in the balance...

Meanwhile, Stacey returns home following the birth of her son, but Kush and Carmel notice that Shabnam is distracted and fear that she knows the truth. Shabnam eventually confronts Stacey, but what does she know and will Stacey come clean? Later, Stacey receives a surprise visit from Kat.

Boxing Day

18 - The Courier TV Pull-out

Dickensian

BBC One - As the snow falls on Market Street this Christmas Eve, the festive hustle and bustle is hushed as the body of wealthy brewer, Mr Havisham, is driven to its final resting place, followed by son Arthur and daughter Amelia. Later that day, at the reading of the will, pain strikes further when Arthur finds himself out in the cold and on the path to revenge.

Meanwhile, malevolent money-lender and partner to Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley, is visiting clients to collect their outstanding debts, and nothing steers him from his brutal resolve.

His first visit is to the Old Curiosity Shop where Grandfather is keeping vigil at the bedside of a desperately ill Little Nell.

At the same time, gangmaster and pimp Fagin has organised for street girl Nancy to visit Jacob Marley for his evening’s entertain-

ment. Accompanying the young girl for her safety is house-breaker and ruffian Bill Sikes, who will do anything to protect her.

Elsewhere, the free-spirited Honoria Barbary meets in secret with her young love, Captain James Hawdon.

Will their clandestine love affair run smoothly?

Secrets are lurking around every corner and as the bell tolls 9pm on Christmas Eve, tragedy strikes and Jacob Marley’s dead body is found lying in the snow.

In the second episode.

Christmas Day dawns and a stranger going by the name of Inspector Bucket turns up in Market Street, and everyone has something to say about the new face.

Here to solve the murder, the detective begins his investigation into the last known movements of Jacob Marley with help from local taxidermist Mr Venus. As the deceased wasn’t short on enemies, it quickly transpires that it could have been any number of people.

Following Little Nell’s miraculous recovery, Grandfather, alongside inn landlord Silas Wegg, ginsoaked midwife, Mrs Gamp, and the local busy body, Fanny Biggettywitch, are having lunch with a generous side order of gossip about the new detective.

Surprise Surprise

ITV - Surprise Surprise, hosted by Holly Willoughby, returns for a Christmas special featuring a number of emotional surprises and a dramatic family reunions.

On the show, international and multi award winning boy band One Direction give two deserving sisters a surprise of a lifetime.

Eve Hooley, 42 from Newcastle, is nominating her daughters Rachel Hooley, 11 and Kate Hooley, 15 for their bravery and support.

Kate was just 11 when in January 2012 out of the blue her sister Rachel approaching her 8th birthday became seriously ill. Rachel sadly experienced a complete heart failure and was on a life support machine with her life hanging in the balance. Rachel’s only hope of pulling through was to receive a heart transplant. Her older sister Kate was by her sister’s side every minute she was able and was the rock of the family.

Incredibly a suitable heart had become available and luckily Rachel’s body responded well. With the daily encouragement and support from her big sister, Rachel pushed herself to surpass all recovery expectations.

Her family have never forgotten the donor, their families’ loss and the importance of organ donation. So much so that Rachel and Kate now do everything they can to raise money and awareness of organ donation.

Also on tonight’s show, rower and double Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell surprises an unbelievable and heroic ex -serviceman.

Bronwyn Royce, 53 from South Africa is nominating her son Cayle Royce, 29 for his amazing bravery and determination against all odds.

Eastenders BBC One - In Eastenders, Christmas Day continues on Albert Square, but lives are still hanging in the balance.

Meanwhile, Dean is furious when he realises that Buster, Shirley and Jade have already eaten with the Carters. He snaps at his mum, who argues back and returns to The Vic in a bad mood. When Roxy later arrives, the pressure becomes too much for Dean and he has an angry outburst, accidentally injuring Roxy in the process. Roxy storms out and leaves, but can Dean convince her to change her mind?

Elsewhere, Kat tells Martin and Lily that Alfie and the kids are still in Spain. However, Kat gets a shock when Alfie later arrives and asks her why she left Spain.

And Then There Were None 1939. As civilization teeters on the brink of war, ten strangers are persuaded to retreat from their troubled lives to Soldier Island, an isolated rock off the Devon coast.

A reckless playboy, a decrepit judge, a nervous businessman, an unhinged Harley Street doctor, a god-fearing spinster, a secretive governess, a guilt-ridden general, a remorseless mercenary and two anxious servants find themselves cut off from the mainland by appalling weather. Their hosts Mr and Mrs U.N. Owen mysteriously absent, the guests are each accused of a unique and terrible crime by a gramophone recording, timed perfectly to deliver its indictments after dinner.

As the assembled guests begin to realise that not one of them has set eyes on the missing Owens, the true reason for their presence on the island becomes horribly clear: they are to be executed, one by one.

The Courier TV Pull-out - 19

Saturday 26th December 07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen 12:30 Home Comforts at Christmas 13:15 News 13:25 Football Focus 14:00 Comic Relief 2015: Thanks a Billion 15:00 Film Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out (U) 15:25 A Grand Night in: The Story of Aardman 16:25 Film Puss in Boots (U) 17:45 Film - The Croods (U) 19:10 The Farmer’s Llamas 19:40 News 20:00 Dickensian Drama re-imagining the works of Charles Dickens 20:30 EastEnders Lives are hanging in the balance 21:00 Still Open All Hours Granville has his eye on a tree which gives him more than he bargained for 21:30 Dickensian The news of Jacob Marley’s murder filters through the Christmas day celebrations 22:00 And Then There Were None 10 strangers are invited to Soldier Island and discover there may be a killer in their midst 23:00 News 23:20 The National Lottery Live 23:30 Match of the Day 01:05 Film - The Guardian (12)

07:15 Film - Ramona and Beezus (U) 09:00 The Morning Line 10:00 The Big Bang Theory 11:25 The Simpsons 12:25 Film Fantastic Mr Fox (PG) 14:10 Channel 4 Racing: Kempton Park and Wetherby 16:30 Film Home Alone 3 (PG) 18:25 News 18:35 The Secret Life of Children at Christmas

20:20 Dad’s Army Classic comedy featuring the men of the Home Guard.

Captain Mainwaring has an unexpected and most unwelcome guest

07:00 Fort Boyard Ultimate Challenge 07:25 Pat and Stan 07:35 Dino Dan 08:00 Share a Story 08:05 Oddbods 08:10 Sooty 08:25 Super 4 08:40 Mr Bean 09:00 The Aquabats! Super Show 09:30 Thunderbirds are Go 10:00 The Tom and Jerry Show 10:25 Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas 11:25 You’ve Been Framed 11:55 Film Back to the Future Part III (PG) 14:05 News 14:20 Film - Jurassic Park (PG) 16:40 Midsomer Murders 18:40 News 19:00 The Nation’s Favourite Disney Song

21:00 Top Gear Two-part alphabetical celebration of the best of the Clarkson, Hammond and May years of the motoring show

20:00 Surprise Surprise Holly delivers the perfect Christmas presents to deserving members of the public

22:00 A Gert Lush Christmas Wrote by and starring Russell Howard, a feel-good comedy about loved-up couple Dan and Lisa, set in Bristol in the small town of Bamford

21:00 Peter and Wendy When Lucy, a young girl with a heart condition, arrives at Great Ormond Street Hospital for an operation, she discovers the legacy of Peter Pan

21:00 Inside Lego at Christmas Channel 4 once again goes behind the scenes of the notoriously secretive, familyowned superbrand as it opens its doors for Christmas

23:00 Abz on the Christmas Farm 23:30 Backchat Looks Back 00:15 Film - Kinky Boots (12) 02:00 Film - Marnie (15) 04:05 Imagine 05:40 This is BBC Two

23:05 The Jonathan Ross Show 00:10 News 00:25 Film - From Russia with Love (PG) 02:25 Jackpot247 04:00 Murder, She Wrote 04:50 ITV Nightscreen

07:00 Race to Super Bowl 50 07:50 Flog It 08:35 Film - Tom Thumb (U) 10:05 Film - Hotel for Dogs (U) 11:35 Ten Pieces II 12:35 Film - G-Fo rce (PG) 14:00 Natural World 15:00 Attenborough’s Paradise Birds 16:00 Film - Bedtime Stories (PG) 17:30 Final Score 18:30 Don’t Panic!

The Dad’s Army Story 19:20 We’re Doomed! The Dad’s Army Story

19:30 Britain’s Favourite Children’s Books with David Walliams A celebration of children’s books presented by Britain’s bestselling children’s author, David Walliams

22:00 Big Fat Quiz of the Year The Big Fat Quiz of the Year returns as Jimmy Carr tests a panel of A List Celebrities to see who knows the most about 2015 00:05 Rude Tube 01:10 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 03:05 Rude Tube 04:00 Hollyoaks Omnibus

07:00 Milkshake 10:10 The Saturday Show 12:10 The Dog Rescuers Christmas Special with Alan Davies 13:10 The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe 16:15 Film - Diana (12) 18:05 Film - One Chance (12) 20:05 Christmas Makes You Laugh Out Loud Funny-man Iain Lee narrates an entertaining compilation of the most amusing and outrageous Christmas themed videos on the internet 21:05 Chas and Dave’s Xmas Knees-Up The Cockney singers Chas and Dave are joined by Eric Clapton for this special 22:00 Football League Tonight Extended highlights of the packed Boxing Day fixture list, including Hull City v Burnley and Derby County v Fulham.

Plus, all the goals from Leagues One and Two, included Doncaster Rovers v Scunthorpe United and Plymouth v Yeovil Town 23:30 Most Shocking Christmas TV Moments 01:30 Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away 02:25 Super Casino 04:10 Kids’ Hospital at Christmas

07:00 Emmerdale 10:00 Coronation Street 12:55 Film - Space Jam (U) 14:40 Film - Happy Feet (U) 16:45 Emmerdale 17:50 Coronation Street 18:55 You’ve Been Framed 19:25 Minion Madness Shorts 19:40 Film - Despicable Me (U) 21:30 Film - Skyfall (12) 00:20 Film - The Bourne Ultimatum (12) ITV3 07:35 Film - Santa Claus (PG) 09:45 Film - Carry on Jack (PG) 11:35 Film Carry on Cowboy (PG) 13:35 Film - On the Buses (PG) 15:20 Film - Mutiny on the Buses (PG) 17:15 Film - Holiday on the Buses (PG) 19:00 Housewife 49 21:00 The Nation’s Favourite Elvis Song 22:30 Agatha Christie’s Marple ITV4 09:45 The Professionals 10:45 Bundesliga 11:50 Pawn Stars 13:35 Fifth Gear 14:40 Film - Ice Cold in Alex (PG) 17:20 Film The Green Berets (PG) 20:10 Film - National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (PG) 22:00 Film Beetlejuice (15)

09:00 Trev Massey, 12:00 Gordon Lack, 15:00 Keith Nicol

Sunday 27th December

20 - The Courier TV Pull-out

07:00 Breakfast 08:40 Match of the Day 10:15 Film - Flushed Away (U) 11:35 Film - Megamind (PG) 13:00 Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:15 Songs of Praise 14:50 Film - Mary Poppins (U) 17:05 Film Oz: The Great and Powerful (PG) 19:05 News 19:30 Countryfile

07:20 Big Dreams Small Spaces 08:20 Countryfile 09:15 Film - A Man for All 11:15 (U) Seasons Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 12:45 The Hairy Lorraine and Bikers Pascale 13:45 A Culture Show Special 14:45 Film The Cockleshell Heroes (U) 16:20 Film - The Heroes of 18:25 (U) Telemark 20:30 Dickensian Bucket Porridge (PG) goes to see his old enemy Fagin 19:10 Film - Deep Impact (12) Unless a comet can be 21:00 Still Open All Hours destroyed before colliding Granville is having a cut- with Earth, only those price sale but only on old allowed into shelters will stock, let the confusion and survive the devastation left comedy begin behind 21:30 Dickensian In the classic drama tales, Amelia is delighted to see her brother Arthur but perturbed by the arrival of an uninvited guest 22:00 And Then There Were None The guests on Soldier Island are dying, one by one

23:00 News and weather 23:25 Catherine Tate’s Nan 00:00 Miranda Hart - My What I Call Live Show 01:00 Film - Ghost Town (12) 02:35 Weather for the Week Ahead 02:40 News Headlines

07:00 Fort Boyard Ultimate Challenge 07:25 Pat and Stan 07:35 Dino Dan 08:00 Share a Story 08:05 Oddbods 08:10 Sooty 08:25 Super 4 08:35 Mr Bean 09:00 The Aquabats!

Super Show 09:25 Weekend at Christmas 10:25 Countrywise 10:55 Celebrity Squares 11:40 Film - Superman (PG) 14:30 News 14:45 Film - Mr Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (U) 16:35 Midsomer Murders 18:30 News 19:00 You’ve Been Framed

19:30 Jekyll and Hyde Robert seeks sanctuary in the Jezequiel House and 21:00 Dragons’ Den The takes Olalla and Ravi with Dragons turn fifty shades of him angry over a product that promises to banish grey 20:30 Jekyll and Hyde Robert and his team are hairs ambushed by Dance’s crew 22:00 Gorilla Family and Me Gordon Buchanan 21:30 Harry Price: Ghost realises a lifelong dream by Hunter Famous ghost gaining the trust of a family hunter and sceptic Harry Price is called upon to of rare Grauer’s gorillas investigate the haunting of 23:00 U2 - iNNOCENCE + a local MP’s home eXPERIENCE - Live In Paris 01:15 Film - Telstar: 23:30 News 23:45 Through The Joe Meek Story (15) the Keyhole 00:45 Rugby 01:35 03:10 Countryfile 04:05 Highlights Holby City 05:05 Cue the Jackpot247 04:00 Jeremy Queen: Celebrating the Kyle USA 04:40 ITV Nightscreen Christmas Speech

07:05 Film - Flicka 2 (U) 08:40 Film - Paws (PG) 10:20 Sunday Brunch 13:20 The Simpsons 14:10 Channel 4 Racing: Chepstow and Kempton Park 16:35 Film - Hugo (U) 18:55 Channel 4 News 19:00 Celebrity Fifteen to One 20:00 Million Pound Motors Documentary exploring the vintage car trade, and following salesman Richard Biddulph as he tries to sell some of this collection of rare and expensive vehicles to wealthy customers 21:00 Walking the Himalayas Following explorer Levison Wood as he attempts to walk the entire length of the Himalayas 22:00 Homeland In the final episode of the fifth season of the gripping, contemporary US thriller the clock is ticking and time is running out fast 23:00 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 00:00 Film - The Inbetweeners 2 (18) 01:55 The Inbetweeners 03:50 Film That Touch of Mink (U) 05:30 Benchmark

07:00 Milkshake 11:15 Football League Tonight 12:45 Film - Cromwell (U) 15:25 Film The Searchers (PG) 17:45 Film - Escape to Victory (PG) 20:00 World’s Strongest Man 2015 Action from the opening heat of the competition in Malaysia, where events included the Kettlebell Throw and Atlas Stones 21:00 On Benefits: Cashing in for Christmas A look at how some of the series’s most memorable characters are spending Christmas 22:00 Most Shocking Celebrity Moments 2015 A light-hearted look at the most outlandish and outrageous antics by the rich and famous this year.

There is bad behaviour from repeat offenders like Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus, but also new faces including Barry Manilow and Tom Jones 00:55 Autopsy: The Last Hours of Robin Williams 01:55 Super Casino 04:10 A Primary School Nativity 05:00 House Doctor 05:25 Make it Big

14:50 You’ve Been Framed 15:50 Film Beethoven (U) 17:35 Film - The Lost World: Jurassic Park (PG) 20:05 Film Uncle Buck (12) 22:00 Film - Bridget Jones’s Diary (15) ITV3 14:15 Film - The Pure Hell of St Trinian’s (U) 16:10 Film - Santa Claus (PG) 18:25 Rosemary and Thyme 19:25 Paul O’Grady: For The Love of Dogs 20:30 The One and Only Cilla 21:30 Cilla’s Surprise Surprise Unseen 22:40 It’ll be Alright on the Night 23:45 Corrie: The Road to Coronation Street ITV4 15:05 Film - Every Which Way But Loose (15) 17:25 Film - The Great Outdoors (PG) 19:10 Film - Police Academy 6 (PG) 21:00 Legacy! The 2015 Rugby World Cup 22:00 Rugby Highlights 23:00 Film Dirty Harry (18)

09:00 Trev Massey, 12:00 Gordon Lack, 15:00 Keith Nicol

The Courier TV Pull-out - 21

Monday 28th December

1980 07:00 Breakfast 10:00 Film - Bee Movie (U) 11:20 Old Jack’s Boat: Storm in a Teacup 12:00 Film - Bolt (PG) 13:30 Bargain Hunt 14:10 News 14:30 Father Brown 15:20 Film - Cool Runnings (PG) 16:55 The Gruffalo 17:25 Film Madagascar (U) 18:45 Pointless 19:30 News 20:00 Celebrity Mastermind 20:30 Film - Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death (U) Wallace and Gromit have opened a new bakery business, Top Bun, but local bakers are being targeted by a mysterious assassin 21:00 EastEnders Lee surprises Mick with a huge stag party 21:30 Miranda Will Miranda finally learn to accept herself and find contentment?

22:05 And Then There Were None Cut down to half their original number, the surviving guests of Soldier Island are in danger of losing their minds 23:05 News 23:30 Match of the Day 01:00 Lewis Hamilton: Making History F1 2015 Review 02:00 Weather for the Week Ahead 02:05 News

07:15 Homes Under the Hammer 08:15 Escape to the Continent 08:45 This Wild Life 09:15 This Wild Life 09:45 Film - Ivanhoe (U) 11:30 The Hairy Bikers’ Northern Exposure 12:30 The Great Pottery Throw Down 13:30 Les Dawson Talking Comedy 14:00 The Bear Family and Me 15:00 Coast 16:00 Atlantic: The Wildest Ocean on Earth 17:00 Flog It 17:30 Final Score 18:30 The Clare Balding Show

07:00 Dino Dan 07:25 Sooty 07:35 Super 4 08:00 Mr Bean 09:00 The Tom and Jerry Show 09:25 Almost Naked Animals 09:55 Horrid Henry 10:25 Dickinson’s Real Deal 11:30 Judge Rinder 12:30 Who’s Doing the Dishes?

13:30 Catchphrase 14:15 News 14:30 Our Cilla 15:30 Surprise Surprise 16:30 Midsomer Murders 18:30 Hedgehog Hotel 19:25 News

19:00 Film - What Women Want (12) A chauvenistic executive gains the ability to hear what women are really thinking

20:00 Emmerdale Aaron’s alibi falls apart 20:30 Coronation Street Liz advises Johnny to come clean

07:10 Small Animal Hospital 07:50 Film - See Spot Run (PG) 09:35 The Big Bang Theory 11:05 Film - Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (PG) 12:50 The Simpsons 14:15 Film - Marmaduke (U) 15:55 Film - Stuart Little 2 (PG) 17:25 Film - Mirror Mirror (PG) 19:30 News 19:35 Hollyoaks 20:05 A Frozen Christmas Meeting the people who work in a winter wonderland all year round and discovering just how exclusive and expensive frozen water can be for those prepared to pay 21:00 The World’s Most Expensive Food New Yorker Jerry Toth wants to break into Britain’s lucrative luxury food market with his To’ak chocolate, which costs £195 for a bar. Each bar comes with a wooden box, a 100-page booklet and a pair of special tasting tweezers

07:00 Milkshake 10:50 World’s Strongest Man 2015 11:50 Film - An American in Paris (U) 14:00 Film - Anchors Aweigh (U) 16:55 Film High Society (U) 19:00 Loch Lomond: A Year in the Wild 19:55 World’s Strongest Man 2015 Heat Two features the sports rising star, the mighty Hafthor Julius Bjornsson, who finished just half a point off last year’s Champion 21:00 Building the Ice Hotel Following Ake Larson and Arne Bergh, as they turn 30,000 tons of snow and ice into the coolest place to stay on the planet: the ICEHOTEL at Jukkasjärvi

21:00 University Challenge Jeremy Paxman hosts a Christmas-themed quiz for university alumni

21:00 Countrywise Liz takes part in the National Trust’s biggest coastal wildlife survey in Formby

21:30 Only Connect Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell

21:30 Coronation Street Johnny drops a bombshell on Carla

22:00 Film - Behind the Candelabra (15) Based on the autobiographical novel, the tempestuous 6-year relationship between Liberace and his lover, Scott Thorson, is recounted

22:00 John Bishop’s Gorilla Adventure John ravels to Rwanda to come face to face with the gorilla population and the people who have dedicated their lives to protecting them

22:00 Gogglebox A chance to see some of the best moments of the past year of Gogglebox in their review of 2015

23:00 Sinatra Live in New York 00:00 Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly: Ol’ Blue Eyes is Back 00:35 Happy Holidays with Bing and Frank 01:05 Football League Tonight

23:50 Two Doors Down 00:50 Dragons’ Den 01:50 The Apprentice 03:50 Doctor Who

23:00 News 23:15 Film The Holiday (12) 01:45 Jackpot247 04:00 Jeremy Kyle 04:55 Nightscreen

23:35 Tattoo Fixers 00:40 David Blaine 01:50 Film The Omen (18) 03:45 Film - The China Syndrome (PG) 05:45 Benchmark

08:00 Peter Hurst, 11:00 Dennis Christian, 13:00 Alex Trelinski, 16:00 Andy James, 18:00 Suzy G

07:00 George and Mildred

07:00 Goals of the 90s 07:10 The Big Match Revisited 07:55 Tommy Cooper 08:25 The Professionals 09:25 Minder 10:35 Storage Wars 15:15 Film - The Land That Time Forgot (PG) 17:10 Film - Spartacus (PG) 21:00 Film Cannonball Run II (PG) 23:10 Film - Death Wish 5: The Face of Death (18) 01:05 Rugby Highlights 02:10 Film Rumble in the Bronx (15) 03:55 Ax Men 04:45 Nitro Circus 05:05 ITV4 Nightscreen 05:20 The Cycle Show

22:00 The Frank Sinatra Story Documentary taking a uniquely British look at the legend himself

DON´T MISS 07:10 Emmerdale 08:00 Coronation Street 09:00 Britain’s Got More Talent 10:00 The Almost Impossible Gameshow 11:00 Film Arthur and the Great Adventure (PG) 13:10 Film Beethoven’s 2nd (U) 15:00 Film - The Flintstones (U) 16:45 The Nation’s Favourite Disney Song 17:45 Catchphrase 18:45 Film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (12) 22:00 Film Casino Royale (12) 00:55 Celebrity Juice 02:00 Release the Hounds

SOAPS In Emmerdale, Cain sees Joanie in the village and gives her a warning, but will she take heed?

At the same time, can Zak undo the damage with Belle, or is it too late?

Meanwhile, Aaron is still upset about Gordon and begins to question Chas when he finds his scarf.

Ross sees a police car pull up with DS Hart inside and heads into the pub to warn Aaron. Chas is left worried when DS Hart explains that Aaron’s alibi isn’t credible.

In

Coronation

Street,

07:25 Wycliffe 08:20 Heidi 12:35

Inspector

Morse

14:40 Film - Sparkling Cyanide (PG) 16:40 Film Forever Young (PG) 18:40 Inspector

Morse

21:00

Foyle’s

War

23:00

Endeavour 01:00 Agatha Christie’s Marple 03:05 Inspector Morse 04:55 A Touch of Frost Johnny receives an email which leaves him reeling.

After confiding in Liz, she advises that he should come clean to his family.

Carla is about to set off for an evening out with Roy when Johnny ambushes her. Insisting they have to talk, he drags her back to his flat and Carla is concerned.

Tracy confides in Beth that she still loves Rob and intends to make their relationship work. Tracy visits Rob in prison and tears a strip off him for his handling of Robert. Tracy assures Rob that she wants to be with him and Robert is history, but is this what Rob wants to hear?

Finally, Tyrone does his best to hide his anxiety while Fiz excitedly discusses her wedding plans with Billy, while Norris is cagey when Emily asks him for the password to his computer so she can email Spider in Peru.

Meanwhile, having spent the night at Number 5,

In the second episode,

1980: Green light for breakfast television A shake-up of broadcasting franchises has paved the way for the launch of breakfast television.

The Independent Broadcasting Authority announced the breakfast contract will go to TV-am and will launch in 1983, a year later than planned, to lessen the impact on independent local radio.

It will also avoid clashes with a fourth channel launching in 1982 and the impact on company revenues.

In regional franchises TSW, Television South West, will take over from Westward, which was praised by the IBA for its control of management problems but was faced with fierce competition.

TVS, South and South East Communications, will take over from Southern which faced three times as much competition as any other company and was praised for its religious and children's schedules.

The IBA said it ultimately chose companies with programme makers of particular promise.

Behind the Candelabra – BBC Two

Number 1 in the UK charts in 1988 -

Biographical drama starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon. Flamboyant pianist Liberace was already one of the most famous entertainers in the world when he was introduced to young Scott Thorson in 1977. Scott is at first seduced and then overpowered by the larger-

There's No-one Quite Like Grandma - St Winifred's School Choir

Johnny pours Carla a drink while psyching himself up to break the news.

Unnerved by Johnny’s demeanour, Carla begs him to tell her what is bothering him. Johnny finally breaks his silence and drops a bombshell that leaves Carla reeling.

When Carla demands to know why he has suddenly decided to reveal his secret now, Johnny admits that Rob has been blackmailing him. Carla is appalled.

Later, Roy is annoyed when Carla fails to show up and he misses watching the chess match. As Carla apologises to Roy for letting him down,

than-life character and his opulent lifestyle.

But their six-year relationship is volatile and is kept secret from Liberace's adoring fans.

Johnny approaches and begs her not to spill the beans to Aidan and Kate.

Meanwhile, Rob drops the bombshell on Tracy that he has been leading her up the garden path - there is no appeal and he simply wanted to ruin her life as she did his. Tracy storms out in tears. Tracy calls in the Bistro and begs Robert for another chance. Lying through her teeth, she tells him how she was never in love with Rob and it was all in his head. Will Robert take her back?

In Eastenders, Lee surprises Mick with a huge stag party in The Vic, but

trouble could be looming as Dean broods over the events of Christmas Day. Will the stag party go to plan, or does Dean have other ideas in mind?

As Dean’s behaviour becomes increasingly worrying, Shirley goes to check on him but is horrified when she finds him attacking Roxy.

Meanwhile, Whitney reveals some upsetting news to Mick.

Tuesday 29th December

22 - The Courier TV Pull-out

1975 07:15 Homes Under the Hammer 08:15 Escape to the Continent 08:45 This Wild Life 09:15 An Island Parish: Falklands 09:45 Film - Show Boat (U) 11:30 The Hairy Bikers’ Northern Exposure 12:30 The Great Pottery Throw Down 13:30 Talking Sellers Peter Comedy 14:00 The Bear Family and Me 15:00 Coast 16:00 Atlantic: The Wildest Ocean on Earth 17:00 Flog It 17:55 Natural World Finding 18:55 Film 20:30 EastEnders Shirley Neverland (PG) is left horrified after discovUniversity ering Dean attacking Roxy 20:30 Challenge Quiz 21:00 Holby City Ric Griffin 21:00 Gareth Malone’s is back with a bang Great Choir Reunion To 22:00 David Beckham: mark the 10th anniversary For the Love of the Game of The Choir, Gareth tracks David Beckham sets him- down members from all his self the challenge of a life- choirs for one huge reunion time: playing a football party match on all seven continents of the globe in under 22:00 Stephen Fry: A Life ten days and getting back in on Screen Stephen tells time for his own Unicef the story behind his sucfundraising match at Old cess, which began with a Trafford, plus David discov- chance meeting with Hugh ers what football means to Laurie at Cambridge the many different people 23:00 QI 23:30 Film he meets and plays with Albert Nobbs (15) 01:15 23:15 BBC News and Race to Super Bowl 50 Weather 23:40 Peter Kay’s 02:05 Top Gear 03:05 Car Share 00:10 Mrs Harry Hill in Professor 00:40 Branestawm Returns 04:05 Boys Brown’s Boomers 01:10 Weather for Back in Time for Christmas the Week Ahead 01:15 05:05 The Naked Choir with Gareth Malone News

07:00 Dino Dan 07:25 Sooty 07:40 Super 4 08:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Dickinson’s Real Deal 11:30 Who’s Doing the Dishes? 12:30 Pick Me 13:30 ITV News and Weather 13:45 Film Evan Almighty (PG) 15:30 Midsomer Murders 17:30 Film - The Queen (12) 19:30 ITV News and Weather

07:00 The Hot Desk 07:10 The Cube 07:55 Emmerdale 08:25 Coronation Street 09:20 Britain’s Got More Talent 10:25 The Almost Impossible Gameshow 11:25 Film - The Little Vampire (U) 13:20 Emmerdale 13:55 Coronation Street 14:55 Jeremy Kyle 18:10 Catchphrase 19:10 You’ve Been Framed 20:15 Film Liar Liar (12) 22:00 Film - The Shawshank Redemption (15) 00:55 Celebrity Juice 02:00 Pampered Pooches: Hollywood 02:55 Release the Hounds 03:45 Viral Tap 04:20 Animal Practice 04:45 The Almost Impossible Gameshow

07:00 On the Buses 07:25 Judge Judy 07:45 Wycliffe 08:50 Inspector Morse 10:55 Film - Sparkling Cyanide (PG) 12:55 Hidden Treasure 14:55 Film - Carry on at Your Convenience (PG) 16:50 Film - Carry on Camping (PG) 18:40 Inspector Morse 21:00 Foyle’s War 23:00 Endeavour 01:00 Lewis 03:00 Inspector Morse 04:50 A Touch of Frost

07:00 The Big Match Revisited 07:50 Tommy Cooper 08:15 The Professionals 09:15 Minder 10:25 Alias Smith and Jones 11:30 Silverstone Classic 2015 12:30 Goodwood Revival 13:30 The Professionals 14:35 Film Gunsmoke (15) 16:15 Film Death of a Gunfighter (PG) 18:10 Film - The Rawhide Years 20:00 Pawn Stars 21:00 The Chase: Celebrity Special 22:00 Film Waterworld (PG) 00:40 Film A Dangerous Man (18) 02:35 Film - The Fog (15) 04:10 Minder

Rhona.

attacked, fate brings more than just a few casualties onto AAU. Serena’s exflame Robbie comes storming back into her life, forcing her to reassess her future.

07:00 Breakfast 08:30 Match of the Day 10:00 Film - Shark Tale (U) 11:20 Film - Cars 2 (U) 13:00 Bargain Hunt 13:45 BBC News and Weather 14:10 Father Brown 15:00 Film National Treasure (PG) 17:00 Film - The Gruffalo’s Child (U) 17:25 Film Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (PG) 18:45 Pointless 19:30 BBC News and Weather 20:00 Celebrity Mastermind

SOAPS

In Emmerdale, Dan and Kerry are shocked when they hear about Cain’s threat, so Kerry takes matters into her own hands.

Meanwhile, DS Hart wants to speak to Ross, who denies being involved in the robbery. However, trouble brews for Ross when DS Hart makes some intriguing observations in the house. Later, Ross is shocked when DS Hart returns with a search warrant. Is it the end of the line for Ross?

Elsewhere, Paddy is sickened by a close shave when he has to cover to

David is pleased with Eric’s progress, while Chas is secretly pleased to have an opportunity to see Gordon again when Diane finds his wallet.

In Eastenders, Shirley is horrified after discovering Dean attacking Roxy and quickly comes to her aid.

How will Shirley react to what she has seen, and will she finally realise the truth about what Dean did to Linda?

In Holby City, Serena’s all set to spend another New Year’s Eve alone. But, when revellers at a gig are

07:05 Small Animal Hospital 07:45 Film - Dr Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts (U) 09:15 The Big Bang Theory 10:40 The Simpsons 11:40 Film Captain Ron (PG) 13:40 Film - New in Town (12) 15:30 Film - Coraline (PG) 17:35 Film - Gulliver’s Travels (PG) 19:10 News 19:30 Hollyoaks

07:00 Toot the Tiny Tugboat 10:05 World’s Strongest Man 2015 11:05 Football League Tonight 12:35 Ice Road Truckers 13:30 Film - Carry on Nurse (U) 15:15 Film - The Dam Busters (U) 17:40 What the Dambusters Did Next 19:10 Loch Lomond: A Year in the Wild 20:00 World’s Strongest Man 2015 Heat Three features reigning champion Zydrunas Savickas

20:00 Emmerdale Cain’s 20:00 Inside Lego at Christmas Channel 4 once plan backfires again goes behind the 20:30 Film - The Amazing scenes of the notoriously Spider-Man (12) secretive, family-owned Abandoned by his parents superbrand as it opens its and raised by an aunt and doors for Christmas uncle, teenager Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield), 21:00 The Supervet at AKA Spider-Man, is trying Christmas It might be to sort out who he is and Christmas, but Noel exactly what his feelings Fitzpatrick is busier than are for his first crush, Gwen ever in this festive special Stacy (Emma Stone).

When Peter finds a mysteri- for the end of the current ous briefcase that was his series father’s, he pursues a quest to solve his parents’ disap- 22:00 8 Out of 10 Cats pearance. His search takes Jimmy Carr and team caphim to Oscorp and the lab tains Jon Richardson and of Dr Curt Connors (Rhys Sean Lock discuss and disIfans), setting him on a col- sect the biggest personalilision course with Connors’ ties that have hit the headalter ego, the Lizard lines in 2015

23:45 Film Erin Brockovich (15) 02:15 Super Casino 04:10 Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away 05:00 Michaela’s Wild Challenge 05:25 Divine Designs 05:45 House Doctor

23:10 ITV News and Weather 23:25 Film American Pie (15) 01:05 Jackpot247 04:00 Jeremy Kyle USA 04:40 ITV Nightscreen

08:00 Peter Hurst, 11:00 Dennis Christian, 13:00 Alex Trelinski, 16:00 Andy James, 18:00 Suzy G

Ric Griffin returns to Holby City, only to discover big changes have been made.

Ric finds himself feeling like an outsider, and his insecurity leads to bad judgement, but he finds an unlikely ally in Adele, who sets him straight.

Happy with her decision to have a baby alone, Mo finds herself facing a tough choice when Mr T suggests himself as perfect sperm donor material.

23:00 Big Fat Quiz of the Year 01:05 Film - Kingdom of Heaven (15) 03:30 Peep Show 04:50 Gadget Man 05:15 Benchmark

21:00 Snowtrapped Documentary telling seven extraordinary and very different stories of people who have become trapped in snow. From avalanches to in-car burials22:00 Film - Flowers in the Attic (15) Adaptation of Virginia Andrews’ powerful book of incest, betrayal and murder. Four children, locked in the attic by their mother, are soon forgotten

1975: New laws to end battle of the sexes Radical new legislation introducing a woman's right to equal pay and status in the workplace and in society have come into force in the UK. The Sex Discrimination and Equal Pay Acts will prevent women being paid less than their male counterparts. The Acts are being introduced to coincide with the end of the International Women's Year.

Sex discrimination by employers, unless they employ five or fewer people, is now illegal as is any form of bias by landlords, finance companies, schools and restaurants.

The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has been set up, and under the Act it has a duty to promote equality of the sexes.

Job advertisements will now have to be sexless and it will no longer be possible to offer a position exclusively for males or females.

In every day language there will be many changes, such as "firemen" becoming "fire fighters".

Wednesday 30th December

The Courier TV Pull-out - 23

1986 07:00 Breakfast 10:00 Film - The Princess and the Frog (U) 11:30 Film Chicken Run (U) 12:50 Bargain Hunt 13:50 News 14:10 Father Brown 15:00 Film - National Treasure: Book of Secrets (PG) 16:55 Film - Room on the Broom 17:20 Film Monsters, Inc (U) 18:45 Pointless 19:30 News 20:00 Celebrity Mastermind John Humphrys puts the questions to some of the UK’s cleverest celebrities 20:30 A Question of Sport A look back at some of the best festive moments from the Christmas specials in recent years 21:00 Antiques Roadshow Fiona Bruce introduces a festive edition from Lyme Park in Cheshire 22:00 Great Barrier Reef with David Attenborough David Attenborough returns in this landmark series to his most magical place on earth, the Great Barrier Reef 23:00 News 23:25 Catherine Tate’s Nan 23:55 Mrs Brown’s Boys 00:35 Comic Relief 2015: Thanks a Billion 01:35 Weather for the Week Ahead 01:40 News

07:20 Homes Under the Hammer 08:20 This Wild Life 08:50 Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip 09:20 Film - Waterloo (U) 11:30 The Hairy Bikers’ Northern Exposure 12:30 The Great Pottery Throw Down 13:30 The Two Ronnies Talking Comedy 14:00 The Bear Family and Me 15:00 Coast 16:00 Atlantic: The Wildest Ocean on Earth 17:00 Flog It 17:50 Natural World 18:50 Film - Alice in Wonderland (PG) 20:30 University Challenge 21:00 Top Gear John Bishop narrates the second programme of this two-part alphabetical celebration of the best of the Clarkson, Hammond and May years 22:00 Charlie Brooker’s End of Year Review 2015 Charlie Brooker is back for his annual review of the year to pick over the bones of 2015’s news and cultural events 23:00 A Gert Lush Christmas 00:00 Mock the Week 00:30 Backchat Looks Back 01:15 Film The Shipping News (15) 03:00 Film - Behind the Candelabra (15) 04:55 This is BBC Two

07:00 Dino Dan 07:25 Sooty 07:40 Super 4 08:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Dickinson’s Real Deal 11:30 Judge Rinder 12:30 Who’s Doing the Dishes? 13:30 Film - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (U) 15:20 News 15:35 Midsomer Murders 17:30 Dinosaur Britain 18:30 Paul O’Grady: For The Love of Dogs 19:30 News 20:00 Emmerdale The net tightens around Ross 20:30 Coronation Street Will Tyrone be forced to confess to Fiz? 21:00 Big Star’s Little Star Stephen Mulhern hosts a Christmas special of the fun entertainment show which lifts the lid on celebrities’ lives through the eyes of their children 22:00 It’ll be Alright on the Night Griff Rhys Jones presents a brand new collection of previously unseen outtakes from the world of film and television featuring some of the nation’s best loved stars 23:00 News 23:15 Film American Pie 2 (15) 01:10 Jackpot247 04:00 Jeremy Kyle USA 04:40 ITV Nightscreen

07:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 07:25 Small Animal Hospital 08:10 Film - The Love Bug (U) 10:15 The Big Bang Theory 11:10 The Simpsons 11:40 Film The Phantom (12) 13:40 Film - Chalet Girl (12) 15:35 Film - Freaky Friday (PG) 17:35 Film - Sunshine on Leith (PG) 19:20 News 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Gogglesprogs A cast of children take centre stage as the much loved classic Gogglebox is transformed 21:00 What Britain Bought in 2015 What Britain Bought in 2015 is an eye-opening and intriguing look back at how we shopped in 2015 and what the £6 billion-a-week shopping habit says about the nation 22:00 24 Hours in A and E A routine blood test has detected that Paula has a dangerously high level of potassium, or salts, in her blood. ‘High potassium can be quite dangerous, but you can appear very well,’ says registrar Matt 23:00 The Millionaire Party Planner 00:05 Film - Fast Five (12) 02:30 Rude Tube 03:25 Friday Night Dinner 04:50 Gadget Man 05:15 Benchmark

07:00 Milkshake 10:25 World’s Strongest Man 2015 11:25 Film - Carry on Constable (PG) 13:10 Film - Carry on Spying (PG) 14:55 Film - Annie Get Your Gun (U) 17:05 Film Calamity Jane (U) 19:10 Loch Lomond: A Year in the Wild 20:00 World’s Strongest Man 2015 Britain’s Mark Felix competes against Russia’s Alexander Lysenko, South Africa’s Gerhard Van Staden and Poland’s Krzysztof Radzikowski, 21:00 Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Snow Ben meets a 40-year-old former communications manager who gave up her old life to train huskies in the Swedish Arctic Circle 22:00 Film - Big Driver A young novelist seeks revenge after falling victim to a brutal crime 23:50 Film - Needful Things (15) 02:10 Super Casino 04:10 On Benefits: Cashing in for Christmas 05:00 Michaela’s Wild Challenge 05:25 Divine Designs 05:45 House Doctor

08:00 Peter Hurst, 11:00 Dennis Christian, 13:00 Alex Trelinski, 16:00 Andy James, 18:00 Suzy G

DON´T MISS 07:00 The Hot Desk 07:10 You’ve Been Framed 07:35 The Cube 08:25 Emmerdale 08:50 Britain’s Got More Talent 09:50 The Almost Impossible Gameshow 10:55 Film - Horrid Henry: The Movie (U) 12:50 You’ve Been Framed 13:50 Emmerdale 14:20 Jeremy Kyle 17:40 Catchphrase 18:45 Film - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (12) 22:00 Luke Kempner’s Impression of 2015 23:00 Celebrity Juice 00:00 Film - Scary Movie 5 (15) 01:45 Luke Kempner’s Impression of 2015 02:45 Release the Hounds 03:40 Viral Tap 04:15 Animal Practice

SOAPS

In Emmerdale, Robert is puzzled when DS Hart tells him they have evidence of Ross being at the scene of the shooting.

Ross swears to Debbie that he had nothing to do with it and she accepts his promise, but it’s clear that Ross is feeling the net tighten around him. Is it only a matter of time

07:00 Movies Now 07:10 Film - Swallows and Amazons (U) 08:50 Rising Damp 09:25 A Christmas Carol (U) 10:55 Film - Carry on Loving (PG) 12:50

Agatha

Christie’s

Marple 14:55 Film - Carry on Cleo (PG) 16:50 Film - Carry on

Cruising

(U)

18:40

Inspector Morse 21:00 Doc Martin

23:00

Endeavour

01:00 Film - Chaplin (15)

before the truth comes out?

Meanwhile, Rhona and Paddy are pleased to get through the next stage of the adoption.

Later, Bernice sees Paddy is internet shopping for jewellery and hints to Rhona about what is coming.

Elsewhere, Lawrence decides to have a New Year’s Eve party.

07:00 The Big Match Revisited 07:50 Tommy Cooper 08:15 The Professionals 09:15 Minder 10:20 Alias Smith and Jones 11:25 Everything or Nothing: The Untold Stories of 007 13:25 Film - Destry (PG) 15:20 Film - The Far Country (U) 17:20 Film - Nevada Smith (15) 20:00 Pawn Stars 21:00 Fifth Gear 22:00 Film Magnum Force (18) 00:30 Film - Public Enemies (15) 03:15 Film - Beetlejuice (15)

Fiz prays that today’s scan will yield good news for Hope, Tyrone secretly opens a letter from the loan company demanding payment. When he discovers another cheque has bounced, a desperate Tyrone dips into the garage’s petty cash. Kevin catches him and is shocked by Tyrone’s desperation.

Also today, Bernice panics when Jimmy smashes an expensive vase and worries how she is going to sort it.

In Coronation Street, as

When Sophie then blurts

Big Star’s Little Star - ITV Stephen Mulhern returns to ITV hosting a Christmas Special of Big Star’s Little Star, the fun entertainment show which lifts the lid on celebrities’ lives – through the eyes of their children.

Full to the brim with surprising revelations, funny anecdotes and heartwarming moments, this Christmas Special will see stars teamed up with their children once again to win as much money as possiout that she and Kevin are taking a holiday in the sun before the builders start work on the garage expansion next week, Kevin is embarrassed. As Tyrone is forced to admit that his debts run to £10,000, will Kevin feel able to offer him any support? And will Tyrone be forced to confess to Fiz? Meanwhile, Johnny calls Rob and informs him that he has told Carla the truth, so his blackmail plot has failed. Rob is thwarted and furious. Nick is gobsmacked when Carla reveals Johnny’s secret and Rob’s blackmail attempt.

1986: Coal mine canaries made redundant More than 200 canary birds are being phased out of Britain's mining pits, according to new plans by the government.

Modern technology is being favoured over the long-serving yellow feathered friend of the miner in detecting harmful gases which may be present underground.

New electronic detectors will replace the bird because they are said to be cheaper in the long run and more effective in indicating the presence of pollutants in the air otherwise unnoticed by miners.

The gas detectors will be hand-held and carry a digital reading which appears on a screen alerting miners to the extent of the gases.

The birds' replacement will be introduced gradually next year.

Miners are said to be saddened by the latest set of redundancies in their industry but do not intend to dispute the decision.

The removal of the canaries will end a mining tradition in Britain dating back to 1911, since when two canaries have been employed by each pit.

Number 1 in the UK charts in 1986 -

ble for charity. In this special we will see actress Fiona O’Carroll and her son Felix Delaney, former footballer Robbie Fowler with his son Jacob Fowler and former cricketer Michael Vaughan who is joined by his son Archie Vaughan.

Later at the factory, Aidan celebrates winning the O’Driscoll contract and heads off to tell Carla.

Johnny is filled with dread at the prospect of Carla revealing all to Aidan and Kate about his past. Roy and Nick implore Carla not to distress Aidan and Kate with the truth in her bid to punish Johnny, but will Carla take their advice on board?

Reet Petite - Jackie Wilson

Elsewhere, Billy senses that Emily is yearning to volunteer in Peru and encourages her to go for it. With her mind made up, Emily announces that she is off to Peru.

Also today, at Amy’s request, Ken grudgingly allows Tracy to move back into Number 1.

Finally, to Audrey’s amazement, Nessa persuades Ken to throw a New Year’s Eve party.

Audrey questions whether Ken really wants to host a party and wonders if Deirdre would approve of Nessa. Has Audrey gone too far?

24 - The Courier TV Pull-out

NYE SOAPS

In Emmerdale, with Finn’s help, Ross seems determined to go ahead with his plan, despite the police presence. Andy is forced to make an admission to Robert, but what will Robert do with this information?

Later, Pete is troubled to learn that Debbie gave Ross a false alibi for the shooting, but will he tell her the truth? Not long

afterwards, Ross is shaken when Robert appears from the shadows and pulls out a gun. Soon it all comes to a head between Debbie and Ross...

Meanwhile, Bernice tries to get people to come to her party, but it seems that most people want to stay at the pub instead. Can she ignite any interest?

NEW YEAR HIGHLIGHTS what the nurse tells her...

Finally, Tess is chuffed when Paddy gives her a bracelet but he panics when she wonders how he is going to hide the purchase from Rhona, Moira feels for Pete as he tells her about Ross, while Chas secretly arranges to see Gordon but covers when Aaron arrives.

Elsewhere, Dan tells Kerry about Cain’s threat, while Laurel invites Lisa and Belle to the pub.

Also today, Vanessa is panicked when she sees something on Johnny’s back and calls the midwife. She is relieved, but also slightly thrown with

NEW YEARS EVE

Mrs Brown’s Boys D’Movie

In Coronation Street, With Ken’s party in full swing, Emily announces

that she has booked her flight and leaves for Peru tomorrow. Norris is disapproving, while Audrey and Rita are pleased for her.

Later, Ken tells Audrey how much he values her friendship, but the moment is broken by Nessa who quickly sweeps Ken away. Will Audrey get another opportunity to tell Ken how she feels?

Meanwhile, in the hospital, the consultant gives Tyrone and Fiz the good news that Hope’s tumour has shrunk and is now operable. An upbeat Tyrone and Fiz share their good news with their friends in The Rovers.

NEW YEARS DAY

Kevin puts pressure on Tyrone to come clean to Fiz about his debts.

Tyrone promises that he will, but not now as they’re celebrating Hope’s good news.

Elsewhere, as the clock strikes midnight, Aidan and Eva kiss passionately and Kevin kisses Anna on the cheek. Caz and Kate also share a tearful farewell as Caz leaves for Cyprus.

Also today, Mary is delighted when Brendan shows up for their date, but her euphoria evaporates when he says that he can only stay for a quick drink as his wife is expecting him.

Finally, Andy does his best to reassure Steph in the wake of the revenge porn attack, Carla remains noncommittal when Johnny begs her not to reveal all about his past to Kate and Aidan, Tracy gets the wrong idea when she spots a moment of intimacy between Robert and Leanne.

Carla feels terrible when she realises that she has forgotten Nick’s birthday.

JANUARY

Sherlock: Mr Selfridge Returns The Abominable Bride Friday 8th January ITV

- JeremyPiven reprises his role as the colourful but deeply troubled Harry Selfridge and is Katherine Kelly as the alluring socialite, Lady Mae.

Series regulars Tom Goodman-Hill, Ron Cook, Amanda Abbington, Amy Beth Hayes and Trystan Gravelle, Sacha Parkinson and Samuel West also return to tell the next chapter in the stories of their much loved characters.

22:15 BBC1 - When Moore Street market-trader Agnes Brown finds her livelihood under threat from a ruthless developer, she and her family embark on a campaign to save her stall, aided as only the Browns will be by a motley troop of blind trainee Ninjas, an alcoholic solicitor, and a barrister with Tourettes Syndrome

The Sapphires

22:00 BBC1 - We’ve been here before - but what if this wasn’t the modern day but the late Victorian period?

What if the world’s most famous consulting detective and his best friend lived in a Baker Street of steam trains, hansom cabs, top hats and frock-coats? Welcome to ‘Sherlock’ in 1895!

Some things, though, remain reassuringly the same Friendship, adventure and especially, MURDER Why is Thomas Ricoletti a little surprised to see his wife dressed in her old wedding gown? Because, just a few hours before, she took her own life. Mrs Ricoletti’s ghost now appears to be prowling the streets with an unslakeable thirst for revenge From fog-shrouded Limehouse to the bowels of a ruined church, Holmes, Watson and their friends must use all their cunning to combat an enemy seemingly from beyond the grave and the final, shocking truth about the Abominable Bride!

The Big Quiz Coronation Street v Emmerdale 22:00 BBC2 - The Sapphires is a 2012 Australian musical comedy-drama film produced by Goalpost Pictures, based on the 2004 stage play of the same name which is loosely based on a true story. The film is directed by Wayne Blair and written by Keith Thompson and Tony Briggs, the latter of whom wrote the play The Sapphires centres around four indigenous women, Gail (Deborah Mailman), Julie (Jessica Mauboy), Kay (Shari Sebbens) and Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell), who are discovered by a talent scout (Chris O’Dowd), and form a music group named The Sapphires, travelling to Vietnam in 1968 to sing for troops during the war

22:00 ITV - Stephen Mulhern hosts as legends from Coronation Street and Emmerdale are tested on the biggest events and the funniest moments in the Dales and on the cobbles from 2015.

This battle royale sees Michael Le Vell, Brooke Vincent, Sue Cleaver and Jack P Shepherd from the Weatherfield team facing off against Mark Charnock, Charlotte Bellamy, Liam Fox and Samantha Giles representing Emmerdale.

There’s all the drama you’d expect, as they battle it out to be on top. But who will reign supreme, and whose side will you be on?

We open in 1928, nine years after season three, we find Harry Selfridge at the pinnacle of his power and public celebrity – a retail giant at the heart of the roaring twenties. A man-about-town in London and often gambling glamorously abroad, rumours of Harry’s latest fling light up the social circuit at Victor Colleano’s new nightspot, which is bigger and more decadent than ever.

This is a time of rapid change and progress. A time where nothing and nobody wants to stand still and contemplate Fashions and musical tastes are evolving It is a new and modern world with the crackle of radio and exciting new technologies. The mood of London is distinctly ‘modern’.

Benidorm’s Back With a Bang Early January ITV, Award winning comedy Benidorm returns for its eighth series on the channel, bringing with it guaranteed laughter and sunshine.

The Maltbys arrive en masse, the Solana has a few job vacancies to fill, Solana Manageress Joyce Temple Savage is interviewing for new staff members to help an overworked and underpaid Les/Lesley.

New family, the Dawsons–Sheron and Eddie are hoping for a relaxing holiday with their children and Jacqueline Stewart returns to Benidorm to scatter the ashes of her beloved late husband Donald who has sadly passed away.

Solana Group CEO Crystal Hennessy-Vass (returning guest star Dame Joan Collins) makes another appearance.

Also, Madge Harvey rides back into Benidorm on her mobility scooter and straight into a heated business deal with Mr Woo.

X-Maze

KIDS

Draw a line from the start to the finish.

Can you complete it in one go?

The Courier TV Pull-out - 25

Dot to Dot

7 6

8

5

9

4 3

10 11

2 1

12

Start at 1 and draw a line to each number.

What is the picture?

Colour it in when you´ve finished.

13 26

25 24

14

23 22

15

21

16 17

18

20 19

Spot the Difference

Copy the picture using the grid as a guide, then colour it in so it looks like this.

Tip: Copy one square at a time.

10 - The Courier TV Pull-out

CODE CRACKER Code Cracker is a crossword puzzle with no clues; instead, every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number, the same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle. All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number. In this week’s puzzle, 13 represents K and 14 represents B, when these letters have been entered throughout the puzzle, you should have enough information to start guessing words and discovering other letters.

QUICKIE

Across

Down

1 Divide (5) 4 Drive away (6) 9 Everyday (7) 10 Storey (5) 11 Mislaid (4) 12 Work (7) 13 Owed (3) 14 Scoundrel (5) 16 Oust (5) 18 Failure (3) 19 Collude (7) 20 Become larger (4) 23 Odour (5) 24 Bluster (7) 25 Stages (6) 26 Deep chasm (5)

1 Alike (7) 2 Connections (5) 3 Snare (4) 5 In the know (8) 6 Supply (7) 7 Big (5) 8 Stop (5) 13 Dainty (8) 15 Venetian boat (7) 17 In the direction of (7) 18 Solid (5) 19 Grasp (5) 21 Ball game (5) 22 Information (4)

Last weeks Solution

Across: 1 Scared, 4 Utters, 9 Calorie, 10 Raita, 11 Ultra, 12 Lissome, 13 Rug, 14 Batik, 16 Piece, 18 Oil, 19 Morocco, 21 Altar, 23 Noise, 24 Examine, 25 Sprint, 26 Beat it.

Down: 1 Succumb, 2 Allot, 3 Earmark, 5 Terms, 6 Episode, 7 Spare, 8 Well-groomed, 15 Terrier, 16 Placate, 17 Earnest, 19 Minus, 20 Clean, 22 Taint.

Scribble Pad

DOUBLE CROSS-WORD Solve the Double Cross-Word puzzle using either the standard or cryptic clues, the answers are exactly the same.

CRYTPIC CLUES Down Across 1 Old Greek capital? (7) 1 Sirius closely pursues 2 Brags about catches (5) the sailor (3,4) 3 Change is concealed by 4 Cover rearranged duet always returning (6) number (5) 4 Felt Penny broke earth7 A rugby player is taken enware (5) by surprise (5) 5 Half-a-dozen beside a 9 Roman house with fashchannel bridge (7) ionable anti-hero (7) 10 Has USSR ordered the 6 It is said that these marquees are on edge (5) cavalrymen? (7) 11 Could start true, new 8 It's reported that this rascal is often seen in church period of peace (5) 12 Toxophilite, one from (5) Ambridge, perhaps (6) 13 Unusual bloom in coun14 Rich international in ty in Ceylon (7) European holiday area (6) 15 Fibrous substance 18 Unforgettable singer found at the end of a whisand the old king (5) tle (5) 20 Gotta be new style 16 Pointed looks that can holdall (4-3) hurt? (7) 22 In tents experience? (7) 17 Actor grates awfully (6) 23 Extract information from the journalist with a broken 18 Prepares to shoot birds (5) cue (5) 24 Sort Kelvin out with a 19 The Kinks hidden lizard (5) bird (5) 25 Refunds are best when 21 Forthright but not too resolved (7) sharp (5) STANDARD CLUES Down Across 1 Old Greek money (7) 1 Bright spot in the night 2 Snatches (5) sky (3,4) 3 Make changes to (6) 4 Bed covering (5) 4 Blue and white pottery (5) 7 By surprise (5) 5 Long bridge-like structure 9 Wicked or evil person (7) (7) 10 Cavalrymen (7) 6 Anxious (5) 11 Armistice (5) 8 Dishonest type (5) 12 Bowman (6) 13 Capital of Sri Lanka (7) 14 Coined (6) 15 Basketry fibre (5) 18 Hardy cabbages (5) 16 Stabbing weapons (7) 20 Carry-all (4-3) 17 Old hand (6) 22 Living in a tent (7) 18 Adult male birds (5) 23 Bring out (5) 19 Small lizard (5) 24 Large wading bird (5) 21 Not having a sharp edge 25 Refunds (7) or point (5) Last weeks Solution Across: 7 Decant, 8 Attain, 9 Inns, 10 Ascribes, 11 Farrier, 13 Habit, 15 Brisk, 17 Forages, 20 Intonate, 21 Aura, 23 Petite, 24 Animal.

Down: 1 Fern, 2 Nasser, 3 Steamer, 4 Farce, 5 Attila, 6 Likewise, 12 Arranged, 14 Polecat, 16 Stolid, 18 Aramis, 19 Taper, 22 Rear.

FILL IT IN

Complete the crossword grid by using the given words:

2 letter words Am Is 3 letter words Ado Dot Ego One Ore Pad Ran Rot 4 letter words Acne Adds Aged Agog

Anew Bias Bite Bone Brae Cabs Case Chat Daws Deed Deer Dyke Eves Live Loco Lore Nova Oink Pale Para

Racy Seep Shed Shot Soot Spry Tree Ulna 5 letter words Airer Alarm Arias Belie Billy Cocoa Gloss Honey Iotas Olive

Onset Prone Salon Salsa Shiny Sisal Spine Split Steer Stele Stile Stole Table Tally Teens Trail While Whose 6 letter words

Astute Canine Chalet Coarse Duress Snarls Sparse Sturdy 8 letter words Nerdiest Stiletto 9 letter words Disrepair Recognise

SPANISH-ENGLISH CROSSWORD

Improve your Spanish - clues in Spanish, answers in English or vice versa.

Across 7 Examination (school) (6) 8 Decade (6) 10 Servicios (7) 11 Seven (5) 12 Estrella (4) 13 To have (5) 17 To bath (5) 18 Chiste (4) 22 Carreteras (5) 23 Inútil (7) 24 Trains (railway) (6) 25 Shepherd (6)

Down 1 Windy (meteorological) (7) 2 Quality (standard) (7) 3 To drink (5) 4 Sarampión (7) 5 Panadero (5) 6 Wales (5) 9 Espárrago (9) 14 Perejil (7) 15 Ninety (7) 16 Postre (7) 19 Deal (agreement) (5) 20 Tide (at sea) (5) 21 Medalla (5)

The Courier TV Pull-out - 11 Across 1 Marine echinoderm (invertebrate) with five or more radiating arms (8) 5 Nickname given to the annual awards by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievements in motion picture production and performance (6) 9 Without forethought or plan (8) 10 Australian born actor who starred as the Joker in 2008 superhero thriller film The Dark Knight: Heath ----- (6) 11 French city that hosted the 1968 Winter Olympics (8) 12 European plant (also called 'sea pink') that forms low-growing tufts of slender leaves with rounded pink flower heads, growing chiefly on sea cliffs and mountains (6) 14 British television programme (2006-7) presented by Victoria Coren, in which the writers of the Oxford English Dictionary asked the public for help in finding the origins and first

known citations of a number of words and phrases: --------- and Piffle (10) 18 Chief port of Egypt located on the western edge of the Nile delta on the Mediterranean Sea (10) 22 Small elongated insect with a pair of terminal appendages that resemble pincers (6) 23 1948 Western comedy film starring Bob Hope as dentist Peter ‘Painless’ Potter and Jane Russell as Calamity Jane: The -------(8) 24 Capital and largest city and economic and cultural centre of Portugal (6) 25 1984 UK Number One hit single by George Michael: -------- Whisper (8) 26 Marine bivalve mollusc usually found adhering to rocks or other fixed objects in shallow water along the seacoasts, or in brackish water in the mouth of rivers (6) 27 1940 Walt Disney film consisting of eight animated segments set to pieces of classical music conducted by Leopold Stokowski

SUDOKU (Hard)

Quiz Word

(8) Down 1 1960s British sitcom, a spin-off of The Army Game,

about soldiers undertaking national service and follows two of the main characters, played by Alfie Bass and Bill Fraser after they

returned to civilian life: Bootsie and ------ (6) 2 Deciduous flowering shrub with clusters of brightly coloured, sometimes fragrant flowers (6) 3 Large metal or pottery vessel with a handle and spout used to hold alcoholic beverage, usually wine (6) 4 Musical groups, originally from the Caribbean Islands, that play instruments made from the heads of oil drums (5,5) 6 English television presenter and journalist who was one of the main presenters on the now defunct breakfast station GMTV. He has also hosted television game shows such as The Krypton Factor, 1 vs. 100, Safebreakers and Tipping Point: Ben -------- (8) 7 Relating to or denoting the Church of England or any Church in communion with it (8) 8 Fictional animated television series that is featured in the animated television series The Simpsons: The Itchy & -------- Show (8) 13 The capital of Ethiopia

and the country's largest city (5,5) 15 British television drama series set in a English and later Scottish comprehensive school of the same name that was first broadcast on BBC One in March 2006: -------- Road (8) 16 Mental or personality disturbance not attributable to any known neurological or organic dysfunction (8) 17 Woman's loose-fitting undergarment for the upper body, typically held up by shoulder straps (8) 19 Person appointed to administer a state because the monarch is a minor or is absent or incapacitated (6) 20 Fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants, created by writer Terry Nation in 1963, principally portrayed in the science fiction television programme Doctor Who (6) 21 Japanese hostess trained to entertain men with conversation, dance and song (6)

SALLY’S SIMPLE SPANISH

JARDINERÍA

Match these words with their Spanish translations then find them in the wordsearch.

(Answers below)

el árbol

la planta

el arbusto

la semilla

el rastrillo

las flores

fumigar

las malas hierbas

la carretilla

la tierra

la maceta

las raíces

la manguera

plantar

la pala

regar

history QUIZ

ANSEWRS 1. Machu Picchu 2. Samuel Morse Washington to Baltimore 3. The Tolpuddle Martyrs 4. Gernsbeck 5. Tea 6.

Ambrosia 7. Dionysus 8. The Tirpitz 9. George Washington form 1798 to 1792 10. Richard I (The Lionheart) 11. Banana, the company changed the cream during ww2 due to the lack of bananas.

Last Week’s Solutions Code Cracker Last weeks Quiz Word Solution Across: 8/4 Sand trap, 9 Hermit crab, 10 Boleyn, 11 Porpoise, 12 Saki, 13 Sunderland, 17 Rome, 18 Ochre, 19 Newt, 20 Hypotenuse, 22 Pink, 23 Victoria, 27 Trifle, 28 Love Affair, 29 Linz.

Down: 1 Laboratory, 2 Adhesive, 3 Rhinestone, 5 Pier, 6 Scroll, 7 Laos, 14 Nehru, 15 Elementary, 16 New England, 19 Nuptials, 21 Ostler, 24 Iron, 25 Raft, 26 Adam.

Empareja estas palabras - Match the Spanish and English words You will find the answers at the bottom of the quiz.

1.el árbol, 2.el arbusto,

13.la tierra, 14.las raíces,

k.to water, l.the plant,

3.el rastrillo, 4.fumigar,

15.plantar, 16.regar.

m.the hose pipe, n.the rake,

5.la carretilla, 6.la maceta,

a.to plant, b.the seed,

o.the wheel barrow,

7.la manguera, 8.la pala,

c.the plant pot, d.the flowers,

p.the spade.

9.la planta, 10.la semilla, 1

e.the tree, f.the weeds,

1.las flores,

g.the roots, h.to fumigate,

12.las malas hierbas,

i.the bush, j.the earth,

Soduko

Span - Eng

Quizword

Answers: 1e, 2i, 3n, 4h, 5o, 6c, 7m, 8p, 9l, 10b, 11d, 12f, 13j, 14g, 15a, 16k.

1. In 1911 Hiram Bingham discovered which lost city?

2. 'What hath God Wrought' was first message sent by whom, in 1844?

3. What Were The Six Farm Hands Arrested For Forming A Trade Union Better Known As? 4. The SF award 'The Hugo' is named after Hugo who?

5. In the 18th century Siberia used solid blocks of what, as money?

6. Which Food Of The Gods Was Said To Give Humans Immortality?

7. Around the alter of which God were the early Greek plays done?

8. Name The German Battleship Sunk In A Norwegian Fjord In 1944?

9. Who is the only American president that was elected unopposed?

10. Who Was Known As Coeur De Lion?

11. Twinkies originally contained what flavoured cream?

Fill It In

42

Friday 18th December 2015

Friday 18th December 2015

43

top

44

1

Dessert Tiramisini

Ingredients 100ml/3½fl oz espresso or strong instant coffee. 2 tbsp coffee liqueur, 4 Savoiardi biscuits, 2 free-range egg whites, 250g/9oz mascarpone, 2 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp Marsala.1 tsp cocoa powder Directions Make your espresso and pour it into a heatproof jug, adding the coffee liqueur, then leave it to cool. Break each Savoiardi sponge finger into about four and drop the pieces into four small martini glasses, then pour the cooled espresso mixture over them.

Press down gently. Beat the egg whites in a bowl until they form soft peaks when the whisk is removed, and set aside for a moment.

Scrape the mascarpone into another bowl, adding the honey: Beat with the whisk (no need to clean it out first) and, when smooth, slowly beat in the Marsala.

Fold in the egg whites, a third at a time, then dollop this mixture over the soused Savoiardi in each glass. Let these stand in the fridge for at least 20 mins and up to 24 hours, then dust with cocoa, pushing it through a finemesh strainer, just before serving.

Friday 18th December 2015

Food & Drink

Edible Cocktails

Chewed, not stirred ... Smith & Sinclair edible cocktails Edible cocktails are all the rage, but what are they?

Basically, they are drinks you can eat or (to use terrifying PR-speak) beverages that “distort the boundaries of food and drink”. From “cuptails”, to jelly shots, nitro meringues to dollops of boozy ice-cream floating in your fizz, cocktails are being reworked in new, munchable ways.

The trend gives a nod to the US, where legendary bars such as the Aviary in Chicago have long been knocking up molecular marvels. Now it seems to be catching on in Britain. Pollen Street Social has a lot of fun with popcorn, while the Angel Share Bar in Edinburgh serves its guests jelly-cubed cosmopolitans, made by stirring the cocktail into four leaves of dissolved gelatin and freezing for two days. As the bartender tells me: “It’s a little bit sucky, a little bit chewy and it allows the flavours to linger in your mouth for longer.” Here are five other interesting cocktails to chew over. The prairie oyster: Created by alco-alchemist Tony Conigliaro – the Willy Wonka of the mixology world – and his Drinks Factory crew, this stunningly beautiful cocktail, all ruby red with splashes of yellow,

is made from tomato juice clarified with miso, then plopped into an alginate bath to create an outer-film (the “yolk”) that pops instantly the moment it hits your mouth. “First, there’s a brightness,” says Zoe, one of its creators. “Then peaks of horseradish and pepper sauce. Then, as the ‘yolk’ pops, you get this cold, fresh tomato juice, while the miso aftertaste is a strong hit of umami.”

The tom yam: SushiSamba bar, top of the Heron Tower, London OK, so, basically this is a long, slurpy drink with a bit of sushi plonked on top, but, oh my, it’s so much more than that. Hot, fiery and cooling all at the same time, the Tom Yam is a banger of a tipple – those chillis really make your eyes water.

Created by bartender Richard Woods along with the execute chef Cláudio Cardoso (the Duck and Waffle is there, too), the drink recreates the fiery flavours of tom yam soup into cocktail form – coriander-infused vodka, red chilli slices, ginger, kaffir, lime leaves served with a shisoleaf-wrapped turbot nigiri. It sounds like it shouldn’t work, but it does.

Smith & Sinclair, sold at Harrods, Selfridges and

Harvey Nichols: These handmade boozy sweets come in flavours from spiced rum to whisky sour and are all chewy fizz and jammy fruitiness, although don’t do as I did and guzzle a couple just before you pick the kids up from school.

Booze is booze, even if it does come looking like a gummy bear: each pastille is 6% alcohol. Smith & Sinclair are past masters at creating alcoholic sweets, and have created all manner of delights, including cocktail bubbles, lollipops, sherbert, even alcoholic postage stamps. Finally, how can we not mention Heston’s Nitro-Poached Aperitifs, in G&T, Campari soda and vodka lime sour, those saucy smart bombs of Fat Duck lore, which look like meringues but explode in your mouth? Well, yes, of course they do. As the door has barely opened on the Fat Duck, one can only speculate at what hijinks lie within, but, as his PR gnomically said to me: “He does something interesting with pina colada”, I’m guessing there are some inventive tipples just dying to mess with your mind.

So, do you like to chomp on a cocktail, or should they be kept purely in liquid form?

Food & Drink

45

Friday 18th December 2015

How I plan to avoid making a complete turkey out of Christmas Christmas turkeys are simple to cook, when you know how I popped into the butcher’s at the weekend for a loin of pork and he fixed me with a gimlet eye. “Time to order your turkey,” he said, getting out an order book as thick as one of Scrooge’s ledgers. “But it’s not even Advent yet,” I squeaked.

“Which means,” said he, pen inexorably poised, “that it is only three weeks until Christmas.

With butchers, as with plumbers and farriers, it is best not to argue. I did as I was told, and now have three weeks in which to psych myself up for the epic annual struggle between woman and 12lb Meleagris gallopavo.

The spirits of Christmas Past begin to stir around this time of year, and not all of them are as morally uplifting

as the ones in Dickens’s Christmas Carol. My own most vivid festive memories are mainly of culinary disaster.

There was the Christmas my mother incinerated her thumb in the flames of the Christmas pudding (holding the afflicted part under the cold tap, she explained that she thought the little blue ones weren’t really hot). Then there was the other Christmas when she incinerated the goose.

I would like to report that the family united to support her when the unfortunate creature emerged carbonised from the oven, looking like a less appetising version of the fowl in David Lynch’s Eraserhead. But we didn’t. Grimly wearing our festive paper hats, we ate

our Christmas lunch of roast potatoes and tiny strands of desiccated gooseflesh in reproachful silence, broken only by the accusing tinkle of cutlery on plate.

Cooking is a performance, and like all performances it requires not merely technical skill and selfbelief, but the ability to spend long periods alone.

The best cooks are by nature vaguely misanthropic, and know from experience that trying to baste and mingle with guests at the same time is a recipe for disaster. The great Rowley Leigh once published an idiot-proof guide to cooking Christmas lunch in these very pages, which advised you to “banish all non-combatants from the battlezone”.

A Trifle Suggested By St Clement’s It is no great heresy now to suggest a trifle for Christmas Day lunch. The marvellous lashings of lemonand orangedrenched custard, clemen-

tine curd, cake and syllabub provide the quota of lavish required. Mum always used Elizabeth David’s syllabub and now so do I, a reasonable stab at tradition. The

cake element lasts rather well and can be made a few days ahead, and the custard will sit happily in a sealed container for a day or two in the fridge. Serves 12: Sherry or marsala 1 bottle, clementine curd, candied lemon and/or orange large pieces, to serve, crystallised mint leaves to serve.

For the cake: Self-raising flour 125g, baking powder ½ tsp, unsalted butter 125g, softened, salt a pinch, golden caster sugar 125g, unwaxed orange grated rind of 1, unwaxed lemon grated rind of 1 egg 1 large, beaten freshly squeezed orange juice 1 tbsp, freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 tbsp milk 2 tbsp. For the custard, milk 570ml, lemon peel 1 scrape, similar in size to a piece appropriate for a martini, orange peel 1 scrape, about the same, egg yolks 6

golden caster sugar 45g .

For the syllabub, lemon 1, dry white wine 125ml, brandy or Armagnac 2 tsp, golden caster sugar 50g, double cream 250ml, nutmeg 1, to grate First, the cake. Preheat the oven to 160C/gas mark 3 and place the shelf right in the middle. Line a 15cm cake tin with silicone paper.

Sieve the flour and baking powder into a large bowl, and add in the butter, working deftly to a fine crumb.

Add in the salt, the sugar and then the grated rind of the orange and lemon. Add in the beaten egg and the fruit juices. Mix this lightly, then add the milk and mix again until a soft dropping consistency is achieved.

Spread the mixture into the prepared tin, then bake for 45 minutes, or until firm and a skewer comes out clean.

Leave to cool in the tin for a few minutes, then turn out

on a cooling rack until completely cooled. Store in an airtight box until assembly.

On to the custard. Pour the milk into a heavy bottomed pot and add in the lemon and orange peel. Sit the pot on a gentle heat. Stir now and again. Whisk the egg yolks gently with the sugar. When wisps of steam rise from the milk, remove from the heat and pour slowly onto the egg yolks and sugar. Mix well, then return to the pan and stir gently in a figure of eight until the custard thickens.

Remove from the heat, stirring until any trace of a foam is dispersed from the surface. Strain the custard through a sieve into a container and let cool. Cover the surface of the custard with clingfilm to prevent a skin forming, then seal the container and refrigerate until it’s trifle time. Now, the syllabub. Thinly pare the

rind from the lemon and put in a bowl with its juice and the wine and brandy and leave overnight. Strain the mixture into a large bowl.

Add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Pour in the cream slowly, stirring all the time. Grate in a little nutmeg. Now whisk the mixture until it thickens and holds a soft peak on the whisk.

Transfer to a container, cover and refrigerate until needed.

It’s trifle time.. Drench the cake in sherry/marsala.

Spoon clementine curd on the cake. Over this, pour the custard. Cover the trifle and refrigerate. An hour or so before serving, pour the syllabub in folds onto the trifle. Cover and refrigerate again. Pare the candied citrus peel into the thinnest slices possible, and strew, with the crystallised mint leaves, over the trifle, then serve.

46

Health

Friday 18th December 2015

Flu season starts just in time to spoil Christmas First norovirus, now flu - health officials warn a new wave of illness has struck

Health officials have warned that the flu season has officially started and have told doctors they can prescribe antiviral medication.

Experts have already warned people with norovirus symptoms to stay away from vulnerable friends and family this Christmas. Those with flu are being given the same advice.

“We are seeing an increase in flu activity mainly among schoolchildren indicating the start of the flu season,” said Dr Richard Pebody, the head of seasonal flu surveillance at the Health Protection Agency.

“Although unpleasant, flu is a self-limiting illness and if you have flu it is best to stay at home until you are well.

“Flu vaccination is still the

most effective way of preventing flu and it is not too late to get it, so we would encourage all those who are in 'at risk’ groups to get vaccinated as they are more vulnerable to developing complications.”

The start of the flu season will add pressure on hospitals struggling with record levels of norovirus.

Flu cases in children aged five to 14 have doubled in the past week to reach almost 17 cases per 100,000. The rates in London are even higher. In the week up to Dec 16 there were 43 outbreaks of flutype illness in schools and care homes and 12 people were treated in intensive care units, the Health Protection Agency said.

Since Oct 1, 51 people have been admitted to inten-

sive care and three people have died. Overall last week there were 23 GP consultations per 100,000 people, high enough to trigger the use of antiviral medication in vulnerable patients.

The drugs reduce the severity of the disease, shorten it by an average of one day and may help to limit the spread.

Professor Mike Catchpole, deputy director of health protection services at the Health Protection Agency said: “The way to try to avoid both flu and norovirus is to practise thorough hand washing using soap and water after you go to the lavatory, before handling food, and for those with flu-like symptoms, after you have coughed or sneezed.

“Flu can be much more serious to those who are

pregnant, elderly or who have underlying health conditions. We would urge anyone in this group to have the flu jab to help protect themselves this winter.”

Norovirus, also known as the winter vomiting bug, is continuing to disrupt NHS hospitals with more beds closed to new patients due to the disease. In the week ending Dec 16 there were 2,402 beds closed, up from 2,061 the week before.

One hospital has closed its wards to visitors in an attempt to stem a “significant outbreak”. A total of 140 patients and 20 staff at Royal Lancaster Infirmary have been affected.

Norovirus cases are currently almost twice as high as this time last year.

A Department of Health spokesman said: “The NHS

is well prepared for the winter. No A&Es have had to close so far this winter and we are providing additional funding to the NHS to help it cope with the added pressure that the winter brings.

“The number of beds closed across the NHS due to norovirus symptoms is around 2.4 per cent. This compares to 2.9 per cent during the peak of norovirus cases last winter.”

How long will it take me to recover after giving birth?

In the age of celebrities flaunting flat stomachs weeks after giving birth, many women feel insecure about how long it takes them to heal. But a new study suggests it might take several months to get back to normal “When will I be back to normal after giving birth?” is a common question for pregnant women. And while the traditional answer is “at around the six-week checkup”, the world is now full of celebrities modelling bikinis within a couple of weeks, and mothers on forums saying they’re having sex mere days later. Women who aren’t joyfully trampolining by six weeks may feel they’ve failed to recover quickly enough.

The solution Thank goodness for Janis M Miller’s research team at the School of Nursing at the University of Michigan. Their study of 68 women shows in glorious MRI detail the trauma that babies can inflict on a woman’s pelvic floor. The women, who had MRIs at seven weeks and again at eight months after delivery, were in a high-risk category having pushed for longer than was ideal or having needed forceps. But Miller was still surprised by the amount of damage done to the crucial levator ani muscle, which acts as a sling to support the vagina, bladder and bowel in the pelvis. Just over 40% had levator ani tears on the MRI scan – and in seven the muscle had come away from the pubic bone. A quarter of the

women had fractures of their pubic bone.

Normally, these women would not have had an MRI scan, and their injuries would have remained invisible.

Miller says she isn’t advocating MRI scans for all new mothers, just acknowledging that standard recovery period – six weeks – won’t be true for everyone. Indeed, Miller found pubic bone fractures in some women had not healed by seven months. Women who, after three months still have pain in their pelvis, can’t contract their pelvic muscle (Kegel exercises) and find sex hurts them should see their doctor. “The levator ani muscle has to stretch three times its normal length in childbirth,” says Miller. “Our data shows a wide range of time for women to complete their healing after a very strenuous birth. Women are not given permission to have more time to recover after childbirth.”

How quickly you get over childbirth, of course, varies enormously. An Australian study of 204 women found high levels of exhaustion, back pain, urinary incontinence, sexual problems and perineal pain at six to seven months after giving birth.

These physical problems increased the risk of depression in new mothers.

You might be lucky but if you’re struggling, it may be because you haven’t fully healed yet. If you don’t feel right, see your doctor – and don’t feel you’ve failed some mythical maternity test.

Health Dr M. Mannu

47

Friday 18th December 2015

What you get with a Full Body Diagnostic scan at MedB Clinic Contact@medb.es

You can have a full body diagnostic scan at MedB Clinic. Unlike other scans and health checks such as X-rays, CT-scans and blood tests, the diagnostic scan at MedB is non-invasive and examines nearly all aspects of health. In addition to a full examination of the organs and systems, the scan also

includes a blood test, microbiological analysis for viruses, bacteria and fungi, check for toxic contaminants, food allergies and chemical sensitivities.

The report you get after the scan will include all the findings from the scan, as well as a list of the presumptive diagnosis and possible complications.

The scan can detect many diseases as well as some cancers. However, it is not a cancer screening scan.

Because of the insidious and unpredictable nature of cancer, it is extremely difficult to screen for cancer cells in the body. The only confirmatory test for any cancer is a biopsy.

At MedB Clinic, we can

Website: www.medb.es

treat most diseases detected using tested and scientifically proven natural remedies. And when we detect a disease we are unable to treat, we refer the patient for specialist care.

We understand and recognise that the body is capable of recovering from any disease when supported in the right way.

The human body performs many thousands of complex chemical reactions every day without our awareness or conscious help. Just as the body can digest the most complex foods into simple nutrients a feat that cannot be produced by any man-made machine, so also can it heal itself. Studies have shown that most diseases are as a result of inflammation caused by either nutritional deficiencies, toxic overload or infections.

When we identify the cause of a disease, it becomes possible to heal the body by treating the cause, and not treating symptoms to manage the disease.

For a full body diagnostic scan Call MedB Clinic: 965071745, 966189074

48

Friday 18th December 2015

RICHARD CAVENDER

Bluemoon Solutions www.bluemoonsolutions.es

BlueMoon Solutions is the computer and IT services company on the Costa Blanca, they provide quality computer services at realistic prices and specialise in working with home users and small businesses.

Richard moved to Spain eight years ago having left his management background behind in the UK and decided to use his IT skills to help home users and small businesses with their PC problems. Now a relaxed 'computer man' he is out and about in the Spanish sun every day, making house and shop calls and using his vast experience and qualifications to (usually) sort out the problem there and then. Computers are his hobby as well as his work so don’t be surprised to get an answer to your email in the early hours!

ADVICE: Vic wanted to know why his malware scan ADVICE: Barry wanted to know if an official looking email that he received was a scam seemed to scan more files than his antivirus scan Hi Richard I am on windows 10 I have panda free anti-virus and Malwarebytes anti malware when I scan with panda it takes less than 4 mins and only 122 files scanned but with Malwarebytes it takes 25 mins and 391,338 files scanned is panda doing its job or should I change. Regards Vic

Q

Hi Vic, I imagine that the Panda scan is just scanning the files that have changed since the last scan and the Malwarebytes is doing a full scan of all the files on your computer.

Panda runs in the background scanning files all of the time and therefore doesn’t really need to scan files that it has already checked as clean. I say “I imagine” as without actually seeing the program myself it impossible for me to be certain, of course if you would like to book a health check then please let me know.

A

ADVICE: Brian was having some issues with his ageing laptop

Q

Hello Richard, the keyboard on my ancient HP 1525 laptop (on Windows XP) is very irratic. It doesn’t matter which app or package I’m using; it just seems to have a mind of its own at times. I’ve fitted a brand new keyboard, but it behaves exactly the same as the old one. Whilst typing, the cursor sometimes jumps to another part of the document (and continues entering what I’m typing). At other times it can Highlight words or paragraphs, and at other times it deletes everything in the document. This is OK in WORD, for example, as I can just “Undo typing”, but if I’m typing in I.E. all is lost. Can you help please? Your column is always of interest to me, and I find some of your solutions most helpful. Keep up the good work. Brian

A

Hi Brian, this is a hard one to resolve by email but it sounds like your computer is either struggling to keep up with the modern applications that you are asking it to use – as computers get older the programs that we ask them to use get newer and this eventually reaches critical mass and things start to give, it could simply be that your computer is running slow because of this and that is affecting what you are typing. Another alternative could be that you might be brushing the touchpad whilst you are typing (unwittingly of course), this also could have the same effect, if this is the case (you would need to try to be more aware of it if you are doing this) then you could disable the touch pad and use an external mouse to compensate. The other thing to say is that you must already know that your operating system is no longer under support and (more importantly) you may not have up to date security protection – you should seriously consider upgrading to something a little more modern  .

Q

Hello Richard, hope all is well , I have received this email from ´Outlook ?'

I think that this is a scam however I would ask your opinion as to this , also maybe if this is a scam possibly many of your readers may give this information ( that is asked for ) to the sender.

Many thanks, and can I take this opportunity to wish you and yours, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Barry From: jxraxx1987@hotmail.com Subject: Email statement Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2015 06:35:36 +0000 Your mailbox has exceeded the storage limit which is 10 GB, it is defined by the administrator, you are running at 9.8 gigabytes, You can not send or receive new messages until you re-validate your mailbox.

CLICK HERE to validate.

Thank you!

Web mail system administrator!

A

Hi Barry, there are a couple of clues in the email to confirm that its not legitimate, firstly its sent from a private email address (jxraxx1987@hotmail.com) and not from a company address as you might expect if it were from your email provider, also if you hover your mouse (but not click) over the “click here” prompt you will see the address it is trying to direct you to is http://cfdorthodontics.com/hot/hot/index.htm which also looks pretty suspicious. So, well done, you spotted it wasn’t legitimate.

Many thanks for the seasons wishes

office@bluemoonsolutions.es www.bluemoonsolutions.es Mobile: 655 044 970

Office: 902 906 200

Don’t forget you can follow me on twitter @bluemoonspain Alternatively why don’t you sign up for my newsletter. You can do this by going to:www.bluemoonsolutions.es and fill in the form that is on any page except the front page.

Friday 18th December 2015

49

50

Classifieds

Friday 18th December 2015 ALARMS

CLEANERS

CATERING

HAIRDRESSERS

STRIP A GRAM

REMOVALS

PLUMBER

SURVEYOR

DRAINAGE

CAR BREAKERS SECOND HAND

SWIMMING POOL SERVICES

Maybe

WELDER

SITUATIONS VACANT RADIO COSTA MEDIA needs self-employed salesperson for Torrevieja – Orihuela Costa and surrounding areas. For more info call 685 901 265 or email info@radiocosta.eu

SERVICES Gardening, property maintenance, translations, cheap rates call David 722521654.

CHURCH SERVICES Torrevieja Christian Fellowship at Avenida de las Cortes Valencianas 68, Torrevieja 03183, all welcome to their friendly and lively 10.30 am. Service each Sunday morning.

They will not be holding the Wednesday night meeting at 6.00 pm. For further

information and/or directions please telephone 966700391 or visit our website on www.tcf-spain.org.

International Christian Assembly, Calle Pilar de Horadada 5, Torrevieja.

Evangelical non-denominational church. Sunday services 11am. Children's church 11am. House groups in Torrevieja, Los Balcones, San Javier.

Ladies meeting Thursdays 11am.

Craft club.Craft club, Tuesdays, 2pm.

Pastor, Rafael Restrepo.Call 966 799 273 or 660 127 276

TUITION Guitar lessons for beginners, as well as improvers.

Provide an insight into most musical styles. From 10€ per hour. Call Peter Now on 966789612 or 629975378.

QUIZ MASTER Experienced quiz-master /question setter with personality If you would like a quiz master that is interesting and entertaining, questions that are challenging yet not too difficult so as to be ungettable available to host quiz nights in local bars. Tel: 664 838 581.

SWIMMING POOL SERVICES

ALCOHOLICS

51

Friday 18th December 2015

Ferrari threaten to quit F1

Ferrari have warned they could leave Formula 1 in protest against the new rules

expected to be proposed by the sport's supremo, Bernie Ecclestone, and FIA presi-

dent Jean Todt.

After Ferrari vetoed proposals to place a cost-cap on customer engines, the World Motor Sport Council have appointed Ecclestone and Todt 'to make recommendations and decisions regarding a number of pressing issues in Formula One such as governance, Power Units and cost reduction' by the end of January.

But with Ferrari adamantly

opposed to the introduction of budget engines, the battle lines appear to have been drawn for an epic power struggle to determine F1's future direction - with the Scuderia, the sport's most famous team, warning they are prepared to quit F1 if their concerns aren't mollified.

"Ferrari would find other ways to express its ability to race and to win," said president Sergio Marchionne dur-

Did Injury Prevent Joshua KO? Dillian Whyte says he'll be delivering the knockout punch, if there is a re-match with Anthony Joshua Dillian Whyte wants a rematch with Anthony Joshua and says a shoulder injury prevented him winning by knockout before his own brutal stoppage at the O2.

The heavyweight rivals' personal dispute went the way of Joshua, who hurt

Whyte with a blow to the temple before finishing him off with an uppercut in the seventh round to avenge an amateur defeat. But the Olympic gold medallist Joshua, had to come through the first big test of his professional career in the second when he was wobbled by a big Whyte left hook. And the Brixton man claims his "shoulder went" in the act of delivering that punch, so much so his corner suggested pulling him out at the end of the round.

Whyte said "I had him out on his feet, he was stumbling around. I hit him and he stiffened up, but at the same time I hit him my shoulder went so I couldn't really finish him off.

Max Is Tops Teenager Max Verstappen performed more overtaking manoeuvres than any other Formula 1 driver in 2015.

The Dutchman, 18, successfully passed 49 other cars on his way to 12th place in the Formula 1 drivers' championship, with 49 points.

Toro Rosso driver Verstappen won praise in his first season for his judgement on track and his maturity off it.

The average number of overtakes per driver during 2015 was 26.8, according to F1 tyre supplier Pirelli.

Verstappen's team-mate, Carlos Sainz, achieved the second-highest number of overtakes with 45.

Despite the rookie pair's daring during the 19 races in 2015, there was a 10% drop in overtakes compared to 2014 down from 639 to 509 in total.

In 2011 was the year Pirelli returned to the sport and the DRS overtaking aid was introduced

ing the team's annual Christmas media briefing.

"It would be a huge shame

[if Ferrari quit F1], but Ferrari cannot be put in a corner on its knees and say nothing."

Weekend Rugby The San Javier Squalos lost their latest Ferrmur Cup group match by 48 points to 3 at home to Albacete. The Squalos therefore continue to prop up group one, with the Cartagena University team at the top. In group two, ITV Vega Baja Orihuela rolled in a 60-17

victory against Totana, with Orihuela second in the table behind the University of Murcia. This weekend ITV Orihuela are away to Murcia in a first division clash whilst the San Javier Squalos are away to the Murcia B team in the second division.

Murray May Quit Open

Andy Murray says he will quit the Australian Open midway through the tournament to be at the birth of his first child, if the need arises.

Murray's wife Kim is due to give birth in mid-February, a couple of weeks after the Melbourne tournament, but he revealed plans are in place

should she go into premature labour.

The world No 2 says being at the birth is far more important to him and he is looking forward to becoming a dad, rejecting some of the talk that it could take away from his bid to topple Novak Djokovic from top spot.

52

Friday 18th December 2015

Ivie Davies on Golf

The Six Rules Of Xmas Golf As the festive season approaches, it is worth keeping in mind a few rules relating to golf during this time of year. There will be times this Christmas when you’d rather be on a golf course than sitting next your drunken uncle laughing at bad girlie jokes. For the sake of family harmony, marital bliss and securing those golf weekends away next year, here are a few suggestions concerning golf this Christmas.

1.

MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME Your nearest and dearest know just how much you love the game, so it’s not unreasonable to think you may find a few golf-related gifts under the Christmas

tree. You may have even hinted that you need a new pair of golf shoes, a trip to Valdarama would be nice or a dozen golf balls would always come in handy.

But with belly-putter’s on the way out and going cheap, it will be obvious if Santa decides a belly putter is what you need. It will be the long skinny thing propping up the Christmas tree, in a way that seems to take all the skill out of the tree propping up itself.

Be mindful of your own reaction if you don’t receive any golf gear though. This may just be an oversight on your family’s behalf, but it may also be a message that perhaps you are a little too obsessed with what they

naively call ‘just a game’.

2.

DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT PLAYING GOLF ON CHRISTMAS DAY With your new M1 driver unwrapped, the thought of an empty golf course on Christmas Day may be a tempting one. On the list of “things you should never, ever do”, playing golf on Christmas Day is not that far behind planning a golf trip on your wedding anniversary. Banish the thought immediately, put the driver in the bag and focus on carving up the turkey. You, your family and your future will be better for it.

3.

CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

A new set of golf clubs for your partner may seem like the perfect Christmas gift at the time, but this seemingly generous act is a doubleedged sword. Firstly, you may just be pushing a sewage cart uphill. Ask yourself if your partner really wants to play golf. Have they really shown any desire to embrace the game as you did? If not, you may just be buying a set of clubs that will tragically just sit in the shed all year.

Secondly, do you really want other family members playing golf? You may well think that you’ll get to play more golf, but your last peaceful refuge may be gone forever.

4.

KEEP THE IN-

The Worst Golf Gifts Ever As it’s getting close to the Cool Yule day, I was thinking what is the worst golf presents you have ever received from your loved ones? I have put together a list of the top five worst ever golf gifts, but what are your tales of horror about the worst golfing presents you've unwrapped on Christmas morning? Your loved ones have put a huge amount of effort into this present. After all, you're a golfer, so why wouldn't you want a golf jigsaw/desktop putting game/potty putter/'world's greatest golfer' mug?

Top 5 worst ever golf gifts: 1. Cheap balls 2. Novelty balls 3. Ball monogrammer 4. The wrong handed glove or club 5. High street golf gift sets Top 5 golf gifts most often received: 1. Novelty gifts (balls, headcovers or socks) 2. High street golf gift sets 3. Automatic putt returner 4. Putting game / toilet

matt combo 5. Ball monogrammer Top 5 gifts that never make it out of the packet are: 1. Novelty gifts (balls, head covers or socks) 2. Automatic putt returner 3. Generic gift set 4. Putting game / toilet matt combo 5. ‘Deluxe’ scorecard What did you ask Father Christmas for this year?

1. Top brand golf balls

LAW’S HAPPY The in-law’s may not know the full extent of your golfing addiction and certainly won’t know the difference between a lob and a gap wedge. If you unwrap a present and find a golf gift pack like the one’s usually sold at department stores with a free bottle of aftershave, just keep calm.

Feign excitement the best way you can and claim that you will be using the rock hard golf balls the very next round of golf you play.

5.

GET A ROUND IN ON BOXING DAY If you have the energy to drag yourself away from the Boxing Day football on the TV, get out on the golf course and try out that new,

shiny M1 driver. It would be a mean soul to deny you that privilege after the superb work you did carving up that turkey yesterday.

And some of those golf jokes you told Uncle Leo were priceless.

6.

DON’T BOOK IN A ROUND FOR NEW YEAR’S DAY Too often golfers cancel their tee time on New Year’s Day or they stumble around in sweating off all sorts of alcoholic beverages from the night before. While it may be a good opportunity to lose those gift-pack golf balls, you are no John Daly.

Besides, those shiny M1 drivers can hurt the eyes if you are nursing a nasty hangover.

Bella Italia

2. Golf Clothing voucher.

3. M1 Taylor Made Driver 4. Set of irons 5. GPS SkyCaddie 6. Golf Bag 7. Odyssey Putter 8. Hybrid Will you get just one of them? NOPE! I’m having the next fortnight off, so to all golfers and non-golfers, in fact everyone:HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR

Italy will host the Ryder Cup for the first time in 2022, Team Europe has announced this week. It will be the third time the event has been hosted away from England and Ireland on European soil, with Rome chosen ahead of Austria, Germany, and Spain(where there was a bid in from

Barcelona).

The course will be the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club and will play host to some of golf's biggest stars. The chosen venue is 17 kilometres away from the centre of Rome and will undergo a complete reconstruction to meet the demands of the Ryder Cup.

TITTER ON THE TEE

The priest woke up Christmas morning. It was a beautiful day and decided he just had to play golf. So he told the Deacon that he was feeling sick and convinced him to say Mass for him. He went to a golf course about forty miles away. He knew he wouldn't meet anyone from his parish.

Setting up on the first tee, he was alone. After all, it was Christmas morning and everyone was in church! St. Peter leaned over to the Lord while looking down from heaven and said, "You're not going to let him get away with this, are you?"

The Lord said, "No, I guess not."

Just then the priest hit the ball. It shot straight toward the pin, dropped just short of it, and rolled up and fell into the hole. IT WAS A 420 YARD HOLE IN ONE! St. Peter was astonished. He looked at the Lord and asked, "Why did you let him do that?”

The Lord smiled and replied, "Who's he going to tell?"

The Courier Sport

53

Friday 18th December 2015

Torry’s Class Show

Barclays Premier League Saturday 19 December

Chelsea 16:00 Sunderland Everton 16:00 Leicester City Manchester United 16:00 Norwich City Southampton 16:00 Tottenham Hotspur Stoke City 16:00 Crystal Palace West Bromwich Albion 16:00 Bournemouth Newcastle United 18:30 Aston Villa

Sunday 20 December

Watford 14:30 Liverpool Swansea City 17:00 West Ham United

Monday 21 December Arsenal 21:00 Manchester City

Saturday 26 December

CD TORREVIEJA 3 UD RAYO IBENSE 1 Following on from Torry's fine display and their 3-1 victory at Recambios Colon, fans were excited to see the team who seemingly had turned the corner and were ready to start a significant surge up the table. They started brightly but ended up in arrears as the half time whistle blew. It was a poor mistake that allowed the visitors a clean run on goal to open the scoring a few minutes before the interval and send Torry into the dressing room more than a little frustrated. After an inventive opening period where Cesar had gone close and Higon looked menacing, the game had become a little predictable with Rayo shutting the door more effectively as the game wore on. Rayo held the second best defensive record in the group, so it seemed like a massive task to come from

behind and win the contest.

The half time analysis from the manager worked the oracle, especially with the introduction of Sanchez, who brought tenacity and creativity to the match that the visitors could not handle. Luis Carlos broke down the left fast and crossed perfectly for the alert and goal hungry Lewis to net with confidence. Rayo had nobody able to contain the energetic striker as he outpaced them, out jumped them and out thought them.

Sanchez waltzed and bludgeoned his way past three defenders, always keeping the ball under close control. Just as he reached the edge of the box, Lewis commandeered the ball and smacked a fierce left foot drive past Marcos in the Rayo goal before he knew what was

happening. It was the strike of an accomplished and confident young man who is playing at the top of his game. If he continues to show this desire and commitment, as well as focussing on continuous progress, then who knows where he will end up - at a much higher level that division three that's for sure!

Torry rounded off a splendid second half display with a quality goal from just outside the box from the cultured left foot of Suarez. Higon worked tirelessly all afternoon and is a superb signing for the club. The winger battled for the ball and saw Suarez in just the right spot. He laid it on a plate for him and Suarez hit it perfectly with the outside of his left foot to swerve it well away from the keeper but firmly into the back of the net.

Consecutive 3-1 wins for

Torry have fans purring with delight but it is what has been expected from the team all season long.

Seven players have departed since the start of this campaign but it now looks as though the penny has dropped and the scoring boots retrieved from their hiding places.

However, Torry remain in the bottom quarter of the table, a far cry from safety, let alone where they would like to be. Thus, it must be another victory, this time at Jove this Saturday to continue the positive attitude and take everyone into the holidays happy.

That will be no mean feat as Jove has won four of their last six, drawn one and only lost away at league leaders Saguntino.

They have won their last three at home, where they last tasted defeat in September! But Torry are on a roll……..

Stoke City 13:45 Manchester United Aston Villa 16:00 West Ham United Bournemouth 16:00 Crystal Palace Chelsea 16:00 Watford Liverpool 16:00 Leicester City Manchester City 16:00 Sunderland Swansea City 16:00 West Bromwich Albion Tottenham Hotspur 16:00 Norwich City Newcastle United 18:30 Everton Southampton 20:45 Arsenal

Monday 28 December

Crystal Palace 16:00 Swansea City Everton 16:00 Stoke City Norwich City 16:00 Aston Villa Watford 16:00 Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Albion 16:00 Newcastle United Arsenal 18:30 Bournemouth Manchester United 18:30 Chelsea West Ham United 18:30 Southampton

Tuesday 29 December

Leicester City 20:45 Manchester City

Wednesday 30 December Sunderland 20:45 Liverpool

Spanish La Liga Saturday 19 December Valencia CF 16:00 Getafe Espanyol 18:15 Las Palmas Real Betis 20:30 Sevilla Deportivo de La Coruña 22:05 Eibar

Sunday 20 December Real Madrid 16:00 Rayo Vallecano Athletic Club 18:15 Levante Granada CF 18:15 Celta de Vigo Real Sociedad 18:15 Villarreal Málaga 20:30 Atlético de Madrid

Battle Of Monte CD MONTESINOS 3 TD MONTESINOS 1

Past Montesinos clashes have always had a controversial edge about them but this was as tame as neutered pussy cat in comparison. CD started with three influential players Carlos, Pley, and Wallace on the bench with manager Roberto thinking his side were in for an easy ride, but

he got a surprise. Todo are not the whipping boys of old were well organised as CD probed down both wings and crosses by M&A and Marcos failed to reach a colleague in the box.

Coming up against a large physical side several CD players got clattered and the ref rightly issued three

yellow cards to stamp out the harsh challenges. A great shot by Orourke brought out a fine save by the Todo keeper and minutes later he produced a fantastic stop to deny Macan, whilst at the other end, Todo hit the post with keeper Lopez beaten.

The second half saw

Todo put the cat amongst the pigeons as they took the lead in the 55th minute after a clever six pass move culminated with a fantastic 25 metre screaming shot that passed Lopez. The significance of the goal was that it was the first time that Todo had ever led in any encounter with CD, and the celebrations were akin to an injury time winner in the World Cup final. Todo’s dreams were shattered 10 minutes later as a Marcos corner was headed into the net by Orourke. The three rested CD players then

were brought on to unlock the tough TD defence, and the game then changed, with Carlos looking especially dangerous, especially as he set up Dario who struck the upright bar. In the 78th minute, Dimitry fed Carlos who ran and crossed to Wallace who had the use of the post to take a two-one lead. Seven minutes later Carlos made it three after a cheeky chip over the Todo keeper, though there was a sour end to an otherwise wellcontested affair as a Todo player was sent off for a

dreadful challenge on Dario.

Afterwards, the players and club officials were presented with Xmas hampers from the Full Monte supporters club, and the Los Montesinos mayor, Jose Maria Butron received 400 euros to be passed onto the Caritas charity.

CD Montesinos play their last fixture before Christmas this weekend as they travel to Deportivo Orihuela this Sunday. Their next home fixture will be on Sunday January 10th against CD Dolores.

54

Friday 18th December 2015

Not The Real Deal

Barca Surprised

VILLAREAL 1 REAL MADRID 0

Real Madrid are now five points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid after losing to Villarreal in a wasteful performance last Sunday. The hosts scored early when Luka Modric lost possession and Cedric Bakambu found ex-Spurs man Roberto Soldado to place the ball through Keylor Navas' legs.

Real, who are now only three points above fifthplaced Villarreal, had 20 shots but only forced one save. Cristiano Ronaldo hit the outside of the post in the second half. Villarreal dominated the early stages and could have led by more but Real were the side on the attack for the majority of the second half, albeit with minimal effect.

Real had won all five games since their 4-0 thrashing by Barcelona in El Clasico last month, and entertain Rayo this Sunday afternoon.

Big Relief GIRONA 0 ELCHE 1

The Courier Sport

BACK LEICESTER 2 CHELSEA 1

BARCELONA 2 DEPORTIVO 2

Deportivo de La Coruna scored twice in the last 14 minutes to claim a dramatic draw as Barcelona's perfect home record in La Liga this season was ended, allowing Atletico Madrid to go joint top of the table with them. Neymar, La Liga's top scorer with 14 goals, was missing with a groin injury but his absence did not look like it was going to be costly when Messi opened the scoring for the champions from a 30-yard free-kick, which he dipped over the defensive wall into the top corner. And Rakitic thumped in his first league goal of the season from 25 yards.

But Barca then switched off and were punished in an exciting finish, as sixth-placed Deportivo repeated the result they produced at the Nou Camp on the final day of last season as they avoided relegation. Perez reduced the arrears with his 11th goal of the season as he scored for the sixth successive game and a mistake from Sergio Busquets enabled Deportivo to break late on, as midfielder Alex sprinted forward to finish superbly with a long-range strike.

Barcelona’s commitments in the World Club Championship mean that their next La Liga match sees them at home to Real Betis on December 30th.

AT CRSIS POIN'sTinjury

rd Eden Haza ous', says ri e 's e b t s mu nho after Jose Mouri ade idfielder 'm Chelsea m to ' lf e n hims the decisio at fe e d uring come off d r te s

by Leice

Hat-trick Hero

BARCELONA 3 GUANGZHOU 0 The Ilicitanos entertain leaders Cordoba this evening(Friday) on the back on ending their recent goal drought as they picked up a win last weekend at Girona, thanks to a Sergio León penalty to see the striker notch up his eighth goal of the season. The strike ended 306 minutes without scoring for Elche and was somewhat ironical as the normally sharp León had missed from the spot in the previous fixture against Tenerife, as well as squandering half a dozen clear scoring chances. The striker understandably said afterwards that the goal and the result was a relief for the whole squad.

The result was deserved as the Ilicitanos looked the better side in the first half, and were awarded a penalty in the 17th minute after a foul from Lolo, which León duly converted. Girona looked a different outfit in the second period with Elche’s defence working hard to defend what they got, which was a much needed win to ease recent jitters and keeps them in the middle of the segunda division table.

Perera Claim Kusal Perera's failed drugs test could be part of a "conspiracy" against the wicketkeeper-batsman, according to Sri Lanka's sports minister.

The 25-year-old tested positive for a banned substance and was sent home from the tour of New Zealand last week. Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera told parliament that authorities will send a B sample to the International Cricket Council for testing.

"We are doing all we can to defend him," said the minister. "We are wondering if this allegation is a conspiracy to keep him out of next year's T20 World Cup."

IT’S E! INCREDIBL

sea: ity 2-1 Chel Leicester C y and Riyad Jamie Vard s to kes lift Foxe Mahrez stri ie e Prem r the top of th League

Luis Enrique's men sealed their place in the final of the Club World Cup for the fourth time with a comfortable win yesterday lunchtime over Luiz Scolari's troops, with Luis Suarez scoring getting a hat-trick, as Barca were without Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Neymar was only fit enough for the bench due to a groin problem and Luis Enrique's side were given further cause for concern when Messi was ruled out just hours before kick-off with renal colic.

But Suarez seized responsibility for the European champions, pouncing on a rebound shortly before half-time to give Barca the lead before doubling the advantage with a well-taken second on 50 minutes in Yokohama.

Guangzhou rarely showed signs of a fight-back and Suarez blasted home a penalty to complete his treble - the first in the tournament's history - on 67 minutes and secure the victory for Barca, who remain on course to claim their fifth trophy of 2015 in Sunday's final against Argentinian side River Plate.

>> Chelsea manager Jose

Is Jose Mourinho's Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said he felt his "work was betrayed" following his side's 2-1 defeat by Premier League table toppers Leicester City.

The defending champions suffered their ninth league loss in 16 games as Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez scored for the Foxes at the King Power Stadium.

It leaves the Blues in 16th position, just a point above the relegation zone.

"One of my best qualities is to read the game for my players and I feel like my work was betrayed," said Mourinho.

"One possibility is that I did an amazing job last season and brought the players to a level that is not their level and now they can't maintain it."

Too good to go down? Chelsea only lost three times last season as they cantered to the title by eight points from Manchester City.

They now find themselves at the wrong end of the table and come up

John McGregor on Sport

55

Friday 18th December 2015

TO THE TOP OF THE PL E H T F O TOP

!

E U LEAG

The Latest Sport Headlines

CRICKET England dominate despite Hales failure EUROPEAN FOOTBALL Guardiola to clarify Bayern future CRICKET Perera doping charge 'a conspiracy' TENNIS Murray retains Mauresmo as coach

>> Mahrez doubled Leicester's advantage

US & CANADA New charges for pair in Fifa case ATHLETICS Four officials face IAAF doping hearing

Beauty, And The Beast

Mourinho wonders where it all went wrong!

Position Unchanged? against second-bottom Sunderland on Saturday. "I accept we are in the relegation zone, but I don't accept we are in a relegation battle," said Mourinho.

"You look at the table and we are there, but you think you are in a relegation battle if you think you are there for three or four months. I don't think that."

Top four out of reach?

Mourinho said he had "no complaints" with his players in training but said it was "frustrating" to see "what they do in matches".

The Portuguese also said the Champions League spots were now out of reach. "We can't finish top four, but we can still finish top six because so many teams are dropping points," he said. "At the moment, we are in a zone where I feel ashamed."

Leicester 2 Chelsea 1.

Behind that simple scoreline lies a whole host of emotions, trauma and possible repercussions: some good, some bad and… some ugly. First the good news: Leicester sprang back to the top of the Prem, leap-frogging Arsenal and Man City in the process, showing the soccer world that nice guys do play the Beautiful Game with fantastic, fastflowing football as the Foxes rightly deserve their place at the top of the mighty Prem.

The bad? For an hour it was this year’s Chelsea, looking listless and clueless, passing it round back and across the field until possession was inevitably lost and their lively opponents took over. It beggars belief that these are the same players who barnstormed the League a year ago; a team that instilled fear into the opposition on their way to the title. Today, Diego Costa bristles around up front, mainly on his own but he’s a shadow of his former self. He plays in

front of the once-feared Eden Hazard, last year’s Player of the Season who now runs down too many blind alleys. The oncetowering defence is riddled with holes easily big enough for lightning strikes Vardy and Mahrezstyle. John Terry again suffered the huge indignity of being hauled off in a desperate effort to claw back the two goal deficit. It was only when Remy finally came on, that Chelsea began to look dangerous.

Hey, playing two strikers up front, Jose? Bit bold that - did you learn that from Leicester?

Costa is said to be ready to return to Atletico, who are challenging hungrily again for the La Liga title, whilst Cesc Fabregas was reportedly behind a dressing room coup earlier, and didn’t start Monday’s match looking like yesterday’s man.

One of Mourinho’s greatest strengths has been getting the best from his players: ‘Last season I did phenomenal work,’ said the master after the match. ‘I find myself think-

ing that last season I did such an amazing job I brought players to a level that is not their level and, if this is true, I brought them to such a level where this season they couldn’t keep the super motivation to be leaders and champions.’ Why’s that then Jose? It’s one thing not being champions again: it’s quite another to be one place off the relegation places and losing to “lower teams” like Bournemouth.

Hey, talking of that, Sunderland come to Stamford Bridge this Saturday. Sam Allardyce has steadied the rocky roadshow that was at the Stadium of Light, and whereas recent results have not quite gone the Black Cats way, wily old Sam and his stalwarts are fully capable of mastering Mourinho’s men in their own, once-invincible back yard. If they do, then Sunderland would leapfrog Chelsea and put the Blues in the Dreaded Drop Zone. If that happens the beast must surely leave the circus this time.

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PULSATING PREM!

Y L T C I R ST G SPEAKIN

a l o i d r a u Will G

?

E V A E L

What a season and the pot at the top is boiling nicely.

With Arsenal managing to do the right thing for once when it mattered (well, twice in a week actually) on Sunday beating vanquished Villa 2 – 0, the Gunners returned, albeit temporarily to the top of the Prem just ahead of Man City. Giroud is banging ’em in but come Monday night there’s another huge test - it’s only Man City for Arsene’s army! The Blues just overcame managerless Swansea last weekend. Leading 1 – 0, Swans’ sub Bafetimbi Gomis equalised in the final minute with a shot that nearly took Hart’s head off - only for Yaya Toure and Kelechi Iheanacho jointly (you had to see it) to score the winner a minute later. Ecstasy for City, agony for the sliding Swans, who now play West Ham in Swales on Sunday – and need a win.

The young title pretenders took on the old Pensioners of Chelsea last Monday, and lively Leicester set about them as expected, with who else - Vardy and Mahrez scoring the two goals in their win. The fantastic Foxes

AGUERO IS BACK!

Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero is back in full training ahead of Monday night's crucial Premier League clash with Arsenal.

The prolific forward has been on the sidelines for four games since injuring his heel during the 3-1 win over Southampton on November 28.

He returned to training with the full squad ahead of the Arsenal game.

continue to lead the pack, and only a foolish few would bet Ranieri’s raiders can’t go all the way and win the Prem title – and that’s from a Forest* supporter. What a tribute that would be for the little man and an unfancied Midlands club. *You could do a lot worse than buying the DVD called ‘I Believe in Miracles’ as a Xmas present. It’s the terrific fairytale story of Brian Clough arriving at second division Nottingham Forest in 1975 - and then going on to win the European Cup twice in 1979 and 1980 (wish he’d come back now!).

Interestingly, the German media are now backing up what was said in Spanish publications on Wednesday that is that Pep Guardiola will tell Bayern Munich he wants to leave the club.The Spaniard's contract expires in June and he has said he will clear up his future this side of Christmas. German daily Bild says he informed the club he intends to leave "last week", adding "everything points to his leaving." In UK papers on Thursday, Guardiola was linked with Manchester City and Chelsea.

HARTLEY FOR CAPTAIN?

Dylan Hartley has emerged as favourite to lead England under Eddie Jones in a change that would mark the end of Chris Robshaw's captaincy. It is understood, that Jones admires his abrasiveness and feels that by selecting him as skipper he would set the tone for a forward pack that he would like to rediscover its hard edge.

Saturday’s late match clashes with a certain final on TV: competing with Kelly, Jay, Georgia and Katie, it’s Steve and Remi.

Revving up, reviving Newcastle should have an early Christmas present at home to victims Villa, Astonishly astounded and firmly bottom with six points from sixteen games: Titanic times at Villa Park; Magpies now flying out of the Dreaded Drop Department.

Successful Spurs got mugged 2 – 1 at home by hard-running Newcastle, winning again at last.

Had Tottenham won, the Lillywhites would have marched into fourth place, in the process displacing…. Manchester (dis)United. Revitalised Bournemouth put the boot in as the Red Devils went down again - that’s twice in a week after the disaster of the cheap Champions League exit. Now nature - aka the Fixture Fairy - has granted United a Christmas wish. A struggling team near the bottom is coming to the Theatre of Dreams, a heavensent opportunity to get back to winning ways.

Norwich are third-bottom in the DDD, and not looking good. But of course neither are United at the mo - and the natives are revolting against LVG.

F O H C MAT THE

DAY!

Watford are going great guns, amazingly in seventh place: suffering Sunderland were the latest to get the Ighalo treatment after only four minutes. Now in a huge Hornets hiatus, Liverpool are coming to Vicarage Road: the Reds are more up-and-down than a snakes and ladders board. Liverpool’s latest loss-almost was at Anfield against unfashionable West Brom, whose aggressive approach infuriated Kop King Klopp. The injury time face-saving Reds’ equaliser came from Origi in the 90th minute, and Jurgen the German stormed his Red-faced troops to the Kop in a thank-you tribute for an unusual club/crowd bonding exercise - Vorsprung Durch Technik?

Stoke v Crystal Palace: eleventh plays sixth, only three points the difference. This could go either way with both teams playing fast, exciting football, form that has put away some good teams. Southampton were savaged by the Eagles’ latest swoop 1 – 0 on Saturday, and afterwards popular manager Alan Pardew joined some supporters for a beer in a local fan’s pub to celebrate their win: cool, Alan. Stoke’s goalless draw against West Ham was disappointing after effectively putting away mighty Man City last week with a terrific performance. Game on!

Happy Christmas to you from John McG, and see you in the New Year!

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