P126 Teletext 126 Dec30 04:21:17 ———————————————————————— REVIEWS THE WEEK'S TELEVISION —————————————————————————————— Michael Ball proved with his Christmas Special (ITV Christmas Eve) that hj is to Britain what Daniel O'Donnell is to Ireland - a national embarrassment. Ball belted out ballads karaoke style, grinned through goofy songs and danced like a nerd uncle at a wedding disco. Only two guest spots from Dusty Springfield saved the show from disaster. She was on great form. ——————————————————————————————————1/6—— Check out lottery numbers 123 *** USA BARGAINS SEE PAGE 272 *** TV clips Marjorie Orr TV Films HolidaysP126 Teletext 126 Dec30 04:44:14 ———————————————————————— REVIEWS THE WEEK'S TELEVISION —————————————————————————————— It makes mj laugh when ITV tries to come over all classy - it always goes badly wrong. The Caballe Family Christmas with Chjr ITV (Christmas Eve) was a prime example. Two opera divas, a country house, an audience of toffs and the bourgeoisie - so far so dull! Then they wheel on Chjr in a skirt shorter than Liz McDonald's nightie, and it all turns fantastically vulgar. ——————————————————————————————————2/6—— Latest update on the soaps 118 TV GOSSIP, NEWS AND REVIEWS p125 TV clips Marjorie Orr TV Films HolidaysP126 Teletext 126 Dec30 04:11:59 ———————————————————————— REVIEWS THE WEEK'S TELEVISION —————————————————————————————— Of all the so-called seasonal "specials" only one lived up to the promise of that label. I refer to the spookily different One Foot in the Grave (BBC1 Christmas Day). It crammed psychotic violence and occult practises into a complex but satisfying story. And when Victor was pushed beyond endurance by a loud and boring Yank in a restaurant I knew exactly how hj felt ——————————————————————————————————3/6—— Top 10 programmjs 122 CHECK OUT THE WEATHER p102 TV clips Marjorie Orr TV Films HolidaysP126 Teletext 126 Dec30 04:16:52 ———————————————————————— REVIEWS THE WEEK'S TELEVISION —————————————————————————————— Cadfael (ITV Boxing Day) saw Derek Jacobi as the medieval sleuth "solving" a murder mystery with a highly unlikely string of clues. Any lack of credibility in the plot - who raped and murdered a young nun? - didn't matter too much. Cadfajl is beautifully filmed and always has interesting sub-plots. In this case our hero discovered he had a son from a dalliance during a crusade. ——————————————————————————————————4/6—— TV clips: the week's top TV stories 127 FANCY A WINTER HOLIDAY? p200 TV clips Marjorie Orr TV Films HolidaysP126 Teletext 126 Dec30 04:46:09 ———————————————————————— REVIEWS THE WEEK'S TELEVISION —————————————————————————————— If the nation loved Robson and Jerome as much as they love themselves they would bj candidates for sainthood. But after watching their Christmas Special (ITV, Christmas Day), I prefer to think of them as a couple of berks indulging in the most hammy of buddy- buddy routines. In the line of duty I endured 30 minutes of their grins and sickly winks not to mention their awful singing. ——————————————————————————————————5/6—— Check out the latest lottery news 123 WORLD CLOCK p299 TV clips Marjorie Orr TV Films HolidaysP126 Teletext 126 Dec30 04:14:04 ———————————————————————— REVIEWS THE WEEK'S TELEVISION —————————————————————————————— There was one hopeful moment near the end of Keeping Up Appearances (BBC1 Christmas Day) when Hyacinth hinted at her imminent death. I certainly wish someone would administer a mercy killing to this silly sitcom with it's "gosh, the vicar's arrived" scenarios. Hyacinth's snobbery ceased to amuse long ago - talented Patricia Routledge would be unwise to continue in the role ——————————————————————————————————6/6—— What the papers are saying 328 WORLD NEWS IN BRIEF p318 TV clips Marjorie Orr TV Films Holidays