BBC offers comedy classics for Christmas

Will anyone be laughing in EastEnders on Christmas Day?

Christmas is traditionally the time of year when TV channels wheel out their big guns in an effort to attract viewers - and this year is no exception.

The BBC, which has just revealed its Christmas schedule, is offering a host of goodies this year in an effort to win the ratings battle.

Neil Morrissey will be behaving badly on Christmas Day

Alan Yentob, the BBC's Director of Television, described the schedule as a "riveting, home-grown Christmas."

"From the start of the festivities to the end, it's a one-stop shop on the BBC," he said.

There will be a three-part special of the comedy Men Behaving Badly, the first installment of which is to be broadcast on Christmas day.

The corporation's big family film of the day is the surprise hit of 1995, Babe, a gentle tale of a pig that refuses to go to market.

Dawn French will be reunited with her old partner Jennifer Saunders

Festive viewers will also be treated to a Christmas Day episode of EastEnders and editions of Changing Rooms and They Think It's All Over.

On offer during Christmas Eve will be seasonal specials of the comedy Jonathan Creek, and Birds of a Feather - likely to be the final episode in the long-running sitcom.

On Boxing Day the comedy duo French and Saunders return to TV for their first show in three years, and will be performing spoof versions of Titanic and The X-Files.

Rolf Harris will be showing us around Animal Hospital

Fly on the wall documentaries feature heavily with Christmas specials are on Airport, The Clampers and Animal Hospital. Jane McDonald, star of The Cruise, will appear in her own show.

Films expected to draw large audiences include the Tom Hanks space adventure Apollo 13, Free Willy 2 and the BBC co-production Mrs Brown.

BBC2 will be showing the classic It's A Wonderful Life, and an-all star adaptation of Twelfth Night, featuring Helena Bonham-Carter and Ben Kingsley.

Comedy on the channel will include Bang, Bang It's Reeves and Mortimer, a seasonal message from Vic and Bob and Fast Show favourites Ted and Ralph (Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson) star in their own slant on romantic comedy.

A special Royal Variety Performance will star Barry Manilow, Boyzone and EastEnders' Martine McCutcheon.

And, as usual, the nation can watch Queen deliver her Christmas Day message, at 1500GMT on BBC1, to be repeated at 2220GMT on BBC2.