E.T. The Extra Terrestial [Universal Studios]

IN the days before multiple channels and films on demand, Christmas TV was eagerly awaited: copies of the Radio Times flew off the shelves as families searched for the timings of the annual James Bond flick, the traditional screening of that not-very-Christmassy story The Great Escape, and of course, the ubiquitous Sound of Music.

Despite the vast choice today, our terrestrial channels do their best to load up a stockings-worth of classics.

Here’s a run down of December escapism to help you digest your festive food, and, if you need to, tell the relatives to pipe down as there’s something unmissable on screen…

Christmas Eve

Puss in Boots BBC One, 10.45am
When Puss in Boots popped up in Shrek, the character was too beguiling not to deserve a spin off – and this Antonio Banderas / Selma Hayek vehicle is first class. Puss is joined by his mates Humpty Dumpty and Kitty Softpaws as they head off on the trail to stop the dastardly criminals Jack and Jill.  They seek to steal magic beans that will lead them to a giant goose that lays golden eggs. A genuine hoot, with plenty of across-the-ages jokes, it is beautifully animated and snappily written.

Judy Garland in Meet Me in St Louis

Meet Me in St Louis BBC Two, 1.25pm
While Judy Garland’s regular Christmas showing is The Wizard of Oz, BBC2 takes us back to 1900s America with the story of the Smith family as the World’s Fair approaches in the title city. As with Oz, the music from this 1944 offering has etched itself in the popular imagination – and rightly so. The title song remains a thing of beauty, sung by the evergreen lead.

E.T. The Extra Terrestrial ITV, 1.35pm
Spielberg at his finest, the story of the small wrinkled creature who is found rummaging in the undergrowth of the Taylor family’s backyard was a seminal film moment for a generation: Spielberg drew on his own experience of his parents’ divorce and the imaginary friend he created to help him get through the trauma. Heartfelt, beautiful, it remains a simple tribute to the power of kindness – and the rebellious fact that children sometimes know so much better than adults.

Babe Channel Four, 10.10am
This adaptation of Dick King-Smith’s The Sheep Pig helped a generation turn vegetarian. Babe is the piglet who is won at an agriculture show by kindly Farmer Hoggett and adopted by collie dogs Fly and Rex. A lovely story with an embedded moral that we might do well to remember when tucking into factory-farmed animals on your Christmas dinner plate.

Christmas Day

Roald Dahl’s Matilda: the Musical BBC One, 1pm
Tim Minchin, that certified genius, took Roald Dahl’s story and wrote lyrics that even that master storyteller would find hard to match. Matilda is the put-upon offspring of the Wormwoods – played with evil intent by Stephen Graham and Angela Riseborough – who ship her off to horrible boarding school Crunchem Hall. Emma Thompson turns in a classic performance as the evil headmistress, who clever Matilda (Alisha Weir) takes on.

The Scarecrows’ Wedding BBC One, 3.10pm
It has become a tradition that one of Julia Donaldson’s awesome rhyming children’s books is adapted for TV and this year the simply lovely Scarecrow’s Wedding comes to life. Betty O’Barley (Jessie Buckley) and Harry O’Hay (Domhnall Gleeson) are the farmyard lovers who have to get things together for their big day – overcoming various pitfalls including the unsolicited advances of Reginald Rake (Rob Brydon). Donaldson’s command of the English language sings in every couplet: hilarious for all ages and with, of course, a very happy ending.

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally

When Harry Met Sally BBC One, 11.35pm
This film is included with a heavy heart, in light of the tragedy of director Rob Reiner’s recent death. Reiner met his wife Michelle Singer – who also died last week – while he was making the film. He had been single for 10 years and it was Singer’s love that made him change the ending of this classic rom-com. Her love inspired him to ensure Harry and Sally had a happy ending. Reiner founded Castlerock Entertainment partly to help under-represented voices access Hollywood, and was a vocal critic of US Christian/fascists and the Maga cult. When Harry Met Sally is a wonderful memorial to a true great of modern film.

Evil Under the Sun BBC2, 3.10pm
Peter Ustinov is Poirot – forget recent pretenders like Kenneth Branagh. And in this adaptation of Agatha Christie’s 1941 classic, his command of the screen is as immense as his character’s intellect. The story flies from hiker found dead on the Yorkshire Moors to an Adriatic island where a cast of suspects gather, as was Christie’s calling card.

Jaws BBC 2, 9.15pm
Roy Schneider is the under-pressure police chief Brody dealing not only with a massive, human-munching Great White but a town mayor more interested in the sale of hot dogs than keeping the citizens of a New England beach resort safe. Another Spielberg classic.

Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Ark [Lucasfilms ltd]

Raiders of the Lost Ark ITV, 3.15pm
Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones is the hero we all need today: a Nazi-thumping academic with an adventurous bent. We join him as he investigates an archaeological dig in Egypt where the Ark of the Covenant has been discovered. If it falls into Hitler’s hands, who knows what evil will be set loose across the globe…

Frozen 2 Channel Four, 3.10pm
A generation has grown up with the story of Elsa and Anna, the princesses inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s tales: in the sequel, they team up again with snowman Olaf and hunky love interest Kristoff to solve a mystery of a neighbouring tribe and the betrayal of the elements fire, earth, air and water. A roller coaster with a nice message flowing through it.

Boxing Day

Paddington 2 [The Weinstein Company]

Paddington 2 BBC One, 5.20pm
Ben Whishaw’s Paddington embarks on another adventure from his Primrose Hill-filmed home for the Browns. Dastardly baddie Phoenix Buchanan (a five-star turn by Hugh Grant) has stolen a book from Gruber’s antique shop. The bear sets out to track down the thief with the help of convict Knuckles McGinty, played with an unhealthy dollop of glee by Brendan Gleeson.

The Italian Job BBC Two, 3.10pm
This masterpiece of Swinging Sixties London stars Michael Caine as Charlie Croker, the gang leader out to hit a bullion delivery in Turin. With a cast that includes Noel Coward in his last role, and Mini cars giving the Italian police Fiats short shrift, this is a period piece.

Halle Berry and Pierce Brosnan in Die Another Day

Die Another Day ITV, 10.15pm
Pierce Brosnan’s 007 takes us, as ever, around the world as he seeks to solve a mystery that involves criminal masterminds, double agents and North Korean military types. The film feels very much a sign of its times – in 2002, the Cold War had ended and Putin’s true colours were not so obvious. The baddies are reflected by a fresher take on who was considered threats to the world Bond has always protected.

Hugh Grant and Martine McCutcheon in Love, Actually [Universal Studios]

And finally – your annual warning that Love, Actually is being screened on ITV at 9.10pm on Christmas Eve. So make sure you, or anyone you care about, is far away from a TV to avoid this appallingly bad film!