Christmas 1985

Broadcaster, writer and critic Grace Dent travels back in time through the BBC’s television archives for a light-hearted look at What We Were Watching 40 years ago, over the Christmas period of 1985.

With tensions high between Russia and America, a holiday break in front of the telly was a welcome relief for most. Among the shows and moments keeping us amused were things not going to plan on Noel Edmonds’ Christmas Day Live, Live Breakfast Show, as well as the climax of his Telly Addicts quiz series - unexpectedly taken over by a family who kept on winning week after week.

The BBC Breakfast programme was going crazy for Christmas with an epic pantomime that ran longer than most regular drama episodes, and rating the festive films on the Breakfast sofa - years before becoming a Hollywood star himself - was 12-year-old schoolboy Jude Law.

Soaps fans were looking forward to Dynasty’s wedding of the year between Amanda Carrington and Prince Michael of Moldova, little realising that they were in for a bloodbath when the marriage turned into a massacre.

This was also a great time for quality BBC dramas, and Grace treats us to a 'double-Denching' of Dame Judi, who featured in two of the period’s top new dramas.

And covering comedy, we have rarely-seen festive moments from Rik Mayall, Kenny Everett, Peter Cook and David Jason, whose latest turn in Only Fools and Horses was the most-watched show of the season.