Downton Abbey meets the Midwife
SANTA delivered some top TV treats this year with families gathering around the box to watch festive episodes of their favourite shows.
The Christmas specials of Downton Abbey and Call The Midwife dominated proceedings.
But Doctor Who fans also got a first look at plucky young governess Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) as the new assistant who helped him save the world from the icy clutches of the mysterious, killer Snowmen
Tissues were needed for an emotional episode of hit BBC One drama Call The Midwife. Viewers saw a newborn baby abandoned on the doorstep of Poplar’s Nonnatus House convent.
And if that was not heartbreaking enough, we were told the harrowing tale of semi-vagrant Mrs Jenkins (Sheila Reid) who lost her children and her sanity in the workhouse.
There was just time to grab a quick sherry before settling down to a two-hour episode of ITV’s multi-award winning drama Downton Abbey, during which the Crawleys were taking an unfestive summer break with Scottish cousins in the Highlands. Back among the servants at Downton romance was in the air for cook Mrs Patmore (Lesley Nicol).
The Christmas specials of Downton Abbey and Call The Midwife dominated proceedings
We were introduced to new girl Edna Braithwaite (MyAnna Buring), a dreamer with ideas well above her station including making a play for grieving widower Tom Branson (Allen Leech).
Today’s small screen highlights include crime caper Doors Open, starring Stephen Fry (ITV1 9pm), and The Girl, the chilling tale of film director Alfred Hitchcock’s obsession with his leading lady Tippi Hedren (BBC Two 9pm).