My childhood recollection of Christmas is you couldn't turn on the telly without coming across some sort of seasonally appropriate show. Often explicitly about the Yuletide period, they were suitable for viewers of all ages if screened before the watershed and almost always promoted various virtues associated with the holiday.
TV preview: 'Tis the season
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Matt Smith in the Doctor Who Christmas special.
The Bible, Monday-Friday, 8.30pm, Vibe: Seemingly the most on-point programming of the week, it begins with a disclaimer stating it's an "adaptation of Bible stories" that "endeavours to stay true to the spirit of the book" and "some scenes contain violence".
Actually, as many scenes as possible do, which means the Nativity - on Wednesday - is overshadowed by a gratuitously graphic Massacre of the Innocents.
Mr Stink, Tuesday, 7pm, UKTV: The best of the bunch, it's set at Christmas, is funny and affecting, and features family-friendly farting. Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville stars as Mr Stink.
The Irish Rovers Christmas Special, Wednesday, 3.45pm, Prime: Potentially tolerable with a skin-full, it's otherwise the most joyless example of grinding out the ol' standards you're likely to see.
The Graham Norton Show, Wednesday, 8.45pm, TV3: Last year's Christmas special rewrapped and re-gifted, perhaps due to a tight budget.
Father Ted Christmas Special, Wednesday, 10.25pm, Prime: Even if you've already seen Ted awarded a Golden Cleric and Father Todd Unctious come a-calling, this bears re-watching.
Homai Te Pakipaki: Boxing Day Special, Thursday, 7.30pm, Maori Television: Time for a whanau singalong as the karaoke competition's hosts look back at 2013's highlights.
Doctor Who Christmas Special, Thursday, 8.30pm, Prime: In which it's out with the old, goofy doc (Matt Smith) and in with the new, probably grumpy one (Peter Capaldi).