Sherlock’s TV Treat Box
“Tell me all about it,” said I*
Your “Handy Guide” for the Festive Fortnight
19 December 2015 – 1 January 2016
And we’re not just talking about the obvious; the much awaited new Sherlock episode ‘The Abominable Bride,’ due on BBC One on New Year’s Day 2016 at 9.00pm (And for the first time ever on the same day, simultaneously on PBS in the US). There’s also a bundle of previous BBC Sherlock episodes to enjoy (if that’s what ticks your box), namely, repeats of series 1 & 2 on Alibi.
While the BBC Sherlock retreats into the past for the one-off special, Elementary stays firmly in the present day over on Sky Living, with episodes 5 and 6 of the latest series.
For those who prefer their Holmes in more “traditional” mode (though much of it was far from “traditional” at the time), TCM are rerunning both Fox films from 1939, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, and also episodes from their subsequent adventures, drawn from the Universal series.
Those with access to Sky Greats or Crime/Thriller will be able to see Robert Downey Jr’s reimagining of the sleuth (alongside Jude Law as his Watson). This one, Sherlock Holmes (2009), was the first of his two blockbusters that had the cinema box office tills jingling loudly.
Jeremy Brett is not to be overlooked at this time, indeed any time of the year. ITV3 is doing a repeat run, in its entirety, of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series, starting on New Year’s Day.
Oh, and not least of all, a very enjoyable romp starring Nicholas Rowe as a schoolboy detective, Young Sherlock Holmes (1985), gets two showings on Sky Action/Adventure.
Has anything been overlooked? You tell me and it will be added onto the list without delay. Best advice, really, is to get a decent TV guide. The “legendary” double issue Radio Times has been indispensible in compiling this quick guide (other guides are available, I’ve been asked to point out).
As for Radio, again, as in recent years, it’s a blank canvas. (Update – See Bulletin 275 re BBC Radio4 Extra)
Enjoy!
“Handy Guide”
Sun 20 Dec. 2015
Sky Living. Elementary, 5/22, S4, 8pm (repeated 1.00am and 4.20am).
Greats. 12.50am (Mon 22nd), Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Tues 22 Dec.
ITV3. The Hound of the Baskervilles (Granada series), 3.20pm.
Wed 23 Dec.
Alibi. Sherlock 1/3, S1, 9.00pm (repeated 11am).
Christmas Eve.
Crime/Thriller. Sherlock Holmes (2009), 6.50pm.
Sky Living. Elementary, 5/22, S4, 9.00pm (repeated 1.00am).
Alibi. Sherlock 2/3, S1, 9.00pm (repeated 11am).
Christmas Day.
TCM. The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939), 4.55pm.
TCM. Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (1942), 6.30pm.
TCM. Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1942), 7.45pm.
Alibi. Sherlock 3/3, S1, 9.00pm (repeated 11am).
Boxing Day.
TCM. Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1942), 7.05am.
Alibi. Sherlock, 1/3, S2, 9.00pm (repeated 11am).
Sun 27 Dec.
Sky Living. Elementary, 6/22, S4, 8.00pm (repeated 1.00am).
Alibi. Sherlock 2/3, S2, 9.00pm (repeated 11am).
Mon 28 Dec.
TCM. Dressed to Kill (1946), 7.35pm.
Alibi. Sherlock 3/3, S2, 9.00pm (repeated 11am).
Tues 29 Dec.
TCM. Terror by Night (1946), 7.45pm.
Wed 30 Dec.
Action/Adventure. Young Sherlock Holmes (1985), 8.30am (repeated 4.00am).
TCM. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939), 7.25pm.
Crime/Thriller. Sherlock Holmes (2009), 9.00pm.
New Year’s Eve.
TCM. Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943), 7.40pm.
New Year’s Day 2016.
ITV3. A Scandal in Bohemia, 6.50pm. This episode was first shown on the ITV network on 24 April 1984 at 9.00pm. It’s the first instalment in what promises to be a full repeat run of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, the first of the acclaimed Granada productions starring Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes. David Burke plays Watson in this series. There are 13 episodes in all, 7 in series 1 and 6 in series 2.
BBC One. Sherlock: The Abominable Bride, 9.00pm. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, Radio Times (w/c 19 Dec.) describes this special episode as “a wonderful treat.” It’s being screened simultaneously in over 100 cinemas across the UK and Ireland.
RTÉ2. Sherlock: The Abominable Bride, 9.00pm. (Update)
This Bulletin was updated (as indicated above ) on 27 December 2015.
*RedH179