23 December 1966. The last episode of the ITV pop show, Ready Steady Go, presented by the 60s style icon, Cathy McGowan, was broadcast. It had been on since 9 August 1963. Unlike Top of The Pops, it was not based on the weekly pop charts. pic.twitter.com/JvW67htcsP

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 23, 2022

24 December 1922. Hollywood legend, Ava Gardner, was born in Smithfield, North Carolina, USA. Her films include: The Killers, Mogambo, The Barefoot Contessa, and The Night of the Iguana. She was briefly married to Mickey Rooney and Frank Sinatra. pic.twitter.com/hNWEga5X1F

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 24, 2022

24 August 1957. Stephen Fry was born in London. He found fame as part of double act, Fry and Laurie. In December 2006, he came 6th in the BBC’s Top Living Icon Award. In 2007, The Independent on Sunday made him 2nd most influential gay person in Britain, behind Russel T Davies. pic.twitter.com/2esVqJFBRI

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 24, 2022

24 December 1963. Acclaimed comedian and comedy writer, Caroline Aherne, was born in London. She starred in Mrs Merton, The Fast Show, and The Royal Family for the BBC and was the original narrator of Channel 4’s, Gogglebox. pic.twitter.com/tIq8l9fa8h

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 24, 2022

24 December 1978. The final episode of the ITV comedy sitcom, The Worker, starring Charlie Drake, was broadcast. A total of 5 series were produced, comprising 35 episodes and one special. The series began on 27 February 1965. pic.twitter.com/l7Ya2t0pPL

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 24, 2022

25 December 1899. Humphrey Bogart was born in New York City, USA. In 1999, the American Film Institute (AFI) selected Bogart as the greatest male star of classic American cinema. Films include: Casablanca, Key Largo, The Maltese Falcon, The African Queen, and The Big Sleep. pic.twitter.com/iVg4w7nyyr

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 25, 2022

25 December 1908. Gay pioneer, Quentin Crisp, was born in Sutton. His life as a gay man was dramatised in, The Naked Civil Servant, with John Hurt in the leading role. In later life, Crisp went to live in New York City, and attracted criticism for opposing gay rights. pic.twitter.com/FrwSegUOds

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 25, 2022

25 December 1944. Madcap DJ and TV presenter, Kenny Everett, was born in Seaforth, Lancashire. He started out on pirate radio, then moved to Radio Luxembourg before becoming one of the first DJs on the newly-created, BBC Radio 1, in 1967. He later went on to present TV shows. pic.twitter.com/OMsnB1Cu31

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 25, 2022

25 December 1957. Queen Elizabeth II’s Christmas Broadcast was broadcast on TV for the first time. It was also the 25th anniversary of the first Christmas Broadcast on the radio by George V. The broadcast was delivered in the Long Library at Sandringham pic.twitter.com/RfZfxEKCt2

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 25, 2022

25 December 1966. The last episode of the children’s animated TV series, Thunderbirds, was broadcast on ITV. It had run for 32 episodes, since 30 September 1965. It was produced in colour using electronic marionette puppetry called Supermarionation.
pic.twitter.com/Z1ni9J1LUS

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 25, 2022

#RIP #OTD in 1977, actor, filmmaker, and composer Charlie Chaplin died at his home Manoir de Ban, or Champ de Ban Estate Manor, located at Corsier-sur-Vevey on the banks of Lake Geneva in Switzerland from a stroke, age 88. Cemetery of Corsier-sur-Vevey https://t.co/q2mRtXdHQ5 pic.twitter.com/mk7oBL0VEF

— RIP The Final Footprint (@RIPTFF) December 25, 2022

25 December 1987. The final episode of the popular comedy sketch show, The Two Ronnies, was broadcast on BBC1. It featured the comedy actors, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett. It had run for 13 series, and a total of 93 episodes, since 10 April 1971. pic.twitter.com/KE2YbQkLWH

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 25, 2022

Remembering Eartha Kitt who died on this day pic.twitter.com/vpi7ikXlZu

— 🎄🎅 ClassicActorsOfHollywood 🎅🎄 (@CAOH110291) December 25, 2022

26 December 1975. Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg, was released in UK (it had been released in USA on 20 June 1975). The film follows police chief, Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss), and shark hunter (Robert Shaw) as they hunt a deadly shark. pic.twitter.com/l2Dj2y7uN2

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 26, 2022

26 December 1977. Legendary Hollywood film director, Howard Hawks, died (aged 81). Films include: the original Scarface, The Big Sleep, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. He was described as “the greatest American director who is not a household name”. pic.twitter.com/Qshr1mdUoJ

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 26, 2022

26 December 1982. The popular British animated TV film, The Snowman, was broadcast on Channel 4. It’s based on Raymond Briggs' 1978 picture book, and features the popular song, Walking in the Air. In 2004, it came 3rd in Channel 4's poll of 100 Greatest Christmas Moments. pic.twitter.com/QMQQTzCpsJ

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 26, 2022

26 December 2012. Gerry Anderson, the creator of the TV puppet classics, Fireball XL5, Stingray, and Thunderbirds, died (aged 83). His most popular animated series was undoubtedly Thunderbirds, which ran in 32 colour episodes on ITV from 30 September 1965 to 25 December 1966. pic.twitter.com/BxTZlBnutd

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 26, 2022

27 December 1901. Marlene Dietrich was born in Berlin. She was a huge star of German Weimar films. Her performance as Lola-Lola in The Blue Angel brought her international acclaim. She then moved to Hollywood appearing in many films, notably, Morocco, Desire, and Touch of Evil. pic.twitter.com/4MF5C00c2F

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 27, 2022

27 December 1994. Fanny Cradock (Phyllis Pechey), died (aged 85). She was the most popular TV chef on BBC TV from the to 1950s to the late 1970s. Her husband, Johnnie, also featured in her programmes. Fanny introduced dishes from France and Italy and popularised pizza in the UK. pic.twitter.com/zgkOpQQDJ4

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) December 27, 2022