Digital TV News

It’s a Wonderful Life voted UK’s Favourite Christmas Movie

Thursday 01 December, 2011

By Duncan Heaney

Radio Times finds the nation’s favourite festive features.

A new UK survey has found that when it comes to festive films, It’s a Wonderful Life is the one to beat. The Radio Times polled 2,882 people on their favourite Christmas movies. Frank Capra’s 1946 heartwarmer emerged as the nation’s favourite, taking almost a fifth of the overall vote (17.83% ).

Second was The Muppet Christmas Carol, recommended by 10.19% of participants. The high ranking for the family favourite bodes well for Disney’s relaunch of the franchise, The Muppets, which is currently playing in US cinemas, and lands in the UK in February 2012.

The top ten was dominated by festive family films, including Elf, Home Alone, Miracle on 34th Street, Scrooge and Santa Claus.

Even so, some more adult Christmas crackers did make the list. Richard Curtis’ romantic comedy Love Actually took third place and 7.57% of the overall vote, and Die Hard showed there’s life in it yet, claiming eighth position and 4.1% of the vote.

A full rundown of the top ten is as follows:

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (17.83%)
2. The Muppet Christmas Carol (10.19%)
3. Love Actually (7.57%)
4. Elf (5.94%)
5. Home Alone (5.73%)
6. Miracle on 34th Street (4.92%)
7. White Christmas (4.21%)
8. Die Hard (4.1%)
9. Scrooge (3.68%)
10. Santa Claus (3.18%)

The TV Christmas season is getting underway very soon, and naturally, a number of these movies will be shown over December on both terrestrial and subscription-based TV services. It’s a Wonderful Life, for example, will be shown on Sky Classics and Sky Classics HD this Sunday at 8.35am and 7.00pm.

Full listings of broadcasters’ Christmas schedules are yet to be officially announced, but details are starting to emerge. Highlights across terrestrial and Freeview channels include Doctor Who (BBC1, Christmas Day, 7pm), Poirot (ITV1, Boxing Day, 9pm) and Charlie Brooker’s 2011 Wipe (BBC4, 30 December, 10.30pm).

Photo by wolfsavard