Ah, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without The Great Escape. Although this was its first festive outing on the BBC since 1971, The Great Escape would also return during Christmas 1985 and 1987, so you can see why it’s associated with tinsel and holly for so many people.

The film was adapted from the book of the same name by Paul Brickhill. Brickhill knew what he was talking about (he was an inmate of Stalag Luft III and assisted in the escape attempt, although his claustrophobia ensured he wasn’t able to take part in the Great Escape itself). The movie, as you’d expect, diverts somewhat from Brickhill’s book (and that didn’t tell the whole story anyway) but there’s no point in spending too much time in historical nit-picking. Whatever the truth is, it’s still a memorable movie.

You  get the feeling that BBC1 and BBC2 have already spent most of their original programming money, so today there’s only thin pickings. I would have watched The Case of the Frightened Lady, adapted by Victor Pemberton, but I can’t track it down (unless anyone knows differently?) so sadly it’s off the list.

I’ll be able to carry on with Chessgame on ITV and then an early night I think.