The Beeb’s strapline "The One to Watch this Christmas" has never been more true than this year, with a cracking line-up of goodies on all Auntie’s channels: terrestrial and digital.

Billie Piper & Julie Walters are joined by a tremendous supporting cast in an adaptation of The Ruby In The Smoke by Philip Pullman; there’s the much heralded Christmas special edition of Doctor Who, with Catherine Tate guesting as runaway bride Donna; and meanwhile back on present-day Earth those EastEnders are bidding farewell to miserable old busybody Pauline Fowler.

One of my all-time favourite books, The Wind in the Willows, is adapted for TV by Lee Hall.  Starring Bob Hoskins and Matt Lucas this should be a must-see for all the family, but for those looking for more adult entertainment there’s a new slant on the classic horror story Dracula by writer Stewart Harcourt, starring Marc Warren (Hustle).

With special editions of Tittybangbang, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, QI and Mock the Week, Nigella back in the Christmas Kitchen, and a nostalgic reunion of Noel Edmonds, Keith Chegwin, Maggie Philbin and John Craven in a two-hour bumper session of Swap Shop, there really is something for everyone in this line-up.

Christmas "movie premiers" on TV have lost their edge somewhat in today’s world of digital TV, DVDs and streaming media, but even so the Beeb has lined up a host of top titles to toast your toes in front of: Pirates Of The Caribbean, Calendar Girls, Monsters Inc, Kill Bill and The Hours to name but five, and finally my daughters will be ecstatic to know that at last cult Japanese animation Spirited Away gets an outing on BBC Two this Christmas season.

Last but not least, if Doctor Who fans aren’t satisfied by the Christmas special AND the appearance of Billie Piper in costume drama, then they should be pleased with their extra helping of Whoness in the shape of The Sarah Jane Adventures – written especially for CBBC and starring investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith.