Channel 4 announces Christmas lineup

Specials from Derren Brown, Avid Merrion and Ricky Gervais are to air as part of Channel 4's Christmas schedule.

As previously announced, The Comic Strip Presents... will return for a new twisted tale over the festive period, with appearances from Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer and Doon MacKichan.

Gervais will meet Seinfeld writer Larry David in a one-hour special, while in Avid Merrion's XXXmas Special, Avid and wife/sister Sacha will move to LA to run a Hollywood hotel.

Jamie Oliver, much lauded for his School Dinners series, will succeed The Simpsons in delivering C4's Alternative Christmas Message opposite the Queen's speech on Christmas Day.

In Derren Brown - The Heist, the illusionist will attempt to persuade a group of responsible businessmen and women to steal £100,000 in an armed robbery.

The customary countdown shows include 100 Greatest Family Movies and The 50 Greatest Comedy Films while Jimmy Carr will return to host The Big Fat Quiz of the Year.

Documentaries will have a controversial edge, with one programme asking Tsunami: Where Was God? and another, The Magic of Jesus, featuring the Dirty Tricks team attempting to reproduce some of Jesus' most miraculous feats.

The film slate includes Cats & Dogs, The Nutty Professor and Bowfinger as well as classics Cleopatra, Lawrence of Arabia and The African Queen.