BBC lines up classic Christmas hits

Viewer favourites have been placed firmly at the heart of the BBC's Christmas lineup, with highlights including a special Doctor Who, a one-off return of To The Manor Born and a Strictly Come Dancing glitterball extravaganza gracing the schedule of BBC One.

"Our Christmas schedule features the finest talent British television has to offer so we invite you to gather family and friends together, sit back, relax and let us entertain you – there really is something for everyone this year on BBC Television," said BBC vision director Jana Bennett.

Among the top billings are a star-studded Doctor Who set on the Titanic; a dramatisation of Noel Streatfeild's Ballet Shoes featuring Emma Watson; the return of Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles as Audrey fforbes-Hamilton and Richard DeVere in To The Manor Born; Billie Piper starring as Sally Lockhart in The Shadow of the North; and Strictly Come Dancing Sequins, a Christmas special of the popular dance competition hosted by Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly.

A meeting between Richard Hammond and Evel Knievel will lead BBC Two's lineup along with an Arena following Ken Dodd touring the UK and Heston Blumenthal's Perfect Christmas.

BBC Three will feature a retelling of the nativity on the streets of Liverpool, while BBC Four will look at the story of popular dance in Britain in Dance Britannia.