No I don’t mean The Great Escape and Andrew Preview with Eric n Ernie – are there any films TV shows that you dig out at this time of year as an act of welcoming the season to be jolly/miserable?

For the past 30 years – first from an off-air VHS, then a BBC Video and finally a shiny DVD for me it has been ‘The Box Of Delights’ first broadcast 31 years ago tonight. Although it may look basic these days it’s mix of live action and animation effects were mesmerising to the pre-teen DFB. Added to this the marvellous Patrick Troughton, devilish hamming of Robert Stephens and ghoulish ner-do-wells that scared the kiddies along with typically creepy intro music – this is perfect winter warmer material