“You are engaged,” said I, “Perhaps I interrupt you.”*

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the season, as we hurtle at alarming speed towards the “Big Day”, thoughts of what’s on the goggle box over the “Festive Fortnight” may have crossed  your minds. Picking our way through the slush of the schedules, which is no mean feat in itself, the only sign of anything new (this is strictly Holmes talk, not some sort of general viewing guide!) is Elementary. The repeat of new season 5, episode 1 is tonight (18th) at 11.00pm on Sky Living. Episode 2 is this Tuesday (20th) at 9.00pm, repeated Christmas Eve at 9.00pm  and also Christmas Day at 11.00pm.  Talking of Christmas Eve, this is an Elementary feast day as Sky Living is repeating 8 episodes from season 3 in a back-to-back run starting at 1.00pm. Returning to season 5, episode 3 is on Tuesday 27th at 9.00pm.

The rest appear to be all repeats, mostly golden oldies (some of them a touch jaded, perhaps); for instance, on TCM there’s Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce in The Hound of the Baskervilles  and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (both Fox 1939), as well as a smattering of Universal offerings – Sherlock Holmes and the Spider Woman (1944) and Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (1942). The films in the line up are on between Tuesday 20th and Thursday 22nd, some more than once – we leave it to you to investigate.

A more recent production is Sherlock Holmes, the 2009 Warner blockbuster starring Robert Downey Jnr. and Jude Law; it’s on the Action/Adventure channel for the nth time, this Tuesday (20th) at 5.45pm.

For those of you who are restricted to Freeview, there is just one thing; The Sign of Four is a feature length episode from the Granada series – look out for the appearance of John Thaw as Jonathan Small. It is on ITV3 tomorrow (19th) at 11.00pm. An episode from The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes series (also Granada) can be seen on ITV Encore (subscribers only) at 4.05pm on the 23rd.

As for radio, it’s all dead air as far as Holmes goes. For you audio fans, perhaps it’s time to make a long arm for those favourite cd’s (and cassettes?) once again (or go online – have a look at the free stuff on our TV & Radio links page).

Have we missed anything?

The Compliments of the Season to all the crew and to Holmesians and Sherlockians everywhere!

Blue Christmas (for those who enjoy a Christmas story without the slush)

*Blue244