Val Doonican goes international — but don't expect too much of a compromise as the relaxed Irishman of the infectious grin makes his first ITV spectacular shown round the world. The famous rocking chair is still there and the opening sequence was filmed in genuine Doonican country at County Wicklow. He is joined by Irish soprano Patricia Cahill, comedian Arthur Askey, French puppeteer Andre Tahon and folk singer Roger Whittaker.

Val is at home and his Christmas callers include Sandie Shaw singing And I Love Him and Ronnie Corbett who joins Val and Sandie for The Magic Shillelagh. Flanders and Swann provide a parody of The Twelve Days of Christmas and Stephan Grappelli provides some magical jazz violin.