[Arneldo]

The BBC has released details of its festive lineup, headlined by the returns of several old favourites.

Wallace and Gromit are back for a bakery-set adventure called A Matter Of Loaf and Death, while Alan Davies will reprise his role as Jonathan Creek for the first time in five years.

Scottish comedy Rab C Nesbitt is also back for a new 45-minute special after an absence of a decade, and the cast of Blackadder will reunite for a one-off documentary special, Blackadder Rides Again.

The lineup features festive episodes of comedies The Royle Family, Gavin and Stacey, After You've Gone, My Family, Lead Balloon and a revived Shooting Stars.

Previous contestants will return to the dancefloor in the traditional festive edition of Strictly Come Dancing and David Morrissey guest stars in the Christmas episode of Doctor Who. BBC One will also air highlights of summer event Doctor Who at the Proms.

Top of the Pops will be back for two episodes on BBC One - one on Christmas Day, the other on New Year's Eve - and there will be eight new episodes of TOTP2 on BBC Two.

Factual highlights include a Top Gear special set in Vietnam, a five-part Christmas cookery series Nigella's Christmas Kitchen and The Hairy Bakers' Christmas Special.

A second series of Lark Rise To Candleford will begin with a feature-length Christmas special followed by 11 new episodes.

Rupert Penry Jones leads a new drama thriller, The 39 Steps, set in the build-up to the World War I.

"We've really pulled out all the stops this year to ensure a truly wonderful holiday schedule," said Jana Bennett, director of BBC Vision. "The whole family will be able to sit back, relax and let the BBC entertain them."

DS