What the Dickens? It can only be the annual

Across

• 1.) Ebenezer Scrooge is Charles Dickens' famous miser. (8,7)
  
• 11.) The three kings are also known as Wise Men, and Ernie Wise was very proud of the plays wot he wrote. (4)
  
• 15.) On Christmas Day a stocking is full of presents, but a Leg is normally inside a stocking (3)
  
• 16.) UV is an abbreviation for Ultraviolet, sometimes used in Christmas tree lights. (2)
  
• 17.) There are Two turtle doves. (3)
  
• 18.) In The Snowman, the Snowman and James are walking in the Air (3)
  
• 20.) Though the frost was Cruel. (5)
  
• 22.) O what can I give him poor as I Am If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb. (2)
  
• 23.) The Three Kings came from the East. (4)
  
• 25.) When the snow lay round about deep and crisp and Even (4)
  
• 26.) Once in Royal David's City. (4)
  
• 27.) Wherefore have ye Left your sheep On the lonely mountain steep? (4)
  
• 28.) 1963's Christmas no 1 was 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' by the 2 down (2)
  
• 29.) A Crown is the paper hat found inside crackers. (5)
  
• 30.) Children Wake up at 5am or earlier on Christmas Day. (4)
  
• 31.) A long time Ago in Bethlehem so the Holy Bible say. (3)
  
• 32.) In Elf, the sleigh uses a Jet engine to help it fly. (3)
  
• 33.) An Elf is an inhabitant of Rivendell and the North Pole who works with Father Christmas, also a film starring Will Ferrell. (3)
  
• 34.) To get home for Christmas, Chris Rea goes for a Drive (5)
  
• 36.) Turboman is the toy every shop is sold out of in Jingle all the Way. (8)
  
• 39.) Presents are hung in stockings. A fish Net is a fishy type of stocking. (3)
  
• 40.) Bohemian is the Queenly rhapsody that was Christmas No 1 in 1975 and 1991. (9)
  
• 43.) How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by Name. (3)
  
• 45.) Elton John's Christmas song's 'Step Into Christmas' initials are SIC. (3)
  
• 47.) On the Second day of Christmas my true love sent to me two turtle doves. Presumably by airmail. (6)
  
• 49.) To you in David's town this day is born of David's line The Saviour who is Christ the Lord and this shall be the Sign. (4)
  
• 50.) Santa Dies when he falls off Scott Calvin's roof. (4)
  
• 51.) Hark the Herald Angels Sing. (4)
  
• 53.) Father Christmas gives presents to good girls and boys. 'A Christmassy Ted' is the Christmas edition of comedy Father Ted (6)
  
• 55.) Ten Lords-A-Leaping. (3)
  
• 56.) Church bells often ring at Christmas, with the ringing of bells called a Peal. (4)
  
• 57.) The time since Jesus' birth is known as AD. (2)
  
• 58.) Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me for me for me! So you think you can stop and spit in my Eye. Also See amid the winter snow. An Eye is the body part used to see. (3)
  
• 59.) Southampton hymn writer Isaac Watts wrote 'Joy to the World' (4)
  
• 61.) On the Tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me lords a-leaping. (5)
  
• 62.) Rudolph has to Run twice when Santa's gotta make it to town. (3)
  
• 63.) Thirty-Fourth Street is prone to miracles. (6,6)
  
• 64.) At Christmas time it's hard but when you're having fun. (2)
  
• 65.) 'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the House (5)

Down

• 1.) Eleven pipers piping. (6)
  
• 2.) The Beatles had Christmas Number 1 hits in 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1967. (7)
  
• 3.) A Nutcracker is a shell opening painted wooden soldier that is fond of ballet. (10)
  
• 4.) Slade sang 'Merry Christmas Everybody' (9)
  
• 5.) Shepherds visited the baby Jesus. A female sheep is a Ewe. (3)
  
• 6.) There were two Ronnies who at Christmas would say goodnight from me and goodnight from him. (7)
  
• 7.) Snow is wet white fluffy stuff. (4)
  
• 8.) In the meadow we Can build a snowman and pretend that he is Parson Brown (3)
  
• 9.) British actor who starred in Christmas films including Love, Actually and Die Hard was Alan Rickman (7)
  
• 10.) Greg Lake sang 1975 Christmas No 2 'I Believe In Father Christmas'. (4)
  
• 11.) The villains in Home Alone are known as the Wet Bandits. (3)
  
• 12.) I'll Be Home for Christmas. You can count on me. (1'2)
  
• 13.) Santa Claus is the American name for Father Christmas. (5,5)
  
• 14.) 'A virgin will become pregnant and have a son, and he will be called Emmanuel' (Sometimes spelt with an I) (8)
  
• 17.) The TV is at its best at Christmas – for best results get a Radio Times and a highlighter. (2)
  
• 19.) Jackie Wilson's fine, fine, fine 1986 Christmas Number 1 is 'Reet Petite' (4)
  
• 20.) Tim Allen turns into Santa in The Santa Clause (6)
  
• 21.) The Star of Bethlehem was a UFO according to 'A Spaceman Came Travelling' (3)
  
• 24.) If Ice is hard, snow is Soft (4)
  
• 32.) Joseph was Mary's husband. (6)
  
• 34.) Mary rode on a little Donkey. (6)
  
• 35.) Eight maids a milking. (5)
  
• 37.) Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. A mouse is a Rodent (6)
  
• 38.) A Miser is an ungenerous, hoarding person like 1 across. (5)
  
• 41.) A Mitt is a fingerless glove. (4)
  
• 42.) Father Christmas lives at the North Pole and is called North in Rise of the Guardians. (5)
  
• 44.) On the Ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me ladies dancing. (5)
  
• 46.) Knowing Me, Knowing Yule with Alan Partridge is a fictional Chat show. (4)
  
• 48.) An Era is a period of history. (3)
  
• 52.) An Ad on TV promotes Boxing Day furniture sales. (2)
  
• 54.) The AA would help Chris Rea if he either breaks down or is an alcoholic. (2)
  
• 55.) Ted gets Mrs Doyle a present to take the misery out of making what Tea (3)
  
• 60.) Nicholas is often referred to by the title St. (2)

Please note: all songs and Christmas chart positions are based on Britain's national chart.

Bluebottle

01.01.18 Front Page

Back Issue Page