The Box of Delights advent calendar
Christmas isn’t Christmas in my house until we’ve rewatched The Box of Delights. The 1984 BBC miniseries is just so perfect – from the slightly terrifying opening credits with the evocative music onwards!
Sylvia Daisy Pouncer is our family’s particular favourite. When I met Patrica Quinn (as part of the 40th anniversary for the Rocky Horror Picture Show) and we had a great chat about it. She said she (and her late husband, Robert Stephens) had an absolute ball making it and she loves that people are still watching it.
Here’s my advent calendar based on the programme, with a new character appearing behind a “door” every day:
The final picture:
Days:
1. Wolves
2. Punch & Judy show
3. Herne the Hunter
4. Caroline Louisa
5. Bishop of Tatchester
6. Choirboys
7. Mouse
8. Foxy Faced Charles
9. Ellen (with a posset)
10. Peter
11. Waterfall Boy
12. Chief Constable (with bulleyes)
13. Bronze Head
14. Susan & Jemima
15. Barney Dog
16. The Old Lady
17. Sylvia Daisy Pouncer
18. Rat & Cousin Alf
19. Maria
20. Chubby Joe
21. Caroplane aeroplane
22. Abner Brown
23. Kay Harker (with the box)
24. Cole Hawlings
I shared the calendar on Instagram in December 2022, then reposted on BlueSky in December 2025.
