Christmas classic 'It's A Wonderful Life' given dedicated TV channel

18 December 2023 , 13:19

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The classic Christmas film, It's A Wonderful Life, will be playing 24 hours a day on Pluto TV until January 2 (Image: RKO Radio Pictures/Getty Images)

It’s A Wonderful Life has been given its own dedicated channel. Widely considered one of the greatest Christmas films of all time, the festive classic tells the magical tale of an angel visiting a frustrated businessman on Christmas Eve, showing him how his kindness has transformed so many lives.

And now, free streaming service, Pluto TV, has launched a channel playing the film on loop, 24 hours a day, until the new year, starting today (December 18), until January 2.

The movie depicts an angel (Henry Travers) sent from heaven on Christmas Eve, to help a downtrodden businessman (James Stewart), by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.

The five-time Oscar-nominated epic was directed by Frank Capra, and is regularly referred to as one of the best movies ever made. In 2020, Radio Times readers voted it as the all-time great Christmas film.

James Stewart received his third Best Actor Oscar nomination when he took on the role of George Bailey, a benevolent banker who sacrifices his life’s dreams in order to help his community.

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A spokesman for Pluto TV said: “We’ve hit that point of the year where festive movies are essential, and It’s a Wonderful Life is as essential to Christmas as mince pies and brandy butter. So, what better way to indulge than to have a dedicated channel showing the film 24 hours a day over the festive period.”

Martin Winter