Of course I refer to the 1965 episode Too Many Christmas Trees, which was broadcast on Christmas Day of said year. An essential part of any BHF/Avengers fan's Yuletide viewing schedule. Directed by Hammer stalwart Roy Ward Baker and starring sometime Hammer actors Alex Scott (Twins of Evil, the original BBC play Yesterday's Enemy, also Dr Hargreaves in The Abominable Dr Phibes), Edwin Richfield (Camp On Blood Island, Quatermass And The Pit), Robert James (HHoMS And The Wall Came Tumbling Down), Barry Warren (Kiss Of The Vampire, Frankenstein Created Woman, Devil Ship Pirates) and the infuriatingly familiar Jeanette Sterke...not a prolific performer but I finally realised I'd seen her a couple of months ago in The New Adventures Of Charlie Chan). No spoilers, but Emma invites Steed to accompany her to a Dickensian House Party at a stately home....although never having been near the place before, Steed seems to recognise both the mansion and the people within, having....seen them in his dreams. Surely it's no coincidence that the owner of said residence is played by Mervyn Johns, who'd acted out an identical situation in Ealing's 1945 chiller Dead Of Night. The tone of this episode is darker than was usual at the time, with disturbing nightmares, macabre visions and, of course, a deadly Father Christmas. Much more entertaining (and dare I say creepier) than what we've had from TV so far this Christmas.
That is a very good episode, with good nightmare elements. Being in black & white helps.
I got the Avengers (Tara King) box set for Christmas, I've previously bought the two Emma Peel sets.
I particularly like the Emma Peel episode 'Small Game for Big Hunters', as I like the central concept, it has that Avengers twist of mad logic to it that makes it fantastic.