BBC Breakfast - 2018 Refresh

Not everyone's got a family to be with, and appreciate a familiar face on their TV on Christmas morning. A friend of mine worked in the BBC Information call centre and said he got quite a lot of calls from old dears wanting to wish Bill Turnbull a happy Christmas.

I quite like it that Breakfast still has members of its core presenting team presenting over Christmas and New Year.

As mentioned, Louise is probably presenting all over the period because she’s just had a month off. Just like any other job.

Boxing Day and New Years Day are probably the worst days to do Breakfast TV as you can’t enjoy the previous day properly. With Christmas Day you’re done by 9am.

When did Breakfast start airing on Christmas Day - it's quite recently isn't it?

15 years ago according to BBC Genome.

Aah, I still consider 2003 fairly recent!

Ha - me too. We’re obviously both getting old.

It was on BBC Two in the years before that though, so it’s basically always aired on Christmas Day since it started in 2000

It was the start of the situation where Breakfast became a permanent fixture on BBC One 365 days a year.

Let's get this presenting over Christmas thing straight - main presenters are more likely to be able to negotiate their contracts to miss out Christmas and New Year. Louise wouldn't be doing Christmas day if she hadn't gone on leave for 3 weeks or so. Emergency services need loads on the job, not just one presenter, so people are more likely to work on Christmas day.

If you front Breakfast or any news show on Christmas Day , you could argue it inflates the ego knowing all eyes on you.

How many people are up at that hour watching TV? I imagine most are opening presents or having a family breakfast away from the TV.

Here in the US the morning shows on Christmas are prerecorded and have slots for a newsreader to do updated headlines and weather.



So true. Are there any historical audience figures available to see viewership for past Christmases compared to say the week before.

I think quite a few people are up as kids tend to wake early on Christmas morning. Not that all are glued to Breakfast but it will still have a large chunk dipping in.