BBC One Christmas 2018

ITV basically gave up on Christmas from 1993 and really never recovered their love for it. ITV in the 70s did try to compete with the BBC, especially when they poached Morecambe and Wise (which did not turn out well for ITV).

UTV loved Christmas presentation in Northern Ireland, especially with the Santa flash reports on Christmas Eve.

What, all regions gave up together in 1993?

This was a solid Christmas Day lineup (and still my favourite Christmas presentation package ever, but I may be biased as it reminds me of my childhood).

Network executives at ITV gave up. They were beaten time after time by the BBC, and their money was made on the lead up to Christmas, and so they provided a lacklustre Christmas schedule for most of the 1990s.

A prime example of how ITV just forgot about Christmas night programming is seen in 2007, with probably a truly pathetic line up against the BBC.

5.00pm - Film: Polar Express (Premiere)
6.50pm - Emmerdale
7.50pm - ITV News
8.00pm - Harry Hill's Christmas TV Burp
8.30pm - Coronation Street
9.30pm - Film: Love Actually (not a premiere, but a repeat broadcast)
11.55pm - ITV News

Now, I can't be the only one who thought that 2007 line up was truly pathetic?

Over on BBC One that 2007 Christmas - a decent enough line up:

6.20pm - Eastenders
6.50pm - Doctor Who: Voyage of the Damned
8.00pm - Eastenders
8.30pm - Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special
9.30pm - To The Manor Born 25th Wedding Anniversary Special (one off Christmas special)
10.30pm - The Catherine Tate Christmas Show

That's a load of old tosh. Your comments, not the line up.


Yes, Polar Express isn't great but it was the premiere of a notable Christmas film. The soaps are ever present whether you like it or not, TV Burp was massive at the time and although not new Love Actually quickly established itself as a Christmas favourite of the schedulers at least and was still relatively new to TV at the time.

This is probably the wrong thread for all that but it does confirm that BBC schedules are a big deal and their presentation is iconic, so it is expected they make a big effort. It’s like comparing what John Lewis are doing this Christmas versus what Tesco are doing.

Once again, this is only my opinion. My opinion. That is what a TV Forum is for.


Love Actually, would be a great film, but not for prime time Christmas night, when you would expect something new from ITV, instead a repeat of a film. Channel 4 or 5 would seem fine, but on ITV, no sorry, just laziness.

You are absolutely entitled to your opinions, just like every other TV Forum member... but with the very, *very* greatest of respect, you really should try to express these opinions in a way that will *not* aggravate others and make them reply with things like, "What a load of tosh you're saying."

And that includes trying to use words and terms other than "not bothered", "pathetic" and "just lazy". These particular words and terms *can* be harsh sometimes. Remember, the written word *does* have its drawbacks compared to the spoken word.

All that said, we're *all* guilty sometimes of letting our guard down and saying or typing the wrong words or terms without really thinking. If we were all perfect, life would be boring - and indeed, if all TV Forum members were perfect, TV Forum probably wouldn't be very interesting either.

Some of us are perfit in wat we rite.

I can't help speaking my mind, and being honest in my opinion. If this comes across as aggressive, well I am sorry for that. I am passionate about certain things, and television presentation, and television history is something I have been studying and following and enjoying for many years.