Can someone explain to me why channel controllers don't save up some of the many decent one-off dramas, documentaries and comedy that get commissioned the rest of the year for this one day? Are Christmas schedules of mediocre sitcoms what people really want to watch?
The BBC have got the Wind in the WIllows, Dracula and the Phillip Pullman drama- all one offs, all with amazing casts.
Comedy is a bit disappointing on BBC One, but it's still not disastrous- My Family, Little Britain and Vicar of Dibley are really the only ones big enough to justify Christmas specials...my pick for comedy this christmas will undoubtedly be the Thick of It Christmas special over on BBC Four.
Christmas has never really been a time for documentaries- I think it's the one time of year when families come together and shut out the outside world focusing on themselves and staying away from world reality.
There's plenty of time in the build up to New Year to get back to reviewing what's been going on.
The Royle Family episode which aired some weeks back now would have been perfect for Christmas Eve, sitting in from of the fire with a glass of milk.
I always go out for Midnight Mass - its like a tradition now. Even though you get some really miserable old people at church at that time of night. There's normally a nice carry-on film on TV when I get home though or Christmas Top Ten with Shane McGowan laughing like he's releasing toxic gas from his mouth!
Does anyone know if Neighbours is taking a break that week?
I think Neighbours if off on Monday 25th, Tuesday 26th December and Monday 1st January. We are quite a way behind Oz so we dont need to take such long break apparently.
Home and Away isnt taking any time off yet again this year even though we are fast catching up with Oz. (currently 17 weeks behind but they take a long break so by the end of 2008 we will have caught up)
Blimey thats a long ITV News bulletin on Christmas Day!
I don't for a minute believe Doctor Who will be on as early as 5.25. Last year the early schedules had it at 6.15 - of course it later changed to 7.00. I won't trust any Christmas schedules until I seen them in the Radio Tiems!
I don't for a minute believe Doctor Who will be on as early as 5.25. Last year the early schedules had it at 6.15 - of course it later changed to 7.00. I won't trust any Christmas schedules until I seen them in the Radio Tiems!
I agree with you there. I bet Doctor Who will be on at 7pm.
I've amended my BBC 1 Christmas Day lineup prediction. This is what I think it will stand like now.
6:00am Breakfast
9:00am Christmas Morning Mass
10:00am The Wind in The Willows
11:00am Blue Peter's Christmas Presents
12:00pm BBC News
12:10pm FILM: The Santa Clause
2:00pm Top of the Pops Christmas Special
3:00pm The Queen's Speech
3:10pm FILM: TBA
4:40pm FILM: Monsters Inc
6:00pm BBC News
6:15pm My Family Christmas Special
7:00pm Doctor Who
8:00pm The Vicar of Dibley
9:00pm EastEnders
10:00pm BBC News
10:15pm Little Britain Christmas Special
11:00pm Before They Were Famous
12:00am Christmas Prayer
12:10am FILM: TBA
2:10am BBC News 24
On Christmas Day;
6.30pm Eastenders
7.00pm Doctor Who
8.00pm Easteneders
This is partly why I criticised Michael Grade's tenure as BBC1 controller recently. It was he, who by scheduling an explosive edition of EastEnders on Christmas Day 1986, planted the seeds for soaps to dominate the one day of the year they should be rested.
But if we have to have them, perhaps they should follow Crossroads' example from 1979 - of a happy day without incident (not sure about Nolly bursting into song though...)
) or Wrighty in vision.