The Sun's review of Christmas Day tv gave positive reviews for EE, Mrs Brown's Boys and Doctor Who. Negatives for Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife (unfair IMHO) and Corrie.
I know a lot of people sky plus etc the programmes
Yep, 'overnight' ratings are increasingly irrelevant, especially at Christmas. There was a lot of stuff on that I wanted to watch yesterday but we were playing games and didn't have the telly on. It's all recorded though and I'll catch up on it.
Incidently, looking at the schedules the best channel last night for programmes was BBC2, the only thing I fancied watching on ITV/BBC1 was Miranda
Yes, though I don't think Channel 4 have shown it in about 20 years now. They didn't have their "Alternative Message" this year. Is this the first time? Wasn't it the president of Iran or something last year?
Yes, though I don't think Channel 4 have shown it in about 20 years now. They didn't have their "Alternative Message" this year. Is this the first time? Wasn't it the president of Iran or something last year?
Last year it was Edward Snowdon.
Yea, and the president of Iran was 2008! Thought it was way more recent than that.
All channels need to seriously look at their festive schedules for next year, as this year's figures are horrifically disappointing for all concerned. And before anyone mentions all the technological innovations since the 1970s that have supposedly put an end to high ratings, go back as recently as 2007 and 2008 and you've got massive figures for the likes of EastEnders, Doctor Who and (of all things) Wallace and Gromit.
There was no massive 'event' programme this year and the schedule was generally similar to what it's been since the start of the decade. They can't just put out another Mrs Browns Boys/Downton Abbey next year and hope for the best, and even Doctor Who's suffered compared to its David Tennant peak. Xmas 2015 needs something big.
:-(
A former member
Mrs Browns boys may not actually returning full stop, I do agree with what your saying the listings are truly dire and all I've heard from people even at the bus stop, " oh the telly dire this year" Saying that look back at Listings from years gone by:
Thought the 80s you had Noels live on xmas morning, Sickness and in health, Russ abbout Xmas show, only fools and horse. ITV always had a bond film. Some of the more interesting programme were never on Xmas day like Kenny Everett or Stanley baxter.
Why cant we have live xmas day programme? We had it in the 80s we had it in the 90s.
These ratings actually please me. Quite a few people I know have made their own familial entertainment and have not resorted to 'the box'. It seems others might have done the same.
They also to some extent justify the comparative lack of investment in the seasonal offerings. The repeats mantra as exhibited in some of the newspapers when the schedule was announced seems to have backfired with a number of them being received by healthy audiences, and yes I do realise some might have chosen them 'as there is nothing else to watch'. Offering one or two top entertainment shows should perhaps be the norm, padded with top repeated programming. Personally the domination of the Soaps on Christmas Evening, although not new really is a put off. Audiences for Soaps are still relatively strong, but their presence does put off some, i.e. the majority, who usually avoid them. A top pick, uncomplicated, Feature film at 8pm really should be an essential element on at least one of BBC ONE or ITV.
Of course many people are using streaming services now and I suspect the use of these has grown this Christmas. Choosing one's own schedule at Christmas from these seems very sensible and to be commended.
Some minority channels, notably BT Sport really tried very well with their output.
The traditional Mother, Father, Widowed or Widower Grandparent and 2.4 Kids surrounding the TV on the 25th really is a figment of those looking back to the pre-multichannel, pre-connected eras. It's not going to return in the 2010's UK.
Mrs Browns boys may not actually returning full stop, I do agree with what your saying the listings are truly dire and all I've heard from people even at the bus stop, " oh the telly dire this year" Saying that look back at Listings from years gone by:
Thought the 80s you had Noels live on xmas morning, Sickness and in health, Russ abbout Xmas show, only fools and horse. ITV always had a bond film. Some of the more interesting programme were never on Xmas day like Kenny Everett or Stanley baxter.
From recent interviews at the very least they'll be another two episodes of Mrs Brown next Christmas, and then either another series or movie. Comedy wise though the only way for the BBC to improve Christmas is to actually find some decent new comedy over the rest of the year.
I'm the first to moan about the Christmas Day schedules but looking back through the 80s, 90s and early 00s line ups on Genome and to be honest we're quite lucky now, even if the BBC's schedule is built up of BBC shows I largely can't stand. I would like to see the return of an annual 2/3 parter being launched on Christmas Day. They seem to get thrown out now in between Christmas and New Year and while some (like Great Expectations) can stand out on their own, others would probably benefit from a Christmas Day launch (like Mapp and Lucia this year).
