Christmas Telly 2008

And it was full of Wensleydale I imagine!

I can't wait to see the TBA guides in tomorrow's papers. Also, the signed off schedules (confirmed schedules) will be announced sometime next week, probably around Wednesday or Thursday.

Five PI - Listings

Christmas Eve Primetime...
19.00 Ice Road Truckers (R) (S)
Documentary series examining the dangerous job of
driving trucks on Canada’s notorious ice highway. Jay
Westgard has to pull a massive diamond ore scrubber
across 210 miles of ice.
20.00 Nature Shock Man-Eating Pride (S)
Documentary series examining freak occurrences in the
natural world. This instalment explores the growing
incidence of lion attacks on humans in east Africa and
investigates the reasons behind this sudden shift in
behaviour. (See Feature)
21.00 TBA
23.50 30 Rock Tracy Does Conan (R) (S)
Sitcom set behind the scenes of a late-night sketch show.
Tracy is scheduled to appear on Conan but starts reacting
badly to some new medication.
00.20 30 Rock The Break-Up (R) (S)
Liz finally gets the nerve to end her relationship with
Dennis and Jenna takes her out to celebrate.

Christmas Day
6am Milkshake
09.00 World’s Strongest Man Super Series (R) (S)
Exclusive coverage of the World’s Strongest Man Super
Series. The final Grand Prix of the tour comes from the
Sweden Super Series in the picturesque town of Lysekil.
10.00 The Big Stunt Show (S)
Beverley Turner and Andy Goldstein present a series of
dazzling feats, some of which have never been performed
before. Daredevil stunt performers defy death, danger
and discomfort in pursuit of tough world records.
(See Feature)
10.30 Penguin Adventure with Nigel Marven (R) (S)
Filmmaker Nigel Marven meets and documents four
different species of penguin in their own environment –
the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia.
11.20 Zoo Days (R) (S)
Highlights of the series that goes behind the scenes at
Colchester and Chester Zoos.
11.30 Michaela’s Zoo Babies (R) (S)
Wildlife documentary series presented by Michaela
Strachan. At Bristol Zoo, a baby gorilla has an emergency
check-up, and Raz the lemur is weaned onto solids.
12.30 TBA
14.15 TBA
16.05 Five News (S)
National and international news.
16.20 Rory & Paddy’s Great British Adventure (R) (S)
Comedians Rory McGrath and Paddy McGuinness travel
the UK in search of strange sporting events. The pair
engage in a spot of toe wrestling in Derbyshire, before
partaking in two very entertaining cycling challenges in
Oxfordshire and Wales.
17.20 Ice Road Truckers (R) (S)
Documentary series examining the job of driving trucks on
Canada’s notorious ice highway. Alex ventures into the
unknown when he crosses a new ice road to an
abandoned gold mine. Drew tests Hugh’s patience with
yet another series of breakdowns.
18.20 TBA
21.00 TBA
00.0030 Rock The Baby Show (R) (S)
Sitcom set behind the scenes of a comedy sketch show.
Jack receives a mystery phone call, and Jenna reminds Liz
that her biological clock is ticking.
00.30 30 Rock The Rural Juror (R) (S)
Liz is forced to confess that she hates Jenna’s new movie.
Jack encourages Tracy to endorse a product.
01.00 Prison Break First Down (R) (S)
Acclaimed prison escape drama. Bellick teams up with
Michael, Lincoln and Nika to find Westmoreland’s money.
Kellerman continues to target Sara, who receives a
surprising phone call. T-Bag gets a ride from an
unsuspecting family.
01.50 Quiz Call
Interactive quiz show giving viewers the chance to answer
questions for money. Free entry is available through
quizcall.co.uk (0845 call charges apply).
04.05 The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures Peak
Performance (R) (S) (SL)
Series of lectures by intensive-care doctor Hugh
Montgomery exploring the theme of human survival.
This instalment focuses on respiration.
04.50 The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures Completely
Stuffed? (R) (S) (SL)
This instalment looks at how the human body uses food
for fuel.

I think I'll be giving Channel 5 a miss this Christmas.

I'm guessing Love Actually will be repeated non-stop on ITV2 once again this Christmas.

They seem to have far more Christmas specials than usual this time - most of their big shows have got something.

Judging by my campaigning last year for The Snowman to be put on Christmas Eve, the schedules were confirmed last year on 4th December, which was a Tuesday.

This could give a clue as to when to expect proper schedules... if it's the first Tuesday in December, it'll be around the 2nd - or if it's the 4th December, it'll be around Thursday. I haven't done any campaigning this year, but hopefully C4 will put The Snowman on on Christmas Eve again!

Digiguide already has a multitude of channels with schedules for Christmas - I must say G.O.L.D looks quite good this year!

Just had a look on the press site and The Snowman is pencilled in for 4pm on Christmas Eve. Still all to be confirmed of course, but at the moment the Alternative Christmas Message is down to air at 4pm on Christmas Day.

YES! That's about the time it should be on. With the smell of Christmas all around the house.

Damn, just remembered I'm not a kid anymore..

We can look forward to the usual discussions, such as why ITV have scheduled Coronation Street opposite EastEnders, why TBC is scheduled for hours every day and why London Tonight is airing across the whole country.
I don't know why they bother to be honest

Isn't there an unwritten rule that BBC1 & ITV won't schedule EastEnders and Corrie against each other?

Remember the early TV guides last Christmas? Didn't they have BBC1's schedule as something completely different than what it actually ended up as?