When I originally read the article it stated Christmas Day, but I can't find reference to that now, just the Christmas period. I thought it would cost a hell of a lot on Christmas Day, the production crew would not be cheap.
So likely head to head with Sports Personality then. I think the BBC nowadays air that at 7pm and The Apprentice final at 9pm, and as they copy and paste the schedules from year to year it'll probably be the same this year, though it would surely make more sense to give them a night each.
Some details have been released in various different places already and this is how things should probably look on
Christmas Day
on BBC One and ITV (so far):
The real shame is that the BBC especially haven't got the strength in depth to actually offer something different year in year out. It used to be a real achievement for a comedy to get a Christmas special but now the BBC air so few they're almost guaranteed one after their first series.
I do just wish the BBC would spread their hits out a bit more - my issue is with Strictly, Doctor Who and Call the Midwife all airing on the same night every year, and then often the days after being somewhat sparse for content. Taking at least one out of the Christmas Day schedule would improve things both on Christmas Day and on one of the following days too, although over the last couple of years it's a comedy to anchor the later evening schedule which they are really missing.
I say this as a Doctor Who fan but I think it should probably go without a Christmas special for one year.
So you want no Doctor Who AT ALL in 2016? Some fan you are! You do realise that series 10 is probably airing in early 2017, not late 2016? Otherwise it would be in pre-production already, and we'd probably know who the new companion will be. They're months away from that.
