Christmas Programming and TV Listings

Far too late to say what he did if he meant this year - it's already been made.

Sigh. I have memories of eagerly scanning through the Christmas Radio Times to see what films would be airing, planning everything I wanted to watch starting with The Snowman...

I find myself massively underwhelmed by these lineups. But I don't think I look forward to telly at Christmas at all, regardless.

Feel exactly the same - it really has gone downhill over the last decade.

Sadly the "big film" that used to be the anchor isn't really a thing any more as people will likely already have it on DVD, as opposed to the old days when TV showings would be the first chance anyone had to see it since the cinema. And it's so easy and lazy to just put an hour of each soap on. Sadly Christmas TV isn't what it was, and probably never will be.

Ah, the annual rose tinted glasses whingefest.

It also appears that last year ITV2 didn't show any of the 15 year old ITV pantos that have become a regular in their Christmas schedule, so it will be interesting to see if they turn up again this year or if they're gone for good.

When is Channel 4's first showing of The Snowman this year?

Home video was well established prior to my birth, so I really don't think that's it. Although one thing you could be sure of was that the big films would all be in the Boxing Day/January Sale at Virgin.

That Tops of the pops thing is still a strange beast. Its a shame it doesnt come back.

Away from the big day, it's the rest of the schedule that is lacking these days. I'd like to see classic comedies stripped across lunchtime on BBC1, Classic cult shows like Red Dwarf, The Fast Show, I'm Alan Partridge etc stripped late night on BBC2. My dad enjoyed when BBC2 would strip some factual shows every morning on BBC2.

These days it's just Breakfast, kids film, film, Bargain Hunt, News, film, film, Pointless, news, prime time.

On ITV, it's GMB, Lorraine, Murder She Wrote, Jeremy Kyle USA, Film, news, Catchphrase, film, film, news, prime time.

I'm not a fan of films taking up so much airtime, particularly random ones.

I remember a few years ago on BBC 2, there was repeat of the I love series and red dwarf and something else, Im surprise Sgt Phil hasn't reappeared

Erm, I meant no Doctor Who Christmas special next year, nothing to do with a full series.