Merry Christmas Viewers...

Not true though. Sky News broadcasts to a large international audience, many of whom do not celebrate Christmas. Should broadcasters not put up trees over here on the off chance there might be a member of a faith watching that doesn't recognise Christmas as a festival? I think not.
Indeed, on Christmas Day on Sky the presenters were reading out emails - because let's face it when their top story was something about a Father Christmas skiing there isn't much news to report! - and I remember many people emailing in saying that even though they don't celebrate Christmas they'd like to wish the people who do a merry Christmas. Viewers who watch BBC World join BBC News 24 and therefore should expect to see some British influence somewhere. When CNN International joins CNN USA there are still Thanksgiving decorations and plants around the studio, at least I think that's what they're for, why should that bother me?

News 24 is a domestic service, not an international one and therefore should not be constantly thinking about how international audiences may react to their coverage. If World joins News 24 overnight then bloody tough, people can live with it. Or if the BBC is going to be so prissy that they're going to not show a Christmas tree on screen for fear of offending a member of the Jewish faith, for example, then then can broadcast out of the World studio overnight.

it thought their tree was a bit OTT too - out of proportion with the studio! -on the last main show before christmas - whilst shefali was doing the weather, they gathered around the tree and nick gave shefali one of the presents, he said it was an aggropohobic candle, it never goes out. - they even had fake snow falling

in contrast to central news- who did nothing

May I ask what your definition of the TRUE meaning of Christmas is?

Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ, sadly so many people seem to think its about the presents.

I also think Christmas is a very nice time to get together with all your family. Our family is well known for its Ison family reunions. They all come from the corners of the UK! Us Ison's are everywhere, there is no escaping us!!!

Most of my family have buggered off out of the UK and live on various continents around the world. So its just me and my teddy sitting around the turkey on Xmas day!

Awwwww, poor Jamez!!!

I can just imagine that actually!

Anyway, what do you all associate Christmas with? Do you look forward to the time of year? Do you like the cold crisp winter mornings or find yourself freezing? Discuss

Jamez, I'll come and keep you warm. Help is on its way.

*James sets a place for Chesh at the table*

Hooray - I'll actually have someone to pull a cracker with this year!

I COMPLETELY agree with you Mr. Ison. Well said. I love it when I'm with my family celebrating Christmas/New Years.

Get out the mistletoe, Jamez, Catster's coming to town. You can make my cracker fire any day of the week.

OOOH, you should come visit Canada during Christmas. Simply wonderful. Every city in the country has Christmas decorum put up, and the winters are chilly, but lots of snow.

After January though, I'm grumpy as hell and I want winter to go away.

(Edited by EDTV at 7:37 pm on Oct. 5, 2001)

And the standards have been lowered EVEN FURTHER