Sounds Like Friday Night

They could potentially get away with it by titling it 'SLFN: Christmas' maybe?

It does seem a bit odd launching a new music show, but then harking back to an old one at Christmas, when it's basically the same format.

The new year one is particularly out of place as there isn't the same established tradition of keeping the TOTP name with that edition.

Having said that, looking at the ratings, I can see SLFN not still being around by next Christmas, so removing the TOTP brand would be a mistake at this stage.

That’s what I was implying, they could easily modify the name seeing as it’s a special

SLFN isn't a TOTP show though. The purpose of Christmas TOTP is to reflect the best sellers of the year in a seasonally dressed presentation. A special SLFN might work if it survives as a one off SLCD or similar as a late evening nightcap. It definately wouldn't work at the traditional TOTP time.

Eventually, if it’s a success, I could see SLFN taking the Christmas Day slot. But it’s too much of a gamble to axe TOTP for it when it’s still new and largely untested. They’d only have to dust TOTP off again in 2018 if the whole thing was a flop!! Better save face now in case.

You're comparing a show that's been on for two episodes to a show with a 50 year legacy.

They will never get rid of the TOTP Xmas Special anytime soon as it's designed to be a family show hence it's time slot before The Queen. The music might be current music, but it's still attracts the whole family viewing it to know what the latest music trends are.

SLFN is a show specifically for the age range it's designated for. If the BBC put that on before The Queen then they can kiss goodbye to its ratings and also for The Queen and the main Christmas movie.

And wouldn't it be stupid calling it "Sounds Like Friday Night" when the Xmas day show would be neither on a Friday, or at night? Sounds like Monday Afternoon?

As has been said literally just a page ago it's more likely it would be called Sounds Like Christmas Day

I don't really understand the audience distinction you're making between SLFN and TOTP.

The musical content of the Xmas day show would surely have been the same whichever flag it had flown under: i.e. the biggest names the BBC could manage to book, performing their biggest chart hits of 2017. The age range of the viewers who'd enjoy those performances would be the same in either scenario.

As for the TOTP "legacy", it now exists in name only; the graphics and shoestring set used in recent years hardly emulate the feel of the original show (whatever period your personal TOTP heyday might be).

So the only real argument for keeping TOTP is its familiar name appearing in the listings as a ratings puller, which then feeds back into the argument of why launch the SLFN brand in the first place instead of bringing back weekly TOTP?

I just think the BBC should go one way or the other - I don't mind which way - rather than being dithery. If you're going to launch a new brand, just chance your arm on it and throw everything at making it work, or don't launch it at all.



Something like "Sounds Like: Best of 2017" or "Sounds Like 2017" would communicate the show's content at-a-glance in the EPG/listings while staying "on brand".

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What's this increasing trend to incorrectly use the term 'filmed' to describe such events.

The correct term is 'recorded'

I’m sure most people would say ‘filmed’ if they saw Coronation Street scenes being shot in public and as this is a website aimed at the general public rather the industry I think it’s perfectly ok to use that term.