Radio Times Christmas Issue

The Christmas issue of the Radio Times has hit the shelves, and does anyone think it's strange they've chosen to feature The Snowman & The Snowdog on the cover for the second year running?

I know traditionally they like to feature a generic Christmas card-type scene, usually with Father Christmas, and they've got some PR out of going back to this. It just seems a bit bizarre that out of the whole Christmas schedule they've chosen to highlight something that featured so heavily last year.

2012
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wcFuf9x4n6c/UMJPdPrFchI/AAAAAAAABcA/FAqwsDvl8ro/s320/radiotimeschristmas2012.JPG

2013
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTEzNlg4MzQ=/z/OQwAAMXQWzNSo3rS/$_35.JPG

I'd much rather see another Snow Dog cover than the tedious Corrie/Eastenders stars that dominate the other magazines' Christmas issues.....as well as the other 50 weeks of the year.

It is an odd one, especially given it's on Channel 4. Despite their new ownership they do still tend to stick to the BBC for covers.
Can only assume it sold rather well last year and they want to replicate that. Better than the year they put Wallace and Gromit on for no particular reason (than the usual repeats)!

There's no point in putting Doctor Who on the cover as it's only partially Christmassy and there's nothing to celebrate - apart from a regeneration...

That is a myth! They DID feature W&G in 2010 for a reason. They had teamed up with Royal Mail to launch a competition based around W&G because W&G were the subject of that years Christmas stamps. Plus ALL Wallace and Gromit films were being shown. After all, isn't The Snowman and the Snowdog a repeat too?

The Radio Times never has a photo on the front cover at Christmas, it's long standing tradition.

Our local shop isn't quite posh enough for the Radio Times, but The Total TV Guide is a very good equivalent for just £2.00. TV Times seems to have gone all to **** though - poor listings pages and seems to be drifting towards the lower end of the market but keeping the price of those at the higher end.

Not true. Although the vast majority of Christmas RT covers have featured illustrations, there have been a few occasions when photos have been used eg Mike Yarwood in 1978, Only Fools in 1985, Eastenders in 1986 and a choirboy in 1989, the latter being the most recent example. Granted, they haven't used photo covers often but it has occasionally happened.

Doesn't have to be a photograph:

Don't forget the photograph of Wallace and Gromit in 2008 and 2010.

Of course, thanks Wicko. They are indeed the most recent examples of this infrequent practice.

That's very true, although going by them the next Dr Who cover is due in 2015