The Secret Story of the BBC Christmas Tapes

Yes. Admittedly I felt a bit bad after posting that, because as you say a lot of it was quite sad, but unfortunately a lot of the behaviour and dialogue of the Goss twins came across as ridiculous, as though I was watching a parody.

One thing they didn't mention is that during rehearsals, Marcus Mortimer the producer arrived in tears to tell them he'd just seen the schedules and they were being flung out at eleven o'clock.

I wouldn't feel bad. Yes it's in parts sad, but in parts hilarious, as sweary flare ups started over at times, as something as insignificant as a drumbeat.

The editing was also very even-handed. It didn't take 'sides' with either Matt or Luke, so as a viewer you didn't end up rooting for either brother. You had the feeling they were as bad as each other.

Anyway, back on topic.
Where was Suzi Quantel 'He's a Sports PA' song in last night's show, eh? Guessing another insurmountable rights clearance issue.

I wonder why it went out so late, there could have moved CivvyStreet to else where and that would give them the 21.55 slot,

Seemingly they just didn't fancy it. The bizarre thing about Civvy Street is that it was opposite Coronation Street,

I had a chance to watch this gem and its was a pure delight could have been double the length and still lefts us wanting more. It's a shame BBC version was killed off in 1998. Its telling how much dislike there was to the BBC management during the mid 90s.

When did ITV kill of its xmas tapes?

Didn’t LNN have a a Christmas tape? When did they stop?

Yes there did, as far as proof goes we have up to 1998 and thats it. I never seen any of the small ITV station or STV xmas tape mind

Really ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIs2VpxNCqM

One is embedded earlier in this thread.

In terms of smaller operations making Christmas Tapes, honourable mentions to Molinaire (on YT with lots of citv outtakes iirc) and, believe it or not BBC Newcastle did their own for several years

It could easily have been longer. They didn't even get time to explain the phenomenon of performers cocking up then following it with "Merry Christmas VT" which was pretty indicative that the tapes were enjoyed well beyond the VT dept and of the TV factory that was TV Centre in that era.

Or the very respectful way the 90s tapes built on the heritage of the earlier ones - such as the reprise of a Dalek uttering "Bollocks" one year.

It's crying out for a feature length Director's Cut

By the way, the endcap is surely the closest to a pure BBC-only endcap you can get nowadays. BBC Studios, © BBC MMXVIII, that's it. Not even Albert & Sustainable were involved, and they're involved with every production nowadays!