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Complaints about this years Christmas TV schedule

louie_hardinglouie_harding Posts: 2,240
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in Broadcasting #1
Apparently many viewers are expressing their frustration on this years TV schedule being lacklustre compared to last year, many saying it’s too repeat heavy. I think you can’t expect to have quality new content every year. Last year was unique having a new episode of a much loved sitcom plus a new animated film featuring much loved characters. A quality Christmas schedule is probably a once every 5 year thing.
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  • louie_hardinglouie_harding Posts: 2,240
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    edited 15/12/25 - 23:34 #2
    I would hate it if a new Gavin and Stacey or Wallace and Gromit special was broadcast every Christmas. It would look tired very quickly and see a decline in quality, as is the case with Mrs Brown Boys and the Strictly Christmas specials.
  • AcerBenAcerBen Posts: 23,387
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    #3
    I think it's a bit silly judging them solely on Christmas Day. Over the whole season, there's a load of great stuff on the BBC in particular. And it makes sense for some of it to come out early so people can watch it when they want. You're not just stuck with whatever's live on BBC One anymore after all.
  • louie_hardinglouie_harding Posts: 2,240
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    edited 15/12/25 - 23:49 #4
    Christmas Day is the main day of the year these days where TV tends to be always on in the background and BBC1 is the default channel. But even so I think viewers expecting nothing but new quality content for the whole day is unrealistic.
  • PaddyKPaddyK Posts: 10,572
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    edited 16/12/25 - 00:00 #5
    Whinging about the Christmas TV schedule is almost a Christmas tradition now,the same old moaning every year.
  • hyperstarspongehyperstarsponge Posts: 19,077
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    edited 16/12/25 - 00:18 #6
    I don't need complaints but I do know that YouTube and Netflix has killed it off, also i will not just put BBC1 often at Christmas like what they expect me to either
  • PunksNotDeadPunksNotDead Posts: 25,949
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    #8
    They seem to spend most days whinging on FB & X anyway. Surprised they have the time to watch any telly.
  • wolvesdavidwolvesdavid Posts: 11,643
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    #9
    Is Home Alone and Home Alone 2 on? Yes. But they are repeats. Oh well. I think I will watch both films yet again.
  • THOMOTHOMO Posts: 7,556
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    edited 16/12/25 - 01:32 #10
    I never have time to watch any TV on Christmas Day. Other days of the year I’m out every day. Probably the only TV i watch in the evenings is the news plus listen to the Archers on the Radio. So really it dosnt bother me. I used to have Sky ‘s full package. But in recent years I’m out all the time by bus and then and then doing of walking every day..
  • THOMOTHOMO Posts: 7,556
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    #11
    THOMO wrote: »
    I never have time to watch any TV on Christmas Day. Other days of the year I’m out every day. Probably the only TV i watch in the evenings is the news plus listen to the Archers on the Radio. So really it dosnt bother me. I used to have Sky ‘s full package. But in recent years I’m out all the time by bus and then and then doing of walking every day..

    https://youtu.be/M36Y5ZAGqKM?si=7Mj8BGgJm73-ao0h
    If anyone wants to watch this episode of the Till Death Do Us Part Christmas Special from the early 1970’s where the Garnett Fsmily show how to have no good will at all in this very funny episode where Alf’s wife Else always gets the better of Alf plus son in law Mike and daughter Rita. enjoy.
  • snafu65snafu65 Posts: 19,273
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    edited 16/12/25 - 04:01 #12
    The opening post could just as easily have put here.

    https://forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/2472445/the-official-christmas-radio-times-and-christmas-tv-2025-thread#latest

    Oh wait, just noticed who started the thread. :D
  • davelovesleedsdavelovesleeds Posts: 28,875
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    #13
    louie_harding wrote: »
    Apparently many viewers are expressing their frustration on this years TV schedule being lacklustre compared to last year, many saying it’s too repeat heavy. I think you can’t expect to have quality new content every year. Last year was unique having a new episode of a much loved sitcom plus a new animated film featuring much loved characters. A quality Christmas schedule is probably a once every 5 year thing.

    I'd be interested to see any links you have where viewers are expressing their frustration on this years TV schedule being lacklustre compared to last year.

    Is it a Daily Express/Mail article where they've found five or six people on various social media sites typing away or did a journalist go out and do some research amongst people asking them their view on this year's Christmas TV Schedule?
  • malpascmalpasc Posts: 10,053
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    #14
    Don't we get this type of complaint every year? I have to say this year I am not feeling as excited about the BBC One Christmas schedule compared to last year, but not a complaint, more that TV is subjective and you're never going to please everyone whatever you do. There was big excitement last year generally because the final episode of Gavin & Stacey was airing, and that was a very big thing - probably the jewel in the crown for the Christmas Day schedule, but that was a one off. Most of the time it is mostly repeats with new specials for popular shows around them.

    If you're going to complain about the 'main' channels and lacklustre I'd say look more at ITV 1. It feels like they've almost given up most years when it comes to their Christmas schedule. Yes you get Christmas Emmerdale and Coronation Street but that's really about it.
  • hanssolohanssolo Posts: 25,657
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    edited 16/12/25 - 07:25 #15
    louie_harding wrote: »
    Christmas Day is the main day of the year these days where TV tends to be always on in the background and BBC1 is the default channel. But even so I think viewers expecting nothing but new quality content for the whole day is unrealistic.
    From https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl6p/2025/12/25
    Christmas Morning Service from Bradford Cathedral
    11:00
    Bluey
    Bluey’s Christmas Bundle
    11:40
    Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
    Afternoon
    13:00
    Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical (normally a Disney film but a recent film)
    14:45
    BBC News at One
    25/12/2025
    14:55
    BBC Weather
    25/12/2025
    15:00
    The King
    2025
    15:10
    The Scarecrows' Wedding (new)
    15:35
    Gladiators
    Celebrity Special 2025 (new)
    16:35
    Shaun the Sheep
    Series 7, Fleece Navidad
    16:45
    The Weakest Link
    Series 5, Christmas Special (new)
    17:30
    Strictly Come Dancing
    Series 23, Christmas Special (new)
    Evening
    18:45
    Michael McIntyre's The Wheel
    Series 6, Michael McIntyre's Christmas Wheel (new)
    19:45
    EastEnders
    25/12/2025 (Part 1) (new)
    20:15
    Call the Midwife
    Christmas Specials 2025, Episode 1 (new)
    21:15
    Also posted in The Official Christmas Radio Times & and Christmas TV 2025 Thread

  • Gone with the Wind2Gone with the Wind2 Posts: 436
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    edited 16/12/25 - 07:51 #16
    hanssolo wrote: »
    louie_harding wrote: »
    Christmas Day is the main day of the year these days where TV tends to be always on in the background and BBC1 is the default channel. But even so I think viewers expecting nothing but new quality content for the whole day is unrealistic.
    From https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl6p/2025/12/25
    Christmas Morning Service from Bradford Cathedral
    11:00
    Bluey
    Bluey’s Christmas Bundle
    11:40
    Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
    Afternoon
    13:00
    Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical (normally a Disney film but a recent film)
    14:45
    BBC News at One
    25/12/2025
    14:55
    BBC Weather
    25/12/2025
    15:00
    The King
    2025
    15:10
    The Scarecrows' Wedding (new)
    15:35
    Gladiators
    Celebrity Special 2025 (new)
    16:35
    Shaun the Sheep
    Series 7, Fleece Navidad
    16:45
    The Weakest Link
    Series 5, Christmas Special (new)
    17:30
    Strictly Come Dancing
    Series 23, Christmas Special (new)
    Evening
    18:45
    Michael McIntyre's The Wheel
    Series 6, Michael McIntyre's Christmas Wheel (new)
    19:45
    EastEnders
    25/12/2025 (Part 1) (new)
    20:15
    Call the Midwife
    Christmas Specials 2025, Episode 1 (new)
    21:15
    Also posted in The Official Christmas Radio Times & and Christmas TV 2025 Thread

    To be fair, isn't every single episode of Eastenders on BBC1 'new' ? So another 'new' episode of Eastenders is just the same as any other week.

    And the same for Call the Midwife, SCD and Gladiators. Even the King's speech is 'new'.

    To be honest, isn't this pretty much just what a typical Saturday night in winter looks like every week ?

    There really doesn't seem to be anything there that isn't just normal mainstream programming with the phrase 'Christmas special' on the end (and they were probably recorded in September anyway).

    There's nothing special in that listing.

    Just putting the phrase 'Christmas Special' on the end doesn't really change much does it ?
  • andydenyerandydenyer Posts: 10,501
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    #17
    louie_harding wrote: »
    Christmas Day is the main day of the year these days where TV tends to be always on in the background and BBC1 is the default channel. But even so I think viewers expecting nothing but new quality content for the whole day is unrealistic.

    Not in our house it isn't, and probably hasn't been for the best part of 25 years or more. We're too busy actually talking to each other, playing games, opening presents and preparing and eating the dinner etc. :)
  • The Unknown OneThe Unknown One Posts: 32,099
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    edited 16/12/25 - 08:37 #18
    I never understand the complaints about repeats at Christmas. Surely everyone has a film or Christmas special of something that they enjoy and look forward to seeing around the festive season?

    Whether it's Home Alone or Die Hard, Father Ted or Only Fools and Horses, plus many more, repeats of the classics are part of what makes Christmas TV what it is.
  • zacittyzacitty Posts: 4,764
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    edited 16/12/25 - 09:13 #19
    It’s dreadful and we won’t be watching a single minute of that TV schedule on Christmas Day. But with the exception of 2024 it’s been roughly this bad for a decade now - they stopped putting any effort in around the time Downton finished competing with them on the other side, and just started trotting out the unbearably stale quartet of Midwife, EastEnders, Mrs Brown and Strictly every single time. I think the gifts that BBC One were handed on a plate from Nick Park and Ruth Jones last year caused people to forget that it was the exception not the rule.
  • PaddyKPaddyK Posts: 10,572
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    edited 16/12/25 - 09:16 #20
    Christmas TV has always been variable anyway,a few diamonds among a lot of rubbish,there’s never been a so called golden age of Christmas television despite what some claim,the era of the whole family sitting down together on Christmas Day to watch telly are long gone and the current Christmas schedules reflects this.
  • steepdropsteepdrop Posts: 11,289
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    edited 16/12/25 - 09:56 #21
    I rarely watch anything live except news and sport so I tend not to bother about the scheduling of any particular channel anymore.I can usually find something to watch on player or streaming service and if not there are lots of dvd’s I haven’t played for ages.So I don’t scan through the listings like some people still seem to do to complain.
  • PaddyKPaddyK Posts: 10,572
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    #22
    steepdrop wrote: »
    I rarely watch anything live except news and sport so I tend not to bother about the scheduling of any particular channel anymore.I can usually find something to watch on player or streaming service and if not there are lots of dvd’s I haven’t played for ages.So I don’t scan through the listings like some people still seem to do to complain.

    I usually record loads of stuff and watch it when I get the time,like you I rarely watch live TV nowadays.
  • noise747noise747 Posts: 33,474
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    #23
    We never bothered with the TV for most of Christmas Day when I was a child or when we got older, it was only in the evening and things have settled and down and my Dad said his normal thing of "well Christmas is as far away as it will ever be" when we turned on the TV, well my parents did, I did not bother much with TV. some things don't change.

    i can understand maybe people on their own, those that don't bother about Christmas may want to watch something, but so much choice these days available for most people.

    But it does show me something, I am glad I don't pay for the BBC.
  • carl.waringcarl.waring Posts: 37,741
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    edited 16/12/25 - 22:13 #24
    louie_harding wrote: »
    Apparently many viewers are expressing their frustration on this years TV schedule being lacklustre compared to last year, many saying it’s too repeat heavy. I think you can’t expect to have quality new content every year. Last year was unique having a new episode of a much loved sitcom plus a new animated film featuring much loved characters. A quality Christmas schedule is probably a once every 5 year thing.
    Such complaints have, ironically, been repeated every years for decades 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤣

    PaddyK wrote: »
    steepdrop wrote: »
    I rarely watch anything live except news and sport so I tend not to bother about the scheduling of any particular channel anymore.I can usually find something to watch on player or streaming service and if not there are lots of dvd’s I haven’t played for ages.So I don’t scan through the listings like some people still seem to do to complain.

    I usually record loads of stuff and watch it when I get the time,like you I rarely watch live TV nowadays.
    Yep. Me too. Have always done that.
  • ThomasRNThomasRN Posts: 219
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    #25
    The fact ITVs big Christmas day movie is Raiders of the lost ark speaks volumes
  • carl.waringcarl.waring Posts: 37,741
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    edited 16/12/25 - 22:20 #26
    Indeed.

    It is (or at least I thought it was) common knowledge that, for decades now, ITV have known they'll never beat BBC1 in the Xmas Day ratings so they don't even bother trying,
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