It’s that time of year again, when friends and families gather to spend quality time together – and hopefully not come to blows before the turkey is even in the oven. So what festive delights can viewers expect this holiday season to keep the kids amused and keep granny entertained before she falls asleep over a mince pie? The usual mixed bag of new shows and repeats the TV companies seem to think people want to see yet again.
Christmas Eve
Plenty of movies for the kids – High School Musical, The Santa Clause and Toy Story 2 on BBC 1. ITV1 has also surrendered daytime TV to the little ones with Santa Clause The Movie, The Polar Express and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory running one after the other. And would it be Christmas without The Snowman on Channel 4? Evening viewing looks a bit brighter for the adults with a new Gavin and Stacey on BBC1, Calendar Girls on BBC2 and, in a bizarre bit of scheduling, a repeat of Jamie Cooks Christmas on Channel 4. Surely if you haven’t started now it’s too late!
Christmas Day
And so to the Big Day. The little angels will have to wait until 11.25 for their first movie, The Santa Clause 2 on BBC1 or National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on ITV1. Those without kids to entertain may want to put their feet up for a musical double bill on BBC2, My Fair Lady and Oklahoma. The X Factor winner’s showcase, sorry, the eagerly anticipated Christmas number one is revealed on Top of the Pops Christmas 2008 at 2.00 on BBC1.
After the Queen’s Message at 3.00 sit back and surrender to the movies, but don’t expect any new releases. BBC1 is offering Shark Tale (2004) and Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit(2005). ITV1 is showing Bean (1997) followed by Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004). Channel 4 serves up Lassie (2005) and the ever-reliable schedule filler Scrooged (1988!).
BBC1 has four new offerings this year, kicking off at 6.00 with the long-awaited new episode of Doctor Who on BBC1; will there be any clues as to who will be replacing David Tennant as the next Doctor? This is followed by Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special at 7.00, Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death at 8.30, and the annual celebration of the couch potato that is the Royle Family at 9.30
As usual, ITV1 bows to the competition with only one new show, Dancing On Ice at Christmas. Simpsons galore on Sky1 although sadly no new episodes, and for those seeking a faux pas of the rich and famous fix, Five offers Most Shocking Celebrity Moments of the 21st Century. Aside from the traditional morning service on BBC1, Channel 4 has the only real show with a religious theme, The Nativity Decoded at 7.30. And fear not soap fans – Coronation Street, EastEnders and Emmerdale will all be competing to see which can offer the most depressing festive storyline.
So it appears to be a case of same old, same old, with only the BBC making a half decent attempt to give viewers something worth tuning in for. The days of classic family Christmas specials such as Morecombe and Wise or Only Fools and Horses are well and truly gone. With so many satellite channels on offer perhaps terrestrial TV bosses feel it’s not worth the time or money trying to get people in front of the box anymore. Fingers crossed for next year.
