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Original poster

AIBU to be shocked at how shit Xmas day telly is this year?

161 replies

Upholstery · 20/12/2025 18:49

40 year old films, Xmas specials from half a century ago, bake-off and the bloody McIntyre wheel? That's the best they can come up with? And as for ITV - what kind of self-loathing maniac wants to watch Lorraine on Xmas morning? The only thing that sounds half decent is Amandaland. What are they playing at?

OP posts:
NotAnotherScarf · 20/12/2025 22:56

Don't worry the BBC will still spunk £1m on lineker next year even though he's not doing the football.
Sadly like many organisations the BBC and itv think they know how to attract people..
McIntyre...as funny as having your fingers shut in a car door.

    • Ranganathan is a tick box exercise...there are funny Asian comedians...he's not one. Sanjeev Kohli is a genuine funny guy but for some reason doesn't get the work.

Remember Morecambe and wise had 50% of the whole country watching..
These losers get 2% watching and they do a lap of honour

Sesma · 20/12/2025 22:54

Hallow road is on Sky as well so there are some films

ohyesido · 20/12/2025 22:51

I miss the Doctor Who specials back when they used to be good

TheWytch · 20/12/2025 22:51

We discovered last week that the TV is faulty so there will be no TV at all this Christmas for nor for our houseful of guests.

Poonu · 20/12/2025 22:51

I'm excited for Amanda land

Supersimkin7 · 20/12/2025 22:49

The Beeb budget goes on pensions so they leave it to Netflix to make tv.

Sesma · 20/12/2025 22:46

Madame Blanc is on Tuesday and The good ship murder on Saturday so looking forward to them but it's not Xmas day

xmasstress12 · 20/12/2025 22:45

I don’t watch Death in Paradise, Call the Midwives, Dr Who, Beyond Paradise soaps etc so have no interest in the Christmas specials.

berlinbaby2025 · 20/12/2025 22:43

Money is a factor like never before because of how expensive it is to make some TV shows. I note there’s no Agatha Christie adaptation this year but next month a new one drops on Netflix.

I’m impressed BBC2 are showing Oppenheimer, tomorrow.

I’m looking forward to Amandaland, mainly because of the characters rather than the writing. A lot of the TV shows on over the next two weeks have a basic, bargain basement, twee vibe which doesn’t appeal. They’re relatively cheap to make.

LighthouseLED · 20/12/2025 22:43

Sesma · 20/12/2025 22:39

Thanks, we will probably watch Sinners, though it doesn't look very Christmassy😆

Show quote history

It isn’t, but it is well worth watching (though I did have to shut my eyes for some of the gory bits)

Sesma · 20/12/2025 22:42

xmasstress12 · 20/12/2025 22:36

I think the latest Mission Impossible is on Sky.

We will probably watch that as well, DH will definitely want to watch that, then I can watch CTM and Eastenders in peace later if there as been a couple of film on

xmasstress12 · 20/12/2025 22:41

Love a new drama/thriller to get into over the Christmas period.

This years offering is the Night Manager

Amiunemployable · 20/12/2025 22:40

It's been a tradition of mine since childhood to buy a TV guide and circle all the programmes I want to watch over the Christmas period.

The only time we ever bought a TV guide was the christmas edition, and it was one of the highlights of the Christmas period.

In the last few years, I've been circling less and less, and this year has been the worst. So disappointing. Don't think I'll bother getting one next year.

Highlights of the TV guide would be stuff like the new Doctor Who Christmas Special, those Dickens and MR James adaptations. New dramas. Things like Mo Hayder's Wolf. That Baptiste programme The Missing. Deadwater Fell, Whitehouse Farm, etc. Love a new drama/thriller to get into over the Christmas period. December/Winter is the only time we watch TV really.

But there's just nothing like that at all. Everything is repeats. No new content besides Mrs Brown's Boys and game shows.

One of the only things I circled was the Mandy Xmas special on 22nd but apparently BBC have pulled it without giving a reason.

Now trawling BBC player, 4od and ITVX for dramas that I might have missed in previous years to watch.

Gingercar · 20/12/2025 22:39

ponyprincess · 20/12/2025 19:22

What sort if specials were you hoping for @upholstery? I agree that watching things together is cosy part of Christmas I like so not great if you are disappointed

Last year the tv was great. The long awaited Gavin and Stacey finale and the new Wallace and Gromit film made it special.

Sesma · 20/12/2025 22:39

xmasstress12 · 20/12/2025 22:31

@Sesma Sky is showing Minecraft & Sinners I think.

Thanks, we will probably watch Sinners, though it doesn't look very Christmassy😆

Sidebeforeself · 20/12/2025 22:37

I was moaning to DH that there’s hardly any old films on - Sound of Music, Wizard of Oz, Christmas Carol, Chitty ..the old Christmas films of my childhood if you see what I mean.

xmasstress12 · 20/12/2025 22:36

I think the latest Mission Impossible is on Sky.

Sahara123 · 20/12/2025 22:32

Can’t stand Amandaland but like Bake Off !

Dramatic · 20/12/2025 22:32

Upholstery · 20/12/2025 19:44

@ponyprincess I'd like to see as you say things that everyone can watch eg Dr Who, Wallace and Gromit. And I miss Xmas top of the pops, which kept going long after the regular programmes, again everyone could watch it, it was all big tunes from the year that you hear on radio even if you're not particularly plugged in to current music.

Also not specifically for Xmas but BBC used to do Dickens adaptations in winter that ran across Xmas, in the early 2000s, they were great, and M R James adaptations.

And they used to have genuinely good recent films, or at least old proper classics golden age of Hollywood type stuff.

But, I guess my Fantasy TV Xmas Special would be Alan Partridge. I would love to see that.

All of the Wallace and Grommit's are on on Christmas Day

xmasstress12 · 20/12/2025 22:31

@Sesma Sky is showing Minecraft & Sinners I think.

xmasstress12 · 20/12/2025 22:30

@Bichette Run Away, apologies though it’s on Netflix

Sesma · 20/12/2025 22:29

xmasstress12 · 20/12/2025 22:25

I don’t see the difference between watching a movie via a streaming platform or live broadcast.

Show quote history

A movie is easier to pick, maybe Sky will have an offering, I doubt it though.

Bichette · 20/12/2025 22:29

What’s the new Harlan Coben thing please? I haven’t seen that.
the only thing I’m looking forward to seeing is The Night Manager 2

Peridoteage · 20/12/2025 22:25

I can only assume its because fewer people watch live TV on Christmas day than might have done in the past.

If they knew there were huge audiences there'd be advertising revenues funding good quality programming.

In reality I don't really know anyone who watches loads of live tv on christmas.

xmasstress12 · 20/12/2025 22:25

Sesma · 20/12/2025 22:21

Streaming is something you do on your own, I'm not going to sit there on Christmas Day watching some series for hours.

I don’t see the difference between watching a movie via a streaming platform or live broadcast.

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