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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this year has been the worst for Christmas telly

120 replies

Misscromwellrocks · 28/12/2019 18:46

None of the stations seem to have made any effort whatsoever. Even on boxing night there was nothing special on anywhere. Usually there'd have been a couple of good dramas, a new Agatha Christie, festive editions of several popular shows eg Midsomer murders, grantchester, Downton Abbey .

But apart from Gavin and Stacy and a rather lacklustre Call the Midwife there's been nothing.

Aibu to be really disappointing this year's festive offerings?

OP posts:
NemophilistRebel · 28/12/2019 23:36

I saw that on the catch up list. Not heard of Wurzels gummidge before

doritosdip · 28/12/2019 23:36

No Sherlock or Luther either. (Really enjoyed them in recent years)

Tillygetsit · 28/12/2019 23:38

I did watch the original Worzel and loved this more.

longwayoff · 28/12/2019 23:38

Don't usually bother with Christmas t.v. as it's usually awful but enjoyed Christmas Carol and, strangely, Worzel Gummidge both of which I recommend.

ChocChipWookie · 28/12/2019 23:41

I recorded all his dark materials to binge on over Christmas as I suspected tv might be a bit crap.

I turned off Wurzel because frankly he reminds me more of something that fell off pirates of the Caribbean than a scarecrow. That’s not the Wurzel I loved.
Shall watch Paddington 2 tomorrow as I only watched the first one today (late to that particular one as well)

I keep seeing ads for Witcher. Is it worth a go then? I have deleted ghost story from the planner based on what I’ve seen of the reviews.

RuggerHug · 28/12/2019 23:44

Did no one else watch 'The man behind the bear' about Michael Bond and Paddingtons history????

SerenDippitty · 28/12/2019 23:45

YANBU. We spent this evening binge watching Lost in Space on Netflix.

SerenDippitty · 28/12/2019 23:46

Did enjoy the Christmas Eve ghost story on BBC4. Looking forward to Dracula over new year.

TiddyTid · 28/12/2019 23:52

Me and DH have just watched breaking dawn part 2 saying it's been the best tv so far haha. It's been utterly dire and we've been watching movies on prime or listening to LBC instead.

I'm seriously reconsidering my tv licence fee

ChocChipWookie · 29/12/2019 00:02

Did no one else watch 'The man behind the bear' about Michael Bond and Paddingtons history????

Yes, that's what finally inspired me to watch the movie. Great programme that was.

Cryingoverspilttea · 29/12/2019 00:05

I asked for a refund on the Radio Times xmas special. It's been fecking awful.

AdoptedBumpkin · 29/12/2019 00:07

That reminds me, Paddington was great.

hiphiphoorayback · 29/12/2019 00:08

asked for a refund on the Radio Times xmas special. It's been fecking awful.

GrinI would have done the same if only I hadn't highlighted the first day!

MsTSwift · 29/12/2019 00:11

We ended up laughing at Ghost Story it was so silly and I am quite easily scared

justcly · 29/12/2019 00:20

It has been rubbish. No Sherlock, no Wipe, no Agatha Christie. The Ghost Story was rubbish and as far as I'm concerned, they can stick Wurzel Gummidge where the sun doesn't shine on one of the children's channels.

aTeaLeafInOurMidst · 29/12/2019 00:25

The only thing we've actually watched this year is the Quizmas edition of QI. I've put the telly on each night, scanned though the listings and promptly switched it off again. I thought it was just us being picky but pretty much all the family I've spoken to have said the same thing.

user764329056 · 29/12/2019 00:33

Didn’t find anything good about G&S, very weak humour IMO

5foot5 · 29/12/2019 00:45

Worzel Gummidge was the highlight. Just beautiful. And I am a Jon Pertwee fan and remember that version well. But this was better.

ProfessionalBoss · 29/12/2019 00:52

I've not had any time to sit down watching TV until tonight, and it's been pretty awful, especially when I consider how much we pay for the TV subscription!

In fact, it has made me realise that we pay SO much money, only because my husband can watch football games! ShockConfusedAngry

MurrayTheMonk · 29/12/2019 07:16

What channel is the Michael Hutchence thing on please?

Bluesheep8 · 29/12/2019 08:11

Agree it's been rubbish. Watched the Susan Hill ghost story thing on catch up last night. What a load of tosh. I don't watch any of the soaps so can't comment but I do remember Christmas tv being so much better when I was younger. Maybe it's because in those days we had to wait to see things at Christmas and only had 3 then 4 channels. Nowadays no one has to wait for anything, it's just there on the internet so maybe the tv companies just don't need to bother anymore....

Bluesheep8 · 29/12/2019 08:12

Mind you, I plan to watch Wurzel now from reading this. Loved that as a child.

HopeItComesWithBatteries · 29/12/2019 08:13

Wisting was good, but should be available on the I player to binge watch.

longwayoff · 29/12/2019 08:19

@MurrayTheMonk, bbc2 - or bbc4? No matter, will be on iPlayer.

RuffleCrow · 29/12/2019 08:27

YANBU!!!!!!

It's been appalling!

My Radio Times is proof of this: every year the kids and i go wild with the highlighters and everything clashes and the thing falls apart. This year, apart from Christmas Day, there's barely a mark on it and it's almost as good as new.

I feel like the BBC was determined to get its ratings up for the few things it had invested in: G & S, Worzel Gummidge and A Christmas Carol - maybe to such an extent that there was some kind of 'arrangement' with the other channels not to compete.

One film that was noticeable by its absence was the Muppets Christmas Carol. For dd1 this always signals the start of christmas proper and she was really upset it wasn't shown at all. Again, i can only think it was down to the BBC knowing people wouldn't bother with their Mike From Neighbours version if people had already watched MCC. Bloody Scrooges the lot of em!