That's because idiots on the DS forums keep posting links to it.

EastEnders did well last night, werid seeing it on a Saturday but felt ok. I said in the soaps section that this episode would have been better as a part 2 for Christmas Day.

90 minutes of EastEnders would have been a tad excessive for Christmas Day.

I'm gobsmacked quite frankly.

Still less than 2 hours of ITV's soaps but I agree with you.

I hope next year EE is back to two half hours. It was supposed to be 2 half hours this year but the scheduling boxed them in. I would still have kept it as two half hours and found a way to slot it in. It seems to do better as two half hours in particular the second episode of the evening.

And Xmas day is unique in that more people are watching TV later in the evening so you don't need to get EastEnders out of the way by 9pm. I wouldn't bother scheduling around Corrie anymore at xmas either.

Peaktime shares (7-11pm) for December right now stand at: BBC1- 22.9%, ITV1- 24.2%.

BBC1 would need to win the remaining five days by +7% to win December overall according to this definition of peaktime. Unlikely to happen.

But based on the BBC's definition of peak time (6-10:30pm), they're pretty much neck and neck at the moment or even with BBC1 ahead.


The BBC's schedule is less bland than ITV's 2 hours of soap and clip shows like You've Been Framed/It'll be Alright on the Night. They've had the formula you've mentioned since 2006 and understandably have stuck with it because it's been extremely successful over the last few years. There is usually variation in terms of the comedy. I know The Royle Family was also on last year, but apart from that there's been The Two Ronnie's Sketchbook, To The Manor Born, Green Green Grass, My Family over the last five years.

ITV haven't tried properly for years, even when the BBC had a different type of schedule. It's not only the "past few years" that viewers have chosen the BBC on Christmas Day, it's been like that for decades. Even when ITV was the most watched channel for nearly all of the year, viewers would flock to BBC1 on Xmas Day as they always offer their best programmes on the day, whilst ITV goes for an average lineup probably due to financial reasons/low advertising revenue/etc.

You're right that the BBC will win no matter what. But if ITV did try to put on a good lineup (not that I'd expect them to due to financial reasons), I'm sure they'd have respectable ratings.

Although World Idol flopped in 2003, I'm certain that an XF/BGT special would do quite well on Christmas Day. World Idol was about 40% down from Pop Idol's figures when it went up against the huge ratings juggernauts of EastEnders and Only Fools and Horses (as hard competition you could possibly get back then). We've seen over the last 5 years that whatever goes up against EE, ends up about 30% down from their usual figures. Taking that into account, 7/8m for an XF/BGT show would be possible IMO. Also we've seen Dancing on Ice can get 5m+ on Christmas Day, and add that to Emmerdale (~5m) and Corrie (7-8m), ITV'd have a pretty decent lineup. The BBC would probably still win overall, but I do wish ITV did try harder.


I doubt there will be many major changes next year. EastEnders and Doctor Who are nailed on for Christmas Day. Strictly's the weak link which could be taken off the day, but then again what other programme could get 7m against Corrie? If next year's series is a better one than this year's (very likely), then it's likely that the Christmas Day special will rate better.

I don't think they should have the Royle Family again next year. I'm pretty sure we'll see Gavin & Stacey again or another revival such as Men Behaving Badly? Apparently, Martin Clunes wants to do one but Caroline Quentin refuses to do it. The BBC might have the Shrek The Third premiere next Christmas Day as well, which will get 8m+ so I'm sure their late afternoon ratings will be better than this year's.

Its not just the BBC's definition thought its what Ofcom states as peaktime aswell so I dont know why 7-11 is used on here, well I do becasue it benefits ITV.

Actually the BBC's peaktime is 6-8:30.

Its not the Ofcom peak. Ofcom peak is 6-11pm. In any case the Ofcom definition relates to ad sales rights, so has no relevance to the BBC at all.

Yes i know, it should have been 30mins each.

ITV's weak Christmas Day schedule is nothing to do with what's on BBC One. ITV don't make an effort because they don't want to. ITV only care about making money, and they don't believe there's enough cash to be made on Christmas Day.

ITV's only concern for Christmas Day is trying to schedule their two soaps to inflict maximum damage on the BBC One schedule. The Christmas Day schedules were meant to be signed off by 2.30pm on December 1st, but ITV were still arsing around, moving their two soaps from slot to slot until half-five.

Ad revenue shortage or not, you have to question the wisdom of putting Mr and Mrs on Christmas night. An horrific cheesy relic of the 1970s with asinine presentation is barely acceptable on a summer Saturday.

And what on earth was the thinking behind Poirot?! An attempt bog up its ratings in an unsuitable slot, to provide an excuse for scrapping it? That would have hit 5 or 6m on a spring Sunday at 8pm.

Great to see And and Dec rate well. Great show. Poor for PotC though surely? Was it a premiere? Thought the other two had huge ratings when they were on.

Poor for TV Burp though. Wonder why they swapped places with YBF. Still maybe people were unsure if it was new... I know I was wondering.

I have to agree with some that this years Christmas Day was quite poor. The hour long soaps did my head in, although i watch the soaps having no Emmerdale and splitting EastEnders would have been better. Mr and Mrs on Christmas Day was something different but just seemed like a poor offering by ITV.

For next year a film premier at 9pm, being advertised that it won't have any commercial breaks would do them well. Although ITV is all about ads so seems a bit silly, but that's what i'd go with.

It seems ITV cant win!

Its not that ITV dont want to put good programmes on Christmas Night but rather that there are better slots elsewhere. Take the Susan Boyle story which would have been perfect for Christmas night. But 2 Sundays before Christmas was a much better slot.

Poirot was a welcom alternative on Christmas night. Not everybody wants to see some stretched out sitcom or yet another variant of a Christmas carol.

Mr & Mrs was a mistake. I would have prefer a Christmas edition of The Cube perhaps to promote that show. Ideally next year as it is a Saturday I would like no soaps (but if they must, limit it to 1 hour). There is an alternative audience out there not being served by BBC1.

I hare fantasy schedules but I'd have my evening line up of:

5pm The Cube
6pm You've Been Framed
6.30pm Variety show featuring BGT, X Factor and other ITV stars amongst others
7.30pm Coronation Street
8pm 2 hour drama - Doc Martin or perhaps a Heartbeat finale
10pm An Audience with ............

I've been trying to understand the changes to BARB in 2010, its says it will be able to report data on daily basis, does that mean we would be getting the official rating quicker than we usually do?

Edit - I've given up trying to understand, I only just found out the ratings aren't really how many people watching, but is based on a panel of 5,100 households (11,500 people) with 1 viewer repersenting roughly 5,000 people. Its too complicated for me, and its not like its affects me personally.

I don't know why people carry on with this 'Ideal ITV Christmas Day schedule' topic

They could get a list of the highest rating shows of the year, stick them all on after each other and still get beaten by a massive margin, plus will have wasted high rating shows in dead slots.

I think ITV should have gone with the Ant and Dec show at 8pm on Christmas Night: obviously it would have to be pre-recorded, but it would have held up a heck of a lot better than Mr and Mrs. It could have run until 9.30 without any great difficulty, thereby saving Poirot for a Sunday slot at some point in 2010.

And it would have provided a nice little ego massage for Ant and Dec, by giving them a Christmas night slot. A nice bit of goodwill like that could be invaluable when it comes to negotiating a new contract in 18 to 24 months' time.

When you look at the wonderful ratings they delivered for ITV with Talent in the spring, and the very good ratings for Celeb over three weeks in the autumn, you have to wonder what the fellas need to do to get a regular Christmas night gig.

I think it just got lost in the schedules really, not helped both by ITV running several "Best of TV Burp" shows lately, and also it being pushed earlier into the schedules to stay clear of EastEnders. Might have been better an hour later really, with Ant and Dec at 8pm and perhaps Family Fortunes airing tonight instead.


As for The X Factor or Britain's Got Talent on Christmas Day - I think it's probably more difficult to achieve than you think as unlike Strictly, neither can take on a competitive format really, whilst BGT wouldn't want to overshadow the Royal Variety by putting on a bigger show.

The X Factor then might be a better option with this years finalists, a few from the past and a couple of guest stars putting on a Christmas themed show - but the judges would need to be involved in some form too.

I also wonder if putting Corrie on at 9pm might be an idea as an alternative to the BBC's comedy offerings - but at the moment ITV have a vested interest in that too. One thing is for certain though - if The Royal Family had made it's come back on ITV, it wouldn't be getting 10m viewers on Christmas Day.

ITV should care about Christmas Day, because it's a brilliant opportunity to get a family audience. I think it's the only time a broadcaster can be certain all families will be watching TV.

Therefore, I think ITV should go for a highly dependable schedule next year, with established hits playing out to challenge BBC1 as much as possible.

As Doc Martin has not got a series next year, viewers will look forward to a Christmas special. That's similar to Dancing on Ice, as its series airs in January, so people will not be tired of it at all, rather the opposite. I think the soaps need a shorter airing, and this year's storylines were pretty shocking.

Then again, I do genuinely think ITV should make an unlikely move and remove Emmerdale and Corrie from the Xmas Day evening line-ups, because their storylines are not big enough to warrant such big slots. Instead, I think they should purposely go for warmer storylines, and put them in the afternoon in order to prop up the later schedule. They won't get a very big audience, probably around 4-6 million viewers, but at the same time, they won't have any competition and it's not as if they're really big storylines.

And because BBC1 are becoming rather more predictable, I think next year gives ITV the best opportunity to win Christmas Day.

Predicted (and sometimes painfully) realistic shares and ratings are in brackets).


6:00am Magpie (0.5m - 5%)
8:00am The Polar Express (2m - 25%)
9:45am Noel's Christmas Presents (3m - 27%)
11:45am National News, Weather / Regional News, Weather (3.5m - 28%)
12:00pm Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (4.5m - 30%)
3:00pm The Queen (3.5m - 23%)
3:15pm Coronation Street (5.3m - 26%)
4:00pm Emmerdale (5.4m - 25%)
4:30pm Harry Hill's Christmas Crackers (5.4m - 25%)
5:00pm The X Factor: The Winner's Story (6.4m - 29%)
6:00pm National News, Weather / Regional News, Weather (5m - 24%)
6:15pm The Muppets Show (6m - 26%)
6:30pm Dancing on Ice (5.2m - 24%)
8:00pm Ant & Dec's Christmas Night Takeaway (5.4m - 22%)
9:00pm Doc Martin (9m - 37%)
10:00pm News at Ten / Regional News, Weather (5m - 24%)
10:15pm Christmas in Benidorm (5.8m - 27%)
11:15pm Love Actually (2.5m - 26%)

I'm pretty sure BBC1 will not be as equipped as normal. Their comedy at 9pm is likely to be beaten by Doc Martin, especially if it's Men Behaving Badly (which will be interesting with Martin Clunes!).

Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Harry Hill's Christmas Crackers and The X Factor: The Winner's Story should win their slots. The morning schedule should beat BBC1's church service, as well.

Dancing on Ice will most likely be sacrificed against Doctor Who and Saturday Night Takeaway will be versus EastEnders. Nevertheless, I still think they are good for an alternative, and can get over 5 million.

Christmas in Benidorm is likely to win its slot too. And Love Actually is always a good Christmas performer. The Polar Express did well this year, and kids will watch it next year as they open their presents, most likely.

And Noel's Christmas Presents would be another big move from ITV, something that Noel would most likely advocate. I don't know whether it would work, it would have to have the right promotion and there'd have to be some spoilers. There'd have to be a little right wing incentive to get the older people watching too, like presents for our servicemen!

Magpie would be reinvented for the first 2 hours of Saturday mornings. It would be a low key revival, but still, it could be a platform for all the CITV programming for time to come. Hopefully nostalgic parents will sit their kids in front of the programmes, though I don't think that will happen! Still, I think ITV are legally required to have kids TV, and I can't think of anything else to go in the 6-8am slot. Plus, it fits in nicely to ITV's Christmas ethic of family TV.

The Muppets Show's return will definitely pull in the viewers, and it might even be the most watched show of the day, unless it's against big BBC opposition, but that's unlikely. It'll probably be against Strictly next year, but could still make a big impact, even in 15 minutes. And it fills the gap nicely.

Love Actually is a much loved film, as we've all gathered from its very good figures on ITV2 despite getting over 3 million viewers for ITV1 the week before in an otherwise awful night for the channel. At 11:15, it'll be tucked away so noone will complain about overkill, but it's a film which is perfect for Christmas Day. Something like Bridget Jones' diary would also suffice.

Before going any further, see: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...&postcount=976

Even not up against EE, it wouldn't get 9m.

It all seems a bit 'fantasy', the 9:25am junction isn't there, and ITV would never put Emmerdale or Coronation Street in mid-afternoon (IIRC, they did actually do it one year though)

A lot of kids are watching TV on Christmas Day daytime, what would parents rather watch with them: kids films or Corrie and Emmerdale?

As with my post above, I agree with you about Britain's Got Talent and X Factor, but all it needs is a well produced complilation show - as I think that's what people want at Christmas, a laugh!

I think something like this would do well:-
The X Factor: The Losers' Stories
Britain's Got Talent: The Losers' Stories

And I also think Peter Kay belongs somewhere in an ITV Christmas night.

But honestly, 9pm could be comedy drama, with Doc Martin airing in the year where there's no full series (2010, 2012, 2014), and that can air alongside Ant & Dec specials [which can similarly air every 2 years] and Dancing on Ice [which already airs every 2 years].

Then in the odd number years (2011, 2013, 2015, etc), there could be a different comedy drama at 9pm, or something completely new as ITV start to gain a little bit of authority at Christmas.

Obviously, if BBC1 bring back Only Fools and Horses at 9pm on Christmas Day, ITV should just give up and die, and air a You've Been Framed marathon. But otherwise, they have a big chance of claiming a bit of authority as long as they use their greatest weapon, Doc Martin.

And ITV also have a very strong weapon in Harry Hill, Ant & Dec and Benidorm. Now Madge and Mel live in Benidorm, there is scope for a Christmas special.

And the thing is, Emmerdale and Coronation Street are too predictable and need a rest from Christmas night, so why not have some warmer storylines after the Queen's speech, because it could influence other parts of the schedule, and provide something a little bit different.

Coronation Street (and ITV) could use the Queen's speech as a dramatic device. After the speech finishes, the camera could zoom out, and it would be inside a family's living room at Christmas. It would be a bit like the Royle Family really, as the family choose what they want to watch, and have Christmas dinner. Then, there can be a montage at the end of all the different families celebrating Christmas. It wouldn't be a normal Corrie episode, but it would be poignant and a good move for ITV in my opinion.

Harry Potter, Love Actually, Polar Express, Happy Feat, Bridget Jones, James Bond, et al gives ITV some very good figures. I think it's the only day of the year where ITV get consistently good figures for the movies they show.

Corrie and Emmerdale, followed by Harry Hill and X Factor Winner's Story, personally.

I don't think it's that fantasy, it's completely realistic apart from Noel's Christmas Presents, Magpie and The Muppets Show. But this wouldn't cost ITV much money to make at all, and all three options would be an easy way for ITV to make a bit of money, and give people what they want at Xmas.

Also, there are already movies in my schedule:-

- The Polar Express
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
- Love Actually

I think 3 film slots are enough on Christmas Day. And if there's a better Xmas film to be shown, ITV should show it.

Though, I think the Philosopher's Stone should definitely stay in that 12pm slot I've put it in, because I think it'll do absolutely excellently there, just before everyone has dinner. Most families have dinner after the Queen's Speech, so Corrie and Emmerdale will be the only shows being offered to an older audience anyway. And they'll ironically be watched by less, too.

Maybe it'd be best to remove the soaps from the fantasy schedule altogether, but I've always liked the idea of the Queen's speech running into an episode of Corrie. I think it would be extremely poignant, and would over time, catch on.

I think that slot after the Queen's speech is a tough one, but ITV should offer an alternative to BBC1's big film, the only one likely to win its slot, by showing the soaps and Harry Hill and X Factor.

Because, I don't think ITV will have a problem winning the other film slots around the day. BBC1 will put an alternative film on after their church service until 3pm. And the Philosopher's Stone should beat that by some margin. The Polar Express will beat BBC1's Christmas service by some margin, followed by Noel's Christmas Presents.

ITV need to offer alternatives as best as possible, and admit that BBC1 are going to have a killer film, and cope with it as best as possible, i.e. not showing a film opposite it, like you suggest.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I think Doc Martin is capable of 9 million viewers if there's a big storyline publicised. It's a risk, but of course viewers will watch if the storyline's there. And there was no real storyline in 2006.

And it all relies on the fact that BBC1's comedies are getting a bit tired in the 9pm slot, and Strictly Come Dancing is getting tired in that slot as well, especially as the series has just finished. That's why I think Dancing on Ice has the advantage there, because its series is in January, so at least it's a fresh move from ITV.

Didn't Doc Martin have a Christmas special a few years back, which tanked?

It got 5.9 million viewers, but was against The Vicar of Dibley's last ever Christmas return.

Also, bear in mind, ITV won the 2004 Christmas ratings after 3 years of Only Fools and Horses specials.

Don't you see the same theme occuring? 3 years of Royle Family specials with no special next year, surely. So, it's the golden chance for ITV to put Doc Martin in at 9pm, and for it to triumph.

Its a strange scenario that 6.8 million is bad for Victoria Wood but good for Ant and Dec.

I think many would have tuned in last night hoping to see the new Morecambe and Wise and they got Noel Edmonds instead.

As for ratings, yes they add something to Talent and Celebrity, but those shows sell themselves whoever presents them (especially Talent). If they the Boxing Day show on Christmas night they would have got 2 million less-they need something more polished and less frenetic. Its rare they have posted 8 million in any of their own shows if I recall over a ten year period-its time they should move away from the takeaway stuff imo.

My thoughts on your fantasy schedule:

The Harry Potter idea at 12pm is a good one and would rate well for that slot, though your prediction is at least a million too high. You're suggesting 15m people will be watching TV before 3pm which won't happen.

The Queen, Corrie and Emmerdale predictions are also too high; you're suggesting a total audience of about 20.5m people watching around 15:15-16:30, which is about 5m higher than there would be in reality. I like the idea of Harry Hill in an early evening slot. But once again, the prediction is way too high for that time of the day.

I don't think the ITV2-esque X Factor documentary would get 6m+ at 5pm! Dancing on Ice and Ant & Dec are two shows I agree with you about and would rate quite well. I wouldn't mind seeing Doc Martin on Christmas Day, but that prediction is way too high once again! No matter what storyline it has, it won't be getting 9m on Christmas Day against the BBC's comedy offerings. It's not often that Doc Martin gets 9m in the overnights anyway (it's usually around 8-9m), but with strong competition from BBC1 on Xmas Day it'd fall below 7m (just like in 2005). Take note that up against Waking the Dead, Doc Martin fell to 7.2m last October. Chances are on Christmas Day, it'd face stronger competition in the form of EastEnders or a big BBC sitcom and would rate lower than that.