Another not-so-surprising news: Merlin will probably continue after 2012.
http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/11/24/merl...six-and-beyond

Interesting to note missing from the BBC schedules are the three episodes of The One... Not sure where these will end up, perhaps just over the New Year weekend.

fair enough, it does not help that BBC 3 whilst producing new comedy is not making anything that can transfer to BBC 1, I cant for example see the whole family sitting down to a Mongrels Christmas special on BBC 1.


It does not help when there are no decent new movies.

I just think it's become too rigid pre-9pm...ITV1 is little better before 9pm though at least we can guess the gameshow filler with them. We could've predicted BBC One's Christmas Day programming before Boxing Day.

Now I know they're popular, but why not try something different? Maybe Merlin instead of Who? I would've loved the BBC to have aired The Royal Variety Performance on Christmas Day - with an EastEnders lead in I think that would've performed well; obviously they don't have the chance now. ITV1 won't risk it, but it'd be nice for them to try it one year.

I dont disagree, hence why im saying get rid of Strictly, that will leave room for change.


there is no way the BBC will risk disappointing Doctor Who fans, for a Merlin Christmas special, that will be a huge disappointment, I say this because Merlin and Christmas do not too me seem like the kind of things that would gel well.

As for the Royal Variety Performance, seriously im going to ask this, do people really care about that anymore?

Last year the RVP got 8.9m in the officials for BBC1 on a Thursday (partly against the ITV soaps)

Two years ago it got 9.5m on a Wednesday on ITV1.

Still attracting very good ratings.

those are good ratings, guess im just not a royalist.

Exactly. I'm sure Gavin and Stacey will return sooner rather than later (we're surely due Christmas in Barry!) and although it could easily replace The Royal Family as an annual offering after a couple of years we'd be complaining about that too.

That annual foursome needs breaking up - I'd definately have moved Strictly to prop up Christmas Eve and perhaps given Outnumbered a shot on Christmas Day


So they'll milk the same plot line of Merlin stopping Arthur being killed by Morgana even longer. I'm amazed they're still getting away with it as although in isolation the episodes are a good 45 minutes of TV, to me about 8-10 of the episodes pretty much have the same plot.

It's a sad way to look at it to but as well as it's performed against The X Factor the BBC could stick a lottery quiz in that slot which is a hell of a lot cheaper and can pull in decent enough numbers too.

Merlin needs to be very careful not to become Smallville, by which I mean endless dragged out, keeping the central character from becoming an adult, and embracing his destiny, simple to keep the show on air.

that said Arthur is already King now, that is something Smallville would not have done.

Over the fortnight, the BBC have I think done a better job there than last year - Christmas Eve and Boxing Day are significant improvements, anyway. Good to have new drama in the 9pm slots of the pre-Chrstmas week too.

Christmas Day itself will probably still be shuffled. Ultimately, I guess the EastEnders-Corrie soap clash won't play out - but it's difficult to see how EE could avoid Downton too. They won't stick it at 7pm and abandon the later schedule. Also, the early evening is a bit of a mess as they try and work to time with the awful-looking Jim'll Fix It thing.

I think I'd axe JFI from the day - shift Gruffalo to 5.30, and run with

6.00 Doctor Who
7.00 Strictly
8.00 EastEnders
8.30 The Royal Bodyguard
9.00 EastEnders

Not sure how ITV would take to that, but I don't know there's much they could do to throw a spanner in the works. With that sort of schedule the BBC could ride almost anything out - even TRB couldn't really fail in that sort of sandwich. It's place on Boxing Day could be taken by Outnumbered, moving Lapland earlier on Christmas Eve.

* I solemnly promise that is my first and last fantasy schedule *


I can't see them getting prominent slots. The One Ronnie wasn't great - and that had one of the country's all-time greatest comic actors in it alongside some of his biggest-name contemporaries. Who on earth is going to tune in for Gryff Rhys Jones and Lenny Henry?!

Some people have said this years BBC1 Christmas promo (which is brilliant in my view) reminds them of this 1993 promo, which is rather wonderful: http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&sou...q4GouJKpRRkDWg

Re the Life Stories rating last night

Important to note that ITV1 Wales, UTV and STV either didn't show Piers Morgan at all, or not until 11pm

ITV1 Wales would have had their political programme 'Sharp End' at 2235, while STV had 'Scotland Tonight' at 2230, and UTV 'UTV Live Tonight' at 2230, both for 30 minutes


Both UTV and STV have 30 minute news/current affairs shows at 2230 Mon-Thu


Is there no room on BBC2 for it at all in daytime on the 24th or 26th?

Well, a lottery quiz would be awesome, a great alternative for saturday nights. Who knows? They might be able to sell it to 180 countries.

A Merlin Christmas special wouldn't really work unless they made it a Winterval episode. Gavin and Stacey is unlikely for next Christmas as James Corden is going to Broadway with One Man Two Guvnors, think it'll be Royle Family and Miranda having Christmas special and possibly another Mrs Brown's Boys special as they've already commisioned a third series.

If ITV1 "wins" on Xmas Day (which I highly doubt), there is even less chance of BBC changing things because anything new is going to most likely rate worse.

Maybe the day itself is out of the question...I meant just Downton time!

That timing looks very strange - has an EE episode/omnibus ever aired that late on BBC1? I suppose people will be up late, but still! As excel99 commented, there must be somewhere on BBC2 that this could sit. Or even replace Jungle Book 2 and Beverly Hills Chihuahua from 10am on the 26th on BBC1!

There is another 2-hour omnibus listed on Digiguide at lunchtime on Tue 27th, which presumably would mean repeats of the 24th, 25th and 26th episodes (total 2 hours).

The "Consider Yourself" one is pretty special, although I think we may get more sick of seeing it by New Year than we will the soon-to-be-ubiquitous Downton trailer.

Some conclusions we might draw from it (and bearing in mind we know this was filmed in October, before the BBC were 100% certain Downton was turning up to spoil the party):

- from his dominance of the trail, the return of David Jason in The Royal Bodyguard is (or was..) "the BBC main event" this Christmas. Even with DA showing up, I still think this will be on Christmas Day, not Boxing Day half an hour into what could be a half-decent ITV1 drama premiere

- Outnumbered and Christmas Comedy Roadshow are obviously getting a leg-up this Christmas and will be given plum slots (the provisionals indicating 9pm Xmas Eve and 10pm Xmas Day may well then be right)

- given their appearance in the trail, the turns on Christmas Comedy Roadshow (alongside Macintyre himself) are presumably Frank Skinner, Kevin Bridges and Lee Mack (none of whom have other BBC1 shows - I don't believe there's a Not Going Out special); and that looks a strong late Christmas Night comedy line up, frankly, if my theory is correct

- Shane Richie's presence presumably means Jim'll Fix It is a key featured show too (he'd have been with Jessie I assume if he was there "for Eastenders"?)

- Anne Robinson is in it. Assuming there's no Watchdog Christmas Special, what's she there for?

- Nick Knowles means a DIY SOS special? Or a returning Lottery Draws show?

- Alexander Armstrong, unless he's in something else, presumably presents the HIGNFY Christmas episode

Look forward to the ident itself. Obviously it features them singing round the piano, with all of us around them, but it will be interesting to see how the idents work. Presumably a random selection of celebs showing up in brief stings as the ident forms?

All 3 feature more stand up than Two Ronnies style sketches in last year's effort.

Whilst Henry and Rhys Jones won't be massive draws, the Jasper Carrott one should be a good one. He used to get 11-14m for his Christmas specials in the late 80s and 90s. He even got a 9.40pm Christmas Day slot once IIRC and got 14m for it. His "practice gig" in Brum in September got rave reviews.

That will surely launch the run, and I'd have liked to see that on Christmas Eve given the limited ITV1 competition. He could have done ok against Downton, but I guess the obvious inclusion of Comedy Roadshow on Christmas Night rules out two separate stand up efforts.

Either way, ronant is right to point out the omission of these 3 episodes from the draft schedules. If they were airing over the new year weekend, then they wouldn't have all been in the Dec 17-30th press pack, right?

Mrs Brown also features in that trailer but we knew it was getting a Christmas special, wonder if the second episode on Boxing Day is a repeat of the one on Christmas Day or a new episode?

I'm guessing the second Ab Fab episode will be NYE but we will find out next week and also if Sherlock will debut on NYD as predicted, still think Endeavour or Poirot will air NYD as ITV1 don't have many Sunday slots in January.

Solid and safe. I'd have liked them to slot another 30 minutes of something in between the two SCD eps as well as Merlin, to give something else a boost from the SCD Final and weak ITV competition. Then air the lotto after SCD and before the news. SCD could have started at 7pm and MOTD would still have come on air at 10.45.


The Lost Christmas is a children's drama, "an urban fairytale set on Christmas Eve". I'd be surprised if it was slightly buried on a Sunday teatime. It's set on Christmas Eve, so air it on Christmas Eve.

No reason for that Royle Family repeat to be there, although having lost an hour long new episode, there is conceivably a one hour gap to be filled by BBC1 somewhere.


I'd be disappointed if Young Herriott aired 3 consecutive nights, and in post watershed slots.


A film repeat 5.35-7.45 on Christmas Eve? Which aired in an afternoon slot last Christmas?

Hm, doubt it.

Winter Wipeout presumably a repeat of the Sat 17th one? Again, doubtful on Christmas Eve.

Think Lapland is exposed in a late slot and following Outnumbered which, with the best will in the world, an EE lead in, and weak ITV competition, is probably still going to do no better than 6-7m. If that airs Christmas Eve, then surely it will be at 9pm after EE?


- Shrek The Halls repeat won't air on Xmas Day teatime. It's a Christmas Eve short anyway, and always airs there on BBC1

- no way EE will clash with Corrie, as others have said

- putting Ab Fab alone against DA is a white flag if ever I saw one, even with EE ahead of it. Still think Royal Bodyguard will be there; it will do better launching on BBC1 Christmas Night against DA with EE lead in and timeshifting than it will on Boxing Day against less strong drama competition, simply because more folk are watching, and more captive in their viewing. No brainer, Beeb. It's your undisputed highlight, you obviously feel it's a winner - stick it out in your most flagship slot of the year, and stuff to ITV's gamemanship

- in the unlikely event ITV do not roll-up EmFm, CS and DA, leaving a one hour gap between EF and CS, then the Beeb must seize that opportunity to put EE and Royal Bodyguard out in that hour. Either EE or TRB will surely win the day in the 7pm against a gameshow filler, whatever happens later

- the BBC1 news will not air as late as 11.30pm, and certainly won't be 20 minutes long!


Air one of BBC1's festive highlights, The Borrowers against an hour of ITV soap? (or more likely 90 mins, as I think ITV would go 7.30 EF, 8.00 Corrie hour, 9.00 Fast Freddie)

Come off it. I think it will air on Boxing Day, but at 6/6.30pm.

Think the Mrs Brown ep there is a mistake. Can't see it airing twice on Christmas Night (late) then again on Boxing Day


Ditto re Young Heriot. Fine, launch it after Holby on Bank Holiday Tuesday, but not 3 nights in a row.

Personally, I'd run it on Boxing Day 9pm, head to head with ITV's drama now we know DA isn't taking that slot.

All in all, I'm a bit underwhelmed - again - with the BBC's likely scheduling. As ronant says, the early "obviously wrong" drafts last year stayed remarkably unchanged apart from Xmas Day timings. So given my comments above, I am a little concerned...

Finally (I hope!), a comment on the F1 news.

That BBC1 will be airing many races next year from 5.30-7pm or 5.30-7.30pm does have scheduling and ratings implications.

I'm quite sure the Beeb will see its F1 ratings overall increase next year, despite handing Sky the rights, simply because so much F1 will air at teatime/early evening when more are watching. I also think the promise of "almost full" delayed race coverage will have many fans rethinking whether they really do need to sign up to Sky.

It also means the all-year stalwart Countryfile will be shifted out of slot during the year. Perhaps in summer, when it usually airs at 7pm or even 8pm, then it won't make much difference. But it will cause some movement.

I have no idea what is happening for Canada and (should it happen) the US GP. They'll be live early evening on Sundays and the BBC won't show either live. When will the BBC show the delayed coverage of those?

I don't know whether the BBC's selected 10 are subject to change if we only end up with 19, or even 18, races next season, now they have made their picks and gone public? The view was that the BBC only air 10 live if it's a 20 race season.

He's in the Doctor Who Xmas ep. Steven Moffat denied Karen Gillan was in it, which was odd given she was spotted filming it, and is even more odd given that trailer.

I wouldn't read too much into who appears on that infectious little trail. Obviously some have been recruited because of the Christmas shows - but clearly not all of them. What about the Masterchef judges?! I think some are just there because they're "BBC One faces" who they're trying to push forward a little bit.


Lost Christmas probably ought to be in here in place of the film. That would be the common sense move, anyway. Still a much stronger Christmas Eve than last year. As you say, it could even afford to lose Outnumbered if it's needed elsewhere.


The Borrowers is a bit of a pain to schedule, isn't it? A big pre-watershed offering that they'd naturally want to support - but the soaps are so ubiquitous (both EastEnders and the ITV pair) that finding the right slot isn't easy. I'm not sure it would do any better at 6pm than it would at 7.30, to be honest - neither are ideal. The only other alternative I can think of might be New Years Day - but again you just don't know what ITV's soap plans are, and the evening could become really drama heavy if you have 90 minutes of Sherlock and possibly 60 of EE there too.


Not sure why you think running dramas on consecutive nights is a bad idea? From a ratings perspective, I think it's easily the best option. Upstairs Downstairs retained viewers very nicely over the three days last year - better, I suspect, that it would have managed otherwise. The problem with the festive period is you frequently lose track of days of the week. I think airing on a weekly basis makes things pretty confusing and risks audiences losing it, especially with all the other TV distractions.


I don't think it's anything like last years - which had all sorts of random crimes all over it. At least there's been no repeat of the "Just William at lunchtime" fiasco! Christmas Day still needs to shake out and - like you - I'd prefer to see TRB dropped in there and a clean-up of the early evening shows, but thats the only major flaw I can pick. I'm surprised (and slightly disappointed) by how common-sense the "BSI" have been actually.

Great. I see someone has set up a separate BBC Christmas schedule thread so perhaps this endless fantasy schedule stuff can migrate over there please? We all know its going to be the same stuff as every other year arranged perhaps in a slightly different order anyway