Hmm, BBC1 have a great schedule there with Ab Fab and Vicar of Dibley. Plus an hour long Enders too and of course The Big Impression. Not keen on Harry Potter.

Considering two more films have come since and a fourth is being hyped at the moment, I don't predict it doing amazingly. Otherwise, the BBC lineup is very strong.

not at all keen on harry potter
seen it so many times
also the actors' voices havent broken!

BBC1 will wipe the floor this Christmas & the next & the next & the next & the next, as always.

We'll see, this is ITV's strongest lineup in years.

Parkinson, a Millionaire special with Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Alex Ferguson, plus Midsomer which, even if you and I hate it, does brilliantly and is a new episode, plus of course Corrie with Karen's exit. Not forgetting Emmerdale

:yawn: How many people watch Who Wants to be a millionaire, five million? Wow Alex Ferguson the world's greatest to**er, no thanks!

Parkinson, boring old man!

Midsomer Murders, because we all want to sit around the T.V at Christmas watching people be hammered to death for the 700th time, Vicar of Dibley will breeze it, just like Only Fools & Horses a nice happy Christmas!

Harry Potter may be a bit long for people to watch but people will certainly watch it.

And that's just one night of BBC one's schedule! They also have Shrek! AI! The Others! Strictly Come Dancing amongst a million other things, ITV has.... Holiday Showdown special!
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Apollo 13.

I'm serious, ITV have really pushed the boat out this year!

I agree with you traditionally ITV has never really put up a fight the one time they did was around 5years ago around the time of Who Wants to be ... populairty
Nowdays it gets beaten on a regualr basis so i doubt Alex Ferguson who isnt a major star will do anything
Only hope for them will be the special corrie and eastenders will easily win against midsommers as that pulls more viewers on a sunday and its not particluarly must see TV

BBC will win but i do feel this year without a major comdey draw only Vicar it will not be a big xmas viewing this year

The Vicar of Dibley should be excellent from what I have heard about it; the villagers start to question the Vicars sexuality because she’s still single. Cue loads of lewd remarks from Owen and Jim about ‘doing lezzers’.

Millionaire is beyond boring, it's painful.

Well im just glad the soaps aren't clashing. I'll probably have millionaire on but i'll definitely watch Ab Fab as well!

I'd be surprised if it does. Surely everyone who wants to see it has seen it by now?

That's right I think you'll find ITV1 was the most popular channel for a Christmas Day in the not too distant past.

BBc news 2000 to help you

The BBC has claimed official victory in the Christmas Day ratings race, thanks to video recordings of shows like The Royle Family and EastEnders.
ITV had claimed victory last month on the grounds that most people watched their programmes live, but final audience figures show BBC One is ahead by a small margin.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "It's still very close but it was what's called timeshift viewing - video recording for later viewing - that made the difference."

The Royle Family Christmas special was recorded by 1.5 million people, helping to boost BBC One's viewing figures.

Official figures from Barb - which compiles ratings on behalf of the broadcasters - for the last week of 2000 show that BBC One is slightly ahead of ITV on the peak 1800-2230 period on Christmas Day.

'Set the record straight'

On live viewing ITV took a 40.2% share of the audience, with BBC One trailing at 39.8%.

But the full Barb figures, which include programmes watched on video later on, give BBC One a 40.3% share with ITV at 40%.

Acknowledging the tiny margin of the victory the BBC spokeswoman said: "We just want to set the record straight."

As well as The Royle Family special, the later of two EastEnders episodes that day was a key programme that clinched the ratings victory for the corporation.

ITV has long been criticised for putting out a weaker programme line-up on Christmas Day.

But last month it wheeled out ratings winners including Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, Emmerdale and Coronation Street, to win over viewers.

I'm sure it was more recent than 2000 (and I wouldn't trust the bbc as completely on the level). But if you're right, then a videotaped "nudge" pushing it into the lead by 0.3% is truly wiping the floor with ITV, isn't it?

I don't car who wins on Xmas day to be honest, but in the past iv usually found that the BBC do put out slightly better shows but i wouldn't say ITV's were bad.

O, How I miss The Royle Family, that's another reason why ITV suffers at christmas, they just don't have any decent sitcoms.

I only watch Corrie on Christmas Day, I can't really be bothered with the telly on the big day.

Good EastEnders will follow Corrie on Xmas Day, good I'm happy with that. The Beeb will kick ass this year, all ITV has for me is Corrie, wheras the Beeb have Enders, Vicar of Dibley, Ab Fab, Big Impression. I'll be a happy bunny this Xmas

Trust me becuase 2001 we had 1st only fools and horses and then 2002 and 2003 giving bbc a clear win on xmas day

I hope this will finish the debate.

is it a new episode of ab fab?

Ah yes, I forgot about that programme. Talk about flogging a dead horse! Anyway, it's good to see that ITV1 was the most popular channel that Christmas, based on 'overnight' figures, which are the ones everyone always remembers.

I don't think it's got a hope this year, as bbc1 seem to have spent millions of pounds on their Christmas Day schedule (I read that they paid a seven figure sum just for Harry Potter). Shame they don't pay as much attention to the rest of the year's schedule.

I don't care what is on - aslong as I can have a laugh!

And if Comedy is on TV then i'll watch it!, instead of Parkinson, Millionaire and MM - who wants to watch misery?

Corrie will do us nicely and an two hour special of Midsomer murders?
I am also very thankful to have a reasonable selection of DVD's

The Midsomer Murders episode is a christmas special and is called 'The Ghost of Christmas Past' - very festive and christmassy for all the family, new episodes always get big ratings so its a good move.

Secondly, Harry Potter will not be an astronomical hit because two sequels have followed. People have seen it enough on DVD. Sure, some haven't, but many have.

Millionaire will get high ratings for having two prolific names in it, Paul McCartney and Alex Ferguson - many will watch it.

As for Corrie and Emmerdale, they are ratings juggenaughts and Parkinson is a loved chatshow host and his Christmas edition will do well.

It is ITV's strongest lineup, and it will do well. BBC1's is good, but IMO they are equally as entertaining.