It is ridiculous, but it isn't a first - last year's special was Benidorm vs TOWIE.

Downton Abbey recommissioned for 4th series - starts filming in February. 8 more episodes for 2013 (1st & last feature length) & Christmas Special.

Confirmation that this years Christmas Special will be at 9pm on ITV1.

Fans of the hit drama should prepare for both laughter and tears in a two-hour special to be screened on ITV1 at 9pm this Christmas Day.

“We hope the Downton family of viewers will gather together to watch this major TV event as a shared Christmas night experience,” said Laura Mackie.

“Last year’s special episode set the nation talking on Boxing Day and 2012's Christmas Day episode is no different. As ever, Downton will take its audience through a whole range of emotions. All of life's experiences will feature in this episode.

“This is one episode you will want to see live with millions of others - and best have the tissues ready.”

http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press...y/default.html

After Holly taking the day off for her secret special being filmed...today's This Morning saw Ruth present with Stephen Mulhearn because Eammon was off filming something new and secret that she could not talk about but was going to be exciting.

So we can presume ITV have some new ideas on the go. Maybe Simon Cowell is reworking Stars in their eyes as Pies in their eyes ?

Nah, Holly was doing the Rod Stewart Christmas Special, and Eamonn was MC'ing the unveiling of the Sir Alex Ferguson statue at Old Trafford today.

You can take that two ways.

Talking of CL football on ITV, the game they have picked for the 4th of December is Olympiacos v Arsenal. As Arsenal have already qualified, I don't understand why they have picked them instead of City. Man City go to Germany to play Dortmund, knowing they have to win to get into the Europa League last 32.

ITV really should've picked the Schalke v Arsenal game on MD4 instead of CIty v Ajax. That would have kept the possibility of a 'Man City overload' to a minimum.

I would go with ITV's decision on both MDs.

I think each MD is considered on its own merits. There would have been no issue showing Man C on MD6 as well if their game had been critical.

On MD4, Man C was the obvious choice. They were in a highly critical situation whereas Arsenal were always heavy odds on favourites to qualify.

Re MD6 I think the over-riding thing is that ITV1 are showing the CL and Arsenal's game is the only game relevant to the CL. Winning the group is of significance so Arsenal's game is of some significance.

Yes, Man C's game is relevant to the EL but that's a very secondary competition. It's also questionnable how seriously Man C will take the game as they may not actually really want to go into the EL anyway.

Not showing Man C all 3 times could be thrown into the pot if it was a genuine 50:50 decision but for the above reasons I don't think it actually is.

Digiguide updates :

Saturday 15 December

BBC One

17:45 A Question of Sport
18:30 Strictly Come Dancing
20:15 Merlin
21:00 National Lottery Draws
21:10 Casualty
22:00 BBC News
22:20 Match of the Day

ITV1

17:30 Film: Back to the Future II
19:30 Take Me Out Christmas Special
20:45 10 Years of Girls Aloud
22:05 Michael Buble Home for Christmas
23:35 ITV News

Channel 4

21:00 Film: The Twilight Saga - Eclipse (Premiere)

Sunday 16 December

BBC One

18:00 Countryfile
19:00 Strictly Come Dancing Results
19:30 Sports Personality of the Year 2012
22:05 BBC News
22:30 Match of the Day 2

ITV1

16:55 Film: ET The Extra Terrestrial
19:00 Happy Birthday ET
20:00 The Making of a Lady
21:45 ITV News
22:00 Film: I am Legend

On MD4, Arsenal had to win if they wanted to stay clear of a chasing Olympiacos, and it wasn't likely after they were beaten at home by Schalke. Realistically, City were never going to get out of their group with 1 point from 3 games.

Whilst the EL, as you mlt11 says, is 'a very secondary competition', ITV have a 3 year contract to show the best 2 games each matchday. If City were to end up in the EL, then it could be used as a cross-competition promotion, to try and get more people interested in watching ITV4.

I have to say, in terms of looking for good rating football matches, ITV are pretty bloody awful at choosing them. No semi-final at the Euros, Udinese v Braga in Play-off round, Man City in MD4 and now Arsenal for MD6. I think they need new people, who know a little more about football, to choose their matches.

Friday 21 December

ITV1 - Text Santa Night

18:30 ITV News
18:55 Text Santa
19:00 Emmerdale
19:30 Coronation Street
20:00 Text Santa
23:00 ITV News at Ten & Weather
23:10 Celebrity Juice Text Santa Special
23:55 Text Santa
01:15 Jackpot 247

That's going to be on ITV1? It'd be interesting to see how the ratings turn out.

Arsenal had 6 points after 3 games. I don't have the historic betting odds at the time but at that point Arsenal would have been very heavy favourites to qualify.

Of course you're right - Man C were right up against it with only 1 point from 3 games.

But the over-riding point is that the high risk of Man C going out is a far, far bigger story than Arsenal very likely cruising through an easy group.

I think Man C were the far bigger story across all national media. eg which was the main R5L commentary? I don't have records but would be very surprised if it wasn't Man C.

Will there be cake?

Nothing much there :yawn:

I don't think there will be many at the party.

A Making of A Lady has been thrown to the wolves in that slot. Why waste a new drama there?

On the other hand I like the Text Santa scheduling. Feels like an event - I particularly like the Celebrity Juice special after the news.

It was either that or extend the ET party by 2 hours.

What, at 8 o'clock on a Sunday night in December when their main rival is showing a sports review programme, you mean?

I know it's been a bumper year for British sport () but this still strikes me as good complimentary scheduling.

In the interview in The Sun today, Brucie talks about ratings, no photocopies or anything, but he does say that one reason why it's done so well this year is because it's been at a settled slot and also at a relatively later slot, as opposed to shuffling around six o'clock. I know it's not at 6.30 tomorrow but it's near enough, and as Brucie points out, 6.30 seems the "right" time.

BBC1 premiered Back To The Future II in that exact slot in 1993. I assume number one is being shown at some point. I also assume Live at the Appalling is being moved to Fridays.


There's no need to promote the Europa League, though, it's getting massive ratings for ITV4, and showing an uninterested Man City going through the motions is no promotion for matches that take place two months later.

In terms of genres it works well but Sport Personality is likely to do very well this year and the lead-in from the E.T. thing will be appalling. I can see Making of A Lady struggle, although ending it at 9:45pm is quite a smart move as it means people can switch over after it in time to see the SPOTY result live.

Perhaps but clearly this drama has very low expectations as SPOTY is bound to rate incredibly well this year.

No sign of the new series of Miranda anywhere on BBC One in December, I thought it was starting ahead of Christmas ?

I wonder if ITV1 are thinking of swapping IAC and X Factor around to try and boost ratings for the X Factor? Don't really know as I won't watch The X Factor either way

SPOTY could be massive this year as, instead of embarrasingly trying to fill up a show as the country has done nothing, we now have the likes of Bradley Wiggins, Andy Murray, Mo Farah, Laura Trott, Sir Chris Hoy and Jessica Ennis in the running. This has been a golden year for sport other than football, thank God, and it wouldn't surprise me if SPOTY averages 10 million with a peak of 14 million.

Arsenal did have 6 points after 3 games, but they lost at home to Schalke and could've easily lost in the return leg. If City was the biggest story, then ITV should've went for them on MD6. Lack of common sense combined with footballing knowledge has left ITV in a rut with their choices on MD4 & MD6.