Well here we go again folks. It seems customary to start the new thread once the previous years edition is released.

Last years Cover: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-...-2013-revealed

The copy should be due out in the South East on Saturday 6th December 2014. The christmas edition will span from Saturday 20th December 2014 until Friday 2nd January 2015.

I predict the price to be £3.50

Hopefully the Cover Competition will commence in November 2014 - TBC (many thanks to Clare's Dad for running this as it's much appreciated and a bit of good fun

I look forward to all the festive chat and banter throughout the year.

Great to see this thread up

It's customary to start the thread once everyone has received their copy! You're a few days early. People need to digest the contents of this years magazine first. But, since it's here, I guess it's happening! Merry Christmas 2013 everyone. I will post in this thread next year!

I thought that rule had been revoked after the postal copies debacle of a couple of years ago when many subscribers received their copy late or even after Christmas?

I think it was always a gentlemans agreement that the next countdown thread would be started once the regular thread contributors had received their copy. Otherwise the thread is started as a jest and not a pleasure. But now it is merely a race to see who can start it first!

Yes, as a subscriber, there's no 2013 copy here yet!

The way the circulation is dropping it probably won't be around in 2014

New thread!

I predict the cover will be the snowdog with snowman & santa in background and an application form inside for broadcasters to bid for the following years cover!

So here it is The Official Christmas Radio Times 2014 Countdown Thread everybody's having fun ! Look to the future now its only just begun !

Right! i'm getting in here on the ground floor. Just got my Radio Times copy today in Scotland. Probably speak to you all around September when Strictly starts. have a good one

I'm going to predict a Miranda hart cover with her sat on santas knee in a grotto!

Got mine today in Poole Dorset.

Well done for starting this Batfink! I kicked off the 2013 countdown but got well and truly pasted by the "get a life" brigade so I was too much of a coward to do it again! It's great and I look forward to the thread developing through the year. It goes so quickly!

I'm sorry for being a little premature in starting it. Was never meaning to offend anyone or break any gentlemen's agreement. In hindsight should have probably waited another week.

Apologies again.

Let's just hope in 11 and 1/2 months time we have a more original cover than this years with a little more thought going into it. It's a little annoying. Especially given the fact that the 2013 edition makes a big deal of discussing and recreating classic covers from years gone by. You would have thought there may have been something more special this year.

I would love to see a real 'retro' style cover for 2014.

Anyway, look forward to another year of discussion

Bloody hell, gotta be the record there. How's the cover and line up

Allan, the baton passes to Batfink. You clearly did "get a life" and became a fan of the Countdown thread! Perhaps you can have the honour of starting next years thread, once everyone has received their copy, (around Tuesday 9th December 2014). Merry Christmas to you. Have a good one.


Batfink, no need to apologise. You did nowt to apologise for. Just because some of us oldies are die hard traditionalists who still think A Christmas Carol is a new release doesn't mean other people can't have a bit of fun and anticipate a bit of festive cheer! Good luck with your thread. If it's as friendly and enjoyable as the 2013 thread was it will be a mighty fine thread indeed!
You also have a very merry Christmas and a peaceful, prosperous New Year. See you again in this thread once News of 2014's Christmas offerings are announced. Although we already know one.

BBC1 are to show a BBC in-house production of the Roald Dahl fantasy Esio Trot starring Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman! Yes, Dustin Hoffman! How cool is that? See you all soon.

Excellent post wizzywick! I have added Tuesday 9th December 2014 to my iCal celendar and will kick it all off again ... unless someone beats me to it!

Very best wishes for this Christmas!

Just bookmarking my place. 2013 listngs start in 3 days. Looking forward to monday and christmas eve night on bbc 1. Hope John Bishop's Christmas Show is a good one.

Look forward to another year of build up. In the meantime hope you all enjoy this Christmas and New Year and the televisual delights.

The 2013 thread had over 206,000 views and 1503 replies.
I wonder how many views/replies this year's will have.

Another 20p price increase now £1.80 and not even an apology or excuse for the price rise just subscribe and get a book!

Beginning to think they pricing themselves out of the market - the amount of Christmas issues of RT left in my local supermarkets is emabarrasing

Checking the price was the first thing I did when my copy came through the letterbox. I notice they've given all the non-listings pages a new look.

i am going to have to complain to RT. £1.80 for a weekly listings magazine is too much.

It has gone up from £1.20 to £1.80 in 3 years.

Whos gonna pay £2.00 in 2015 ?

Horrible gaudy pink headers on the non-listings pages!

And now the listings pages themselves dont match the rest of the magazine.

Plus another 20p price increase for the 3rd year running. RIP RT.

Another 20p increase - the third since 2012. This is getting silly now. £1.80 for a TV Guide?

Surley they are shooting themselves in the foot as the number of readers will fall further?

RT only ever used to rise by 5p or 10p at the most before 2011.

Why dont they just have a 10p increase and give over 3 or 4 more pages to advertisments?