As Christmas Day is on a a Sunday this year, the daytime schedule could look a whole lot different than just repeats of films. They have regular Sunday programming to get in aswell as Christmas specials. So could Christmas Day potentially look like this?:

9.00am On Angel Wings
9.30 Stick Man
10.00 Christmas Morning Service
11.00 Songs of Praise: Christmas Big Sing
11.45 Shaun The Sheep: The Farmers Llama
12.10 The Two Ronnies
12.55 BBC News
1.00 Countryfile at Christmas
2.00 Top of the Pops
3.00 The Queen
3.10 Film: Frozen
4.45 Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes
5.15 BBC News
5.30 Strictly Come Dancing
6.45 Doctor Who
7.45 Outnumbered (NEW)
8.30 EastEnders
9.30 The Bishop from Dibley (NEW)
10.30 Mrs. Brown's Boys (NEW)
11.05 BBC News
11.15 On Christmas Night
11.20 FILM: Pretty Woman

I know, I know, I know it's only May! But I couldn't resist. I predict the Christmas Special of Father Brown will go on Boxing Day!

Is Outnumbered a big thing any more? Wouldn't it be on a bit later too?

Yes. It would be on later but I think a Christmas special is anticipated by many - and it's not overly racy! Davads, you'e ruined my schedule now! Going to sulk for a bit. It's all your fault. So not fair.

Oopsie!

Has the Bishop of Dibley been confirmed?

Not quite. It's doing a circuit on the rumour mill. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed. In 1999, the four seasonal episodes weren't confirmed until October 1999.

Tiger Drew-Honey said that Outnumbered will be shown somewhere around Christmas so don't expect that to be on Christmas Day.

Don't think BBC have the rights to Frozen as it's just a Disney film not a Pixar.

I would say Call the Midwife is a shoe in for Christmas Day as Sunday is its regular day!


This is what BBC1 offered last time Christmas Day was a Sunday (2011)

6.00am Breakfast
9.00am The Nativity
10.00am Christmas Day Eucharist
11.00am Songs of Praise : Christmas Day Big Sing
11.40am Morecambe and Wise
12.25pm BBC News/Weather
12.35pm Film : Kung Fu Panda (2008)
2.00pm Top of The Pops Christmas
3.00pm The Queen
3.10pm Film : Monsters vs Aliens (2009)
4.35pm BBC News/Weather
4.50pm Film : Ratatouille (2007)
6.30pm The Gruffalo's Child
7.00pm Doctor Who
8.00pm Strictly Come Dancing
9.00pm EastEnders
10.00pm Absolutely Fabulous
10.30pm Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow
11.30pm BBC News/Weather
11.45pm On Christmas Night
11.50pm Have I Got a Bit More News for You
12.30am The Graham Norton Show Christmas Special
1.35am Film : The Hot Chick (2002)
3.10am Weatherview
3.15am BBC News

Hello

I am from the Ministry of Scheduling set up under the new charter and have been asked by his Highness John Whiitngdale to tell you that that schedule cannot stand as it is without a few changes.

Firstly you propose over 150 minutes of religious programming in the morning - sorry you can have the maximum allowed of 60 minutes as not everyone celebrates Christmas or are religious

Second as it is a Sunday you are bound by the charter to have an Antiques Roadshow scheduled but it is not

Countryfile cannot be shown at lunchtimes as the rural community will be busy preparing their dinners

Regarding the film at 3.10 you cannot advertise the name of this film as it will be detrimental to ITV adverting revenues - please amend to TBA

EastEnders cannot be shown at prime time if ITV wish for Emmerdale and Coronation Street to be shown at prime time

We notice that Michael McIntyre is missing from these schedules - please amend this omission as soon as possible but remember you must not have too much comedy on

We notice the News is scheduled at 11.05 - this is far too late - you wanted the news at ten so you cannot now change the timing to fit your schedules and as it is a Sunday we wish for it to be on at 10pm as not to confuse the viewers

We do not think the Bishop of Dibley is appropriate programme to be shown on this night as it makes fun of religion on one of its most important days

Finally we find the choice of film to end the night totally unacceptable and needs replacing

Otherwise the committee is full of praise for a well thougt out schedule

Very good!

But I'd leave Satire to Private Eye if I were you. Everyone knows that the BBC will be closed down by Christmas.

Disney films are an oddity as they appear all over the place. By and large though, the BBC do show Disney films not linked to Pixar, such as Wreck-It-Ralph and Bolt that have both been shown on the channel, plus The Princess and the Frog premiered on BBC1 too. However, Tangled appeared on ITV a few years ago, so it's anyone's guess where Frozen turns up!

Good point!

Tangled was also on Channel 4 last year!

Oh okay, I didn't realize she was ill again, and thanks for the welcome!

King Sherlock

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-...ks-radio-times

Is it me or has the Radio Times strangely become more openly pro-BBC since the BBC sold it?

...and left wing hence this weeks viewpoint from Martin Freeman

According to Wikipedia although BBC Magazines was sold, magazines (including Radio Times) are still published under licence from BBC Worldwide.

"In late 2011 the BBC's magazine-publishing business was sold to Exponent Private Equity following the clearance by the Office of Fair Trading of the purchase. It is now part of the Immediate Media Company and BBC Magazines titles are published by Immediate under licence from BBC Worldwide."

According to the small print (page 152) Radio Times is a registered trademark of Immediate media Company London Limited

Think that licence could mean the licence to publish its listings - maybe wrong though

The quote says all BBC magazines are owned by Immediate under licence from BBC Worldwide so not just the Radio Times though.

http://www.bbcworldwide.com/uk--anz/ukpublishing.aspx

Some Sherlock news from Under the Christmas Tree

It has been widely speculated that season 4 will by released by the BBC network on January 1st 2017 however speaking to the Independent, Freeman has hinted that the show could be released as early as this Christmas stating:

“We are back filming now and the three shows will, I imagine, be out around Christmas,” Freeman explained in the report. It is also indicated that they may premiere on Friday night, teasing a possible Dec. 23 premiere for the first episode of the new season.

This release date however is based on the UK release and not the US release date.

But then the Independent goes and contradict itself with this

The BBC have reportedly said that it is a “near certainty” that series four will air on New Year’s Day, as has previously been the case. There seems little to suggest a chance of plan, giving that filming has only just begun and the episodes will need time to be edited. Such…a…long…wait.

It's May 18th. Just three more months until my Quiz starts. Don't forget to check in on Sunday August 21st for the opening week's questions.

This year, there are no anagrams, nor film specials, nor any other specials. But, each week there will be a variety of questions to answer from films, sitcoms, schedules and the Radio Times itself. The first four weeks will consist of a set of ten questions. The 5th week is a week where 16 questions will appear. Weeks 6-8 will revert back to 10 questions and the very last question in the final week is incredibly easy.

So far I have given details of the first three items of the four things that make up the prize. All prize items are brand new and either purchased or created for the purpose of supplying a prize for the quiz. Here's a recap of those items again:

1. A Poster of a Classic 1950's Christmas Cover.

2. A Tea towel depicting the design of the 1977 Christmas Radio Times.

3. A quality, gift boxed stainless steel keyring with "Radio Times Quiz Winner 2016" engraved on it, plus a poster wall calendar for 2017 featuring three RT covers on it.

4. Find out on Sunday June 3rd what the main part of the prize will be.

Here's a link so you can take a look at the tea towel:

http://shop.radiotimes.com/homeware-...ea-towels.html

Finally, there will be a prize for the participant who finishes in second place and a third prize too. These will be revealed in July.

So, that concludes the latest Quiz update. Next update: 3rd June.

Oh Jeez. The build up starts now!

I really hope they will be better than the New Year episode earlier this year.

looking forward to it

Am sure Radio Times hopes its New Year's Day so it can feature on the front cover of the New year Issue

Looking forward to participating in this for the first time