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The Official Christmas Radio Times 2009 Countdown Thread
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Sleepwalker2006
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by Allan:
“ Call me 'sad' if you like, I don't care!”

Ok, if you insist. Sad git.

How empty your lives must be......
Allan
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by Sleepwalker2006:
“Ok, if you insist. Sad git.

How empty your lives must be......”

LOL re. "Sad git!"

Empty? No, not at all, very busy with business in fact (despite the recession) and getting ready for Christmas has to be handled slowly throughout the year, rather than being rushed in December. More fun that way...
Allan
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by i love sky:
“Only 40 weeks to go now!!!!!

When do they start planning the Christmas copy??”

My Legendary Christmas Double Issue arrived in the post on 5th December 2008. So I would expect the 2009 edition to arrive around the same time, which I think makes it just a day under 39 weeks! We are already a quarter way there!!

You will find a very interesting article by Radio Times Editor, Gill Hudson, on putting the Christmas issue together, here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/orga...hristmas-issue

And for people as sad as me, check this:

http://www.mymerrychristmas.com/
JOHNOR
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by Allan:
“My Legendary Christmas Double Issue arrived in the post on 5th December 2008. So I would expect the 2009 edition to arrive around the same time, which I think makes it just a day under 39 weeks! We are already a quarter way there!!

You will find a very interesting article by Radio Times Editor, Gill Hudson, on putting the Christmas issue together, here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/orga...hristmas-issue

And for people as sad as me, check this:

http://www.mymerrychristmas.com/”

great website allan!

i for one, can't wait for the 2009 radio times christmas edition. the scary thing is it will be here before we know it
Allan
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by JOHNOR:
“great website allan!

i for one, can't wait for the 2009 radio times christmas edition. the scary thing is it will be here before we know it ”

Oh JOHNOR, you are SO right! Once Jan and Feb are over the year just seems to accelerate beyond belief. And when you are in your fifties like me, well a year seems to be the same length as a month was when I was a child. As you rightly say, it will be here before we know it, and I enjoy the anticipation.

Ever sadder, I have kept the Christmas editions for the last few years, and it's fun to compare them. In 2008 we also had an edition at the end of November with snow topping the Radio Times logo...!
Sleepwalker2006
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by Allan:
“LOL re. "Sad git!"

Empty? No, not at all, very busy with business in fact (despite the recession) and getting ready for Christmas has to be handled slowly throughout the year, rather than being rushed in December. More fun that way...”

Glad *someone* is still busy!

I wasn't having a go, I just hate Christmas and totally ignore it (apart from a few rants on here!) and just get amused at people getting worked up about 1 day in a year as early in the year as this.

Originally Posted by Allan:
“
Ever sadder, I have kept the Christmas editions for the last few years, and it's fun to compare them. In 2008 we also had an edition at the end of November with snow topping the Radio Times logo...!”

With all the cutbacks by all the channels this year keep the 2008 copy as it may bear a striking resemblence to this years
JOHNOR
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by Allan:
“Oh JOHNOR, you are SO right! Once Jan and Feb are over the year just seems to accelerate beyond belief. And when you are in your fifties like me, well a year seems to be the same length as a month was when I was a child. As you rightly say, it will be here before we know it, and I enjoy the anticipation.

Ever sadder, I have kept the Christmas editions for the last few years, and it's fun to compare them. In 2008 we also had an edition at the end of November with snow topping the Radio Times logo...!”

once the kids go back to school in september it seems the build up to christmas really begins. the shops start to stock christmas puddings etc.. and most people's attentions turn towards present buying etc..

i'm hoping the tv will be better this coming christmas, i was a little disappointed with it in 2008, i would like to see more christmas films on tv starting in december.
Allan
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by Sleepwalker2006:
“Glad *someone* is still busy!

I wasn't having a go, I just hate Christmas and totally ignore it (apart from a few rants on here!) and just get amused at people getting worked up about 1 day in a year as early in the year as this.



With all the cutbacks by all the channels this year keep the 2008 copy as it may bear a striking resemblence to this years”

No, no Sleepwalker2006, I didn't take offence at all, I took your comment in good spirit, and I did leave myself wide open to being called sad. I also understand that not everyone likes Christmas. My childhood Christmases were so wonderful that the magic has never left me, and I still love it. Not just one day though, the whole lead-up to it. My first Christmas 2009 catalogue arrived in October 2008 believe it or not!

I do agree with you about the cutbacks and repeats though. Perhaps 2009 will be a case of watching old shows on DVD. Apart from the Christmas Doctor Who of course, I'm already looking forward to that...!
Allan
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by JOHNOR:
“once the kids go back to school in september it seems the build up to christmas really begins. the shops start to stock christmas puddings etc.. and most people's attentions turn towards present buying etc..

i'm hoping the tv will be better this coming christmas, i was a little disappointed with it in 2008, i would like to see more christmas films on tv starting in december.”

Yes, September is the "magic month" somehow. I always go to Tesco and Sainsbury's and have a look along the Seasonal Goods aisles where I can be sure to see those lovely Cadburys, Nestle and Mars selection boxes. Halloween things on the other side usually as well!

There are other little “Christmas Signposts” along the way: Ace and Studio catalogues in June; Christmas in July on QVC on 25th July, and a lot more. Oh! I feel Christmassy!!
JOHNOR
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by Allan:
“Yes, September is the "magic month" somehow. I always go to Tesco and Sainsbury's and have a look along the Seasonal Goods aisles where I can be sure to see those lovely Cadburys, Nestle and Mars selection boxes. Halloween things on the other side usually as well!

There are other little “Christmas Signposts” along the way: Ace and Studio catalogues in June; Christmas in July on QVC on 25th July, and a lot more. Oh! I feel Christmassy!!”

you and i share a real love of christmas allan!

i love the build up, from september i am in "christmas mode" i start making plans for it and i start buying presents etc.. i love to watch christmas films and listen to christmas music from november, that' when it seems acceptable.

i won't be out socialising much this coming christmas, as i will be a mother to my first child, so i'm really hoping we get some good tv. i'm ridiculously excited about the 2009 radio times edition

gaving and stacey christmas special and the royle family christmas special were the real highlights for me in 2008.
Allan
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by JOHNOR:
“you and i share a real love of christmas allan!

i love the build up, from september i am in "christmas mode" i start making plans for it and i start buying presents etc.. i love to watch christmas films and listen to christmas music from november, that' when it seems acceptable.

i won't be out socialising much this coming christmas, as i will be a mother to my first child, so i'm really hoping we get some good tv. i'm ridiculously excited about the 2009 radio times edition

gaving and stacey christmas special and the royle family christmas special were the real highlights for me in 2008.”

It is SO good to know I'm not the only one!! I totally agree with everything you say, and you will have the joy of giving wonderful Christmases to the "new arrival" which will be fantastic.

I'd add the Wallace and Gromit special to your programme list, it was stunning in HD, a real treat! And, yes, the double Christmas Radio Times is well worth anticipating. I do buy the TV Times as well at Christmas because I like to see the borders around the pages on the special days, but it just doesn’t compare to the Radio Times for quality IMHO.
JOHNOR
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by Allan:
“It is SO good to know I'm not the only one!! I totally agree with everything you say, and you will have the joy of giving wonderful Christmases to the "new arrival" which will be fantastic.

I'd add the Wallace and Gromit special to your programme list, it was stunning in HD, a real treat! And, yes, the double Christmas Radio Times is well worth anticipating. I do buy the TV Times as well at Christmas because I like to see the borders around the pages on the special days, but it just doesn’t compare to the Radio Times for quality IMHO.”

no, you're not the only one. you've only got to look at that link you posted to the christmas website to see that there are many people who love christmas.

i missed wallace and gromit i really must watch it soon, i believe it was excellent.
Allan
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by JOHNOR:
“no, you're not the only one. you've only got to look at that link you posted to the christmas website to see that there are many people who love christmas.

i missed wallace and gromit i really must watch it soon, i believe it was excellent.”

Ah! But mymerrychristmas.com is a real hard-core site for "Christmas anoraks" like me; people who are beyond redemption! This site is a different case, and it's good to find others here, i.e. on a non-Christmas site, with a like mind.

Try to see the Christmas Wallace & Gromit in HD if you can, it makes a huge difference - not quite as much as going from monochrome to colour, but approaching it.

Now, as this is the countdown thread to the Christmas Radio Times 2009, may I be permitted to suggest that we might speculate on two things?

1) Will the cover be traditional and unrelated to a programme or programmes, or will it be themed to a show? 2008 was Wallace & Gromit, 2006 & 2007 were traditional (Father Christmas) but 2005 had a snow dome containing the TARDIS with a snowman and a snow-Dalek. Which do we all prefer, programme themed or traditional?

2) When will we first have snow on top of the Radio Times logo? In 2008 it was the 6-12 December issue. The following week didn't have snow, but there was a very Christmassy Nigella Lawson cover. The next issue was, of course, the Wallace & Gromit Christmas one. (All these are in front of me as I write, though I did have to buy the 2005 TARDIS one on eBay, ditto 16-22 December 2006 which was a superb Doctor Who one!)
Claires_dad
08-03-2009
How good/bad did Christmas TV used to be?

Did there used to be more Christmas films on in the old days?

I'm working on this at the moment

http://christmastvpastpresentfuture.googlepages.com/

There's a section on the Christmas Radio Times.
Allan
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by Claires_dad:
“How good/bad did Christmas TV used to be?

Did there used to be more Christmas films on in the old days?

I'm working on this at the moment

http://christmastvpastpresentfuture.googlepages.com/

There's a section on the Christmas Radio Times.”

What a brilliant site Claires_dad! I might be wrong, but I think there used to be more live and special programmes in years gone by, rather than so many films. The Wizard of Oz is shown most years!
Claires_dad
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by Allan:
“What a brilliant site Claires_dad! I might be wrong, but I think there used to be more live and special programmes in years gone by, rather than so many films. The Wizard of Oz is shown most years!”

Thanks!

I'm currently looking at the films that have been shown and will hopefully update the site soon!
Allan
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by Claires_dad:
“Thanks!

I'm currently looking at the films that have been shown and will hopefully update the site soon!”

I will keep checking back, it's a really great idea!
i love sky
08-03-2009
Can we keep this thread up at the top as I love looking at this thread during the year as it makes me feel that christmas is on its way.

I love chritsmas and love the build up so come on guys lets keep this thread up at the top of the forum.
Allan
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by i love sky:
“Can we keep this thread up at the top as I love looking at this thread during the year as it makes me feel that christmas is on its way.

I love chritsmas and love the build up so come on guys lets keep this thread up at the top of the forum.”

YAY to that!!
JOHNOR
08-03-2009
great website claire's dad, is it something you plan on working on and updating? i think it's really interesting.

i think this year, the radio times will go for the more traditional approach, atleast i hope so as that's what i prefer (father christmas, red robin, snowmen etc..)

am i right in thinking they had a red robin on an issue in the last few years?
i love sky
08-03-2009
What I would like to know is when in the year do channels start to think about christmas and plan for christmas??

I would take it that its a bit of a job to sort christmas out?
Allan
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by JOHNOR:
“great website claire's dad, is it something you plan on working on and updating? i think it's really interesting.

i think this year, the radio times will go for the more traditional approach, atleast i hope so as that's what i prefer (father christmas, red robin, snowmen etc..)

am i right in thinking they had a red robin on an issue in the last few years?”

I was disappointed at first when I saw last year's Wallace & Gromit cover as it was non-traditional, but it quickly grew on me as it was very Christmassy, and a lot more thought had been put into it (I felt) than the usual covers.

In my hand right now I hold the 2006 Christmas issue (23 Dec 2006 - 5 Jan 2007) and it has Father Christmas's face and a big, red robin!
Allan
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by i love sky:
“What I would like to know is when in the year do channels start to think about christmas and plan for christmas??

I would take it that its a bit of a job to sort christmas out?”

I have worked in radio and television for many years, and can tell you that some production (or at least pre-production) might start any time from now on, and a lot of Christmas filming takes place from June/July onwards. Many TV people enjoy the Christmas fun that starts for them in the height of summer!
JOHNOR
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by Allan:
“I was disappointed at first when I saw last year's Wallace & Gromit cover as it was non-traditional, but it quickly grew on me as it was very Christmassy, and a lot more thought had been put into it (I felt) than the usual covers.

In my hand right now I hold the 2006 Christmas issue (23 Dec 2006 - 5 Jan 2007) and it has Father Christmas's face and a big, red robin!”

as much as i prefer traditional, i have to agree that the wallace and gromit cover was great. all the little details in the background were so well thought out and very festive.
Allan
08-03-2009
Originally Posted by JOHNOR:
“as much as i prefer traditional, i have to agree that the wallace and gromit cover was great. all the little details in the background were so well thought out and very festive.”

My feelings exactly once I'd got over the shock of not seeing Father Christmas on the cover! The TV Times had him though, so we had a choice!
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