Viewers tuning in to BBC1 on Christmas Day may feel a sense of deja vu – as its festive schedule is identical to last year.
The broadcaster’s flagship channel will air the same shows – including the Strictly special, Mrs Brown’s Boys and Call the Midwife – in the same order from teatime onwards.
Thankfully, almost all of the shows aired from then on December 25 will be brand new – but the same cannot be said about the rest of the festive schedule.
The BBC’s flagship channel will air the same shows on Christmas Day – including the Strictly special, Mrs Brown’s Boys and Call the Midwife – in the same order from teatime onwards
Strictly Come Dancing, featuring Jay Blades and Moira Stuart, kicks off the prime-time slot at 5.10pm, followed by Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel.
BBC1 relies on its trusted favorites, Blankety Blank, and Call the Midwife to entertain the nation.
And, of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas Day TV without EastEnders and Mrs Brown’s Boys.
There is still time to watch The Vicar Of Dibley if you are awake at 10.55.
A TV insider said last night: ‘It’s a very disappointing lineup. It looks more like Groundhog Day than Christmas Day.’
The broadcasters have released their Christmas schedules.
BBC1 will air Strictly Come Dancing on Christmas Day. Next, Mrs Brown’s Boys and Call the Midwife (pictured), Eastenders, as well as Blankety Blank, just as last year
Nearly one third of BBC1 programmes airing from December 18 to 31 are repeats – with eight on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Three quarters of all the programs that BBC2 will air will have already been seen. ITV’s figure is 34 per cent, while Channel 4 will be showing over 75 per cent of repeats.
ITV will show a special Christmas episode of The Larkins, in addition to the soaps. This is following the successful reboot of the series.
There are also many game programs on the channel, including Family Fortunes and In For A Penny. Channel 4 will have a new Christmas animation, Terry Pratchett’s The Abominable Snow Baby, featuring the voices of Julie Walters, David Harewood and Hugh Dancy.
Additionally, it will air the Alternative Christmas Message, which was presented previously by John Bercow and Danny Dyer, former Commons Speaker.
Three consecutive nights starting on Boxing Day, the BBC will air A Very British Scandal.
The classic shows on the channel’s lineup include The Two Ronnies, Morecambe and Wise and Dad’s Army. It will air Frozen and Paddington, as well as Finding Dory over this festive season. ITV will show Santa Claus: The Movie, Love Actually and Bond movie Spectre.