David Tennant featured in BBC One’s Christmas 2009 Ident.
It’s that time of year again, and in keeping with a great British
tradition here is my "Christmas TV is rubbish" rant… Once
again there is nothing much worth watching, too many repeats, too
much reality tv, blah blah blah, and so on.
Well not quite, now that’s out of the way, I can write about what
actually is worth watching this yuletide, for me anyway.
If only I had bought the Radio Times, I’d know exactly what to watch and in time honoured fashion I could mark the programmes one by one, but I haven’t bought a copy yet. If truth be told, I am questioning whether I need to add to the nearly
£7m in revenue the publication is forecast to make this
year…
This year’s Christmas issue of the Radio Times is set to
be a recession-buster with total revenue likely to weigh in at almost
£7m. The two-week festive edition, which features two different
covers for possibly the first time since Radio Times launched in
1923, goes on sale [Sat December 6th] Kathy Day, the Radio Times’
publishing director, said that despite the downturn the Christmas
issue remains a "publishing juggernaut" because of its
massive reach and the fact that it is continually referred to over
the festive season.
My computer TV guide does the same thing … or so I keep telling
myself while resisting the £2.20 they are asking for the guide.
But there is something I like about some of the tradition that
surrounds the festive season, and besides … my free electronic
guide will only tell me what’s on till the 24th at
present.. maybe I can wait a few more days till it updates or maybe
my resistance is futile, and I will buy the Radio Times next time I
am at the Supermarket.
Decisions, decisions, but If I don’t buy it I will also miss out
on a cut out and keep 12
Days of Christmas poem from the new poet laureate, Carol Ann
Duffy.
I BOUGHT A MAGIC GOOSE FROM A JOLLY FARMER.
This goose laid Barack Obama.
It’s hard not to, but I am trying to save £2.20 damn it.
Besides, there is something comforting and homely about it that I can’t explain.
So what is on the box this Chrimbo? The terrestrial box we call
telly, that is as there is no way I am wasting money on cable or
satellite. Been there, done that, never again. I just don’t think it
is good value and I just don’t watch enough of the idiot box in
general to make it worthwhile so DTT, Digital Terrestrial TV, aka Freeview it is.
What’s On?
Well, as far as I can tell, the usual repeats, reality tv, and ITV
stinks reliably but at least thank goodness for the BBC. Channel 4
and Channel 5 and the lower league DTT channels may have something to
compare but somehow I doubt it. If they do, I will update this post,
after buying the Radio Times… I know I am going to give in and buy
it!
I can tell you what I won’t be watching, Strictly Dancing on Ice
Skating with the Stars on X Factor in the Jungle Get Me Out Of
Here!!! No no no! I cannot stand reality TV. Apart from Susan Boyle,
but I am not buying her CD, nope Simon Cowell is getting not a penny
from me if I know about it. Maybe there is something wrong with me
that I didn’t get into one of the so called cultural
highlights of the decade Reality TV, not for me.
Enough with the bad, what’s good?
So without further ado, I give you, in no particular order, the
picks I am looking forward to. As you will see, much of it is comedy,
although there are a couple of dramas that I will probably record and
"might" watch later.
Caroline Aherne’s Royle Family is back! Fantastic! Yes, we really
are like this in the North 
Well, not really any more than Gavin
and Stacey represents London-Essex and Wales, but everyone can
recognise some particular aspects of a stereotypical Northern life in the humour. I love this show.
The Royle Family BBC1, 9pm XMAS DAY
It’s the return of the nation’s most-loved layabouts with this one-off special, rumoured to come ahead of a brand new series in
2010! All your favourites are back, including Ricky Tomlinson, Sue
Johnston, Caroline Aherne and Ralf Little, who makes a welcome return
after missing last years Christmas special. The action centres around
a cash windfall that Jim and Barb have a long debate over how to
spend…
via Christmas
2009 TV Preview: Christmas 2009: What’s On TV.
I never thought I would like this next comedy, but it is just
brilliant observational humour and the kids in it really do bring
forth tears of laughter with their brutal honesty as kids so often
do!
Outnumbered
One of the best mainstream sitcoms in many a long year,
thanks to acutely sharp observational writing by Guy Jenkin and Andy
Hamilton and three remarkable child actors, returns with a Christmas
special. It’s Boxing Day in the Brockman house and the family has
been visited by both Santa and a burglar.
via Christmas
TV preview – Blogs – Radio Times.
Yay! Victoria Wood is back. I had wondered where she went. I used
to love watching her stand up show, back in the day.
Victoria Wood (BBC1)
The comedians first Christmas special for nine years
features a spoof of Lark Rise to Candleford, the Brentford Mid-life
Olympics and – Mrs Overall fans rejoice – a chance to catch up with
the charlady’s Acorn Antiques alter ego, actress Bo Beaumont, played
by Julie Walters.
via Christmas
TV preview – Blogs – Radio Times.
What can I say about Catherine Tate? I just love the crazy woman,
she has me in stitches.
The Catherine Tate Christmas Show
Nan’s Christmas Carol
Nan Taylor gets to take her grumpiness to a whole new
level as she finds herself in the role of Scrooge at Christmas. Yes,
it’s a spoof version of Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol with
Catherine Tate’s foul-mouthed Cockney character as the star. Nan will
be visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. They
want to show the potty-mouthed OAP the error of her ways in the hope
she’ll wake up on Christmas morning with a more agreeable turn of
phrase. But will she? And will it last? We hope not!
via Christmas
2009 TV Preview: Christmas 2009: What’s On TV.
As a Sci-Fi fanatic I am looking forward to Doctor Who with nervous anticipation. On the one hand, Russell T Davies could over egg the pudding, as he so often does, on the other, surely he won’t with the Tennant finale? I have a love hate relationship with the 10th
Doctor anyway. I do think he has been one of the best, but he
doesn’t half over-act at times!
Doctor Who: The End of Time
Part 1
BBC1 6pm Xmas Day
The two-part Christmas special will see David Tennant
wave goodbye as the 10th Doctor. Featuring a past Doctor, old
sidekicks and other familiar faces – John Simm, Alexandra Moen,
Timothy Dalton, Bernard Cribbins, Catherine Tate, Jacqueline King,
June Whitfield, Billie Piper and Freema Agyeman join David for his
final shows. As all three of his companions are set to marry, what
will be the fate of the Doctor?
via Christmas
2009 TV Preview: Christmas 2009: What’s On TV.
Doctor Who: The End of Time Part 2
BBC1, 6.40pm New Years Day
The second of the Doctor Who Christmas specials sees
David Tennant and Russell T Davies sadly make their last ever episode
of the iconic show. The Doctor regenerates into the 11th Doctor
played by the very youthful Matt Smith – and a nation of Who fanatics
mourns the departure of the most popular Timelord ever…
via Christmas
2009 TV Preview: Christmas 2009: What’s On TV.
I am soooo … looking forward to Gavlar and Staceylar, “cracking, tidy and really lush” and also at the same
time dreading the end of what has become the great thing about
Thursday nights.
Gavin & Stacey
BBC1, 9pm New Years Day
Noooo! It’s the last ever episode of the hit comedy and
word has it that the closely-guarded events contribute to one of the
best-ever episodes. We can’t say too much, but the action centres
around the wedding day for Ness and Dave, while "that"
secret which Uncle Bryn and Jason share finally is uncovered. What
could it be? Expect a surprise, plus life-changing news for Gavin and
Stacey themselves…
via Christmas
2009 TV Preview: Christmas 2009: What’s On TV.
Noooo! Indeed! Noooo! And thrice Noooo! I knew it was coming, and maybe it is “quite right” and “proper” that in true British comedy style
they quit while they are ahead, (think Fawlty Towers et al) but four
times Noooo!
As you can see, all BBC.
I just don’t seem to watch anything on ITV anymore and the other two mainstream networks are not much better. I do expect there will be some films on Five worth seeing but I just don’t know what they are yet.
In Drama, I may watch Cranford
and the Turn
of The Screw adaptation, but on the whole, Christmas TV is
rubbish.
Possibly to be updated when I finally surrender to the Radio Times.
- posted on 23/07/2010 20:18:52
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#1 by Mrs Peel on December 12, 2009 - 2:50 am
What, surrender to the Radio Times? Never!
Stand firm, Kathryn. Find strength in the words of our great leader, Sir Whisky Churchill:
#2 by Kathryn Cann on December 12, 2009 - 10:08 pm
LOL. The Radio Times is quite formidable you know!
#3 by Lady Snowedin on December 12, 2009 - 3:08 am
Very well. I surrender to Reality Blogging. I confess to being addicted to Catherine Tate and Ruth Jones. I would pay dearly and sit quietly to hear ‘Nessa’ recite the blessed Christmas issue while ‘Nan Taylor’ heckles and swears throughout.
Doctor Cann, but I don’t want to be cured!
#4 by Kathryn Cann on December 12, 2009 - 10:11 pm
The only cure Lady Snowedin, is more comedy!
#5 by Vegas Linda Lou on December 12, 2009 - 9:31 pm
I just watched The Office Christmas Special for the ump-teenth time last night. Love my Ricky Gervais! You Brits know how to do TV! (Sweeping generalization, but it’s okay to generalize when you’re saying something good.)
#6 by Kathryn Cann on December 12, 2009 - 10:06 pm
hi there Vegas Linda Lou.
Thanks for stopping by. Yes, sweeping generalisations are fine when they are a compliment!
There is some good British comedy, I’m glad you have discovered some of it but we’ve stopped making good drama as much as we used to, partly down to budget restrictions I guess.
Did you prefer the British version of the Office to the US one? I heard a rumour that Gavin and Stacey was going to be re-issued as a US version, but I completely reccommend the original.
#7 by Christina on December 13, 2009 - 7:39 am
Haha! Reading this made me jealous for even the terrible Christmas programming since I’ll be in China during the holidays this year. (Yes, even of those cheesy, feel-good romantic holiday made-for-TV-movies that are somehow a ripoff of ‘A Christmas Carol’).
What I wouldn’t give to watch the old cartoon of Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”
#8 by Kathryn Cann on December 13, 2009 - 8:50 pm
hi Christine, yes, even bad Christmas programming is good sometimes.
What are they showing in China?
#9 by Christina on December 16, 2009 - 5:25 am
Nothing Christmasy! (Well, not that I’ve seen anyway). Just lots and lots of period dramas that are all kinda the same and ridiculous entertainment/game shows so I usually skip Chinese TV and download movies instead!