[SteveRW]

I agree with what was said a few posts ago. The Christmas pres really should run until New Years Bank Holiday (which is normally New Year's Day, but it'd be January 2nd this year, since today is a Sunday). The schedules aren't fully back to normal until Tuesday.

Yes, and to clarify why I said 3rd or 4th January - 3rd January is a bank holiday in Scotland this year (they always have two days holiday for New Year). No reason why BBC One Scotland couldn’t run their festive idents for an extra day independently of Network.

I take on board the suggestion that some new series launch on NYD, but if that’s the reason there’s still no need to switch back straight after midnight, as programmes like the Eurovision Party are still seasonal offerings. Why not wait until the next morning?

The year 2001 was the first time that the BBC used Christmas Idents up until New Year's Day.  The last time was 2012.

Before 2001, Christmas idents were retired at closedown on Boxing Day or on a proceeding Bank Holiday, but the latter scenario wasn't always the case.  So, really, we should be grateful that Christmas idents start early December and end early New Year's Day.