[AJB39]

Almost as if they were saying "We haven't much to look at this Christmas, but as other channels have started Christmas, we'll do so too."

Well, they wouldn't be wrong.

How many of these "new" shows just happen to air at Christmas? Call The Midwife, Blankety Blank etc - all programmes where regular series have only just finished up or are starting again soon. Christmas Special? They don't feel special. More like leftovers. Mrs Brown's Boys is seen as a comedic situation the BBC can't get out of.

Christmas specials of regular shows have dominated the BBC schedules at Christmas for decades, it’s nothing new.