[tellyblues]

Yes apparently “Turkey Dinner” that is shown on BBC TWO every year wasn’t actually a Christmas special, just an episode in the middle of a series that aired at Christmas

If it airs at Xmas and crucially is Christmas-themed then it’s ostensibly a Christmas special, but I get the distinction. The OFITG episode shown on Xmas Day 1994 guest-starring Brian Murphy (with the sort of ending which probably wouldn’t be deemed OK today)  was on Xmas Day and part of the series….but wasn’t Christmas themed, so isn’t now shown as a Xmas special on GOLD/Drama etc.

OFITG's The Man Who Blew Away is set around Christmas or it could be that Margaret left the crackers out on the table for Victor to amuse himself with! I mentioned recently how the episode was intended to be the first episode of the new series and the BBC asked David Renwick to write a Christmas special but he didn't have time so extended this a bit. One Foot In The Algarve wasn't set at Christmas but at 90 mins and months either side of S4 ending in March and that 1994 Christmas special the following December, it stands out at something special. Maybe this type of thing isn't relevant now because of catch-up and streaming but I would argue that the Christmas specials aren't distinct enough.