The BBC‘s head of content has defended the corporation’s Christmas schedule, pointing to research showing viewers want more of the same. Charlotte Moore said people flock to festive specials of popular shows.
She told The Telegraph: “What we give people for Christmas is based on what we know they love.”
This Christmas Day BBC One will show a children’s story by Julia Donaldson, The King’s Christmas Broadcast, a film and a Strictly special.
Later on, BBC One viewers will have Michael McIntyre’s Christmas Wheel, a Ghosts Christmas special, Call the Midwife, EastEnders and the first of two festive editions of Mrs Brown’s Boys.
The only difference between this year and last is an episode of Doctor Who, with the first adventure for new Time Lord Ncuti Gatwa.
Ms Moore told The Telegraph while the shows are reappearing, they will tell different stories this year.
She said: “They are all new episodes of what we know are the audience’s favourite shows from the year.”
The BBC chief said the new Doctor Who and the last episode of Ghosts are a “big deal” for the corporation’s audiences and it knows “they’re really special”.
Ms Moore said the Christmas schedule is no longer so important as people can now watch programmes on catch-up when they want to.
Ratings have fallen over recent years. While Strictly topped the ratings with 5.4 million viewers in 2022, a decade before it amassed 7.8 million viewers on Christmas Day.
