No waiting until it airs, all ITV’s Christmas highlights will be available to stream from 0700. 

ITV are trying a novel approach to win the Christmas schedule wars this year; they are making all their major entertainment shows on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day available all day via ITV Hub.

It’s doubtless a smart approach as, with plenty of competition for custody of the remote control, the ability to time shift festive shows to earlier in the day could be very handy.

The shows on offer, from 0700 on their day of transmission, are;

• • Christmas Eve
    • Tipping Point: Lucky Stars Christmas Special
    • The Chase Celebrity Christmas Special
    • Gino’s Italian Family Adventure: A Festive Feast
    • Bradley and Barney: Breaking Dad at Christmas
  • • • Christmas Day
  • • • Christmas Comedy Club with Lost Voice Guy
      • Paul O Grady: For The Love of Dogs at Christmas
      • The Masked Singalong
      • The Larkins Christmas Special
  • • • • Boxing Day
      • • Saturday Night Takeaway Presents: Double Trouble
        • The Chase Celebrity Christmas Special
        • Celebrity Catchphrase: Christmas Special
        • All Star Musicals at Christmas
        • Billy Connolly: My Absolute Pleasure

Additionally, the Christmas Day editions of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale will also be made available.

With this gauntlet thrown down, it will be interesting to see if the BBC respond, or if they are still keen to pursue a linear audience over the period.

Bradders

Fans of Bradley Walsh should be pleased as he’s in no less than three of their festive offerings – The Chase, Breaking Dad and The Larkins.

While he’s departed Doctor Who, he’ll also be on BBC One with a Christmas episode of Blankety Blank too!