BBC1 repeats Christmas line-up as almost half the shows on main two channels will be reruns 

It is as predictable as what’s on the menu for Christmas lunch.

And it will be slim pickings when it comes to the BBC’s festive line-up – as nearly half of the shows served up on its main two channels will be repeats.

There will only be a single change to BBC1’s Christmas Day evening schedule compared with last year’s – a special of the sitcom Ghosts, instead of Blankety Blank.

Yesterday, broadcasters released their TV schedules for the festive period, with the corporation’s flagship channel having a predictable feel.

BBC1 will air Strictly Come Dancing, Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel, Call The Midwife, EastEnders and Mrs Brown’s Boys, as it did last year on Christmas Day evening, followed by a re-run of the Vicar of Dibley. And they will be played in the same order too, kicking off with the Strictly Christmas special at 5.10pm.

Michael McIntyre will also front a Christmas Day version of The Wheel

Meanwhile, analysis found nearly 29 per cent of BBC1’s festive schedule, from December 24 to January 6, will be made up of repeats, rising to nearly 65 per cent for BBC2 – and averaging out at 45.8 per cent.

More than 17 per cent of ITV’s schedule in this same period will also be repeats, rising to almost 80 per cent of shows on Channel 4 over the two-week period.

Among the classic shows getting an airing on the BBC are episodes of Dad’s Army, The Two Ronnies and Morecambe and Wise. New shows include the return of His Dark Materials, the animated The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, and new drama Mayflies, starring Martin Compston.

On Christmas Day ITV will show Ant & Dec’s Christmas Limitless Win and a new Doc Martin Christmas special. A BBC spokesman said: ‘BBC One took the top seven spots on Christmas Day last year so we know viewers love to watch new episodes of their favourite shows, and this year we are adding Ghosts, Aladdin and The Smeds and The Smoos to our fabulous line-up. The BBC invests more in British content at Christmas than any other broadcaster or service and this year over 95 per cent of our peak time schedule is brand new.’