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TV, radio, film, Arts

The Christmas Radio Times.

(28 Posts)
penguinpaperback Wed 11-Dec-13 21:52:14

I know it's so easy nowadays to find out what to watch or listen to over Christmas but I can't imagine not buying my Christmas copy of the Radio Times. I pay more attention to the Radio 4 pages than anything else. We always had the Christmas edition at home and it was always the Radio Times not the TV times. Have you bought your copy yet? smile

Anne58 Wed 11-Dec-13 22:10:24

Not yet, we will collect it on Saturday 21st

whatsgoingon Wed 11-Dec-13 22:49:58

We don't buy it anymore, it's not worth the extra it costs compared to all the other tv guides out there.
I know that the other tv listing magazines don't have a much of a radio guide but it's easy to find out what is on the radio via the Internet.

Ana Wed 11-Dec-13 22:52:58

I agree, when. Years ago we wouldn't have been without it, but it's really not worth the price these days IMO.

kittylester Thu 12-Dec-13 07:05:58

We rely on the guides that come with the papers and enjoy reading their reviews and recommendations.

Penstemmon Thu 12-Dec-13 08:00:25

I bought it last year. First time since goodness knows when but it did not get used. We do watch TV but tbh nothing regularly and so many articles were about people and shows we had not heard of. So will just rely on regular newspaper guides if we need to check out things. Also we have no satellite tv so much of any specific guide is wasted!
Might watch a film on Christmas day when everyone has gone home but otherwise no time for telly!

penguinpaperback Thu 12-Dec-13 10:06:18

Must admit it's a ridiculous price, £3.20. And I'm sure last year's copy was hardly used. blush

Ariadne Thu 12-Dec-13 10:15:31

I just have a listings app, and so does Theseus; nevertheless he carefully secretes the Sunday supplement listings too.

My lovely Dad, who adored Christmas, used to arrive with his copy of the "Radio Times" with all the programmes that he wanted to watch marked in red. Needless to say, with three children in the house, he didn't stand a chance, and every year my mother would tell him off for being presumptuous. (She told him off for most things.)

He was such an innocent, gentle man, but it never occurred to him that everyone might not want to watch the same programmes. Oh, thank heavens for Sky!

Anne58 Thu 12-Dec-13 10:33:36

I do enjoy the huge crossword in what we refer to as the "Raddy Ottomees" , but agree it is rather expensive.

I also like to look and see which actor is playing who in various films etc, yes, I know I could look it up on the internet, but as the only computer is upstairs, and the only television is downstairs.............

mollie Thu 12-Dec-13 11:18:53

It's a Christmas tradition and I don't mind paying the extra, after all it is for two weeks! I'm one of those sad characters who enjoys marking what we will watch in advance and this year's edition has lots to read as well as the listings.

annodomini Thu 12-Dec-13 11:36:36

Ariadne, that reminds me. I will have to fight my GC to be 'allowed' to watch the final of Strictly. May have to resort to either violence or tears.

Mishap Thu 12-Dec-13 15:55:12

I get quite exasperated by the Radio Times - why oh why do I have to keep dodging back and forth to find out what is on TV and then what is on the radio? It seems quite barmy to me. I can't be the only person who watches/listens to both. Why not have each day's programmes on both radio and TV in the same section?!

feetlebaum Thu 12-Dec-13 15:59:15

If I still had a wife, and she wanted to watch Strictly Come Dancing - that would be great - an excuse for me to slope off to the pub!

Marelli Thu 12-Dec-13 16:07:46

We used to take the Radio Times until we had notification that the cost of the yearly subscription was rising, (by a lot!) so we cancelled it. Our local daily newspaper has a really good TV supplement on a Saturday and it only costs an extra 10 pence for the paper on that day. smile

numberplease Thu 12-Dec-13 16:50:58

I know it`s expensive, and there are much cheaper options, but we`ve always bought the TV Times, partly habit and partly because we like it. We have it delivered every week, straight from the source, works out a little bit cheaper than going to the shop for it.

mrshat Thu 12-Dec-13 21:06:56

It's a bit of a Christmas tradition. Use the daily and weekend papers during the year but Christmas time - well, buy the Radio times! tchgrin

Natsnan Thu 12-Dec-13 21:21:13

Our DD recently took advantage of a special offer - 3 months radio times for 99p! She could also order the same for a friend so kindly arranged for us to have the same offer. It's been nice having it delivered every week and the Christmas edition arrived a few days ago. Much as I enjoyed looking through it I would never pay £3.20 for it. But a great bargain for 99p!

Anne58 Thu 12-Dec-13 21:28:52

lots of good points, but for me it has to be the RT.

Oh heavens, just remembered, umpteen years ago, my Grandmother referring to "The Book". That was the TV times, which at the time did not include any other programme listings!

rosesarered Thu 12-Dec-13 21:53:04

It's a nostalgia thing isn't it? Not over expensive really, all mags cost about same these days.We used to get Radio Times, at Christmas and when children were young they loved doing some happy 'ticking' they used different colours as there were three of them. I think in the end, they didn't really mind if we watched something else [or went out] they just liked the ritual of the ticking.We don't bother now, we have Sky and buy the Saturday Times which has tv listings.

penguinpaperback Thu 12-Dec-13 22:10:20

It's very useful for the Radio 4 listings. DD used to use a highlighter when 12 or so marking off her programmes. She was the last in her class to be allowed to watch Eastenders or have her ears pierced. smile I bought her the Christmas edition today. Ariadne I had a picture of such a nice gentleman when reading your post. flowers

seasider Thu 12-Dec-13 22:46:05

It was always a Christmas tradition for us to get Radio and Tv Times ( did not have both in one in those days). I don't buy it any other time of year but I do like to look through and circle what I would like to watch. smile

Pittcity Fri 13-Dec-13 09:11:20

It's traditional in this house, even though my TiVo box knows what I like on TV and radio and records it for me..... scary technology!
The marker pen has already been used but there is a lot less that I want to see every year tchsad
I love the crossword and also the picture quiz where you have to find 50 programmes... found 16 last night!!

Anniebach Fri 13-Dec-13 09:40:15

Always buy the Radio Times at Christmas, don't read it , just like to see it in the house

Mamie Fri 13-Dec-13 11:43:06

I have had it delivered from when we moved to France, but it drives me mad because it costs about £150 per year and is late every time the French have a bank holiday (which is often). I am trying out the ipad app at the moment, but not sure that it will give me the weekly overview that I get from the paper version.

wisewoman Fri 13-Dec-13 16:27:54

I love the Radio Times and buy it every week. Sit with my highlighter and mark the tv and radio progs I fancy. That way at the end of the week I can see what I missed and watch iPlayer. What a geek! I think there is lots of reading in it and much less about "celebrities" from the soaps than there is in the other mags. On the down side they do seem to have an obsession with DR Who smile. The Christmas issue has been bought and at the weekend I will start perusing with my trusty highlighter.