One in five UK households expects to argue about what to watch on television over the festive period, according to a TV-Licensing study, as the official 2011 Christmas TV schedule goes on sale.

On Christmas Day 2010, the average UK household watched almost eight hours (7 hours and 45 minutes) of television and this year, viewing time is likely to be no different. To encourage familial cheer and goodwill, TV Licensing has explored people’s festive-viewing preferences, and come up with the perfect recipe of TV programmes to keep everyone happy. Results revealed, for example, the ideal amount of time to watch comedy specials on Christmas Day is 60 minutes, while it is 40 minutes for soap operas.

To ensure harmonious TV viewing on Christmas Day, you need:

- A very large scoop (80 mins) of feature films

- A generous handful (60 mins) of Christmas comedy specials

- A large cupful (50 mins) of drama / mini-series

- A small cupful (40 mins) of soap opera

- A dollop (30 mins) of documentary / factual viewing

- A dollop (30 mins) of children’s TV programmes

- A spoonful (25 mins) of sport

- A sprinkling (20 mins) of Queen’s Speech

Christmas classics rule the roost for people of all ages. The nation’s favourite Christmas film is, by a narrow margin, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, with 15% of people saying it topped their list. ‘Home Alone’ was a close second with 14%, and the 1954 version of ‘White Christmas’ was third (11%). As for Christmas comedy specials, sitcoms from the nineties and early noughties were much-loved, with one in five people saying ‘Only Fools and Horses’ was their favourite, followed by ‘Morecambe and Wise’ (12%) and ‘The Royle Family’ (11%).

Sports programmes divided the sexes most, with just 31% of women saying they would watch sport on Christmas Day, compared to 45% of men. The survey also revealed that men are most likely to be in charge of the remote control over Christmas, with 39% of people selecting Dads, partners and Granddads as the main culprits.

“The coming together of families and friends to watch television on Christmas Day is almost as much of a tradition as opening presents or eating turkey. But, with a packed TV schedule to choose from, it can be difficult to agree on what to watch,” said Farimah Darbyshire, TV Licensing spokesperson. “Everyone in a household will have their own favourite programmes, and it is all about compromise.”

“But whatever you choose to watch on television this Christmas, it is important to be aware of the need to be covered by a valid TV Licence to watch or record programmes at the same time as they are shown on TV.”

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