The BBC has made a last-minute change to its 2025 festive television lineup, pulling a flagship Christmas special from its schedule just days before it was due to air.
What Happened to the Mandy Special?
The affected programme is 'The Mandy Who Knew Too Much', the 2025 Christmas special starring comedian Diane Morgan. It was originally scheduled for a late-night slot on BBC Two at 10.25pm on Monday, 22nd December. In its place, the film Beetlejuice will now be broadcast earlier, moving to 10.25pm.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed the move to Express.co.uk, stating simply: "The Mandy Christmas Special has been moved to 2026." The British Comedy Guide reports that the episode is now expected to air next year, with the BBC allegedly planning to tweak parts of the content before its eventual broadcast.
Fan Speculation and Possible Reasons
The sudden postponement, especially after the special was promoted as a key part of the Christmas schedule, has sparked confusion and debate among fans. Many have taken to social media to speculate on the reasons behind the decision.
One prevalent theory suggests the episode may contain topical jokes that have become sensitive. "I wouldn't be surprised if it was that there were some Trump jokes or something along those lines and they were scared of adding to the 'lawsuit'," one fan posted on Twitter.
Another questioned: "Is it something that the BBC doesn't want us to hear and laugh at? Does Dianne's (character, Mandy) moan about the Labour Party? Donald Trump?" The fan added, "Come on, it's a superb comedy! Isn't comedy supposed to take risks & give us something to laugh and chat about!"
Production Details and Future Broadcast
According to reports, the festive special was filmed early in 2025 alongside the rest of the latest series of Mandy. The exact scene or scenes under consideration for revision have not been disclosed by the BBC.
The episode's official description hints at a plot involving global diplomacy: "Mandy rarely dabbles in global diplomacy, especially over Christmas when it's so cold out and there's good telly on, but when she does, you can bet that she makes a real difference to the balance of power in the world."
For now, viewers eager to see Mandy's festive misadventures will have to wait until 2026, leaving a mysterious gap in this year's BBC Christmas comedy offerings.
