ITV's flagship daytime programme, This Morning, faced a storm of criticism from its audience after its much-anticipated Christmas special aired on Christmas Day. Viewers took to social media in droves to brand the festive edition 'pathetic' and unfavourably compare it to a low-budget pantomime.
A Festive Line-Up That Failed to Deliver
The special episode was fronted by the show's main presenting duo, Cat Deeley, 49, and Ben Shephard, 51, alongside regular hosts Alison Hammond, 50, and Dermot O'Leary, 52. It featured a lineup designed to offer a Christmas treat, including an interview with Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet, discussing her directorial debut Goodbye June on Netflix. The show also included a musical performance from British rock band The Darkness and the traditional exchange of presents between the hosts.
However, the carefully curated segments did not resonate with the audience at home. One scathing viewer posted on X, formerly Twitter: 'The CBeebies panto was on yesterday, this is pretty much at that level #ThisMorning.' Another added: 'Who knew this pre-recorded cobblers could be a hundred times worse than a live show.'
Backlash Over 'As-Live' Pretence
A significant point of contention for many was the presentation of the clearly pre-recorded show as if it were broadcasting live on Christmas morning. This perceived deception sparked particular ire among the disgruntled audience.
Viewers directly challenged ITV on the issue, with one writing: 'How thick do you think your audience is? [Lorraine, This Morning, and Loose Women] making out they are all live in the studio on Christmas morning. Pathetic as usual.' Others joined in, questioning: 'Are they pretending this is live? #thismorning,' and noting, 'This is all pre-recorded isn't it... you absolutely cannot tell it's not, it's a classic trick this "as-live" business.'
A Lone Ray of Sunshine
Amid the torrent of negative feedback, one segment received universal praise and was described by some as the 'best thing on the show'. This was a heartfelt Christmas message from nine-year-old social media star Florrie Bark, who has been battling cancer since the age of six.
Florrie's inspirational words moved viewers, with one commenting: 'Florrie is absolutely gorgeous. She has filled my heart with joy today. What a wonderful little girl. Genuine tears in my eyes...' Another called her 'an absolute little star', proving that a moment of genuine warmth could still shine through.
The strong reaction to the This Morning Christmas special highlights the challenge for long-running live programmes when adapting their format for pre-recorded holiday editions. While the producers aimed for festive cheer, the audience's response suggests the attempt fell flat, leaving many to simply advise: 'Save yourselves! Switch over.'
