BBC viewers have been left emotionally overwhelmed by a powerful Christmas drama special, leading to a fierce debate about the broadcaster's festive scheduling choices.
An Emotional Festive Episode
The Christmas special of Beyond Paradise, the popular spin-off from Death in Paradise, aired earlier this week and delivered what many are calling one of the series' most poignant episodes to date. The episode, which first aired on Tuesday, 23rd December 2025, featured Kris Marshall reprising his role as Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman.
The heart-wrenching plot centred on an elderly man living with dementia who arrives at the police station clutching a single photograph. The man, searching for his lost sister with very few clues, claims to know Humphrey, sending the detective on a deeply personal journey to uncover the truth behind their connection.
Viewers React with Tears and Praise
The episode provoked an intense reaction on social media platform X, with a flood of viewers admitting they were moved to tears. One viewer expressed their emotion simply, writing: "#Beyondparadise ooh I am not crying."
Another, a 49-year-old man, shared: "What have you done to me... I'm crying my eyes out, that is how you do a Christmas Episode." He praised the episode's blend of emotion and humour, and hailed guest star Ade Edmondson as a "National Treasure."
Further reactions highlighted the show's impact. "Crying ugly tears at the #BeyondParadise Christmas special. So beautiful, poignant & emotional. I can’t handle it," wrote one viewer. Another stated: "Oh my goodness #ChristmasSpecial #BeyondParadise. I'm not crying, honestly I'm not."
Calls for BBC Scheduling Shake-Up
The powerful response has led many fans to question the BBC's decision-making around its prime Christmas Day television lineup. Several viewers argued that Beyond Paradise deserved a more prominent slot than the long-running comedy Mrs Brown's Boys.
One dismayed fan directly challenged the broadcaster: "Just finished watching #BeyondParadise a nice harmless Christmas show with a great outcome. Question; Why didn’t the BBC schedule this for Christmas evening rather than Eastenders, Mrs Browns Boys and yet even more bloody celebrities in programmes?"
This sentiment reflects a broader feeling that the heartfelt drama was undervalued in the festive schedule, tucked away instead of being given a flagship position on Christmas Day itself.
Star Kris Marshall shed light on the episode's emotional core in an interview with the BBC. He explained, "It’s such a personal story for Humphrey... it soon becomes a deeply touching story." Marshall added that the reason the man has Humphrey's photograph makes the narrative "especially personal" and called it "a very Christmassy story that warms the cockles."
With the show leaving such a lasting impression, the debate over whether the BBC missed a trick by not placing this critically acclaimed special at the heart of its Christmas evening entertainment is likely to continue.
