Festive TV Bingeing: What We Consumed This Christmas
December has a funny way of becoming a mirror. Between endless TV specials, comfort films and some truly questionable late-night choices, we consumed a lot of festive viewing this year.
On the sofa in our newly-unwrapped Christmas jammies, we indulged in some quality classics, cringeworthy guilty pleasure watching, and savoured the heartstring-tugging programming that becomes so prevalent during that time of year – and of course as consummate PR professionals, we dug deep to find the lessons that resonated beyond our screens and after ‘Betwixtmas’ as we considered our returns back to the office.
This blog looks at the TV and films we consumed over Christmas – and what they accidentally taught us about PR, marketing and comms. Because if a story can cut through when you’re half asleep on the sofa with a tin of Quality Street, it’s probably doing something right.
Laura - Jools Holland’s Hootenanny
For Laura, Jools Holland’s Annual Hootenanny has become the ultimate British New Year’s Eve fallback: a two-hour televised hug for anyone whose party got cancelled, babysitter flaked, or water pipes burst, complete with the comforting aroma of stage-managed chaos and just the right amount of naffness.
It’s the kind of show where you can drink alone in your pyjamas, reflect on another year of missed opportunities, and still feel like you’re rubbing shoulders with A-list stars - perhaps Olivia Dean got turned away from her local pub too? Elton John wasn’t invited anywhere, either.
Over the years, it has delivered truly dynamite performances, from Amy Winehouse’s unique-yet-perfect “Monkey Man” to Jessie J cleaning the pipes on “My Way,” creating moments that feel like stumbling across a plate of forgotten Christmas leftovers in the fridge, which, for me, is the equivalent to winning the lottery.
The charm lies in the Hootenanny’s carefully orchestrated spontaneity: interviews that veer hilariously off-script, relentless boogie-woogie, and a sense that we’re all in it together, even if our living rooms are the only places we can be. And the twist? All that midnight glitter and countdown magic is pre-recorded weeks in advance, but somehow the illusion of partying with Jools and friends keeps millions coming back year after year. Jools Holland’s Hootenanny is a masterclass in forward planning, proving that if you prepare far enough ahead, you can ring in the New Year in August, be in bed by ten, and still look surprised when the balloons drop.
Jessi – Emily in Paris
If you, like Jessi, inhaled Emily in Paris over the holidays and came away inspired by her perfect Parisian whirlwind digital marketing life, it’s worth remembering the show is fun, glamorous, and entertaining - but it’s not how marketing works in real life. Emily lands viral campaigns and thousands of followers overnight, but there’s no magic formula for virality. Content only succeeds when it’s supported by strategy, audience insight, planning, PR and sometimes paid media. The show often skips over these practicalities (shocking that the PESO model never comes up in her heated boardroom debates!) giving the illusion that successful campaigns happen spontaneously. Budgets, research, and long-term planning are rarely mentioned, yet in real agencies they are essential for shaping what is realistic and achievable.
Where the show does get it right, is in capturing the spirit of good marketing – relationships matter, and Emily’s networking with clients, collaborators, and partners reflects the real-world importance of understanding people, brands, and their needs. Ultimately, Emily in Paris may not teach the mechanics of marketing, but it does highlight the creativity, experimentation, and human connection at the heart of effective campaigns. Just don’t expect strategy to unfold as effortlessly as a café selfie.
Brittany – Pete Wicks: for Dogs’ Sake
Once known as the luscious locked, tattooed TOWIE bad boy who thrived on drama rather than responsibility, Pete Wicks has somehow completed the greatest character arc since Ebenezer Scrooge joined the Ghost of Christmas Future, emerging in Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake as a softie who’d rather cuddle a rescue pup than cause chaos in Essex.
For PR folk, it’s a masterclass in reputation rehabilitation, with authenticity taking primacy. Consistent messaging, and a cause so genuine it renders any form of cynicism or bah humbug useless. Watching Pete swap reality TV fakeness for rescue centre compassion (although he is still fond of a spray tan and some hair product) is a reminder that the strongest brand rebuilds aren’t loud or strategic, they’re heartfelt, values-led, and occasionally involve a soggy-eyed man cuddling a traumatised spaniel. Proof, if ever it were needed, that nothing repairs the bad boy image like sincerity, sustained action, sloppy kisses from a three-legged dog…and a spin on Strictly.
Julie – Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special
If your Christmas Day viewing involved anything more sparkly than the tin foil left over from your third helping of pigs in blankets, you probably jived your way through the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, like Julie, and what a spectacle it was! This wasn’t just any pre-lunch telly; it was the last twirl, shimmy, and sequined chasse from BBC’s ballroom institution with the dream presenting duo of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman before the pass the hosting torch in 2026 (I will leave my predictions at the Clauditorium door). After nearly two decades of guiding us through every paso- doble, and all manner of fancy-footwork, Tess and Claud’s festive farewell felt a bit like watching Santa retire his sleigh, emotional and glitter-soaked.
The format was delightfully chaotic in the way only a Christmas special can be – six celebs pirouetted to seasonal classics (no Wham! Unfortunately, but plenty of Cher and Kylie) whilst the judges generously dished out scores like your tipsy granny doling out heaping spoonfuls of Christmas trifle. And in true festive spirit, there were more twists than there were sprouts on your plate. Brian McFadden and Melanie Blatt turned up and gave it stacks, former Googlebox star Scarlett Moffatt showed she’s got way more than opinionated sofa skills, and Jodie Ounsley proved rugby might be the best training for the cha-cha.
Strictly’s Christmas special was a masterclass in brand theatre. It took a format we all thought we knew, wrapped it in glitter and nostalgia, and stirred in timely emotional hooks and a carefully curated celebrity lineup that kept audiences social scrolling long after the last foxtrot. By leaning into tradition while amplifying emotion and just enough spectacle, Strictly keeps itself in the cultural conversation year after year – even on the most crowded festive broadcast day.
From the spectacle of the Hootenanny to the glossy drama of Emily in Paris, Pete Wicks’ sincere puppy cuddles, and the glittering mayhem of the Strictly special, our Christmas viewing faves all a reminder that in entertainment, as in PR, timing, planning, and knowing your audience are everything.