ITV viewers have complained about the channel’s decision to include a “terrible” new show in its Christmas schedule. On Tuesday, Christmas Eve, ITV’s prime-time evening slot was filled by a two-hour special showing the best TikTok videos of the year.
TikTok: Top 100 2024, narrated by Joel Dommett, was a countdown of the top 100 funniest and most extreme viral videos, and an estimation of how much money the clips made for their creators.
Many fans were unimpressed by the programme, which ran from 9pm to 11.05pm. One tweeted: “ITV are showing TikToks for two hours. TV has truly given up.”
Another questioned: “What on earth are ITV doing with this TikTok thing? Is this what Christmas TV has become?!?!”
A third fumed: “When did Christmas TV get so s***??? ITV showing a programme about TikTok??”
And a fourth wrote: “Christmas Eve TV @BBCOne @BBCTwo @ITV and @Channel4 was terrible. The worst show of the night goes to ITV. Two hours of TikTok.”
However, some were pleased with the programme and even compared it to iconic shows like You’ve Been Framed and It’ll Be Alright on the Night.
A fan hit back: “Everyone clowning ITV, but realistically, this is probabaly great for families and older generations, who don’t necessarily use Tiktok, and it gives them an idea of the kind of entertainment out there. It’s not made for our age group who use Tiktok 24/7.”
Another said: “TikTok is not a Christmas movie, but might be a poor man's version of It'll be Alright on the Night - which used to be a Christmas tradition as a TV version of leftover turkey. ITV's mistake was to schedule it for Christmas Eve not Boxing Day.”
A third commented: “Watching some best ever TikTok videos thing on ITV and it's basically Alright On The Night but in portrait mode,” and another added: “ITV’s Best of TikTok looks mainly to be an attempt to make a version of You’ve Been Framed for 2024.”
Fans will hopefully be more impressed with ITV's offerings on Christmas Day. The Bullseye Christmas Special, hosted by Freddie Flintoff, airs at 5.25pm.
Emmerdale and Coronation Street will then be on from 6.30pm, followed by The Chase Christmas Special at 8pm.
The 2022 film Downton Abbey: A New Era will air at 9pm.
