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It’s Chriiiiiiistmas! Or at least it will be come November 1. Our pumpkins will still be grinning, our Halloween hangovers will still be throbbing. We won’t have ooh-ed or aah-ed at a single Catherine wheel. BUT according to TV schedulers, Tuesday November 1 is officially Christmas. So many happy returns to you.
The merriment kicks off at 3.15pm on Channel 5 with 'Gifts for Christmas'. The next day you’ve got 'A Star for Christmas'. It’s 'Back To Christmas' on Thursday. Saturday might actually be Bonfire Night, but oh (ho ho) things are picking up on the festive front. You’ve got an afternoon’s worth of Christmas movies on Channel 5, while early risers can tune into 'The Nativity Story' at 6.35am for a full day of yuletide fun when Sky 310 transforms into tinsel central.
In fact, what are we talking about, there’s already a channel – True Christmas (Freeview channel 74, if you’re interested, you over-excited elf, you) – dedicated to all things jolly, airing Christmas movies all day long.
Does all this talk of Christmas spirit feel a tad premature? The creep of Christmas is a contentious subject. Each year as autumn rolls around we moan that the revelry is getting earlier and earlier. We furiously frown as festive jingles play on the radio, as edible Santas pop up by the supermarket tills and adverts insist that if we don’t buy a new armchair RIGHT THIS SECOND we’ll have a terrible and uncomfortable Christmas.
But pre-Bonfire night? Oxford Street's Christmas lights don't switch on until November 6. Winter Wonderland doesn't open until November 18.
Selfridges has already unveiled its festive window display, though. And John Lewis’s much-anticipated TV advert won’t be far behind. Perhaps it is time to promote goodwill to all men? It doesn't take much to persuade us it's okay to guzzle mulled wine and inhale mince pies, after all...
What do you think? When is it okay to start watching Christmas films? Let us know in the comments box below.