ITHOUGHT that the idea of Christmas TV was to show things that are special and different from the normal fare during the year.

Apart from the 'Only Fools and Horses' Christmas special, it was probably the worse-ever helping of programmes I've known.

I can't understand why we have to be ruled by soap operas. Coronation Street at present is a bit boring. Every other night it has been on.

But Eastenders must be the most boring and awful of the lot. I don't watch it usually, but happened to get a double dose of it on Christmas Day -- enough to put you off for life. All they seem to do is argue.

Years ago, we had Morecambe and Wise shows drawing in millions every year. If this is all we are going to get every year, then it's time to pack it all in.

M HIBBERT, Ivan Street, Burnley.